For six weeks now, Capital Bikeshare has had a competition going to see which of its hardier members is most impervious to the cold. The Winter Weather Warrior Contest promises a handful of prizes for the rider who takes the most trips and the rider who logs the most saddle time during January and February. Somewhat perversely, the contest offers "bonus points" for trips taken during below-freezing weather or during snowfall and cold rain.

Here's the top of the leader board for "long haul" rider, as of Feb. 6. It appears this Michael Hurley fellow is running away with the contest:

The leader board. (Photo: DDOT)

Some back-of-the-napkin math indicates that Mr. Hurley is averaging around 13 bikeshare trips per day. How he manages that we have no idea. (We've dropped him an email in hopes we can join him for one of his many rides and find out.) Our first thought was that maybe he's a courier, but it's unlikely that a courier would opt to use CaBi's heavy bikes for regular use, even if he stood to win a free 3-year extension of his membership and a $100 gift card to Hudson Trail Outfitters. Still, we assume Mr. Hurley has found a way to involve bikeshare in his daily work.

We should point out that the rest of the top ten are no slouches, either. In fact, we Washington cyclists are proving to be a pretty flinty lot in this contest. DDOT spokesman John Lisle reports that CaBi's January ridership numbers were actually up over October's.