As i said before: People are having an easy time against what should be hard (Gym battles) Why's that, well... i don't know
Keep doing your challenge, cuz in the future, you will be able to use really good bug types - Scizor, Escavalier, Heracross/Pinsir, Durant, Galvantula, Volcarona... heck, there's some good things for you in a distant/near future...
P.S - Don't forget to save before mining dem damn rocks in the future, so you can get an Armaldo...
Good luck ^^ ...