Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]

[Nigelnaturist]

Some impressive progress around here, well done to all of you! I've been so caught out with work lately I didn't go out a lot, only trying to meet my weekly quota, hopefully things will change soon.

I do have a question that's been bugging me and couldn't find a suitable explanation yet, why is it called a metric ton when it only refers to 100k and not 1,000k? I first though it might be related to climbing elevation like 1,000m (3280ft) but I see commonly referred as 100km ride. Please excuse my ignorance, I just have to take it out of my head

Keep pushing those pedals everybody and don't forget the sun cream!

In the old days doing a ton on a bike or a motorbike was a big thing and refereed to achieving 100mph. It is also known as a metric century (100Km obviously) derived from an imperial century 100 miles.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

From Wiki
In Britain, ton is used in slang in several contexts to mean "100". As a cost or a speed, a ton is widely understood to be £100 or 100 mph.
and therefore to distance ect...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton

 

[MaxInc]

Yeah, to add to the confusion, from the same Wiki

The tonne (SI symbol: t) is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms (2,204.6 pounds) or 1 megagram (1 Mg). It is a non-SI unit accepted for use with SI.[1][2] To avoid confusion with the much smaller short ton and the slightly larger long ton, it is also known as a metric ton in the United States.[3]

I guess it's one of those metric vs. imperial things that are messing with your brain.

 

[BrianEvesham]

@RWright I love reading about your rides, they sound idyllic.

Well I managed to get out this morning when the boys went to school, my favourite shortie 8 with an avg of just over 17, wow it was hot for 9am!
Contemplating three nights starting at 5 pm

 

[Nigelnaturist]

It's not, the term ton used in distance is a slang term and technically isn't correct as ton refers to weight not distance, and to be honest I don't recall having read or heard a 100miles or 100km referred to a ton much, although many times to a century, as this does equate to 100 in either measurement.

 

[RWright]

From Wiki
In Britain, ton is used in slang in several contexts to mean "100". As a cost or a speed, a ton is widely understood to be £100 or 100 mph.
and therefore to distance ect...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton

I got it from darts. Like a ton eighty and so forth. I got a six dart out in 301 at a local tourney one time. Electric darts, but I still brag about it every chance I get.

The bad tire I found yesterday on my bike was after I had filled it to max pressure. I didn't let the pressure down after I found it and last night my cat was asleep on my foot stool when the tube popped and let out a long hiss. I have never seen anything go from being asleep to moving so fast in such a short period of time. It was quite amazing, he didn't claw my foot very bad while making his escape. It took him about half an hour to come back in the room with me. I think he thought it was me up to one of my pranks on him.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

The bad tire I found yesterday on my bike was after I had filled it to max pressure. I didn't let the pressure down after I found it and last night my cat was asleep on my foot stool when the tube popped and let out a long hiss.

Thats some dedication sleeping with your poorly tyres.

 

[SpokeyDokey]

Some impressive progress around here, well done to all of you! I've been so caught out with work lately I didn't go out a lot, only trying to meet my weekly quota, hopefully things will change soon.

I do have a question that's been bugging me and couldn't find a suitable explanation yet, why is it called a metric ton when it only refers to 100k and not 1,000k? I first though it might be related to climbing elevation like 1,000m (3280ft) but I see commonly referred as 100km ride. Please excuse my ignorance, I just have to take it out of my head

Keep pushing those pedals everybody and don't forget the sun cream!

As previous really - I just thought it was like speeding ie 'doing a ton' is 100mph with the ton bit being 100.

http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/do-a-ton

 

[MaxInc]

As previous really - I just thought it was like speeding ie 'doing a ton' is 100mph with the ton bit being 100.

http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/do-a-ton

I guess is the fact that I've always associated "ton" with 1,000 as in 1,000kg and never heard the 100mph expression which makes more sense ... Thanks for the clarifications.

 

[Ciar]

100 mph or £100 is what I will always accept as being a ton, since taking up cycling again I have been very confused with it's other use

 

[morrisman]

Been out for a briskish 13 miles in the noon day sun. It must have been as hot as hell as I noticed that on my return this years mileage had reached 666 miles.

ps no where near as funny in kilometers

 

[Nigelnaturist]

This is what I put my Aldi Stand to use for.

Not my best.

 

[Nomadski]

This is what I put my Aldi Stand to use for.
View attachment 25870
Not my best.

I like it. Its clean.

 

[SWSteve]

@MaxInc @themosquitoking a ton refers to 100 of anything, runs in cricket, money, number of friends you have on facebook...

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I like it. Its clean.

The only time it's not is when we are out in the wet.