The Annual Lunacy (aka "I Don't Do Winter") Challenge Chatzone

[Fiona R]

Mmmmm. Lunacy. Wasn't very good at it last year, a few nice life/family things, RRtY got dropped at 8/12 in July but it had been so bitty from lockdown suspensions it wasn't very satisfactory. I'd basically had Jan-March off recovering properly from Nov 2020 covid The only really mad thing was riding my first 300 in November 21, and overnight too with only one 100km ride in the previous 6 weeks, full value to say the least, right to the wire. I did do my December 200 and determined to continue RRtY this year too. so 13x 200km? Aiming for some "events" so need the base training. Have been away abroad since 15th Dec and currently isolating until day 2 pcr tomorrow, result hopefully Weds. Not been on a bike since mid December so that fitness push will have all gone yet again!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Hi Cranky. Sorry to hear of your covid trials. Congrats on the 300 and best of luck with the lunacy this year.

 

[ColinJ]

Hi Cranky. Sorry to hear of your covid trials. Congrats on the 300 and best of luck with the lunacy this year.

And the same from me!

Er, would somebody please set up the 2022 Lunacy Challenge? I am embarrassing myself dropping out of my own challenges - I would much prefer to drop out of other people's challenges!

Assuming that the challenge does get set up... I will go for 100 km again.

I have an idea which quite appeals to me... rather than trying to raise my distance over the year, if I do complete the challenge this time and that is at an early enough date, I will try to double up by splitting my rides into best bike and singlespeed bike. I normally do about half and half so I would then try and add another 6 or 7 qualifying rides per bike.

The routes done on my Cannondale are moderately hilly to very hilly. Flatter ones are tackled on singlespeed.

 

[ColinJ]

Okay, @Sea of vapours - I'm in!

 

[Sea of vapours]

I have an idea which quite appeals to me... rather than trying to raise my distance over the year, if I do complete the challenge this time and that is at an early enough date, I will try to double up by splitting my rides into best bike and singlespeed bike. I normally do about half and half so I would then try and add another 6 or 7 qualifying rides per bike.

I count two 'ifs' and a 'try' in that sequence. Good idea, but I'd probably choose not to invest heavily in that particular stretch target being achieved!

Good to see @Cranky Knee Girl back in for 2022. I hope we get a decent number of Lunacy challengers once again.

 

[ColinJ]

I count two 'ifs' and a 'try' in that sequence. Good idea, but I'd probably choose not to invest heavily in that particular stretch target being achieved!

I prefer to think of it as one compound 'if'!

The good thing is that nothing different applies to start with. I will just do what rides I want to do and counting by bike would only kick in once the original challenge had been completed. (Now using 'once' to avoid 'if'! )

 

[FrothNinja]

I know it doesn't sound like much, but by way of dipping my toe in currently frigid water, I will go for 30 miles

 

[lazybloke]

I know it doesn't sound like much, but by way of dipping my toe in currently frigid water, I will go for 30 miles

Cycling (and other hobbies) continue to be a low priority behind my various duties & responsibilities. That imposes certain time constraints, so
my lunacy target for 2022 is a similar modest distance of 50km.

I'll expect to do a small number of metric or imperial century rides too, but they will be rarities.

 

[FrothNinja]

Done my first today (included over a 1000m of ascent).
How do I go about making it (semi) official?
It's probably above somewhere but...

 

[Dogtrousers]

Done my first today (included over a 1000m of ascent).
How do I go about making it (semi) official?
It's probably above somewhere but...

Tis here!
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/the-2022-annual-lunacy-challenge.282437/

 

[ColinJ]

Done my first today (included over a 1000m of ascent).
How do I go about making it (semi) official?
It's probably above somewhere but...

I saw your first post over in the 2022 challenge thread - well done.

It is good to give a rough idea of your routes. Take a look at how rides were reported in last years thread - something like THIS.

 

[FrothNinja]

Thanks
Amended accordingly - I see that there is no need to do it ride by ride

 

[aferris2]

OK, I'm in for 2022. Same distance (60 km) as last year which I really struggled with. Still hoping to reach the stretch target of 80 km but I'm too slow for that at this time of the year.

 

[Fiona R]

Haven't been a lunatic consistently since 2019

I was supposed to ride Chalke and Cheese audax 2 weekends ago but a family emergency put paid to that so I was ever so hopeful that I'd make up Jack and Grace 100km audax this weekend by riding to and fro. I did. It was very hard work as I had a month off over Christmas to isolate/Travel abroad to see family/isolate. No gym for 2 years either and my old cranky body needs it. I've done Jack and Grace 4 times since 2016, it was incredible to ride with lots of people again. A bit of a mudfest and a fair few downs but somehow I survived my 2 wobbles.

I set out at 6am to ride through Chew Valley and skirt round the east of Bristol to Aztec West for 9am. Just made it. Rode with my husband up to Gloucester and back so it was very very tempting to jump in the car home and enjoy a cider at the end but I had a route plotted over Avonmouth Bridge and out to Clevedon. I left Almondsbury at 4, with a sunset all the way and the last light went as I reached Clevedon. That was 100km of headwind from Gloucester! Quick skate round the lanes of North Somerset and back home, except it wasn't quick as I was legless by then. Home at 6.45 so 12hrs 45m for 202km. It never gets easier and I just get slower. <20km/hr

 

[Fiona R]

That was horrible.

I'm just about recovering from Saturday. Originally I was going to ride an audax from Tewkesbury the previous weekend, new route and not ridiculously hilly but I'd had a chest infection so DNS. I didn't have to ride Wells and Mells audax for a third time, I could have done my own thing. It is one heck of a tough one, especially in winter. 4 nasty stabby %()%^&(*&^* hills and constant ups and downs in between! The first time I got back with seconds to spare in 2019 I rode it mainly on my own. I was better in 2020 having completed an RRtY in 2019. I actually got up King Alfred's Tower without walking. I was back riding in the company of others with 90 minutes spare. Saturday was seconds again. I was over official time but was OK in minimum audax time. I'm carrying even more weight and although fitness is building I'm still way off early 2020.

Saturday was WINDY. 100km into the headwind from home nr Bristol to Yeovil/Batcombe solo. Off the back of about 90 starters. West Harptree was harder than normal, already 85of 90 were in front when I reached Wells. I had to walk King Alfred and not just the last 100m. The headwind from Stourhead to Yeovil was horrific. Beans on burnt toast and a mug of tea, I was scraping round. I just kept telling myself I had to keep going, it was so far to call out the broom wagon and whilst I was still just on time I'd keep going. I bottomed out mentally at the last control in Mere even after 50km of tailwind. A Co op latte and a smoothie gathered me enough to keep going to Radstock, knowing the last tranche of hills were brutal too. In the dark I battled on, thankful that the forecast rain hadn't moved in properly. Survived Colliers Way into Radstock. Survived potholes and gravel and crept downhill, came off on one pothole very slow motion but not a soul about so no harm done. Resigned myself to the last 30km. Walked up Woolard and fell into the pub. Wimped out of riding 12km home. Type II-III.

4/12 on RRtY but that's the worst of winter done in terms of night riding whoppee!