The Imperial Century A Month Challenge Chatzone

[Supersuperleeds]

While I was riding on Monday I also had an idea for an alternate challenge, somewhat more prosaic perhaps. Each month you need to record a ride longer than one from the previous month, the idea being, I suppose, to maximise the total of the 12 rides combined.

Clearly you are limited by the maximum distance you are able to ride in December. If the challenge is restricted to centuries, the shortest possible for December is 111. You'd probably want to establish more than one sequence through the year to give yourself options in the last few months.

This year I would have failed the challenge in June, when I only recorded one ride which didn't fit with any of my possible sequences up to that time. One benefit of this variant would be to give value to rides which are neither the first nor the longest in any given month; I believe some of the monthly challenges other than the imperial century do this in other ways.

I'd have failed that February

I've just checked how many imperials I've done this year, 17, did 22 last year but since I thought I'd only done 14 this year and I've deliberately reduced the mileage I'm quite happy.

 

[tatr]

November done yesterday in filthy weather. 2am start and 25 miles in freezing rain and I still enjoyed it. What's wrong with me

 

[ianrauk]

Well, this weekend is the first cycling weekend of December. On Saturday, myself, @rb58 and @Trickedem will be winging our way to Tiptree in Essex for brekkie and to hopefully complete the challenge for 2016.

I am hoping others in the challenge are heading out too.
I have some gold stars here that are ready to be given out
So g'luck to those that are heading out this weekend, hopefully the weather Gods play nice for us all

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Well, this weekend is the first cycling weekend of December. On Saturday, myself, @rb58 and @Trickedem will be winging our way to Tiptree in Essex for brekkie and to hopefully complete the challenge for 2016.

I am hoping others in the challenge are heading out too.
I have some gold stars here that are ready to be given out
So g'luck to those that are heading out this weekend, hopefully the weather Gods play nice for us all

Can I make a request that you don't set next years challenge up until the end of December, I'd like to get this year finished before thinking about next year

 

[Soltydog]

All this talk of December rides & I've only got my November one done today. The forecast was for 6 degrees today, but at midday I was still having to contend with icy & frosty roads Made it rather slow going at times & a rather long day. Think I need to go find a local Inn with a roaring open fire to help me thaw out I'll get my write up done tomorrow & hopefully get my December ride done with more than 9 hours to spare Only working 10 days in December, so hopefully plenty of opportunity to get out for a ton.

 

[steveindenmark]

I'm doing the 50km challenge and always plan to get it in during the first week of the month. It works really well, especially in October, November and December.

But the weather is still remarkable. Its about 8 degrees in Denmark at the moment and my January 50km ride was in minus 12 degrees. Hopefully I will be doing my 50km on Friday.

 

[Soltydog]

I'm doing the 50km challenge and always plan to get it in during the first week of the month. It works really well, especially in October, November and December.

I always plan to do it early, just things don't always go to plan

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I'm doing the 50km challenge and always plan to get it in during the first week of the month. It works really well, especially in October, November and December.

But the weather is still remarkable. Its about 8 degrees in Denmark at the moment and my January 50km ride was in minus 12 degrees. Hopefully I will be doing my 50km on Friday.

Do you do them indoors or outdoors

 

[tatr]

Good luck all!

I'm going to be doing my December ride in Singapore at the end of the month.

No need for a weather forecast, it's rainy season over there. Downpours so heavy you can't see more than 5 yards, and temperatures so warm that you can't wear waterproofs.

As well as my gold star I'm expecting a swimming certificate.

 

[steveindenmark]

Do you do them indoors or outdoors

Im a Yorkshireman. Where do you think I do them

A quick dip in the Baltic half way round and Im champion.

Actually, I got to about 10km last January and stopped for a drink and my water bottle was like a brick. I stuffed it in my jacket and managed to get a sip every now and again. Denmark has a great cycle infrastructure but is certainly devoid of cafes or feed stops.

Tomorrow I am nipping over the border into Germany where I am sure I will have a bit more luck. Currywurst mit pommes frites, I hope.

 

[Aravis]

Entering December I have three cycling aspirations to be completed this month, and incredibly I already have official approval for two of them. The month of toil I've endured renovating our living room - sometimes involving plastering, painting, wallpapering, electrical modifications, tiling, and bike cleaning on the same day - seems to be bearing fruit at last.

Part 1 is scheduled for tomorrow. Heading up to Redditch and Bromsgrove, ending with a reprise of the excursion into the Malverns which I enjoyed so much last month. I should finish on 114 miles, the minimum required to contribute to the next Eddington number.

That is the theory.

 

[Aravis]

Circumstances weren't ideal, and I decided to leave out the Malverns loop. This was the first day this year when I've found myself seriously doubting that I could complete, but things perked up from about 45 miles onwards. I am now very, very tired. But at the end I could have carried on. I just didn't fancy the darkness today.

With a final ride of 103 miles, the challenge is complete. Yes!

https://www.strava.com/activities/791534601

 

[ianrauk]

Congratulations @Aravis. For completing 2016's challenge and for being the first Cycle Chatter to do so this year.

Here you go, welcome to a very exclusive club.

Century A Month Challenge, 2016

 

[Supersuperleeds]

 

[ianrauk]

Here you go @Supersuperleeds . Well done. Third year in a row.