The Imperial Century A Month Challenge Chatzone
- Thread starter Rob S
- Start date
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- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
footloose crow
Veteran
- Location
- Cornwall. UK
4 March: another ride
I can relax now until the end of April. What an obsession this is becoming....now I can't sit still until "the ride" is done.
A spell of clear skies and warmer temperatures meant an opportunity to ride over Bodmin Moor which has been far too wintry until now. I need to qualify the term 'wintry' in the context of living in an area described by the Met Office as 'sub tropical' although it hasn't felt like it this year. In fairness we have had daffodils since December, primroses and vinca in the hedgerows since January, although only now have snowdrops and irises arrived.
So 'wintry' means it is likely to be raining, blowing a full gale and the lanes full of mud and animal faeces. Worth avoiding.
Bodmin Moor on a nice day
The lane stretches on, the views are huge...and the next big hill is still a way away
Once Bodmin Moor had been successfully traversed (lanes reasonably clean, no wind, blue sky, almost warm, no cars) I came back via Polzeath. Polzeath is a surfing village on the north coast. There is a bench on the headland there placed by my father after my mother died because it was her favourite place to sit and watch the waves.
Now my father has also died, so both sets of ashes are interred (probably illegally) beneath this bench. It made a poignant place to stop for half an hour to tell them all the family news and what was going on. They didn't say much but I felt they were listening.
Polzeath beach and my (late) lunch spot
I got very stiff and cold sitting on that bench though and the next sixty kilometres were quite hilly. That felt the hardest part of the ride, as the sun went down and it got colder and the traffic heavier, as we reached peak 'going home' time. I diverted off the flatter and easier main roads into the much hillier and harder back lanes. I had to wrestle a bit with that decision as it added distance and time but I had a number of close passes so was ultimately happier to ride in a more relaxed frame of mind
I always question why I am doing this to myself in those last two hours of a longer ride. Shoulders aching, neck stiff, quads and knees complaining. Age is definitely withering me.
Now two days later as I write this, all I can remember is how lovely a day it was - but also how much I have also enjoyed a 90km ride with friends today. Riding alone is hard - I had forgotten how company can make even the longest hill pass by more easily. I am still trying to get someone to come with me on this challenge next month. So far, no luck.
Not far to go now.....
I can relax now until the end of April. What an obsession this is becoming....now I can't sit still until "the ride" is done.
A spell of clear skies and warmer temperatures meant an opportunity to ride over Bodmin Moor which has been far too wintry until now. I need to qualify the term 'wintry' in the context of living in an area described by the Met Office as 'sub tropical' although it hasn't felt like it this year. In fairness we have had daffodils since December, primroses and vinca in the hedgerows since January, although only now have snowdrops and irises arrived.
So 'wintry' means it is likely to be raining, blowing a full gale and the lanes full of mud and animal faeces. Worth avoiding.
Bodmin Moor on a nice day
The lane stretches on, the views are huge...and the next big hill is still a way away
Once Bodmin Moor had been successfully traversed (lanes reasonably clean, no wind, blue sky, almost warm, no cars) I came back via Polzeath. Polzeath is a surfing village on the north coast. There is a bench on the headland there placed by my father after my mother died because it was her favourite place to sit and watch the waves.
Now my father has also died, so both sets of ashes are interred (probably illegally) beneath this bench. It made a poignant place to stop for half an hour to tell them all the family news and what was going on. They didn't say much but I felt they were listening.
Polzeath beach and my (late) lunch spot
I got very stiff and cold sitting on that bench though and the next sixty kilometres were quite hilly. That felt the hardest part of the ride, as the sun went down and it got colder and the traffic heavier, as we reached peak 'going home' time. I diverted off the flatter and easier main roads into the much hillier and harder back lanes. I had to wrestle a bit with that decision as it added distance and time but I had a number of close passes so was ultimately happier to ride in a more relaxed frame of mind
I always question why I am doing this to myself in those last two hours of a longer ride. Shoulders aching, neck stiff, quads and knees complaining. Age is definitely withering me.
Now two days later as I write this, all I can remember is how lovely a day it was - but also how much I have also enjoyed a 90km ride with friends today. Riding alone is hard - I had forgotten how company can make even the longest hill pass by more easily. I am still trying to get someone to come with me on this challenge next month. So far, no luck.
Not far to go now.....
I do believe I sat on that bench last year , we walked a circular route around Pentire point and had a pleasant rest over looking Polzeath and the view seems very familiar , it's a beautiful spot
Indeed *cough*
Maybe in the incorrect challenge chat zone 👍
footloose crow
Veteran
- Location
- Cornwall. UK
There are only two benches so you probably did. It's very popular - my mother would have loved it, rather than the deckchair she used to bring. Thank you for mentioning it.
teeonethousand
Senior Member
Oops..I'll delete and repost it
This weekends cycling shenanigans. What a glorious day for a bike ride. Out of the door at silly o'clock, it was still dark but the sun was rising. I chose to wear shorts for the first time this year and for a while I thought it may have been a mistake. 8° when I left home, in some places it dropped to 1.9°. But as soon as the sun was up it warmed up very quickly, reaching highs of 20°.
So, a fab Kent loop today. Down to Tenterden at the 55 mile mark where a fab saussy roll and Guinness and cream cake really hit the spot. Down onto the Romney Marshes before turning back north homewards. A quick refuel at the village of Wye in the Kent downs on the 90 mile mark before hitting the Pilgrims Way back to Rochester.
So..121 sunny miles for the day.
Imperial century month #171 in a row.
Imperial century #350
A few future Eddingtons as a bonus.
The nice, warm, sunny weather makes a huge difference, it makes cycling so much easier.
So, a fab Kent loop today. Down to Tenterden at the 55 mile mark where a fab saussy roll and Guinness and cream cake really hit the spot. Down onto the Romney Marshes before turning back north homewards. A quick refuel at the village of Wye in the Kent downs on the 90 mile mark before hitting the Pilgrims Way back to Rochester.
So..121 sunny miles for the day.
Imperial century month #171 in a row.
Imperial century #350
A few future Eddingtons as a bonus.
The nice, warm, sunny weather makes a huge difference, it makes cycling so much easier.
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- Location
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Mine wasn't planned very well this month but it is done. 102.51 miles anti clockwise round north Shropshire on Monday, making the most of the last day of the recent mild spell. Ideally I wouldn't have done it having made an untested adjustment to the saddle set up or the day after having a nasty bout of cramp but it worked out alright. The ride report is here: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.173254/post-7373302
A few snaps from the day:
A few snaps from the day:
robjh
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire - almost Essex
March's ride done, yesterday Saturday 15th.
Using the tailwind, as I prefer to do, I headed southwest and settled on Portsmouth as a destination. Avoiding central London, I chose a route that took me through miles of semi-urban countryside and commuter towns, from the Hertfordshire new towns (Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield) , through the outer fringes of London, then Slough and the sprawling 'army towns' around Aldershot, before finally I reached something more properly rural, and had a gloriously sunny ride through the South Downs to Havant and the coast. Just time for a coffee while watching a dramatic sunset at Southsea, then I caught the 18:15 train back to London. It makes for a late end to the day, but I enjoy the train rides too so that is rarely a problem for me.
OK, some of these roads were not ideal for a scenic ride, but the final stretch was near perfect, the weather was good, and I found the riding easy with few big hills until the Downs. A good day out.
Distance for the day : 131.2 miles. 75th consecutive month with a century ride, and my 158th century ever.
Welwyn GC - a nicely designed town centre
Eton college - it's possible to despise the institution but be impressed by the architecture
Windsor
South Downs near Buriton
The sea (Langstone Harbour) at Havant - Portsmouth in the distance
Portsmouth - the Spinnaker Tower
Portsmouth - HMS Warrior
Using the tailwind, as I prefer to do, I headed southwest and settled on Portsmouth as a destination. Avoiding central London, I chose a route that took me through miles of semi-urban countryside and commuter towns, from the Hertfordshire new towns (Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield) , through the outer fringes of London, then Slough and the sprawling 'army towns' around Aldershot, before finally I reached something more properly rural, and had a gloriously sunny ride through the South Downs to Havant and the coast. Just time for a coffee while watching a dramatic sunset at Southsea, then I caught the 18:15 train back to London. It makes for a late end to the day, but I enjoy the train rides too so that is rarely a problem for me.
OK, some of these roads were not ideal for a scenic ride, but the final stretch was near perfect, the weather was good, and I found the riding easy with few big hills until the Downs. A good day out.
Distance for the day : 131.2 miles. 75th consecutive month with a century ride, and my 158th century ever.
Welwyn GC - a nicely designed town centre
Eton college - it's possible to despise the institution but be impressed by the architecture
Windsor
South Downs near Buriton
The sea (Langstone Harbour) at Havant - Portsmouth in the distance
Portsmouth - the Spinnaker Tower
Portsmouth - HMS Warrior
Marchs done 99th consecutive month in the bag . What a lovely day for a ride chilly start ,2 hrs in gloves swapped for mitts ,4 hours in at the cafe stop leg warmers off . Did have a long sleeve jacket on and got a bit warm 🥵 on the way home as it properly warmed up . 105 imperial miles headed East to a nice cafe at Corby Glen nabbed a for velo viewer squares and home .This one didn't feel like a chore that the winter ones had become
Today's ride didn't get off to a good start had just descended the big hill from home when a warning popped up on my wahoo "Warning Di2 battery low " . I thinking I only charged it the other day wtf !! . A which scroll of my wahoo pages to get to the Di2 levels and realise it my right shifter battery low ( coin cell) so I thought I think it warns you at 25% if that's the case I'm good worse case I shift the left into the little ring then swap the batteries and spin my way round as it turned out I made it round anyway
footloose crow
Veteran
- Location
- Cornwall. UK
In case anyone is bored waiting for the month to turn so we can all flagellate ourselves on another century plus ride, I have been running a blog for a few months and you may possibly want to glance at it....if you were really bored and had nothing better to do. I am not claiming it as great writing but it is helpful to me to think I may have an audience beyond the few people who have stumbled on it so far. I try to add something every two weeks.
It does cover 100 mile rides.
Amongst other stuff.
https://theanxiouscyclist.com/
It does cover 100 mile rides.
Amongst other stuff.
https://theanxiouscyclist.com/
robjh
Legendary Member
- Location
- Cambridgeshire - almost Essex
April's ride done, nice and early on Tuesday 1st (and no April Fool!).
The spell of good weather (and strong easterly wind) was too good to waste so I set off from home aiming to get to Holyhead in 2 1/2 days, with stops in hostels overnight. On my first day I did 140 miles to Hartington in the Derbyshire Peak District, so that is my qualifying ride for the month.
It was really quite chilly at 5.30 am when I set off, then got gradually warmer until it was bare arms and legs temperature in mid-afternoon. The first 50 miles or so were very familiar territory as I headed towards Rutland, and in fact I probably did very few entirely new roads all day, but quite a number in the latter parts that I haven't ridden for more than a decade. The best bits came last, as I climbed gradually towards Ashbourne, then continuing the climbing along the firm gravel of the Tissington Trail until I reached Hartington, in glorious countryside in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District. It got cold quickly at sunset, and I was glad of the youth hostel with its warm showers, kitchen and adequately comfortable bed.
140.5 miles / 226.1 km for this ride.
159th century ever, and 76th consecutive month with a century ride.
Also, my Eddington number has gone up by one, to 109.
My full ride to North Wales - end of day one shown by the red line
My bike at the start of the Tissington Trail, in Ashbourne
The spell of good weather (and strong easterly wind) was too good to waste so I set off from home aiming to get to Holyhead in 2 1/2 days, with stops in hostels overnight. On my first day I did 140 miles to Hartington in the Derbyshire Peak District, so that is my qualifying ride for the month.
It was really quite chilly at 5.30 am when I set off, then got gradually warmer until it was bare arms and legs temperature in mid-afternoon. The first 50 miles or so were very familiar territory as I headed towards Rutland, and in fact I probably did very few entirely new roads all day, but quite a number in the latter parts that I haven't ridden for more than a decade. The best bits came last, as I climbed gradually towards Ashbourne, then continuing the climbing along the firm gravel of the Tissington Trail until I reached Hartington, in glorious countryside in the heart of the Derbyshire Peak District. It got cold quickly at sunset, and I was glad of the youth hostel with its warm showers, kitchen and adequately comfortable bed.
140.5 miles / 226.1 km for this ride.
159th century ever, and 76th consecutive month with a century ride.
Also, my Eddington number has gone up by one, to 109.
My full ride to North Wales - end of day one shown by the red line
My bike at the start of the Tissington Trail, in Ashbourne
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