The Metric Century (100KM) A Month Challenge ChatZone

[ColinJ]

Face is red raw after barely an hour of being whipped by the wind and the rain whilst walking the dog ... there endeth my challenge.

See you all in 2015.

I don't blame you!

I am trying to be more sensible after my poor health over the past year and a half during which I frightened myself with my MTFU attitude. I was prepared to push myself to near-death on the bike until eventually illness overcame my ability to explain away minor problems like not being able to breathe or even stand up ...

I think if I had set off to do my metric century this week, I would have completed it or died trying! Then I would have felt pressure on me to complete another 11. It is safer for me to sabotage myself now, and that frees me to ride according to how I feel rather than a number on the calendar.

If all goes well with my health and fitness in 2014, then I will be more ambitious in 2015!

 

[Pennine-Paul]

Got february's 100k in,Had a nice tailwind for the first 60 km
then paid the price when leaving Sowerby bridge, a headwind
for the next 15 km up a 5% occaisionally 10% ,was an absolute
grind, down to walking pace for the last couple of kms,that climb set
me off hacking and coughing again,can't seem to shake off this xmas lurgy

 

[Fubar]

February's 100k done, took advantage of the DCC's 50-mile Tourist Time Trial to clock 80k then extended the route home to take it over the 100 - bit of a windy struggle heading West, sun was out by the time I was home.

 

[jefmcg]

<sigh> snuck in january on last day of the month for my first attempt at this challenge, and february is already looking threatened. I've got a bad cold, and waiting for that to clear before flying to the other side of the world to spend the rest of the month caring for Aged Parents. Taking my folder on the plane, but between jetlag, and duties and stuff and not worrying aged-Ps, I suspect finding time for a quick 100km this month may be hard. </sigh>

Or rely on the jetlag, and go out at 4am one morning. With fingers-crossed that my restless father doesn't see the light on, and come to investigate.

 

[jayonabike]

Got one ride in January and two so far for Feb. Yesterday was a glorious day compared to what the weather has been like lately, lets hope it stays that way.

 

[ianrauk]

Got one ride in January and two so far for Feb. Yesterday was a glorious day compared to what the weather has been like lately, lets hope it stays that way.

Yup, glorious yesterday. Would have been a crime not to have gone out for a ride. So bagged Febs 100k and 100imp.

 

[jayonabike]

Yup, glorious yesterday. Would have been a crime not to have gone out for a ride. So bagged Febs 100k and 100imp.

Fair play on the imperial century. On our ride yesterday Tom & myself were chatting about your 100 mile rides almost every week, hats off to you sir! Once the weather settles down a bit you'll have to come cycling up this neck of the woods again.

 

[ianrauk]

Fair play on the imperial century. On our ride yesterday Tom & myself were chatting about your 100 mile rides almost every week, hats off to you sir! Once the weather settles down a bit you'll have to come cycling up this neck of the woods again.

Damn right bud.love riding your roads.. give my best to the guys.

 

[jefmcg]

Thanks for the challenge, guys.

Last month I did it in driving rain, and only didn't bail due to a train problems and I had to get home somehow.

This month the logistical challenge was going to be different. I've travelled to Australia for family responsibilities and thus only have my folder. I'm here to help my frail parents, and don't want to stress them with the worry of me being on the roads. My father has long been a believer that cycling is incredibly dangerous. "Luckily" he's currently still in hospital, so I managed to sneak out on Sunday morning. The weather is mild for here (Melbourne), only 23. But after a wet London winter, that was plenty for me.

I headed straight east from where I was, out along a lovely rolling dual carriageway - through @victor's territory - and found the Lilydale-Warburton-Rail-Trail. It's an old railway line that runs through the forests and farmlands of the hills near Melbourne. It's pretty flat - railway grade - and a good solid gravel surface. There are even the remains of the old stations. 40km (25 miles) to Warburton, a lot of it under the shade of trees. Of course, I've lost my slip slop slap instinct, so I've got some sunburn on my thighs, but that's already going down. I've also lost some fitness over that last few weeks, so I was knackered yesterday.

The ride was lovely though. The trail is pretty underused, and really beautiful. Coming in and out of the trees, the air full of eucalyptus smells, cockatoos, bell birds, friendly riders. Stopped for 2nd breakfast at the 30km mark (avocado poached eggs with macadamia), and lunch at a cafe on the path, where all it's sandwiches are named after bike races; I had the giro d'talia :-). Train back to visit my mother who's in a care home .... "what are you wearing???"

http://app.strava.com/activities/115447358

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Looks like it was a nice day! One of my favourite all-day Saturday rides is to ride from home to Lilydale (16km), then the Lilydale-Warburton Rail Trail (40km), then up Mt Donna Buang and back down to Warburton (34km), where I have lunch at a Warburton Cafe (which always tastes really good, for some reason ), then back home via the same route. About 148km all up. I like the rail trail, as it's very relaxing and a nice way to get there and back.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I don't realistically expect to even make 100km next month, but will give it a try.
managed 108km today... http://www.strava.com/activities/105100883
Please tell me it will get easier?

Well, ermmm, I did 133.34km yesterday with 1,177m of climbing yesterday, so I guess that counts as February's attempt!
http://www.strava.com/activities/115809005/overview not sure it was any easier mind you....
(ride report will follow in the my ride today thread...)

 

[totallyfixed]

Well, ermmm, I did 133.34km yesterday with 1,177m of climbing yesterday, so I guess that counts as February's attempt!
http://www.strava.com/activities/115809005/overview not sure it was any easier mind you....
(ride report will follow in the my ride today thread...)

Very impressive, I think more for the fact you survived Stoke, some of the worst drivers I have seen anywhere. We are in Holmes Chapel all this weekend so you never know, might see you out among the potholes somewhere.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Very impressive, I think more for the fact you survived Stoke, some of the worst drivers I have seen anywhere. We are in Holmes Chapel all this weekend so you never know, might see you out among the potholes somewhere.

I can handle the Stoke drivers - grew up (for teenage years at least) in Newcastle, Basford, Hartshill, Endon, Leek, Westlands, Weston Coyney and so on.... Yesterday all bar one driver was excellent.

 

[jayonabike]

Went out after my nightshift. I was on the road by 7.15 a.m as the sun was just coming up. As I headed out of town and into the countryside the mist and fog was rolling in and stayed that way for a good hour or so until the sun warmed up bit. Absolutely quiet lanes, I saw more rabbits than cars along with some red kites looking for last nights road kill.
I rode a route I've ridden plenty of times before but added about 20 miles to the loop into deepest darkest Bedfordshire.
I was planning to stop for a coffee and maybe some breakfast but my legs were spinning well and it seemed a waste to stop, so I didn't.

First 100 km ride for March and was home before lunchtime. Boom!

 

[jayonabike]

I didn't intend to do a 100 km ride, but somehow I just did.
I met James who had already done 35 or so miles and we headed out to the lanes in Gaddesden Row and onto Ashridge, then down to Berkhamsted where I left James and carried on to Aldbury picking up the lane to Ivinghoe. Onto the B road to Eddlesborough and Dagnall, up hill to Studham and back to Gad Row. This was getting on for 30 miles or so when I was 2 miles from home, but I had caught up with 2 other cyclists for the last 3 or 4 miles and as a group we were shifting so I carried on to Redbourn where the group split and I was back on my own again. Up the hill to Harpenden and picked up my Sandridge loop in reverse. Undulating fast B roads all the way back to St.Albans and the lanes back to Hemel and I had 58 miles on the clock. so a loop of the industrial area and then home made it 101.4 km.
The cooked breakfast I had before I left meant I didn't need to stop and when I got home I was greeted by the smell of roast pork cooking in the oven. Happy days!
Two 100 km rides this weekend has meant a good weekend of cycling.