The Metric Century (100KM) A Month Challenge ChatZone

[ukbabz]

2024 completed, makes two years of the challenge on here completed (and 3 and half years doing myself :-) ). It's also prompted me to go on longer rides when I really cba sometimes

This weeks was a mucky ride on Saturday. Roads feeling grim and grippy this time of year but great to get out for 3.5 hours.

 

[cyberknight]

I fully intended to do the metric ride today by tacking a bit more onto the club cafe ride but the group was mostly what i would call pootlers , nowt wrong with that but by the time we finished the ride it was too late for me to do another 15 miles without getting ear ache from mrs ck .Weather didnt help as at the start it was cold, raining and that wind made it downright dangerous in places as coming down one hill i was blown slowly right across the road till i was close to the opposite kerb and i couldnt control it (luckily there were no cars about )

 

[Dogtrousers]

Another fail today. I had a course of antibiotics and my breathing seems to have recovered, and I'm feeling OK now but I took one look at the rain at 7am today and thought "I'll chance leaving it to later in the month". So I was on pork pie making duty today instead.

 

[cyberknight]

Another fail today. I had a course of antibiotics and my breathing seems to have recovered, and I'm feeling OK now but I took one look at the rain at 7am today and thought "I'll chance leaving it to later in the month". So I was on pork pie making duty today instead.

i was close to bailing as it started raining as i left the house and my FD wouldn't move to the big ring even though i hadnt changed anything , managed 48 miles altogether after i fixed it . 14 mph avg rather than the 17 ish i aim for .

 

[bluenotebob]

I’d really like to have a crack at this challenge in 2025. I know that I’m capable of doing at least one 100+km ride per month and I’d like to put that resolve to the test next year.

My main concern is riding in July and August when the temperature here can reach 35C or even 40C. The usual rule – applies to gardeners, joggers and dog-walkers as well – is go out before 0930 and after 1900 but stay inside between those times. My preference would be to do say 30km in the early morning – then try and do a further 70km in the relative cool of the evening. If I’ve interpreted the rules of this challenge correctly, that would not qualify for this challenge. Leaving me with having to do a 100km ride starting at 1730/1800 (when the temperature can still be stifling) and cycling until 2300 – or even midnight (question .. what about rides finishing post-midnight? – do they count as they run into the following day?).

I know there’ll be some contention with the other two challenges that I’m in – the Annual Lunacy Distance and the Monthly HMCAM. I’ve had some problems sorting out what rides to post in the HMCAM but I think (and hope) that I resolved those niggles this autumn. As far as the Lunacy challenge goes, I’d post rides of between 82 and 99 km there. That would mean I’d need to do at least 25 rides of over 82km next year (12 in this challenge + 13 in the Lunacy one) which might be a bit of a tall order – probably needs more thought (and might mean reducing my intended Lunacy target of 82km in 2025 down to a more modest 70km or so).

Any comments/suggestions/thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[13 rider]

I’d really like to have a crack at this challenge in 2025. I know that I’m capable of doing at least one 100+km ride per month and I’d like to put that resolve to the test next year.

My main concern is riding in July and August when the temperature here can reach 35C or even 40C. The usual rule – applies to gardeners, joggers and dog-walkers as well – is go out before 0930 and after 1900 but stay inside between those times. My preference would be to do say 30km in the early morning – then try and do a further 70km in the relative cool of the evening. If I’ve interpreted the rules of this challenge correctly, that would not qualify for this challenge. Leaving me with having to do a 100km ride starting at 1730/1800 (when the temperature can still be stifling) and cycling until 2300 – or even midnight (question .. what about rides finishing post-midnight? – do they count as they run into the following day?).

I know there’ll be some contention with the other two challenges that I’m in – the Annual Lunacy Distance and the Monthly HMCAM. I’ve had some problems sorting out what rides to post in the HMCAM but I think (and hope) that I resolved those niggles this autumn. As far as the Lunacy challenge goes, I’d post rides of between 82 and 99 km there. That would mean I’d need to do at least 25 rides of over 82km next year (12 in this challenge + 13 in the Lunacy one) which might be a bit of a tall order – probably needs more thought (and might mean reducing my intended Lunacy target of 82km in 2025 down to a more modest 70km or so).

Any comments/suggestions/thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

As I read the rules your 2 rides wouldn't count, What about early starts ? , As for finishing after midnight I dont see that as an issue as the ride is completed within 24hrs of the start and I sure we had overnight rides posted in the challenge . A word of warning from someone who does all 3 distance challenges is to not let your challenge rides take over from your normal routine it's suppose to be fun . Good luck with whatever you decide to do in 2025

 

[Sea of vapours]

The spirit of the challenge is the 'one ride' aspect (though, as an aside, and as someone who never stops at cafes, I've wondered about the ethics of long cafe stops sometimes!). There's certainly nothing in the rules, or good sense, about the ride not going across midnight though, so late afternoon or evening starts are surely entirely acceptable.

Further to that, I can't see anything to suggest that you can't use one ride in two challenges. Obviously, if that breaks your personal sense of 'right' then don't, but these seem to me to be independent challenges. Specifically, why not count a 100+km Lunacy ride in the Metric Century challenge, in that the former is not month dependent in any case, and the latter attributes points to 'excess' rides, so why exclude it just because it constitutes a Lunacy ride?

As I've opined before, these challenges are, ultimately, about providing motivation to ride, so I suggest you do whatever you think will provide you with that motivation, whilst also being both challenging but possible.

 

[13 rider]

The spirit of the challenge is the 'one ride' aspect (though, as an aside, and as someone who never stops at cafes, I've wondered about the ethics of long cafe stops sometimes!). There's certainly nothing in the rules, or good sense, about the ride not going across midnight though, so late afternoon or evening starts are surely entirely acceptable.

Further to that, I can't see anything to suggest that you can't use one ride in two challenges. Obviously, if that breaks your personal sense of 'right' then don't, but these seem to me to be independent challenges. Specifically, why not count a 100+km Lunacy ride in the Metric Century challenge, in that the former is not month dependent in any case, and the latter attributes points to 'excess' rides, so why exclude it just because it constitutes a Lunacy ride?

As I've opined before, these challenges are, ultimately, about providing motivation to ride, so I suggest you do whatever you think will provide you with that motivation, whilst also being both challenging but possible.

As I'm aware of there is nothing to stop cross posting of rides across multiple challenges ,I and most others who enter multiple challenges feel they need to be separate rides for our own challenges to be met . Otherwise I could just do the imperial challenge and cross post and complete the other 2 challenges at the same time which doesn't sit correct with me but it's down to the individual as I see it

 

[Ajax Bay]

My preference would be to do say 30km in the early morning – then try and do a further 70km in the relative cool of the evening. If I’ve interpreted the rules of this challenge correctly, that would not qualify for this challenge. Leaving me with having to do a 100km ride starting at 1730/1800 (when the temperature can still be stifling) and cycling until 2300 – or even midnight . . .

My take on this is that this challenge offers to motivation, in your hot summer months, to go and ride deserted roads starting before dawn and finishing "in the early morning" before breakfast.
We will cheer you on!
I recall a great ride along the south coast back from my parents leaving early doors and getting home in time for breakfast with 'lazy' children (summer hols, so no footy/rugby/hockey matches to be the taxi for).

. . . I and most others who enter multiple challenges feel they need to be separate rides for our own challenges to be met . Otherwise I could just do the imperial challenge and cross post and complete the other 2 challenges at the same time which doesn't sit correct with me

I completed the MCAM and the ICAM a couple of years and one of my personal rules (as @13rider's) was not to 'cross post'. Two rides were required. Though I allowed myself to split >300km rides to satisfy both challenges.

 

[bluenotebob]

Thanks for all your comments.

I’m sure I’ve got at least one more good year on the bike to come – and, who knows, perhaps three or four more. If I’m going to try and complete this particular challenge, then it really should be next year.

I’m not an ‘early morning’ person – so although I appreciate the suggestion, that just doesn’t work for me.

I do understand the comment about it being fun – and if it stopped being fun, and I lost my cycling mojo, then life would become very difficult. It’s something to be wary of and I’ll pull out if there’s the slightest hint that all is not well.

I understand the distinction that @Sea of vapours makes between the Lunacy Distance challenge and the other conventional distance challenges. They’re not the same – he’s right – but cross- or double-posting still doesn’t sit right with me. If the worst happened (illness or injury) and I failed to post a MCAM ride in any one month, then I’d just port all my MCAM rides over to the Lunacy challenge.

I’m going to trial evening rides in January (I just need to buy a very good front light) and I’m also going to start carrying more stuff on my bike (camera, phone, food, van keys etc) and less on my back in my day-bag.

I want to have a really good shot at Eddington Number Improvement next year and participating in this challenge would go a long way to helping me ‘up the ladder’.

Bring on January!

 

[Sea of vapours]

... others who enter multiple challenges feel they need to be separate rides for our own challenges to be met .

I completed the MCAM and the ICAM a couple of years and one of my personal rules (as @13rider's) was not to 'cross post'.

I concur for the monthly challenges. I'd not cross-post the Imperial and Metric challenges. The Lunacy is fundamentally different though, as @Profpointy recognises. In practice, I don't ever rely on one ride in a month for the Metric Century and also count that as Lunacy since in any month when I do a Lunacy ride I do multiple Metric ones. Cross-posting, for me, is solely to keep track of how many 100+ rides I've done in the year.

Again, I don't think it matters so long as we stick to whatever start-of-year rules we impose on ourselves. As to Eddington number improvement, @bluenotebob , it may be relevant to keep in mind that there is no 'single ride' stipulation for that. And I'm very much with you on evening rides rather than the horror of early morning ones! 'Early' for me is anything before 1030, and that's pushing it a bit.

 

[Ajax Bay]

@bluenotebob Last seen 4 minutes ago · Viewing thread Cycling at night in France.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I for one would be perfectly happy if we struck out the "not two separate rides rule". I can't see that it serves any good propose other than being a "rule for rules sake". Just make it a 24hr total. I'm sure there are those who'd disagree which is fair enough.

Many of the MCaM rules are inherited from the big brother the Imperial challenge. And I think they were written down in the mists of time on a pre-CC forum and are kinda sacrosanct. But MCaM has always been a bit more flexible.

At least we don't have the "no stops at your home" rule. I always thought that was a particularly stupid rule when I was doing that challenge. I obeyed it if course, even to the point of not posting a ride when I forgot my pump and had to go back for it. But I grumbled quietly to myself about it, and took great pleasure posting a ride where I returned to base mid-ride when staying away from home.

 

[Sea of vapours]

I for one would be perfectly happy if we struck out the "not two separate rides rule".

I'd not be bothered by that rule change either, though possibly for the opposite reason, in that stopping at a cafe for an hour feels like two rides anyway, so I really don't see the difference if the two rides are either side of a cafe stop or either side of a trip home for a multi-course meal lasting five hours :-) I've always thought it bizarre that ICAM people could go to a cafe but not pop home for a coffee and cake, or whatever. Top marks for the 'returning to base, mid-ride, whilst not at home' wheeze :-) Nit-picky rules are there to be pushed against.

 

[ianrauk]

I forgot my pump and had to go back for it.

I would call that a bye. It's an important part of bike kit that you may need.
Stopping at home for meals, rests, etc is what the rule attains to.