The Imperial Century A Month Challenge Chatzone

[footloose crow]

Some nice nighttime photos there. I started my ride on the 7th but finished on the 8th, so whether that beats yours for first of the month I can't say!

You finished before I did on the 8th so on that basis I think you are first this month! You could also argue that you got the 161km out of the way even earlier - so definitely first. Good ride - I would like to give M&S a go one day. Better not leave it too long though as otherwise age will creep up and ambush me.

 

[13 rider]

I'm over the line for November ,104 miles Leicester to Corby to grab some velo viewer squares , cycled around Rockingham speedway sad to to see this impressive structures abandoned much like the rest of Corby 😁. Had amazing weather for November wasn't planning on doing it this week as when I looked earlier it had rain every day but obviously it changed so at short notice I took advantage

 

[ianrauk]

November's qualifying ride done and dusted. 101 miles of Kentishire lanes.
Its was cold, temperatures not getting higher then 6.1°. We were blessed, although briefly with the sun and blue skies but it stayed mostly cloudy.
My riding partner for the day was the legendary Major @Trickedem who did the first half of the ride. Departing for a train leaving me to make my way home on my lonesome.
So.
Imperial century #380 overall
Imperial century month #180 in a row
(15 years of century rides, though December's will be 15 calendar months.)

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

A bit late reporting it but I got my November ride done last Sunday (16th). 107.32 miles to Lake Vyrnwy and back. Quite hard going once again due to simply not getting the miles in between challenge rides and somehow I spent about an hour longer at Vyrnwy than planned - not sure where that time went.

Strava threw a wobbly at about 25 miles in, so I'm fairly glad I don't rely on that for keeping track of the distance and speed. It was showing an 18.5 mph average when I got to the dam, which was a fairly clear indication something was up.

The ride report is here for those who would like to read it: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.173254/post-7534664

Some snaps that didn't make it into the report:

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Finished! I got my December ride done yesterday: 103.45 miles at 11.4 mph moving average on a convoluted loop that I originally came up with during one of the covid lockdowns. It was a frosty start then fog followed by a bit of sunshine but it stayed pretty cold through the day. Not fast but I'm just glad to have got it done.

The ride report is here: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.173254/post-7541957

I didn't take that many photos this time but here are a selection. Some in the report, some not:

 

[13 rider]

Well done Phil ,I went out on Tuesday and did my metric century ride but afterwards I regretted not doing my imperial one as the weather was probably as good as it gets for December,hopefully I won't regret that decision later in the month

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Well done Phil ,I went out on Tuesday and did my metric century ride but afterwards I regretted not doing my imperial one as the weather was probably as good as it gets for December,hopefully I won't regret that decision later in the month

Thanks.

Hopefully you'll get some options later in the month. This coming week doesn't look great. Possibly after that?

 

[ianrauk]

Well done Phil🙏🙌
Here you go

Well deserved.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

Well done Phil🙏🙌
Here you go

View attachment 794560
Well deserved.

Thanks. It feels really good to have completed the challenge after a long break from it. Looking forward to another go next year.

 

[robjh]

And another year over! Number 7 for me, so that makes 84 consecutive months.

I did December's on Saturday 6th, on the South of Bucks Winter Warmer 200k audax starting and ending at Beaconsfield. It meant an early start for me to get the 04.45 train, and by the time I got home at 11pm I was falling asleep where I sat.
Anyway, the ride: it started off southwards, across the Thames at Maidenhead and into a stiff headwind down to Alton in Hants at 73km, which was the first café stop, but then we got friendlier winds for the rest of the ride. There were a few sharp climbs back over to the Thames at Streatley, and again crossing the Chilterns after Watlington, but nothing too major. The weather remained dull and damp for the most of the day with afternoon showers but my rain-repellent jacket was enough, and temperatures were extremely mild - in fact I had taken far more gear than I needed for the conditions. Predictably for the time of year we finished in the dark, including the Chiltern crossing. I topped off my ride with a further 12k after the audax to the station at Denham for a train back to London.
I had a really good day, though I haven't got the position of my new saddle quite right and finished with some knee pain on both sides which had stiffened up by this morning. Some more work to do there I think.

Distance 134.8 miles / 217 km, of which the audax was approximately 127 miles / 205 km.
My 179th century ever, and 84th month in a row.

A Greggs breakfast at the start

Typical scenery (when not raining)

Second crossing of the Thames, at Streatley to Goring

 

[13 rider]

Well done @robjh

 

[ianrauk]

Well done @robjh
Here you go

Well deserved.

 

[13 rider]

Well done Phil ,I went out on Tuesday and did my metric century ride but afterwards I regretted not doing my imperial one as the weather was probably as good as it gets for December,hopefully I won't regret that decision later in the month

Thankfully another weather window appeared so I'm over the line for 2025 so that's 9 years in a row . 103 imperial miles from Leicester to Wellingborough and back ,Planned the route so I had a cross wind in both directions but also had more of a tailwind in the last 20 miles which was nice

 

[ianrauk]

Congrats @13 rider
Here you go

Another well deserved gold star

 

[ianrauk]

And there you go.
Todays rides completes 15 calendar years of the Imperial Century a Month challenge.
100 miles on the dot for a ride through the Kent lanes to Ashford and back. Out early morning in the dark and 2° temperatures, though it didn't feel that cold. Sunny blue skies and low sun for the morning, starting to cloud over for the return. Temperatures never getting above 11° all day and a bit of a cheeky headwind for the return, but nothing to really moan about.
So, scores on the doors.
100 miles
Imperial century #361
Imperial century month in a row #181
Now...do I go for 16 years?
Oh yes, and another gold star for me.