The Imperial Century A Month Challenge Chatzone

[Aravis]

I was successful on Thursday, despite the ice. Fortunately I got the message early on, the first sheet ice I came to was very obvious and I took no chances to the annoyance of the bus driver behind me who I delayed by a few seconds. I couldn't really relax completely until turning for home, putting me on the south facing side of the road.

I have never attempted a ride of this magnitude in such temperatures before; even in my youth I don't think I ever believed I could. To be stretching boundaries like this, albeit at a much slower pace than in the past, is pretty amazing.

One road I would like to draw attention to is the B4352 leaving the village of Clehonger, SW from Hereford, eventually joining the well-known Golden Valley road just before Hay-on-Wye. It seems to be largely overlooked as a through route, has stunning views, skylarks everywhere, and a sprinkling of drumlins adding charm to the landscape. Surprisingly I'd only ridden it once before, in the opposite direction.

I hope to find my pace picking up a bit as the weather warms. To be fair, I did find a slow puncture around half way which I managed to live with for the rest of the day. So my spares are still in new in box.

 

[tatr]

Cutting it fine bud... fingers crossed the weather Gods play fair.

I had a go at doing a century out here but even after a week's acclimatisation and starting before dawn I had to knock it on the head after 44 miles when the temp hit 30C and my legs started cramping up I've never been so soaked after a ride... and it wasn't raining!

Hope everyone is enjoying the cold and wind! Looking forward to getting back home where the worst you face is hypothermia.

 

[rhm]

I posted my ride from last Sunday. It was a good ride, but when I got home I knew I was sick. Turned out I was coming down with the flu, and proceeded to spend the week in bed! Ugh.

This view is looking south just before descending into the Delaware Valley at Milford. You can see the valley and maybe even the river in the distance, with the sun reflecting off the water. Pennsylvania on the right, New Jersey on the left.

Also, here's an interesting cycling related landmark I passed:

I've barely been on a bike since.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

February done.

 

[Racing roadkill]

I got the February ride in on Thursday. The weather gods were smiling, so I rode up to Littlehampton and back. February is one of my bogey months, so I was relieved to get it in.

https://www.strava.com/activities/496408313

 

[Michael Adu]

20 Feb 16 another 143 mile, RRtY and 2016 Century challenge still on!
It was supposed to 6 of us but only 3, me @redfalo ; and @Gordon P were there at the start, me a little late again Already tired from a busy week I rode to the start as fast as I could . The forecast predicted rain and a return headwind not great but I still wanted to feel the fear anyway. Halfway round and we felt blessed as the wind was in our favour, dry weather and we had a quick brekki break at Gt Dunmore (we also still had dry feet). The roads on our out outward journey were quite quiet except for the occasional impatient, inconsiderate twat.

It's funny how the 2 hrs of the ride, after a late lunch can have major impact on your overall experience.
At points the energy was zapped out of me, put down to not fueling enough and the elements, although I wanted to stop and rest, the prospect of getting cold standing in the rain and wind was not a comfort. A call for a reduction in speed was honoured and was enough for me to recharge my cells. Faced with 2 hours of rain, headwinds and not much to look at we arrived at the Two Bells Ingatestone very wet and downbeat but we were greeted by an open fire and some cheery banter from the locals whose kudos about our shenanigans raised our spirits, or was that the Double Grouse and coffee that assisted in the warming up process. When we reluctantly left the Pub with well wishes from the locals the rain had stopped but not the wind.

We went a slightly different way home through Margaretting which was appreciated and saved a few km's. Again when exhausted I had to stop at Woodford to have a few Haribo otherwise I would have bonked and been unable to ride home from the start, and they gave me enough energy to continue the ride and get home without having to call uber. The 3 starters crossed the line, so were finishers although very tired, feeling a little great!
https://www.strava.com/activities/498159043

 

[martint235]

February done. Out to Tiptree and back with @rb58 and @ianrauk. Headwind all the way back made for hard work.

 

[tatr]

February done. Out to Tiptree and back with @rb58 and @ianrauk. Headwind all the way back made for hard work.

Very nice. Did you have gusting side-winds today in Essex as well?

 

[martint235]

Very nice. Did you have gusting side-winds today in Essex as well?

Primarily tailwind out, headwind back but it was quite swirly. It would suddenly drop off when you were pushing hard leaving you straining against nothing

 

[Michael Adu]

Primarily tailwind out, headwind back but it was quite swirly. It would suddenly drop off when you were pushing hard leaving you straining against nothing

Yes it was like that on Saturday too with rain ☔️

 

[StuAff]

February done. Good job I had this week off, the middle of this week has better weather forecast than most of the month has seen. NW wind, so headed up to Whitchurch (after coming back from Denmead when I realised I'd forgottten my bottles, whoops)- would have gone a bit further out but for that little detour. Felt fine but harder work than usual for that route- it is lumpy but I'm usually a fair bit quicker, and even when I had the tailwind the speed didn't materialise. Ho hum, done and dusted anyway.

 

[ianrauk]

Well done @StuAff

 

[Soltydog]

February ride done today. It was my last chance today as I'm back at work tomorrow for 7 days & was struggling a bit to get & stay motivated I was tempted to bin it before halfway & head home, but stuck with it, so I'm still in it. 2 weeks off in March & hopefully better weather should make it easier

 

[Cold Snail]

February DIY RRTY ride completed yesterday in freezing conditions and after having a whole 15 minutes of kip to prepare for it.
Started just after midnight, went a bit faster that usual to start with trying to warm up, failed spectacularly. Lots of sheet ice to contend with before Appledore and really wanted to give up and go home around 3.30am due to tiredness, energy crash and frozen bidons, but was in Camber and was screwed either way, so carried on with full value in mind.

Photo taken just outside of Dymchurch around 7am.

This one was about an hour later just before leaving the marsh.

The Thermos flask in the pannier was what got me through the night, the first shop open to re-stock on liquids was in Hythe, but by then I was shot, so the last 50 miles was done at a very relaxed pace and I stopped every now and again and took some photos to take my mind off it.
Met up with @fatjel in Staplehurst and spend a little while warming up in his car with a coffee, then met him again in Tonbridge to give his now straighter bike back that might have been flattened by me two weeks ago.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

February DIY RRTY ride completed yesterday in freezing conditions and after having a whole 15 minutes of kip to prepare for it.
Started just after midnight, went a bit faster that usual to start with trying to warm up, failed spectacularly. Lots of sheet ice to contend with before Appledore and really wanted to give up and go home around 3.30am due to tiredness, energy crash and frozen bidons, but was in Camber and was screwed either way, so carried on with full value in mind.

Photo taken just outside of Dymchurch around 7am.

This one was about an hour later just before leaving the marsh.

The Thermos flask in the pannier was what got me through the night, the first shop open to re-stock on liquids was in Hythe, but by then I was shot, so the last 50 miles was done at a very relaxed pace and I stopped every now and again and took some photos to take my mind off it.
Met up with @fatjel in Staplehurst and spend a little while warming up in his car with a coffee, then met him again in Tonbridge to give his now straighter bike back that might have been flattened by me two weeks ago.

Midnight start in February not sure whether that is commitment or you should be committed.