The Imperial Century A Month Challenge Chatzone

[ianrauk]

Well, that June's qualifying ride done and dusted.
A ride down to Ashford in deepest, darkest Kent for a veggie brekkie and cuppa.
It was fabulous weather today. Very mild early this morning with a bit of a tailwind giving me a helping hand riding south east, the wind becoming a bit of a nuisance for the return, via the the very lovely Wye Valley and rolling pilgrims Way.
So, scores on the doors.
100 miles for the day. No extra Eddingtons this time.
Imperial century month #175 in a row.
Imperial century #354
Back on the cycle commute tomorrow.

The M20 road and rail bridges crossing the Medway

 

[13 rider]

Well it's the 2nd of the month and I've completed my imperial ton ride for June 😁. I'm away the last 2 weeks of June so that limits my chances ,was all prepped for yesterday but didn't fancy battling the headwind home as the forecast had less wind today I changed the day . 113 miles my longest ride for quite a while from Leicester out into the Vale of Belvoir and around the back of Grantham and back . Wind didn't make it to tough coming back but was wilting near the end the last hill to home was a bit of a grovel

 

[13 rider]

Just been checking Strava and yesterday's ride was my longest since December 2019 and wonder what happened in 2020 👍to halt my long rides

 

[robjh]

June's ride done on Saturday 7th, when I did the first of the duo of 'Anglesey and Back' 300k audaxes, which run over two days, part 1 (this one) going north from Chepstow to Menai Bridge, and part 2 on the Sunday heading back south to Chepstow. It is a variant of the better known Brian Chapman Memorial 600k audax, but allowing a bit more sleep at the halfway point.

It was a tough ride in both directions, but I felt it more on this part with a morning of heavy showers, and a whipping wind that was more head- than tail- and made some sections a real slog. Most of the 3900m of climbing were packed into the first half, including the killer 'Machynlleth Mountain Road' out of Llanidloes, although even the supposedly flatter sections could pack an unexpectedly steep % here and there. The scenery on the route was impressive from start to finish, but these weren't the best conditions to enjoy it. Nonetheless, the twilight climb up to Pen-y-Gwryd and sweep down the Llanberis Pass were pretty memorable and made up for a lot of toil* to get there.

I started at 0500, and arrived at the Menai Bridge control at 2300, so 18 hours for 195 miles / 314 km. The sleep on a mattress in the Scouts Hall was bloody awful, and I set off again at 0600 for another 300k, but that's another ride (and a superb day).

78th consecutive month with a 100+ mile ride, and 166th imperial century ever.

* don't take my moaning too literally. It was good type 2 fun, and I am now convinced I had a brilliant, if challenging ride, and would do it again

Nearly there : the Menai Bridge at 11pm

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

June is done. Not enough recent riding to keep the legs in shape, did it between 2 work days and with winds gusting into the 30s but it is complete. 105.1 miles to Lake Vyrnwy and back. The wind wasn't fun on the way out and the cramp wasn't fun on the way back. There was me thinking that June would be one of the easier months.

The ride report is here: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/your-ride-today.173254/post-7442377

And here are some of the photos that didn't make it into the write up:

 

[footloose crow]

At the very last minute......102 miles and 1970m of ascent today.

Unlike the rest of England, Cornwall is not having a heatwave. We have a humid, grey capped sky which is uncomfortably warm but not sunny and was only going to get to 25c today. Despite this relatively glacial temperature, I managed to consume a gallon of fluid over the ride (4.5 litres in two big bottles filled twice plus a chocolate milk).

Another trip to Lands End which was relatively quiet today. There was a burst of traffic on the lanes between 4.30 and 5.30pm on the way home which is what we call 'rush hour' down here. Apart from that the only close passes came from cars with London registrations. I am only recording the facts here - not damning everyone who lives in London. Thirty per cent of Londoners don't own a car after all.

The clouds sat low on the moors, even St Michael's Mount lost its top. Occasionally the sun would burn through and temperatures shoot up. Sometimes the mist would thicken and I would need the bike lights on.

A steady ride on familiar lanes, trying to stay in the moment and not try to race against my previous times. Time is not on my side - a 65th birthday this week. Not so much getting faster as limiting the decline. Despite my decrepitude I did the ride in under eight hours which was a faster time than the last time I did it, although now I can't remember if I went the same way and Strava is being unhelpful about it since I cancelled my subscription as I no longer wished to know how many people in my age group are faster than me.

 

[13 rider]

At the very last minute......102 miles and 1970m of ascent today.

Unlike the rest of England, Cornwall is not having a heatwave. We have a humid, grey capped sky which is uncomfortably warm but not sunny and was only going to get to 25c today. Despite this relatively glacial temperature, I managed to consume a gallon of fluid over the ride (4.5 litres in two big bottles filled twice plus a chocolate milk).

Another trip to Lands End which was relatively quiet today. There was a burst of traffic on the lanes between 4.30 and 5.30pm on the way home which is what we call 'rush hour' down here. Apart from that the only close passes came from cars with London registrations. I am only recording the facts here - not damning everyone who lives in London. Thirty per cent of Londoners don't own a car after all.

The clouds sat low on the moors, even St Michael's Mount lost its top. Occasionally the sun would burn through and temperatures shoot up. Sometimes the mist would thicken and I would need the bike lights on.

A steady ride on familiar lanes, trying to stay in the moment and not try to race against my previous times. Time is not on my side - a 65th birthday this week. Not so much getting faster as limiting the decline. Despite my decrepitude I did the ride in under eight hours which was a faster time than the last time I did it, although now I can't remember if I went the same way and Strava is being unhelpful about it since I cancelled my subscription as I no longer wished to know how many people in my age group are faster than me.

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Bloody tourists 🤣🤣
Well done . Under 8 hrs for a Cornish ton is not to shabby at all