The Metric Century (100KM) A Month Challenge ChatZone

[KingswayRider]

Still chipping away at various targets...
Still on course for the metric century challenge this year, effectively just another 4 to go, but I want more than just one a month.
100k number 21 of the year completed yesterday...so well on target to catch the 27 I achieved last year.
From 31st May 2019 to now I have an Eddington number of 62 (from 21st April 2019 to hit 63). I need I think another 5 to get over 65.
Still chasing for an Eddington number of 70, so trying to keep weekend rides over that number.
Very poor start to the year, so chasing previous years figures for distance & climbing. At one point I was around 650 miles & 27500ft behind my best (that poor start really put me behind), but I'm clawing it back.
100 x 100k's - the metric metric - less than 20 more needed for that particular target.
I should hit 600 miles & 7500m of ascent this month (working full time office hours & staying married curtails potential). 237 miles & 2920m of ascent required.

I know riding should be about the pleasure of riding itself...and I do love getting out, but I can't help setting targets. In addition to all the numbers I'm having fun colouring in my Strava heatmap & finding some glorious little lanes (but if I post any route going anywhere near Shortwood ever again @Donger is declining any invitation).

 

[gbs]

Glorious weather today although a freshening NWly added to the required effort on the return home. I found that 1120 m of VG on a 107k ride was quite tiring. Clearly too much easy riding in the flatlands of the Thames Valley in recent months.

 

[Saluki]

I had a brilliant ride today.
I was planning on a nice 50km, then bike bud arrived. I suggested the seaside so we went. After Wroxham, he was navigatin, so we did a circle for 3 or 4 miles, past Neatishead Radar Museum (closed), twice. We went past Three Hammer Common too, just because we could. There was much laughter as we discovered the circular route.
The cuppa at Sea Palling was welcome and we had brought French Fancies, bit squashed but tasty. I went paddling and had a good 10 mins knee deep in water.
We rode back along the coast road, one or two navigational mishaps when missing turnings but, all in all, a good ride. The weather was beautiful, the bike felt great after moving the seat a good 2cm forward.

Its a smidge big for me but the only way that I can afford a Mercian is second hand and I don’t suppose they come up every day at a price that I can afford. Shorter stem and moved seat has worked wonders.

 

[13 rider]

January 3rd - 114.4km - 755m - KW, Upton on Severn, Strensham, Tewkesbury, Teddington, Southam, Cheltenham, Stonebench, Colethrop, KW
February 21st - 101.23km - 568m - KW, Eastington, Falfield, edge of Thornbury, Hill, Berkeley, Frampton, KW
Mar 21st - 105.9km - 593m - KW, Chaceley, Berrow, Birtsmorton, Castlemorton, Upton, Tewkesbury, Sandhurst, KW
April 4th - 101.55km - 566m - KW, Frampton, KW, Hartpury, Lowbands, Camer's Green, Pendock, Corse, Tirley, Sandhurst, KW
April 18th - 113.23km - 738m - KW, Stonehouse, KW, Rodley, Northwood Gn, Westbury, Blaisden, Birdwood, Tibberton, KW, Longney, KW
April 25th - 122km - 1009m - KW loop, Berrow, Hollybush summit, British Camp, The Wyche, Guarlford, Hanley Swan, Upton-on-Severn, KW
May 2nd - 112.86km - 971m - KW, Frampton, KW, Birdlip, Sapperton, Frampton Mansell, Chalford, Longney, KW
May 9th - 101km - 1040m - KW, Epney, KW, Middleyard, Kingscourt, Amberley, Nailsworth, Cherington, Minchinhampton, Burleigh, Standish, KW
May 16th - 125.6km - 985m - KW, Frocester, Frampton, KW, Awre, Etloe, Blakeney, Upper Soudley, Mallards Pike, Littledean, Flaxley, Huntley, KW
May 23rd - 164km - 919m - KW, Cheltenham, Sandhurst, KW, Stone, Easter Compton, Hallen, Severn Beach, Littleton, Frampton, KW
May 30th - 121.2km - 878m - KW, Arlingham, Whitminster, Saul, KW, Amberley, Avening, Rodmarton, Frampton Mansell, Haresfield, KW
June 6th - 115km - 856m - KW, Frocester, Epney, KW, Kents Green, Clifford's Mesne, Lea, Longhope, Abenhall, Flaxley, Minsterworth, KW
June 27th - 134.3km - 1150m -KW local loop, North Nibley, Hawkesbury, Burton, Sherston, Malmesbury, Hankerton, Avening, Stroud, KW
July 4th - 113.9km - 1023m - KW, Great Witcombe, Longford, KW, Haresfield, Coaley, Dursley, Stancombe, Cam, Frampton, Elmore, KW
July 11th - 130.3km - 1083m - KW, Frocester, Elmore, KW, Cliffords Mesne, Lea, Drybrook, Cinderford, Upper Soudley, Littledean, Birdwood, KW
July 18th - 117.1km - 985m - KW, Edge, Wick St, Painswick, Slad, KW, Innsworth, Boddington, Fiddington, Kemerton, Forthampton, Hartpury, KW
July 25th - 167.4km - 1500m- KW, Over, Longford, Upton, Stroud, Minchinhampton, Cricklade, Highworth, Lechlade, Sapperton, Amberley, KW
Aug 1st - 118.9km - 968m - KW, Fretherne, Frampton, Saul, KW, Nailsworth, Chavenage, Tetbury, Lasborough, Owlpen, Uley, Coaley, KW
Aug 5th - 120.8km - 1131m - KW, Berkeley, Almondsbury, Hallen, Henbury, Tockington, Thornbury, Tortworth, Nibley, Frocester, KW
Aug 8th - 113.1km - 592m- KW, Upton St. L., Glos, KW, Priding, Frampton, Berkeley, Sharpness, Purton, Frampton, Elmore, KW
20 points
Aug 15th - 113.5km - 1331m - KW, Edge, Sheepscombe, Cranham, KW, Frapton, Berkeley, North Nibley, Frocester, KW
Aug 22nd - 169.4km - 1286m - KW, Haresfield, Nympsfield, Coaley, KW, Tewkesbury, Strensham, Pirton, Worcs, Madresfield, Malvern, KW
Aug 29th - 119.7km - 1043m- KW, Staverton, Cheltenham, Upton, KW, Edge, Birdlip, Througham, Bisley, Eastcombe, Stroud, W'minster, Saul, KW
Sept 4th - 120.8km - 1073m - KW, Elmore, Standish, Upton, Glos, Blaisden, Lea, Ponsthill, Kerne Br, Ruardean, Nailbridge, Abenhall, Flaxley, KW
Sept 5th - 132km - 821m - KW, Cheltenham, KW, Longney, Frampton, Slimbridge, Berkeley, Stone, Tortworth, Cam, Frocester, Whitminster, KW
Sept 19th - 144.9km - 13393m - KW, Standish, KW, Redmarley, Ledbury, Colwall, Wyche, Malvern, British Camp, Eastnor, Longdon, Tirley, KW

You may have over estimated your climbing on your last ride .I Don't think the Malvern's are that hilly

 

[KingswayRider]

You may have over estimated your climbing on your last ride .I Don't think the Malvern's are that hilly

It depends on where you ride - meandering route with plenty of ups & downs, then approach via Colwall, over the top of the Wyche, back down into Malvern & back along the A449 before coming back up to British Camp. Looped around Eastnor to Bromsberrow & almost back to Hollybush before following Rye Street to Longdon & back. Add in looping back on the odd climb to check on other riders & the ascent piles up. Looking at Strava, I've not done a great deal more climbing than others in todays group - despite doing a pre-ride & doing the Colwall/Wyche/Malvern/Little Malvern approach to British Camp, when the others approached British Camp direct from Upper Colwall via Chase Rd.
Racked up the climbing last week on rides where I never exceeded 100m in altitude - just lots of 10%+ climbs.

 

[KingswayRider]

It depends on where you ride - meandering route with plenty of ups & downs, then approach via Colwall, over the top of the Wyche, back down into Malvern & back along the A449 before coming back up to British Camp. Looped around Eastnor to Bromsberrow & almost back to Hollybush before following Rye Street to Longdon & back. Add in looping back on the odd climb to check on other riders & the ascent piles up. Looking at Strava, I've not done a great deal more climbing than others in todays group - despite doing a pre-ride & doing the Colwall/Wyche/Malvern/Little Malvern approach to British Camp, when the others approached British Camp direct from Upper Colwall via Chase Rd.
Racked up the climbing last week on rides where I never exceeded 100m in altitude - just lots of 10%+ climbs.

I should have checked my post prior to responding - error noted & corrected. Hilly...but not 13000m hilly!

 

[KingswayRider]

I should have checked my post prior to responding - error noted & corrected. Hilly...but not 13000m hilly!

Checked carefully prior to posting today...I can confirm the distance & climbing are correct

 

[KingswayRider]

A good weekend on the bike...
Took part in the "Mint Stalwart" audax with @Donger, Lee & Paul. Three of us cycled across to Tewkesbury to meet @Donger at the start. Potter out to Much Marcle & then south into the Forest of Dean via the rather delightful ridge at Linton. Not a big climb, but gives great views. We made our way across the Forest, passing through Drybrook & Ruardean & at the top of the hill between Ruardean & Joys Green @Donger decided it was best he let the three of us press on. Lee's legs started to suffer as we climbed from Lydrook & then again another up from Cannop to Hopewell Colliery cafe for lunch. @Donger put in an appearance, joining us for lunch before we pressed on without him again. The climb to Speech House (peaking at 15%) left me waiting for the others & although Lee cycled up, I think it was the final straw for his legs. Steady plod via Soudley, Littledean, Northwood Green, Tibberton & Chaceley. A puncture for Lee at Forthampton saw us stop for a while & Paul disappeared without notice. Back in to Tewkesbury to complete the Audax & then keep Lee company until we hit Gloucester, leaving him with a short ride home from Barnwood & I was finally unleashed to put some pace in as I made my way home. Well done to Lee & Paul on their hundreds (103) & @Donger for completing the Audax - I finished with 110 miles & 1598m ascent. We couldn't have asked for better weather for the day.
Out this morning for an early start to knock in a few miles. Route was a bit fiddly & Garmin didn't seem too keen on helping with route guidance (lots of telling me off course, despite arrows indicating route was correct). Back for the start of the club ride...with just one other rider out (despite an easy route). Tina & I met Darren whilst out, so the three of us had a spin out & a cuppa stop at Slimbridge (proper Yorkshire tea) & then headed back. Home for about 12.20 with the club ride knocked out at a steady 16mph & another 70 miles completed.
Still quite a way to go to get my Eddington to 70, but I'm progressing towards it (currently labouring through the 65's - about 10 of them to get past to get to 66 which I'm now halfway through). Edged up my 100k's too - the hundred hundreds is coming - today makes 91.

 

[Donger]

Still quite a way to go to get my Eddington to 70, but I'm progressing towards it (currently labouring through the 65's - about 10 of them to get past to get to 66 which I'm now halfway through). Edged up my 100k's too - the hundred hundreds is coming - today makes 91.

You've overhauled me now then, buddy. I'm still stuck on an Imperial Eddington of 63 and I've done 89 of those pesky 100km rides. Determined to get the ton of tons some time next year, but I'm going to have to do some easier rides than yesterday's! My next landmark will be a hundred 50 milers .... just four to go. Chapeau for getting out there for another metric ton today. I am still a wreck from Saturday.

 

[KingswayRider]

You've overhauled me now then, buddy. I'm still stuck on an Imperial Eddington of 63 and I've done 89 of those pesky 100km rides. Determined to get the ton of tons some time next year, but I'm going to have to do some easier rides than yesterday's! My next landmark will be a hundred 50 milers .... just four to go. Chapeau for getting out there for another metric ton today. I am still a wreck from Saturday.

I'm afraid the hundred 50 milers is long gone - I'm at 146 rides of 50 miles or over. (It was @Donger that pushed me from putting in 50's to making them 100k+ & enter this challenge)

 

[13 rider]

October's done 73 miles Leicester to the top side of Derby for some veloviewer tiles . For some reason a tough ride I just had no energy ,average speed 13.8 mph 2 mph down on usual . Just a case of spinning a low gear and letting the miles tick along

 

[Saluki]

Hi all. I rode today, with Philip Bancroft, whose GPS is not nearly as big a pain in the arse as mine is. My ride is here https://www.strava.com/activities/6155852051

You can see/guess that I did not apperate/fly, on a 39 year old bike, across the wastelands of Cambridgeshire. I went by road (see Bancroft’s ride as I drafted him for the breezy bits and stuck like glue to his tail through Wisbech)

Stopped at Morrisons for butties. Watched a shoplifter running out of the shop, perused by a security lady and 2 shop staf. Shoplifter was trying to pull his trousers up as he went - it wasn’t going well - before they fell down and he tripped and went flat on his face onto the car park tarmac.
All witnessed by loads of people and an off duty policeman off to do his shopping. He made the arrest by all accounts. Shoplifter marched back into the shop and onlookers watched as his trousers fell to his feet at least once more. Not an attractive sight, nearly put me off my crisps.

 

[Sbudge]

Hi all. I rode today, with Philip Bancroft, whose GPS is not nearly as big a pain in the arse as mine is. My ride is here https://www.strava.com/activities/6155852051

You can see/guess that I did not apperate/fly, on a 39 year old bike, across the wastelands of Cambridgeshire. I went by road (see Bancroft’s ride as I drafted him for the breezy bits and stuck like glue to his tail through Wisbech)

Stopped at Morrisons for butties. Watched a shoplifter running out of the shop, perused by a security lady and 2 shop staf. Shoplifter was trying to pull his trousers up as he went - it wasn’t going well - before they fell down and he tripped and went flat on his face onto the car park tarmac.
All witnessed by loads of people and an off duty policeman off to do his shopping. He made the arrest by all accounts. Shoplifter marched back into the shop and onlookers watched as his trousers fell to his feet at least once more. Not an attractive sight, nearly put me off my crisps.

Ironic the criminal becoming the (fashion) victim!

 

[Sbudge]

A good weekend on the bike...
Took part in the "Mint Stalwart" audax with @Donger, Lee & Paul. Three of us cycled across to Tewkesbury to meet @Donger at the start. Potter out to Much Marcle & then south into the Forest of Dean via the rather delightful ridge at Linton. Not a big climb, but gives great views. We made our way across the Forest, passing through Drybrook & Ruardean & at the top of the hill between Ruardean & Joys Green @Donger decided it was best he let the three of us press on. Lee's legs started to suffer as we climbed from Lydrook & then again another up from Cannop to Hopewell Colliery cafe for lunch. @Donger put in an appearance, joining us for lunch before we pressed on without him again. The climb to Speech House (peaking at 15%) left me waiting for the others & although Lee cycled up, I think it was the final straw for his legs. Steady plod via Soudley, Littledean, Northwood Green, Tibberton & Chaceley. A puncture for Lee at Forthampton saw us stop for a while & Paul disappeared without notice. Back in to Tewkesbury to complete the Audax & then keep Lee company until we hit Gloucester, leaving him with a short ride home from Barnwood & I was finally unleashed to put some pace in as I made my way home. Well done to Lee & Paul on their hundreds (103) & @Donger for completing the Audax - I finished with 110 miles & 1598m ascent. We couldn't have asked for better weather for the day.
Out this morning for an early start to knock in a few miles. Route was a bit fiddly & Garmin didn't seem too keen on helping with route guidance (lots of telling me off course, despite arrows indicating route was correct). Back for the start of the club ride...with just one other rider out (despite an easy route). Tina & I met Darren whilst out, so the three of us had a spin out & a cuppa stop at Slimbridge (proper Yorkshire tea) & then headed back. Home for about 12.20 with the club ride knocked out at a steady 16mph & another 70 miles completed.
Still quite a way to go to get my Eddington to 70, but I'm progressing towards it (currently labouring through the 65's - about 10 of them to get past to get to 66 which I'm now halfway through). Edged up my 100k's too - the hundred hundreds is coming - today makes 91.

Lovely ride on the upgraded Tripster this weekend lots of new cycle paths to explore along the canals...of course with the wind and muddy conditions I very nearly ended up in them on a couple of occasions.

I passed the 100 x 100km ages ago but I've still 5 more rides to get to an Eddington of 101km...that's definitely the fault of the Century challenge! 102km will take another 18 months at this rate.

 

[KingswayRider]

Lovely ride on the upgraded Tripster this weekend lots of new cycle paths to explore along the canals...of course with the wind and muddy conditions I very nearly ended up in them on a couple of occasions.

I passed the 100 x 100km ages ago but I've still 5 more rides to get to an Eddington of 101km...that's definitely the fault of the Century challenge! 102km will take another 18 months at this rate.

It is a problem. I'll probably continue on with 70m + rides once I have got my imperial Eddington over 70 (13 to go - still in the 65's). I'm 6 short of my 100 x 100km's & need 22 to move that up to 105km. The first of my 100k's was late August 2017 & I've knocked in 34 so far this year. 115km...that'll be approx 70 to have a metric Eddington of 115km.