Metric Century chat

Most likely my last metric of the year, strong winds and snow, not enjoyable in the slightest, but had to get one in before the place turns white and i can't even get out on my crosser, So the turbo trainer comes out for a service tomorrow, going to have to replace it soon because last year it was at deaths door

Time to upgrade and get a mag or gel one i think

Did my first for December yesterday. There was no snow but by heck it was cold. 100km in the freezing cold on your own in December is plenty enough for me hence getting home on 99.9 and having to ride round the block to.make the ton.
I do like this challenge as a motivational tool though.

One of my mates is doing a 200km audax once a month so I decided to join him for his December venture. How hard could it be? First 50k was ok but suffered badly for next 100km before feeling stronger over the long final leg. Stick to 100's for a while!

I'm yet to join the December club. went out yesterday and did 88K including a puncture repair which got me so cold that I ended up taking the short way home. Planning a ride inland tomorrow (live on coast) but there's a couple of cars in town this morning with a few cm of snow on them so that may well fall through. I'll try my best though! I like the sound of the 200 challenge but I'll build up to that one I think. If the weathers good prior to Christmas I might try the 140 mile ride to Mum n Dads! Will save on a train fair but not sure how I'll carry the presents!

Easy

300+ in the bag since Friday, easy.

Correction, make that 378km, just 122km left to complete the Rapha Festive 500.

There was me hoping to just sit in the background, ticking off a ride a month (for now at least)at my leisure and collect a nice pair of socks at the end of it. Then December happened, a lingering head/chest cold kept me off the bike for the first two weeks, then time away over christmas meant I lost that 'window' to get on the bike, and now having had to work the past week there's just one day left, and I'm working that too! So, there's just two 'slots' available, a stupidly early ride when the roads should be quiet, or the evening option when I suspect roads will be somewhat busier - stupid o'clock it is, then!

Nigel

good luck! managed to sneak mine in early doors in december, but not looking forward to january's effort...

Thanks, Dave. Well, I managed to 'rattle off' the miles this morning, setting off around 3.30, getting back home with just enough time for a shower, brekkie, and then off to work Let's hope January's ride will be a little less fraught!

Nigel

A grim 100k but given how bad January could be, I was glad to get this month's ride in the bag. Got rained on in the last 10k as well.
Feet up until the end of February, then. By which time my "fitness" might be hiding behind the sofa, given the near 5 hours it took me today.
I'm just hoping to bag a ride a month until spring comes.
Then we'll see who's banging in the rides.
But thanks for the "motivation" provided by this challenge. At least I'm out riding.
Mel

Feeling very pleased with myself, 1st of February and that's my Feb 100k ride ticked off...just as well, as going offshore for 2 weks in the morning, but it takes the pressure off a bit if I come back and weather is pish.
Glorious southern highland sunshine this morning, magic.

Grabbed the chance in a freezing wind but a crystal clear day to grab a century.
Set of at 9am, got back 3pm!! Mind you, did spend nearly an hour warming up in the cafe over soup & sarnies.
When will I get a ride without a nagging headwind?
The first 60k are dedicate to wingman Richie, for getting me out of bed and out riding, the final 40k to Lifeventure's thermal mug - possible the best performance enhancing device to be had for £10 !!

I'm on the Audax 200k every month diet. Cancelled early December ride because of ice, and slotted it in nicely on 30th.
Then enjoyed The Poor Student, an Oxford-Malmesbury-Chipping Camden-Oxford 200k triangle in 11 hrs 10 minutes.
Now looking forward to The Kennet Valley Run next weekend. Audax is the future. Join in!
Lycra Man

What's the deal with these metric century things, I always seem to toil to get a route to hit 100km, 98.8km is easy, today I had to go round the village an extra lap to nudge it over. I should plan ahead better.

Sometimes it unavoidable to be almost home and just short, just do as you did and do an extra lap, i had to go round a roundabout 5 times to get above the 100km once

Planning ahead works, but only if you've got enough scope on your route to be able to reach the 100km and a way home incase of emergency, weather change or anything like that

What sunshine on Sunday!! And what a difference it makes, just seemed to be zipping along. Set off just after 8am, finished by 1pm, 105km AND England v France in the 6 nations. Simply brilliant.

Sunday was indeed a glorious day for a century, I got my first tan lines of the year. I thought I was getting used to longer rides in the Peak District but struggled with this one. Set off from Sheffield at 8:30 up toward Holmefirth then over Holme moss to Glossop and back through Castleton, etc. It took quite a lot longer than expected with over 7400ft of climbing - I managed to get back in time for the Rugby, though.

I'd completely forgotten about the metric for March. I think the good weather has thrown me, weekly mileage is up considerably, just adjusting my mental state from the expletives through gritted teeth which accompanied the winter rides to the possibility a sunny metric, enjoyment even, who knows...

I've got a week to get my head round this possibility

I'm out!

Todays attempt was curtailed due to punctures (two) poor choice of outfit (flipping freezing this morning) and foul mood (not improved by the above). That's going to be it for March for me i'm afraid. Oh well I'll probably start again around Halloween...

Bad luck lazyusername. Happened to me last year, got ill and missed one. Just carry on and do it anyway, missing the one - still a great achievment.

Got my April one in today, 120km so pleased with that. First run out on summer bike and it did feel easier.

Absolute madness! On the road at 4am for some night time riding. Passed the police gathering to raid a house . . .
Dawn just after 5am. Ran out of energy bars and drink at 8am but I was well on my way home by then. In sunshine.
Thanks for the challenge - and now to bed for a well deserved snooze.

Just completed Lands End to John Groats. Very happy with 15 days of usable rides. :)

I am currently training for the Great Manchester bike (42km) and already looking for my next challenge. I was counting up on the other thread and there are 23 people left in the challenge for every month.

I though there would be more. Perhaps it's quite hard

Had a few minutes spare at work today so got around to filling in my ride details

if I am honest, bunking off of work for 2 months has probably worked in my favour on this one!

boom! parachuting in near the top

can he keep it up though?

its unlikely, but we shall see - time in the saddle has been severely curtailed for a while!

think it might be time for 5am rides to start taking place!

Well I have just joined and the weather isnt looking good for the weekend

Sunday I am at the road nationals, thankfully have a day of next week and then next Saturday I have a trip to the Lakes planned for more biking

Bike Bath this weekend, looking like it might be some kind of literal Bike Bath

Did my first 100k today, went up to see the Dunwich Dynamo riders arriving, then just carried on by myself for 3 and a half hours.

I think Sunday will become my 'Metric Day' now!

Get In !!
Rode my first audax today, the Barbury Bash at a fully certified 210km.
DID get overtaken by a man with a beard, wearing sandals . . .
How do they do that?

Feet up for 3 weeks now during the TdeF

Do cycling in the early morning recently,the summer comes,hot in the afternoon~~

Will the metric century be moving to strava?

No, but lets say everyone who does one on there gets Kudos from everyone else.

Just click that button.

I was talking to a clubman who is legendary mile muncher about the MCC last week.

knowing he records his rides religiously in a log book, baring in mind this would be his standard ride pattern and not influenced by just doing a few extra to get a MCC in (something I've started doing ..the shame of it)

I asked him how many MCCs he had completed since last Halloween...and also how many months since you DIDN'T do a MCC.

56 so far this period..... and he looked back as far as Jan 2004 and in only in one (winter) month had he not done a MCC. That particular month his longest ride was just 95km

Lucky for the leaders of the challenges he doesn't have that internet stuff to join in the fun....but he does have 850,000 km in his legs

Wasn't it Vaughters who said that you need to do at least 20,000 miles a year for 10 years before you can come close to thinking about doing the tour?

An average of 55 miles a day.

Lovely ride in Suffolk yesterday. Ham sandwiches in a field with a wonderful view, although the blackberry bushes all down the road were still unripe, so no free dessert!

Suffolk cider in a friendly pub in Dalham in a little hollow with almost idyllic surroundings of brook and thatched cottages in bright sunshine, then down to Clare and a little tour around their country park, back through Steeple Bumpstead and Helions Bumpstead (Essex) (pretty place) and a final stop in a pub in Linton to refill the water bottle, have a cold lager and a bit of fruit cake before getting back to Cambridge. Big meal of steak, chips, lots of veg, cheese and biscuits, chocolate (well, I'd earned it). My daughter said she'd never seen me eat so much so quickly.

Only passed one other rider in gear and had a chat with a lady on a bike in my first stop in Saxon Street when I had my OS map out on a hedge to decide which way to go. Used the Bryton I won on here to map the ride as I went along. Will ride more in that direction in future and explore a few more villages and pubs out there.

Just completed 1000km in five days this week with a very round about trip to Paris and back.

Got 4 rides in last week. I was doing some back up to a group doing LEJOG so got to ride during the day from Golant(not 100km), Street, Dumfries, Fort Augustus and Betty Hill. The Dumfries ride included a bit of today's ToB route.

No one posted in 6 weeks, well I am getting exited to tackle my first Metric very soon, if the challenge gets laid down next week. I've got a shiny new username and everything.

I see 18 people have completed the challenge already with 4 days left to finish. There are some high scorers who fell out over the summer but I can only see three guys left who could score and complete this month: stofish, squiggle and windy54. Tomorrow Sunday Oct 28th has to be the last best chance.

I only started in July, but I've done at least one a month since.

I've made it!
Thanks to road.cc for the challenge, it really helped as a motivation to get out and ride the whole year round.

Raring to go to do the challenge proper next year btw

Sweet, well done stofish. That’s 19 finishers and still two more possibles.

Yip, having the monthly challenge always pushed me out the door, especially in the dark cold winter months, cheers.
Was out today, -2 C at the start, but that's the first one for November done, can relax a bit now ha ha.

So is there going to be a new challenge thread? Or is this not an annual event?

Yes, good question, got a couple November rides waiting to be logged.

yup, i'll set it up tomorrow

Gulp, I have to do it now then. Furthest I've gone so far is 88.7km.

A 63 miler on 30th October and a 60 miler on 4th November. So near and yet so far. Curses.

I am on the board with one point. As I am *not*employed the 13C temperature got me out the door on a Wednesday in my shorts. I've tried a few training runs since the clocks went back in the colder weather but the extra layer just made me feel slow and stiff.
I did 97.3km in 3h28:16 at 28kph. Then had to go around the village to top up to the ton a bit slower. Even so it took over 4 hours with a stop for a mars bar and stretching and some toe wiggling.

So I am wondering what speed some of you can manage the ton at? Just a bit worried it might take 5 hours in freezing January.

I did a flat route today from aberystwyth to aberdovey and back. 100.3km, 3hr 15min, 19mph average.

Off into the hills on sunday so that should slow me down

Mmmpphh, is that the noise you make when you go into a pot hole and your goolies hit the cross bar?
No, but seriously, you are now my next target.

A bad start for my metric century year, an impromptu change of route after being chased by a pack of farm dogs.

Trundled around in the dark before work. Feet numb with cold by the end of it but just sneaked in before the end of the month. Like Captain Beaky, I foolishly rode 60.8 miles earlier in the month without thinking that a few minutes more in the saddle would have qualified me for November. It's all downhill from here.

5 inches of snow over the Chilterns this morning but I stayed upright. My slowest MC ever I should think.

Decided to ride over the night of the Solstice. Set off at 4pm riding to Telford services which is about 100km away. After a longish break I headed towards home looping further south. It started to rain and I had not taken a rain jacket! I ended up getting home at 6am, had an hour in bed and got into some dry clothes and went I did a few chores getting home at 8.30 am. I only counted the mileage to 6am though. Feel I sort of quit on original, mad, idea.

Failure! Did 52.1km today in a last ditch attempt to get my second metric in. It is going to bucket down again tomorrow (31st) so that is right out, got to be rested for party night you know.
I just have to grumble, it has just been wet wet wet. Every time I've gone out on my bike it has started to rain this month. Rain is cold and slows you down, going slow takes extra time, and longer in the saddle means pain, sore feet, sore back, sore legs, sore cooch! Freezing feet.
The irony is there was a lovely day last week, warm, dry and sunny on Sunday 23rd but I had to travel to the relatives and missed it. Sat on the train I knew my best chance was sliding past.

So today I set of on some damp roads but the wind was really in my face. I was fighting the wind and my winter tights, every revolution seemed to take 30% extra effort. After 17km slight uphill I was down to 22kph and at least 10 minutes behind usual. I managed to struggle that back up to 25kph by 90mins but then it started to rain again.
With the prospect of taking half an hour to get home or doing 5 more loops of the by-pass in the rain and the dark to complete the metric I just didn't have the heart.

I may just be unused to winter riding but it is really hard having to fight the road condition, weather and extra layers of clothing. Speed goes so slow that I just can't manage that amount of time it takes to do the distance. I notice nobody says on the challenge page how long it takes them; the info might be helpful.

Moan over, only 10 months before I can try again.

Don't be disheartened. Everyone is slower in the winter thanks to all of the things that you mention. The good news is that any work you put in now will pay you back in the summer when you'll be leaner, stronger and that little bit more inured to bad conditions. You'll appreciate the good days more and be more likely to overcome any reticence to head out if the weather doesn't look too good. We all have to fight the weather and darkness at this time of year. Stick with it.

Can anyone remind me when the metric century starts and finishes? Can I start it this Jan, or am I too late?

It started on November 1st 2012 and runs for 12 months. You can still take part and log metrics but you won't be able to 'complete' the challenge as you have missed Nov+Dec (I've already missed Dec if you look a couple of posts up.) only about 21ish people did it all last year/season.

You can always just set yourself your own challenge for 2013.

January sorted. Why do I only do these in the snow? Only two more to go before the clocks change. In a few weeks time I'll be able to start one of these in daylight. Maybe I'll manage to go a bit quicker too.

...and the theme for this year's MCC is snow. Another freezing MC across the white fields of Beds and Herts.

166km yesterday and my hands and feet never got warm. Snow free at home but Charnwood Hills had quite a bit in the fields and verges.

Nov-Feb, first quarter done,

Been a tale of punctures, snow, ice, punctures, flooding, punctures, going arse-over-tip over the handlebars and getting a puncture. Never mind, on the up-side I have got out on the bike through all weathers and maintained what modicum of fitness I have - and sharpened up my puncture repair technique.

Feb run today was perfect - sunshine, crisp, snow on the moors - soon be spring with daylight and the chance of better weather.

A week ago I was flying throught the Peaks in sunshine, today I was suffering a thorough beasting on the wheel of Old Cranky for the whole of the Phil Cooke Challenge. It didn't stop it being a fine day out on a great route, well organised by some lovely people for a very good cause. Even mashing two chainlinks in my front mech couldn't spoil the day. The moral of the story is...always recycle your KMC Master links. You can't have too many in your EPMS.

Needless to say, both rides were as icy as the ninth circle of hell. Roll on Spring!

Mr B.Clanger,

It was a fine day out, but hardly a beasting and clearly you were at a disadvantage on your steel-is-real (and flexi) Condor.

"EPMS" - excellent acronym for those who are aware of the rules

Coincidentally, another cycling friend arranged a recent pedal taking in a few cemeteries with a bit of a history lesson thrown in. One gravestone en route was that of Maria Rossetti, so your reference to Dante's Inferno is the second I've heard in as many weeks.

Looking forward to the next metric century get-together,
Old Cranky.

That Condor is a perfectly fast bike if the owner turns the pedals quickly enough!
Looking forward to the next one and the RHoTN

That's March sorted already, 5/12 and the darkest months behind us. I've done a couple of early morning slogs down to London this week. The highlight was dropping a large gentleman on his Bianchi TT doing a lap of Regents Park. I am a little worried though, I did so while sporting a large beard and with a full pannier attached to my bike. Does this make me a 'Fred?'

Hopefully the weather can only get better for the remaining duration of the challenge and there are about 23 of us still in the game

Half way there and I'm still in it. No more snow. It's all downhill from here surely.

A few more got shelled out during April