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Proper Century Chat
Right then, new year, new challenge.
A Proper Century a month for 2012, 12 in 12.
The proposition is as basic as the Metric Century Challenge, just a little harder. You must ride one proper century of 100 of the queen's finest miles a month during 2012. Only single continuous rides of at least 100 miles qualify, not a daily or weekly total of several shorter rides that exceed 100 miles. Tea stops are allowed, nay mandatory.
There will be no prizes as offered in the Metric Century Challenge, just the quiet pride and achievement of having completed 100 cold miserable miles in the rain in February, a lovely proper sweaty century in the height of Summer and then 100 cold miserable miles in the rain in November.
It's all about the challenge, the only reward is having done it, and the fear of the chorus of not angry, just disappointed tutting from those you told you were doing this.
Sign up and tell tales of monthly struggle and joy below.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
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83 comments
Yep March done - 108 miles - actually 110 but I forgot to switch the GPS on for a couple of miles.
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/44397454
was out in the same peloton as GavinT on the traditional start of Spring 100 miler, with the odd classic-inspired off-road section including an impromptu bit of ruff-stuff in Ashdown Forest to avoid a massive detour round a forest fire..
The very thought of training for the century challenge scares me. I think attempting the 100 km routes every single month would be extremely tough. Completing this would probably be one of the highlights of anyone's life. Though there are no tangible rewards to speak about, there is always the quiet pride that you have accomplished something that few others did.
March done by the skin of my teeth - some sort of chest infection took me out until about a week ago, but managed a token 101-miler on Saturday.
Tried a new approach to the century, looping round roads that I normally do 30-40 mile commutes on. Seems to encourage more speed
April done. Felt rough from the start as I did on Good Friday when I was supposed to do this and turned home after 15 miles. Heavy rain down into Hope but came out of the cafe in bright sunshine and eventually picked up climbing Beeley Moor after about 60 miles and ride home was more comfortable.
I did April on Good Friday but due to some paranoia spread by the press and the Police about thieves using GPS tracks to find bikes to steal it has taken a while to post the track.
http://app.strava.com/rides/6462156
My first ride to the coast this year.
127 in the "April" box for me, please. (A long way off what I'd planned, but helpfully I'd managed not to ride a bike for the last four weeks - bah!)
another one sneaked in under the wire on the last day of the month, worth the wait though, especially after the last week or so as the weather was really rather lovely, but the wind made up for it, had to go round the block to clock up the full century
Yep - out with Jo for a tick in the April box. Perfectly timed, here comes the rain now!
And now it's May. Time for me and Gavin to start high-rolling
Got my May one done on Saturday, 188 miles.
Chapeau!
May done. Cheated slightly as it was part of the South Western Road club's May flier. By the time I had ridden to the start of their 95 mile route and back home again I had nearly 110 miles under my belt.
http://app.strava.com/rides/8444020
May done - rode about 63 miles from home to a ~40 mile Help For Heroes ride, and then back again, for 167.5 in total.
100.1 miles
rode the Wight Riviera Sportive which at 96 miles long seemed a silly distance to stop so tagged an extra 4 miles riding round Yarmouth to make up the distance
ride to Spin Up In A Brewery, then ride to Haywards Heath station to get the train up to Clapham for the London To Brighton Night Ride, ride home.
108 miles all in all, not all in one go, but 18 hrs in the same shorts, can i claim a Chamois Century?
May: Penzance to Exeter 126 miles. http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/siwV1m8WjBw
Gavin and I managed... er.. about 30 hours and a chamois double century in the same shorts at the weekend.
I mean, in our own shorts, each, individually, like. You know. Not *the same* shorts.
Mm, I was wondering whether to mention that or not!
June done. Strava says this was only 99.3 miles but my speedo said it was 101 miles after we road an extra bit up the road to make sure.
There were some quite big hills!
http://app.strava.com/rides/10815323
Really great ride.
June dine on the South Downs.
100.74 off-road miles along the South Downs Way
would have done the extra couple of miles to complete the whole SDW but it was dark and the clock showed 100.00 about half a mile from where the car was parked just down the hill
I had Friday off work for my June century, but preparation for Mini Me's birthday party the following day knocked it out.
Curses.
So I'm officially in the broom wagon after just 5 months
Did the SDW century with Jo - It's a few years since I last rode all of it. I swear it's go longer. And steeper too!
Did the SDW century with Jo - It's a few years since I last rode all of it. I swear it's go longer. And steeper too!
July done. Due to a scheduling cock up with my usual riding partner I had to do this twice.
First a nice loop down to Petworth on the 7th July. 110 miles
http://app.strava.com/rides/july-century-12713232?ref=1MT1yaWRlX3NoYXJlO...
Then a 109.9 mile loop down to Horsted Keynes and back Via "The Wall" which turned out to be quite a disappointment on the 14th:
http://app.strava.com/rides/july-century-number-2-13344395?ref=1MT1yaWRl...
Finally got my s*** together to post. All clear from the doc regards hairline fracture in elbow allowed me to do some training and hammer out to centuries over June. I ask you - keen as mustard
first up waas flat out in the fens sportive - all 154 miles of it with 90% of the course with a block headwind/crosswind. Ground that one out in 8'45". Next up a couple of weeks later was a 120 mile loop down in the midlands! Now into July and off the bike again for long distances due to some unexplained cough/chest infection. Hey ho. But that's two. Maybe once I'm back up and running be able to. Rattle a few more out 
I can offer a few choices this month!
First up is the 363 miles Paris Brest run:
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/jj4oH2SFP14
...but over 36 hours. Still, at last one of those centuries should count!
But if not happy with that I can offer this Mont St Michel/St Malo run:
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/tf6C02khaHo
...or today's ride up to box hill to watch the olympic cycling.
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/lUQ7xZxfDt8
Good month
the same as Gavin, er, the last one, up to Box Hill and back the pretty way (Steyning Bostal after 90 miles, yeah, ok) and a detour to the chip shop
grand day out
Are we down to just four left in the game now? Well done, chaps.
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