- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Cross country mountain bikes
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
forum
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.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- davidb67 1 hour 38 min ago
What is an optical illusion cycle?
- cmedred 2 hours 32 min ago
Just a question: How did it rust without getting wet or damp? I thought moisture was needed for rust. If that's not the case, how do i protect my...
- snooks 2 hours 35 min ago
Ridiculous price for the spec like pretty much everything Cervelo makes. Non-starter.
- wtjs 2 hours 38 min ago
I'm giving my usual thumbs-up to the Prestacycle. I carry it on all my trips
- HoarseMann 3 hours 23 min ago
Woman gets fine for illegally parking on Winnats Pass and will never return to park there after ordeal (umm, that's how parking fines are supposed...
- Stebbo 3 hours 26 min ago
His career has been over for a few years.
- jarpots 3 hours 48 min ago
Nice product but has limitations, like most. Particularly if you use heavy electric bikes.
- wtjs 6 hours 18 min ago
All the manufacturers are non-American!
- chrisonabike 6 hours 34 min ago
Yes... and they're a *bit* insulated from the "must grab attention" imperative...
- stevez123 6 hours 34 min ago
I wish my tires were as easy to mount on the rim as yours. I usually end up with blisters on my thumbs after repairing a flat. Next time use a tire...
Add new comment
83 comments
well October was, um, a struggle
a cold at the start of the month well and truly stuck on the lungs for a few weeks and i only managed a couple of quick rides in the last week to see if i'd die
another last day panic, out into the wind, intermittent rain and leafy greasy corners i was pretty much cooked at 50 miles but limped on, it's a good job everyone i know was at work otherwise i'd have called them up to give me a lift home, and also lucky my route wasn't close to any train stations. at about 70 miles i had to stop at the bottom of what you'd struggle to call a climb, which is something i haven't done since i was about 12, where i had to give myself a stern talking to.
at 90 miles my body remembered it was a cyclist, suddenly woke up and we romped home, laughing. weird.
the same route as September, but 50 minutes slower, phoo.
November done. 104 miles of hills including four from the 100climbs book.
Now looking forward to December. Going to need lights.
http://app.strava.com/activities/26804668#
another month completely banjaxed by a snuffly cold leading to yet another last-day panic.
luckily it was a beautifully sunny day if a little nippy and GavinT and i teamed up to tick our November boxes.
about a third of the way in we both went down hard on black ice leading to a variety of aches and bruises but we embraced the spirit of Hoogerland and carried on, if a little gingerly round all the corners
just one more to go, what could possibly go wrong..........
December done. Decided not to risk the weather getting worse so went for a loop around Surrey and Sussex. It was very cold to start but then warmed up to just be cold.
http://is.gd/9AC1F2
So that is 12 Imperial Centuries in 12 months with at least one in each calendar month.
Thanks for the challenge. When I got home I was definitely not doing this next year but I'm already weakening!
Yep, November done with Jo as above. Lovely ride but I'm a bit damaged from the fall. Hopefully back on the bike soon enough though!
http://www.endomondo.com/workouts/110753205
Well done for being the first to complete the challenge TT.
December done, wet, windy but thankfully warm for the time of year, which helped.
the ride was definitley helped along by remembering the previous 1100 miles and all the people i'd ridden with, the smiles, and some of the pain.
may have got a bit emotional at one point, thank you everyone.
Well sadly I fell at the last hurdle.
..Or to be exact the second to last hurdle. The crash at the end of november meant I was off the bike for most of the month. I had just started to tentatively ride again when I got a sodding cold. Between these I've just not had the time. I would have liked to have had a go today but the work Nazis insist I come in. Oh well, I've done enough centuries - just none of them in december. I may get out on the 1st for my own satisfaction but it won't count.
GavinT you have my sympathies. To have got so far and then not quite make it.
I guess it will have to be 12 in 13 for you!
GavinT actually did 13 in 11, which wins on mileage and effort, but also loses on a technicality
If you count the additional two centuries on one of them then it's 15 in 11
Well done, chaps. Annoying that I blew it so early on - I hardly rode after August once all my motivating targets were gone.
Wondering whether I'll be able to find the time for this in 2013 - I suspect I won't, but my arm is twistable. Gavin and I still have a date on the Island...
centuries are soooooooo last season, it's all about the Tourist Trophy this year
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 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!
Pages