Thursday, February 8, 2018

The Twelve 100km Rides of 2017


As the weather has been so abysmal in 2018 so far I thought I'd (finally) do a round up of last year's silly challenge. I mentioned in my last post (August last year, that's truly terrible) that last year I settled on riding at least one 100 km (or more) ride every month. As much as anything the reason for that challenge was that I knew work was going to be demanding and that anything else (longer, faster etc) might be beyond me. But I also knew that I needed something. And, as I said way back in August, it was a particularly silly challenge given I work in miles. Really, it was a challenge to do at least one 62.2 mile ride per month.
I managed it, as the title suggests, so the purpose of this post is just to pull them all together in one place. Mostly as a reminder to me and possibly as a warning to others silly enough to challenge themselves to something that sounds reasonable but is calendar based.
Without more ado, here are the rides.

January




It was already late into January before I even managed to kick the challenge off. Even then I had to take a morning off work to get it done. A ride enlivened by the happenstance of meeting a pal on his way to work. We met on the busy A92 just after I had experienced another poor overtake. Unfortunately for me having company was all too short as I suffered on this ride any time the road headed up a hill. However, once it was done, it was one down and 11 to go.

February




Despite this one being done in the middle of the month I remember feeling some pressure to get it done; I didn't want the challenge to land on its backside so early in the year. I looked at the forecast and it seemed reasonable so I took the morning off work and went for it. The only issue was a deep frost. I'm not comfortable on cold roads and I spent the first 20 or so miles tip-toeing about on the main road to Ceres before going to take a look at the descent of Nydie, chickening out, coming back to town and then finally going down the hill. A wee loop round Tarvit, a stop in The Villager cafe and then a final boot loop got the miles done in a remarkably local way. I had intended to do 3 boot loops but it didn't quite work that way. By the time I got home it was quite warm!

A wintery look to one of my favourite cycling views 

March




This was the first of three of the rides that were done on the tandem. And while you might argue that the effort was therefore shared, I'm still going to count them. If I hadn't been on the tandem I might have been on the solo bike and, anyway, I reckon the tandem is more of a workout for me than the solo; mostly because of the increased demands on the upper body.
We went to Perth for this one and enjoyed the Stoker enjoyed lots of new roads and I got to add a few miles to my heat map too. We had a wee scary moment near the Glenturret distillery when we met a tour bus coming round the corner a bit too much on our side of the road but all in all we had a lovely day. A stop at Synergy Cycles in Autcherarder was also enjoyed. Both for the sustenance and the fantastic bikes on display. Not sure what they thought of the touring tandem!

This is how the tandem travels to rides


April




Another tandem effort and a very sociable ride it was too. Two coffee stops and company for a good part of the day. I note from my description of the ride I felt like we should be able to do an imperial century on the tandem; sadly that didn't materialise in 2017. I have it on my list for this year.

May




Although I had the Cairn O'Mount Challenge (an excellent sportive if you ever get the chance) in the diary for the the last weekend in May it was nice to get the 100km ride done the weekend before and on the tandem again. One of our friends wanted to meet for coffee at Loch Leven Larder which by the shortest route is about a 60 mile round trip. The obvious thing was to lengthen it a little and enjoy a loop. Once again we had company from Ceres and back; and that was lovely. One wee bit of fun on the way home when said company, Scott, had a puncture coming down Dryside. The Stoker got to see some new roads and despite playing with closed roads and a little rain coming out of Strathmiglo we had an excellent day.
At this point I thought I might end up with about half of the rides completed on the tandem but, for one reason and another, this was the last one. The rest were done on the road bike. A pity really.

June




I had 4 hours give or take about 10 minutes. I was well into the second half of the month and the ride was yet to be done. So, taking the opportunity afforded to me by my early exit from the 3rd class Club Championship at the golf club, I used my Thursday afternoon off to get it done. I tried to pick a route to suit the weather, which was pleasant but with an easterly breeze. As the forecast suggested though it was a sea breeze which was fighting with a westerly inland. The cunning plan was to ride into the sea breeze for a while, use it to go inland, pick up the westerly until Blebo and then use gravity to neutralise the sea breeze. It worked a treat, although I'm not going to say it was easy, and with only a quick comfort stop this was my quickest 100km in terms of average speed. It was also the shortest.
I got home, cleaned up and made tea with a friend at the Golf Club at the appointed time. A very successful afternoon, even it was a little tiring.


July




The summer riding was interfered with last year by work, big time and I had to pick my moments when and where I could get them. I was running out of days in July and eventually I had to pick a day and go. I didn't pick a good one. I was very glad of the lights I'd put on my bike for safety. It was a day on which I felt cold and not full of beans and I was extremely glad of the coffee and bacon roll at the Villager.
It was a shame as the route was one I'd planned for a while, three loops of similar distance. Ideally I'd have come right into town near the end of the second one but I didn't need any extra distance and on such a yucky day I thought I'd keep the effort to the minimum. After all I did have to go to work in the afternoon!
Still, I was now over halfway in the challenge. And with work getting a little easier I thought the challenge might get a bit easier.

August




Another ride with less than stellar weather. Looking back there seems to be a theme, one I was not so aware of during the year. I did, at least, get the ride done in the first half of the month this time. It was also conceived and scheduled as a quick test for the Tour O'the Borders Sportive in September. From that point of view it was highly successful and gave me confidence that the sportive would be fine. The most memorable part of the day was the two herds of cows mooing at each other across the dividing fence on the way from Luthrie to Hazelton Walls. It was something I'd never heard or seen before and I don't think it came from distress, they just seemed to be communicating with each other.


September




As long as Tour O'the Borders went to plan September was always going to be an easy month to get the ride in. And so it proved. By the end of the third day in September I only had 3 monthly 100 km rides to do. This ride was dominated by a case of what I call "sportive head", which encourages me to ride harder and faster than I usually do. In this case I also wanted to beat 2016's time and this meant not stopping at the feed stops. I did stop for a quick comfort break just after the second feed zone (unfortunately the organisers had not repeated the trick of putting a portable loo in the un-timed descent of Talla) but that was it.
I still am not entirely happy with the behaviour of some of the other participants in the event; not saying hello when tagging onto my wheel, riding too close to unknown riders (to me, that is), abruptly stopping on Talla when in the fast lane, etc but it still is a great event. And good to test myself sometimes too. Best bits: coming down after Whitchyknowe with no one around me and the "racing" for the last 10 km or so. Then surprising everyone back in Peebles because I got back so quickly... A good day and I'm already entered for next year. Can I beat 4 1/2 hours?

One day I'll get the helmet on straight!

October




The title of October's effort probably says it all. Mud! Being an afternoon ride I picked a different cafe stop which did require some effort to get to so that I might have a little time to enjoy the cup of coffee. The effort probably cost me later in the ride but I was still happy to get it done. I just didn't enjoy the mucky looking bike once I'd finished.

Mucky!

I just love this view

November




The weather played its part again with this ride. I had intended to ride it the other way around, more or less. But with cold overnight temperatures and frosty looking roads I stuck to the coast and the lower level roads to begin with. This meant that the middle section over the ridge and back towards Cupar was done into the wind which made it hard. And, once back down to lower levels I decided to stay warm and just get the ride done. A shame because coffee stops are always nice, especially at the Villager.
The oddest thing about this ride was the complete absence of other cyclists. Which was slightly bemusing given that it was a Saturday. I fully understood that there might not be many out when I set off but later I thought I was bound to see some. I did see plenty of birds though and, despite the cold and wind, I enjoyed the morning and getting closer to completing the challenge.


December




Getting the last ride in became a real issue. One way and another the weather just did not want to play ball. And with Christmas coming up I was getting a little jumpy about finishing it off. Finally, I took a day off and managed to get out. The great pleasure was that one of my cycling pals agreed to come too. It was another manky day, which made the company especially welcome, with fog around Loch Leven and a wee icy patch that spooked me and made me change the route; beginning and ending the ride on the low road between St Andrews and Pitscottie. The cake stop was at the reliable Pillars of Hercules. Although not my favourite stopping place the cake was lovely and it was in the correct spot at just before the 50 mile mark.
The nice run along the Cults after that and then the fast way home topped off a ride worthy of completing the challenge. And it made me realise how nice it is to have company. On the tandem I can't really do anything else but have company but I am often on my own when I'm out on the road bike. I was so glad that this was not one of those times.

Conclusion

It was a bit of a mad challenge. Seemingly easy but things conspired to make it not quite as easy as it should have been. However, it pushed me out of the door on days when I might have just stayed in, or gone out later for a shorter spin. It gave some of my rides a purpose, which was singularly lacking in my cycling last year; other than this and the yearly mileage target (a story for another time).
You might be forgiven for thinking from the short descriptions above that this was a real trial, some kind of masochistic adventure but it really wasn't. I can't say that I enjoyed it all but it was far from a hateful or damaging experience (or experiences, if you prefer). I'd go as far as to say it was mostly enjoyable and that's the point. I'm a cyclist and, therefore, cycling should be fun. There's always something slightly magical around the corner, a view, some wildlife or the pure fun of letting your bike creep up to 30+mph down a big hill. That's the thing that keeps me rolling the bike(s) out of the garage. The challenge is just a motivation.