merider1

UPDATE: PLEASE SEE - https://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.p...&postcount=149
THE LIST OF PARTICIPANTS AND DATA IS NOW IN THE DATA ONLY THREAD. THANK YOU

As originally posted by Scvroadie:
Some of you have participated in Century challenges on other forums & others have not. I thought it would be great to get a challenge going amongst the So Cal BF riders who like to ride Centuries or do long distance rides.

The challenge is as follows:

1) One must ride at least one century (100 miles or more) each month of the year. One century in January, one in February, one in March ..... etc. Single metric centuries do not count.

2) If you ride 2 centuries in one month, you cannot carry it over to the following month or use it some other month where you do not complete a century.

3) Centuries can be on a route of the cyclist's own choosing ... a collection of short loops or long loops, and out and back, or whatever.

4) Centuries can be offically organized rides, or unofficially organized rides ... in other words, a century could be a century with the local cycling club, or could be a century where the cyclist just goes out and rides 100 miles on his/her own. Organized centuries that call themselves centuries and are 98.5 or whatever mileage close to 100 counts, some of us will ride the additional mileage to make it 100, but don't let that discount your accomplishment.

5) Time limit for centuries; we all know that centuries are a same day ride with stops for mother nature, nutrition, hydration, mechanical issues, aside from these stops, this is a one shot ride. No stopping for 3 hours to take a nap so that you can finish later.

I will volunteer to keep a monthly update of the riders still partaking in the challenge. We will utilize the honor system, besides you are only cheating yourself if your not being honest.

For tracking purposes, include as many of the following details as possible, and then a short synopsis of the ride.

Date of Ride:
Type of Ride: (group ride or solo ride)
Name of organized ride or route:
Actual Mileage:
Ride Time:
Total Time:
Avg. Speed:
Altitude Climbed: (if available, either by route map, or cycling computer)
Weather conditions:

And then a synopsis of the ride.

Can anyone think of any other details that should be listed?

When doing this in other forums it was interesting to read about the rides that others had completed, it gave you a measuring stick as to how you were doing against the others.

When I did this 2 years ago, it was a great motivator. I was able to ride for 10 months in a row with at least one century per month, a couple of months I did more than one. But as the name implies it is a challenge, life gets in the way. November that year, I broke my arm in a century ride (El Tour de Tucson) and was not able to finish the challenge. I doubt that I would have ridden as many centuries or miles that year without the Challenge. I was still proud of my accomplishments that year.

Whether you complete one century or all twelve you are a winner, completing a century requires commitment.

Gretzky

Thanks for bringing it back Mary

merider1

Thank you, Gregg. But the real credit goes to Lee. He's so cute. He turned to me last night at dinner and started talking about all sorts of ideas for the forum. I think he knows that I'm loud enough and post enough, that I might be willing to start threads (he's correct, of course ) Anyway, he brought this thread up and was probably going to bump it back up, but I'm excited about it now and am really committed after talking to him last night, so I just jumped the gun. He has me pegged, now, doesn't he? By the way, I look forward to riding with you on a future monthly century!

Gretzky

Ditto for sure After the ride I did this week I "think" I'm ready to hit the century mark. Key word, think

Indolent58

I am in (again) starting with the Stagecoach.

Mr. Beanz

In the other forums, there was no need to sign up. You entered the challenge by riding the century, then posting the info before the end of January. Once you posted, then you were in! Is it the same here, or do we need to sign the contract before we start. Just askin' cause I'm not sure if Gina will let me participate or not!

merider1

You'll do it easily! It's pace, fueling, stretching a little along the way and determination. You'll ace a few and then be ready for your first double century.

merider1

Since I didn't start this, I will have to let Lee decide. I think he was just getting an idea of who was interested to be honest. You really aren't in unless you do a century in January!

merider1

+1 - Stagecoach will be the first I count even if I do Brandy's double metric ride next weekend.

Gretzky

Sounds great to me

ronjon10

If you want to get people really motivated to keep up the centuries, put the name of everyone who signs up in the first post. Then when they miss a month, take them off the list. (The cruel version, move them to a did not complete list also on the first post). The motivation to keep my name on the list would keep me going.

(I'm not doing my first til March, but I'm going to try from March -> December. I know it doesn't count, that's fine with me)

my58vw

I am saying maybe, because like the poster above, I am not sure if a full century can happen in the first month - but I am planning for one each month starting in February...

I am only at about 35 miles from my start about 2 months back, but then once you hit 50 - 60 a century is in sight - I know - I did palm springs with 50 being my longest ride!

scvroadie

M.E.

Thanks for starting this back up. Hopefully we can get a sticky on this so its always easy for every one to find.

There are some great ideas here. Since for some of us centuries are a challenge and trying to do one a month is even more of challenge. I have an idea combined some of the additional thoughts here. Since you can always go back in and edit the list. To the right of the name in brackets we could put 1/1 for anybody completing a century in January. And to use ronjon as an example, in March he would be 1/3 and at year end he would be 10/12. That is still a great accomplishment.

The goal is at year's end is to 12/12 or for some of us that have month or two where they can't get a century, as close to 12/12 at the end of the year. For the distance maniacs who complete more than one century a month, only one counts.

scvroadie

Beanz,

There is no formal contract to sign. As soon as someone rides a century and post it on this thread then we can add them to the list. For example if someone doesn't start riding centuries until June, and then rides one a month for the remainder of the year, they deserve some recognition. If we use the example above, their name would be listed and next to their name is would show 7/12. Maybe with a little note, saying started in June. That would work well for those who don't take the challenge up until later in the year. They won't have to wait until 2008.

jsigone

I'm Game!!!!!!

Gretzky

This sounds perfect!

merider1

OMG...either it's the time of day (1:18am) or the fact that I'm just dumbblonde, but I have no idea what you are saying above. 10/12? What? Just kidding. FINE. People - post whether you are in and what percentage! I'm 12/12 or bust...like my itty-bitty-ti**ies are about to do out of this push-up bra. Had no reason to wear it really, but it was New Year's Eve! Anyway, back to the century-a-month-challenge-thing...

devilinblack

I'm planning on attempting the "Larry Schwartz Year-Rounder Century Challenge" anyway so I guess I'm in on this one.

merider1

Great, Stephen. And YOU'RE Stephen. I kept calling Billy (Oleanshoebox) you the other day.

merider1

Does this mean you are in on the challenge, Greg?

Gretzky

I am going to give it a shot

merider1

Now, that's the way to start 2007! I'll add you to the list!

Scootcore

might as well add me too....im all about slightly off kilter challenges!!!!

roadfix

M.E....aren't you supposed to be riding about now?

Gretzky

Awesome! I think we should all be 0/12 at this point, not 12/12. 12/12 is our goal