Rapha Women's 100 (cycling challenge)

[Velorider]

Has anyone heard of this or doing it??
It's a worldwide event taking place on the same day (July the 20th) where women will cycle 100km. I've just signed up via strava.

Has anyone else signed up? It would be great to create a support group on here, to swap training tips, snack ideas and just general stuff.

I'm a pretty proficient cyclist but only cycle about 40 miles in one to due to kids etc. So sign in, sign up and let's swap stories!

oh wow Viva that's incredible!! I've never been able to give blood but I think laws have finally changed that would allow me to (Gran died of a disease poss inherited, there's a minute chance I would have it and even more minute chance I'd pass it on - I think the need for blood has overtaken the concern I could pass this on and it's possible to now test the blood before it's donated anyway) but bone marrow? Honestly I think that's awesome

Getting the kids up so DH can do the last bits and take them in - Wednesday is my day off but I have coffee booked in with a friend I haven't seen for ages so getting out for 2 hours before hand then cycling to another friends and we're going on a 3.8km hike

ATB, hope you enjoyed your Wednesdays activities.
How's everyone doing? Have joined a couple of strava challenges to encourage me to keep putting the miles in - pretty useful for motivation!

So annoyed - didn't get to do my century today as my lift bailed on me and I couldn't find another ride or borrow a car for love nor money. Then TOTM appeared which pissed me off even more

However tomorrow we have a kids party to go to further up from my usual Malibu ride so I'm going to bike there and back, a few hills and will be just under 60miles total

ATB that's rubbish! People bailing (for no legit reason) is a huge annoyance.

It's rained for days here so the ground is sloppy and muddy here. I went to the scottish bike show yesterday which was pretty cool. Saw Chris Hoy, who is such a great public speaker, and he was just talking sense! I spent 5 hours immersed in all things bike. Bliss

that is awesome velo! I adore our Brit cyclists, all of them...did anyone see the Victoria Pendleton documentary that was on in the run up to the Olympics - how someone so full of self doubt managed to achieve such incredible things is beyond me!

Managed to do 57miles yesterday (with a lovely mid way break of a children's birthday party with pizza to fuel me home!), same Malibu coastline just a bit further and without head or tail winds this time - and by luck a couple of friends were happening to do the same ride so I had folk to match a decent pace to and I think we averaged about 17mph so I'm feeling much better.

And to be honest I spent most of Saturday hunched over crippling period pains so a century ride probably wouldn't have been massively fun anyway

Bike show sounds good Velo, I went to the one at the NEC last year and it was a bit like bike porn! Sadly I'm not in the market for a £5k race machine! Must have been great to see Chris Hoy, he always comes across really well.
ATB, also saw the documentary on Victoria Pendleton, and read her autobiography, she certainly did overcome a lot to get to where she did, a real ambassador for womens cyling.
Had a similar run to you on Saturday, 56 miles but a steadier 15 mph average. Trying to get the miles in now so also got in a 32 and 45 mile ride over the last week - signed up for 3 strava challenges over May to keep me focused!

Oooooh I might go buy her autobiography

I might read that book too, sounds good. We really do need more women cycling!
ATB and pip you both do such long rides! Mind you, six months ago I thought 10 miles was far, and now time allowing I feel I could just keep going. I love speaking to other people about it because non cycling folk get a bit bored of it.

Talking of which, my cleats seem to squeak on one side, any ideas? They are only a few weeks old, it may be the pedal, I'm not sure.

god 18months ago I thought 10miles was far too! and I really push for longer rides because I need to up my endurance for June...there are two days that go over 100 miles but are flat, the shortest day (67miles) is the final day and the next shortest (around the 75mile) has a couple of seriously killer hills

Supposed to be having a day with DH tomorrow but he's come down with a cold again so a little part of me is hopefuly that means I can get out on the bike instead

Hehe! Shame that ATB . My ds is sick, but DP is off work so I get to cycle as much as I can this week. Next week we are off for a UK based holiday but the bike rack is getting used so I can bring the bike with me!

Definitely recommend VPs autobiography!
And as ATB says, it's amazing how quickly you find you can build up you milage. A couple of years ago when I got back into cycling I started with a 6 mile out and back on a hybrid, and took it from there.... Does get expensive mind....!
Hope the weather holds out for you Velo, apparently it's going to brighten up next week, I'm really hoping to get some miles in over the Bank Holiday.
And you could try a little spray of Plege (other brands available!) on your cleats. Usually better than WD40 as doesn't leave a residue so won't get all claggy once dust/ dirt mixes with it. I've also heard that talcum powder can help but not used that myself.
Also finally decided to try a female specific saddle as I want to increase milage in comfort! just recieved my Selle Italia Diva ( I wish they would leave it out with the girly names!) from Wiggle today, hoping to get out for 2 or 3 hours tomorrow so will be interesting to see if it meets all the reviews promise.

Just checking in despite missing out on loads if cycling cos of being stupid sick. Resting up in the hope I'll still make my 75mile training ride on Saturday

Hope you feel better soon ATB.
I cycled in twice this week to work (36miles) after 3wks off with a virus but struggled to get back home on wed then woke up thurs full of cold again grrrr. Little kids are wonderful but keep bringing bugs home! My DH has actually been signed off work this week with this virus. In 9yrs I've never known him signed off. Fingers crossed we all feel better soon. ...as I really want to get on my bike :-)

Hi all! ATB I hope you get better. My house has been full of ear infections and tonsilitis. Thankfully not me!

I'm off on holiday this week, UK bound and just discovered my bike rack is rubbish so I can't take my bike. Six days of no riding is going to be horrible. I'm going out for a birthday ride tomorrow. Not sure how far I will get as it's going to be windy. And planning a big one next weekend. Well big for me.

I've managed three rides this week so far, two smaller ones, but feeling good!

made it! bloody awesome 75mile training ride - perfect weather (a little chilly in the morning), some good climbs and an ok pace - 7hrs45mins which included 2 rest stops of about 15/20mins (bloody toilet queues) and water stop of 10mins and lunch stop of 40mins....um....so I guess 75miles in roughly 6hours 10mins

I am knackered but might have ridden the cold out of my system!

Might have over pushed it - my legs HURT today!

Good riding ATB! Recommend Elemis muscle ease active body oil for the achey legs, it's lovely!

Hope the folks who have Ben a bit poorly are all getting back up to speed, especially you Ssmile, sounds like you've had a rotten time.

Had some good opportunities to get out this week, about 130/140 ish miles over 4 rides (will need to check back on strava) and planning a decent run over the bank holiday ahead of my sportive at the end of the month (100k)

Hope you have a lovely holiday next week Velo!

Well done ATB! My legs would fall off after that!! I'm not getting out at all this week and I'm already getting itchy for my bike! Never realised I was so addicted.

how is everyone doing? I went for a run and a swim on Wednesday and if that didn't detroy my legs enough had a pretty hardcore Vinyasa Flow class last night, my calves are pretty sore and tight now so cancelling my run this am to have a rest day before prob 50miles tomorrow (on the bike, not my feet!), but it will be broken up by lunch and a hippie festival

ATB that sounds fab! Lunch and a hippie festival!

Well we are back of holiday and I have a little bit of holiday weight to shed. Didn't cycle when away but the house we stayed on was on six different levels so legs got a bloody good work out! Going out tomorrow, the weather is lovely in Scotland!

ATB, Festival sounds great! What's vinyasa flow, I'm intrigued?!
Nice to hear you had a good holiday Velo, bet you're really looking forward to getting out tomorrow.
Have only managed to get out last Wednesday for a quick 30 miles as trying to get my speed up. Went out yesterday with intention of completing steady 60 miles but crashed quite spectacularly about 8 miles in and needed rescue by other half. Bikes okay though, a few scuffs but can't say the same for my face/ arm / legs! ( favourite Pearl Izumi top didn't fair to well either) Going to give myself a couple of rest days then back in the saddle as they say.

Pikin hope you recover all ok from your crash sounds ouch.
ATB hope the legs have recovered after your long ride. I've not heard of the exercise you mentioned either is it a form of yoga?
We had a family bike ride today. The toddler on the back of my old bike and DD1 on the tag along with DH. DD1 can ride her own bike but averages 6-7mph and DH gets frustrated so we tag her on longer routes still. The wind was cold though gloves &full waterproofs for DD2. Also potty training DD2 so been lots of puddles today but finally seeing progress :). We are still all recovering from the endless virus but it was fab to be cycling again but hard going on my old bike with only the middle gears working . (The toddlers seat bracket is on my old bike) We were also away last week and got in some coastal path walking in fab weather. So slowly getting fitness back.

ssmile your family bike ride sounds lovely - how old is DD1? We sometimes go round the block or to the park with DD on the kidseat on my old bike, DS on his bike and DH on his but I'd love to do a longer ride, we have a trailer but I find them both soooooo heavy in it! Maybe a tag along to go on DH's bike for DS would be good?

Did a small 25mile ride yesterday, wish I'd ridden home rather than going to the overpriced and disappointing earth day festival, was such a glorious day for a ride! Need to service and clean my bike before the ride and DH and I are going to the Grand Canyon this week so I may as well put it in. Means no riding for over a week though

Vinyasa Flow is a type of yoga, similar to Ashtanga in that it's a full workout, normally with a bit of ab work in there somewhere. I love yoga but prefer the more "work" styles to something like Hathaway

Autocorrect fail *Hatha

ATB I'm quite vigorous with my bike cleaning usually. I've let it slide lately, it needs a good degreasing and chain mech tune up too! I want to do a bike mechanics course to increase my knowledge. Sorry the festival wasn't that good, it sounded great in theory!

Pip, I hope you recover quickly! I fell over recently and thankfully didn't rip my favourite wind breaker.

Ssmile, I love family bike rides too. Ds is to bike for a tag along though, so when I take him I'm limited to his speeds. He has just turned 7 but is oddly very tall for his age (a matter of maybe 10 inches between us now). But he cycles about 7mph. We did 15 miles together yesterday which was lovely but took an age. My ribs are sore and all I can think is because we went so slow, I got a long slow all over body workout. Controlling a bike at a slower pace takes much more effort apparently!!