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WCCG ( we are Chennai Cycling group )is a group here in Chennai, that encourages people to take up cycling ad helps many of them ride regularly.
They also come up with some unique challenges and different trips to make it more interesting.
As a part of their schedule, this month they started a 25X10 and 50X10 challenge in which one has to ride either 25 or 50 kms for ten day continuously without break. If there is any break, one has to start again from day-1. After the ride, one has to post the screenshot or link of the ride recorded in any of the cycling apps in the event page. Finishers will get a badge.
This challenge is fun as well as testing. For any one who is missing cycling or want to do regularly, this can be a great way to get back on saddle to ride fixed amount of distance for fixed number of days.
It looked interesting to me and I thought it would be little more challenging for me to ride 100X10 rather than 50. Riding weekday 100 is a long time dream and I thought I can fulfil it this way. I started riding on 5th feb till 14 th Feb, riding around 1200 Kms in ten days completing the challenge with a 200 Brevet in Mysore. Day 9,10 are particularly very interesting in terms of scenery and terrain.
Also this helped me finish Strava montly distance challenge. (Strava is a fitness tracking app, it tracks running,riding and many other sports distances). It is sort of addictive, I didn't get fully addicted but then it was fun seeing yourself among riders throughout the world. Strava monthly challenge is to finish 1250 Kms in a month. The person who is topping the distance rides 200+ Km per day and goes to work. Isn't it inspiring for endurance riders ?
I would share my day to day experiences and other photographs later.
Also there are some other reasons, which I have shared in event page. It goes as below:
#Why 100X10?
Cycling for me is always for fun and a way to be closer to the nature.I never let any challenge come in my way as challenges and competition will ruin the enjoyment of cycling.
But then, since I was riding in brevets almost continously I terribly missed these small rides and I also stopped riding unless there is a brevet. After practising for 50 km per day last year in May, when I brought this cycle, I never really got chance to ride in Chennai properly.
Since I didn't plan any brevets in first half of this month, I thought taking part in this would help me have some fun in and around Chennai and enjoy the feel of small rides.
When it is posted about this challenge, I saw in comments about 75X20,100X10 etc. I'm not sure if they are posted for fun or people meant really, but it created the itch in me to think about 100X10. As I will never be in Chennai for consecutive weekends due to brevets, 75X20 is not an option for me, so I have chosen 100X10.
Also I brought a set of BTWIN MTB tires. The guy in store told me they will last only for 1500 Km ,if I rode on tarmac. I wanted to test their life and this is the chance.After the challenge ,I have now completed around 1800 Kms on them and they are as good as new.
#Who inspired me to do 100X10 ?
A friend whom I met in facebook recently rode from Delhi to Kochi in 35 days. He rode many 100's consecutively with fully loaded rear panniers. So I thought of giving a try to feel how it will be to ride 100 everyday.
#How 100X10?
I'm very confident that I would complete it, as my body got adapted to these long rides. Riding 100 per day shouldn't be tough for those who are into endurance cycling. What I didn't expect is the role time would play during these 10 days.
#What happened during 100X10 ?
Since it will be always enthusiastic on Day-1, I woke up sharply at 3.45 am and set on to ride happily. Day2,3 being weekends body hesitated to wake up early, which made me suffer in sun.But then it is an experience.
Day 4-8 , I got chance to sleep only for 3 1/2 hours durig night. I used to take a powernap post ride and then go to work. Caffeine intake increased to compensate for lost sleep. Cooking and washing became my main issues.
In order to reduce time for washing, I used normal shorts instead of cycling shorts for days 1-9. As jerseys were quick dry clothes, there was no issues in washing them.
Also for food I used to depend on Amma mess mostly to save time for cooking.Sometimes other stuff just to gratify mind and tongue.
At the end of 10th day, the condition of my room, especially kitchen became as pathetic. Have to clean that mess first.
As the challenge is going on, I realised that I'm not being strained at all during riding. I wondered if riding in flats might be reason. It made me think about going outstation to finish the last two days. That decision turned out to be the best one I have made, as I got chance to explore the very scenic NH209 from Bangalore to Mysore and to end with a grand finish by riding 200 in a rolling terrain of ever beautiful Mysore.
#Why I didn't get strained during 100X10 ?
One ,as I already mentioned, my body got adapted to long rides.
Also the first ranked person in Strava monthly challnge of Feb, rides 200 km perday and then go to.work.Are you not inspired by listening to this ? I got inspired, which made me look 100 as almost a very small ride.
These roads in and around Chennai are not Challenging unless there is headwind or Sunshine.
My Physio taught me wonderful stretches which I would do during and post ride. It really helped me being very fresh at work, as if I never pedalled in the day.
I'm very lucky as I didn't get any punctures or mechanical issues during the ride which made me ride happily.
#How did 100X10 helped me ?
It really gave me wonderful opportunity to checkout the beauty around Chennai. The ennore creek, the road to Ponneri, the route from Sriperumbudur to Porur left me mesmerized.
My food intake improved. I managed 100 kms on just 2 or 3 bananas everyday, except that one day when I started without lunch and the last day 200.
Saddle time increased which decreased breaks during rides.
I managed to learn importance of minute.
#Who can attempt 100X10 ?
Anyone whose body is adapted for riding long can attempt and finish easily.
#What is needed to finisih 100X10 ?
Enthusiasm to explore around, a well maintained bicycle, puncture kit, spare tube.
Help from better half who shares your passion or parents who are staying with you and willingly supporting you can make a huge difference as they can help with you with chores daily.
A collage showing screenshots of my rides from Day 1 - Day 10
They also come up with some unique challenges and different trips to make it more interesting.
As a part of their schedule, this month they started a 25X10 and 50X10 challenge in which one has to ride either 25 or 50 kms for ten day continuously without break. If there is any break, one has to start again from day-1. After the ride, one has to post the screenshot or link of the ride recorded in any of the cycling apps in the event page. Finishers will get a badge.
This challenge is fun as well as testing. For any one who is missing cycling or want to do regularly, this can be a great way to get back on saddle to ride fixed amount of distance for fixed number of days.
It looked interesting to me and I thought it would be little more challenging for me to ride 100X10 rather than 50. Riding weekday 100 is a long time dream and I thought I can fulfil it this way. I started riding on 5th feb till 14 th Feb, riding around 1200 Kms in ten days completing the challenge with a 200 Brevet in Mysore. Day 9,10 are particularly very interesting in terms of scenery and terrain.
Also this helped me finish Strava montly distance challenge. (Strava is a fitness tracking app, it tracks running,riding and many other sports distances). It is sort of addictive, I didn't get fully addicted but then it was fun seeing yourself among riders throughout the world. Strava monthly challenge is to finish 1250 Kms in a month. The person who is topping the distance rides 200+ Km per day and goes to work. Isn't it inspiring for endurance riders ?
I would share my day to day experiences and other photographs later.
Also there are some other reasons, which I have shared in event page. It goes as below:
#Why 100X10?
Cycling for me is always for fun and a way to be closer to the nature.I never let any challenge come in my way as challenges and competition will ruin the enjoyment of cycling.
But then, since I was riding in brevets almost continously I terribly missed these small rides and I also stopped riding unless there is a brevet. After practising for 50 km per day last year in May, when I brought this cycle, I never really got chance to ride in Chennai properly.
Since I didn't plan any brevets in first half of this month, I thought taking part in this would help me have some fun in and around Chennai and enjoy the feel of small rides.
When it is posted about this challenge, I saw in comments about 75X20,100X10 etc. I'm not sure if they are posted for fun or people meant really, but it created the itch in me to think about 100X10. As I will never be in Chennai for consecutive weekends due to brevets, 75X20 is not an option for me, so I have chosen 100X10.
Also I brought a set of BTWIN MTB tires. The guy in store told me they will last only for 1500 Km ,if I rode on tarmac. I wanted to test their life and this is the chance.After the challenge ,I have now completed around 1800 Kms on them and they are as good as new.
#Who inspired me to do 100X10 ?
A friend whom I met in facebook recently rode from Delhi to Kochi in 35 days. He rode many 100's consecutively with fully loaded rear panniers. So I thought of giving a try to feel how it will be to ride 100 everyday.
#How 100X10?
I'm very confident that I would complete it, as my body got adapted to these long rides. Riding 100 per day shouldn't be tough for those who are into endurance cycling. What I didn't expect is the role time would play during these 10 days.
#What happened during 100X10 ?
Since it will be always enthusiastic on Day-1, I woke up sharply at 3.45 am and set on to ride happily. Day2,3 being weekends body hesitated to wake up early, which made me suffer in sun.But then it is an experience.
Day 4-8 , I got chance to sleep only for 3 1/2 hours durig night. I used to take a powernap post ride and then go to work. Caffeine intake increased to compensate for lost sleep. Cooking and washing became my main issues.
In order to reduce time for washing, I used normal shorts instead of cycling shorts for days 1-9. As jerseys were quick dry clothes, there was no issues in washing them.
Also for food I used to depend on Amma mess mostly to save time for cooking.Sometimes other stuff just to gratify mind and tongue.
At the end of 10th day, the condition of my room, especially kitchen became as pathetic. Have to clean that mess first.
As the challenge is going on, I realised that I'm not being strained at all during riding. I wondered if riding in flats might be reason. It made me think about going outstation to finish the last two days. That decision turned out to be the best one I have made, as I got chance to explore the very scenic NH209 from Bangalore to Mysore and to end with a grand finish by riding 200 in a rolling terrain of ever beautiful Mysore.
#Why I didn't get strained during 100X10 ?
One ,as I already mentioned, my body got adapted to long rides.
Also the first ranked person in Strava monthly challnge of Feb, rides 200 km perday and then go to.work.Are you not inspired by listening to this ? I got inspired, which made me look 100 as almost a very small ride.
These roads in and around Chennai are not Challenging unless there is headwind or Sunshine.
My Physio taught me wonderful stretches which I would do during and post ride. It really helped me being very fresh at work, as if I never pedalled in the day.
I'm very lucky as I didn't get any punctures or mechanical issues during the ride which made me ride happily.
#How did 100X10 helped me ?
It really gave me wonderful opportunity to checkout the beauty around Chennai. The ennore creek, the road to Ponneri, the route from Sriperumbudur to Porur left me mesmerized.
My food intake improved. I managed 100 kms on just 2 or 3 bananas everyday, except that one day when I started without lunch and the last day 200.
Saddle time increased which decreased breaks during rides.
I managed to learn importance of minute.
#Who can attempt 100X10 ?
Anyone whose body is adapted for riding long can attempt and finish easily.
#What is needed to finisih 100X10 ?
Enthusiasm to explore around, a well maintained bicycle, puncture kit, spare tube.
Help from better half who shares your passion or parents who are staying with you and willingly supporting you can make a huge difference as they can help with you with chores daily.
A collage showing screenshots of my rides from Day 1 - Day 10
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