We have a quite a few cyclists on here.

A couple of us are doing a ride on 24 June (BrumJim and me). So does anyone feel up to the challenge of joining us.

The ride is 100 miles (or you can do kilometres if prefered) through the undulating Chiltern Hills. It starts at Thame. More info here:

http://www.action.org.uk/chiltern_challenge_100/100_mile_route

You can do it as a sportive, but the main reason is to raise money for Action Medical Research. This is the charity I have ridden for (and people on here have kindly sponsored) for the last few years.

The charity's aims are:
•tackling premature birth and treating sick and vulnerable babies
•helping children affected by disability, disabling conditions and infections
•targeting rare diseases that together severely affect many forgotten children.

The tagline for the cycling is 'we suffer so they don't have to'

It would be great if others want to join us and get a little fccuk team together. They have been doing these for years and they are very well organised events indeed.

Or there are other ways you can help...

We will be seeking sponsorship, and your cash is always welcome
If you live near the route, come along and throw stuff at us.
If you are near Thame and can put us up the night before, that would save us from too early a start.

Just in case anyone has a couple of pennies they would like to put to good use:

http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/MrJ

http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/BrumJim

It's a bit far to drive for a ride but good luck with it and I will sponsor you for sure

Many thanks Rich, that's extremely kind. I'll also be on the bike you helped me get, so you've already done a good bit in the background

As in previous years, in case this is an incentive, I will at least match the biggest individual donation.

Cool. Do me a favour and remind me nearer the ride. I've gone a bit mad on donations this month and will be a charity case myself if I continue. But I will definitely donate - that's a pledge.

I'll get my page up and running soon, so keep some money in the pocket for me!

This will be my first 100 mile ride. I had to pull out of the last one I tried due to incorrect clothing (sensible choice), so this is one big target I need to hit. I will also be trying to support Mark during the ride. We have one big hill near the start to wake us up, then its another 80+ miles on tired legs. I'll supply the Tim Henman doll and if anyone can direct me to a youtube clip with some sound bites of his finest fans, that should give him all the encouragement that he needs (Come-on Tim).

I'm in. Good luck!

Cheers Enforcer. That's great.

If anyone can get Mr Henman to dip into his pocket and sponsor us I'll shout "come on Tim" myself at mile intervals [perhaps adding a few extra words at the end].

Please explain the Tim Henman reference? I think that hill at the start is steeper/longer than Henman Hill at Wimbledon! I'm booked to do a family fun cycle that day but trying to persuade myself to do this one, instead but it will be a week after doing the London to Brighton, not sure I'll be up for it? I've still got to set up my donation page for LtoB also...

Sorry, I have already entered the Welsh CA 25 Champs that day, however I'm going to select 'donate now' shortly so I'm with you in spirit

I think it may have something to do with Emjay's great admiration, respect, even man love for super Tim. The fact that our Timmy achieved so much with so little talent is an inspiration to us all

I would love to join you on this as I'm in training for my Boy's Tour in September (Rugby -> Cromer) and this would be an ideal test. Will have a check on the calendar when I get home.

Indeed as bezzer says, he is my hero [Tim, not bezzer]. Whenever I win a case I always give a little Timmy fist pump and one of his trademark growls at the losing side.

Hope you can make it bezzer, you can keep BrumJim company whilst I labour behind!

MMmm. Am seriously considering joining you on this. Looks a little less hilly than my 20th May ride but is that bit longer. I will mull it over this weekend.

That would be awesome John. I have asked the charity for details on the total climb etc. They seem to have the stats for every other ride but this one. I will post it up here when/if I get anything. It will be interesting to see how this compares.

The first climb looks a right b*&^£%d!!!!!

What fitness/stamina level is required to keep up with (a) bezzer and (b) Emjay? (not to mention bockers, he will no doubt leave us all at the first hill)

There seems to be plenty of stats about the route on the link you gave Mark, did you try it yourself?

Looking at the times from last year, they range from just about 4.25 hours (23.5 mpgh average, you must be kidding if you think we can do that) to a little under 11.5 hours (must have stopped at every pub and walked up all the hills) so I think I would be somewhere in-between...

You can download the route in GPX or Garmin format, just looking at it now...

But as for Timmy's talent and achievements, surely that's on a par with Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards?

Dave - I saw the graphs but couldn't find the info on average gradient, max gradient, total climb etc. It's not the same place it is for other routes. Just had a double-check and I still can't find it.

Actually, those times are quite encouraging. The fastest person to do 100 miles on the route I did two years ago took 5h 30 - but that killed me. So maybe this is less hilly than I feared if it can be done that much quicker.

I am expecting BrumJim, bezzer and Bockers (if they are up for it) to be speedier than me, but I am reasonably fit for someone who sits on his backside all day. I would expect to finish about 2/3 of the way through the finishers. I would guess about 8 hours for me with a reasonable pause over lunch, but I am more concerned with completing it than going as quick as I can. Last year I did it with a couple of friends doing their first one - I could have gone a bit quicker, but prefer to have the company - just making excuses for the last 10 miles or so and abandoning them to really push myself.

I will certainly be starting very steadily.

If I enter I will not be leaving anyone behind. No matter how fit I get it will still be a major task to haul 17 stone over the climbs, although i do descend well

At my present weight I would aim for a 15mph average which would be around the 6 1/2 hr mark then add another hour for stops/mechanicals etc.

If I lost another 2 stone then I would aim for an average closer to 18mph and so take an hour off my time. Gravity if is cruel tormentor

As for fitness levels the genral rule is that if you can comfotabley ride half the distance then the full ride should be fine. So you need to be getting in some regular hilly 50 mile rides in over the next 6 weeks.

This ride is on Map my ride too,

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/67382785

Loads of stats and data there.

That's great, thanks bockers. From that info it doesn't look too bad at all - gentler than I expected.

I don't have a problem with that

In the Metropolis that is Rugby, we have a yearly 'Bikeathon' which has a 50 mile circuit. I did it twice last year, once with full paniers (tour training) and the other without.

With luggage I averaged 11mph (my standard tour speed) and the 2nd time I averaged 15mph. The course is fairly flat with very few climbs which is great! Although I cycle a lot I still loathe any incline!

I reckon 100 miles in 7 hours (cycling time) would be a good target.

First climb is a category 4

http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/MrJ

I'm feeling a bit lonely on here at the moment. Come on you tight sods. Pay up!

Don't worry Brian. I think they're all just waiting for me to die when I'm in the saddle before making a donation

There's 6 weeks to go yet, no rush - and no obligation. Lots of people on here support lots of causes. Others don't have money to give away.

Just to add to this, many thanks for those who have kindly given (and I've been able to work out all your cunning monikers).

In case it helps push a few pennies out of anyone else, I am signing up to do another 100 miler 2 weeks later. That is not with the charity, but I am still doing it to raise funds for them.

I am not going to be able to sit down for months!!!

Just to say that BrumJim's sponsor page is now up and running.

http://www.action.org.uk/sponsor/BrumJim

Indeed. Committed (or will be soon!)

A week to go, and my training has been screwed up by too much rain and not enough time.

Also planning to camp the night before, so I'll be doing it with un-trained legs and no sleep.

Oh well.....

Obviously that's bad news for you, but good for me! Hopefully that means you won't leave me completely for dust, Jim!

It is going to be a rubbish night's kip under canvas though - not looking forward to that! And fighting the temptation to have a nice fry-up in the pub for breakfast... must resist!

My chain fell off, my arse was sore, I rode to Thame, and followed Jim.

Good luck with the ride gents!