Chiltern Challenge 100

neil inker · Chiltern Challenge 100

In June this year I completed the Chiltern Challenge 100, a sponsored event run by Action Medical Research (see http://www.action.org.uk/get_involved/chiltern.php). This year it is on Sunday 28 June 2009. There is a £25 minimum sponsorship required to take part in the ride but it is supported and refreshments were available along the way with a magnificent lunch provided near Wallingford. Generally, the route was well signed and a map was provided

There were 2 circular routes, 100 mile and 100 km, both start/finish at Marlow Rugby Club and pass through various picturesque villages and countryside (Turville, Christmas Common, Ewelme, Henley, Marlow), even taking in a stretch of the 2008 Tour of Britain route. Being the Chilterns, there were several climbs, the worst being the short but brutal Britwell Hill. Next year's event will be along the same lines.

There was a fair mixture of entrants, ranging from those who had clearly not been on a bike for quite a while through to the very professional Berkshire Tri-Team. It was obviously not a sportive or competitive event but some people were taking it very seriously.

Overall, it was a good day out. Marlow Rugby Club is easily accessible, not too far from the M4 or M40 and more or less next to Marlow rail station (although this only goes to/from Maidenhead). I was well pleased with my time. I found the 100 mile option to be enough of a challenge to be worth doing again next year.

neil inker

I did it again this year but it seemed harder than I remembered. The start was moved from Marlow RFC to the Henley Hawks ground which meant that, while most of the route was the same as last year, the first 5 miles were different and extremely hilly taking in Colstrope Lane (25%) before the split. The lunch stop at Wallingford was superb, I was sorely tempted to stay all afternoon. All in all, a good day out and a great way to wind down after the Dragon Ride the week before.

Chiltern Challenge 100

There may not be nine million bicycles in Beijing but there’s at least that many in the cycle sheds in the summer.