The 2018 Half Century a month Challenge chatzone

[NorthernDave]

Another point this morning and my longest ride of the year so far.
The roads were in a filthy state in places and it rained a bit, but it's all good isn't it?

 

[Elysian_Roads]

In a bit of a moment of madness, and aware that we were almost at the end of January, I decided I would go for an imperial Fifty, as well as taking the Marin hardtail MTB over to Swinley Forest Bike Hub to ask about a front suspension issue I have (permanently locked out). So today's ride was a bit of bridleway, a bit of off road track and a fair amount of road. Second time out on the Blue Trail at Swinley. It's fun, but on the downhill sections I feel I am the Lion on the yellow brick road to Oz... Also managed to get to the bottom of one incline, realised I was in the wrong gear, tried to turn it round to allow me a bit of a run to change down the gears, lost balance, and slowly but surely went over. Oops and ouch. Overall, a bit cold, a bit windy, and the last 10 miles were a bit wet. The bridleways were like marshes so the bike is a bit of a mess but as @NorthernDave says, it's all good isn't it?......

 

[Elysian_Roads]

Managed to get out on a social ride to get another over 50km ride tucked away. Nothing much to report. Just glad it's not raining now as the disadvantage of using two separate bikes over the weekend means twice as much cleaning......

 

[Lilliburlero]

Got January`s ride out of the way today despite a bout of cramp after 31 miles... my thighs just locked up when I got off the saddle on an incline and had to stop to walk it off . Cant remember getting cramp like this before, it was excruciating

Job done though with 50 miles bagged and January`s 100 mile, 100 km and 50 km/mile challenge rides all sitting nicely in the bank

 

[Domus]

Another point today. It was sooooo windy over Holcombe Hill, I had to tack
Very pleased, I had a cyst removed for my upper jaw on Wednesday which meant removing two front teeth. Still a bit swollen and eating is not easy, so not the easiest of rides, compounded by the wind.
Mmmmmmmm more soup.

 

[Rob and Alison]

Stig's in!
Ok, that and the addition of a points total for him in our rides thread probably needs some explanation.
So, Stig is our 5 month old Border Terrier puppy, who we have been getting used to coming cycling with us sometimes, in a dog specific basket fixed to the pannier rack. The weather hasn't really been good enough for him to come on a long ride so far this month, but a milder day today gave him a chance to join the half century a month challenge. And he duly joined the Caistor C.C. social ride today. Just over 38mile in all. He loved it, having plenty of other riders coming alongside for a chat. and a dog friendly café stop too. Hopefully a couple of photos below
:

 

[Noodle Legs]

That’s me off the mark for Feb- 31.5 in with the lads from work through some dark, muddy, pothole-laden lanes but quite a decent pace and nice to break the dry month with a couple of pints of well earned Guinness!

 

[13 rider]

Well we seem to have 42 riders setting off on the challenge . Good luck everyone

 

[steverob]

A day off work, but still ended up going in to London anyway as per my usual weekday routine (albeit on a much later train). After doing the things I went specifically to sort out, I had the whole afternoon to myself, so decided to have a bit of cycling fun. First of all I hopped on a Boris at Westfield Stratford and took a pootle through the Olympic Park, then out along NCN 1 and Quietway 2, before heading back via the River Lea towpath for a rather enjoyable 10 mile ride, although I could have done without the headwind when coming past Hackney Marshes!

This first part of the ride finished at the Lee Valley VeloPark, where for the ridiculously low fee of £12, I then got unlimited access to their wonderfully smooth one mile road cycling circuit, plus bike, helmet and shoe hire (it would have only been £4 if I'd brought my own bike). Did 20 laps of this course, finishing as the sun set and the floodlights came on. The only disappointment was that for most of my time there, I was the only one on the circuit - would have been nice to have had someone to chase/draft.

Add the two rides together; they were only split by the 30 minutes it took to hire the bike, get changed into proper cycling gear (did the Boris bit in regular clothes) and find my way out onto the circuit; and that gave me my 50km for February.

 

[Katherine]

Well we seem to have 42 riders setting off on the challenge . Good luck everyone

Wow! 42, that's amazing.
It's going to take a lot of keeping track of. In view of the number of people in the challenge, I wonder if it would be better to only make a new post once a month, just editing it as new rides are added.

Meanwhile, good luck to everyone. Hope you all managed to get to the end and enjoy the ride on the way. Especially all the new challengees.

 

[tallliman]

In light of a persistent knee injury and rail replacement busses, I'm expecting to ride 16 miles to the train station and 16 from the train on Sunday to get back home. I wouldn't normally add this as a single qualifying ride but I think this time I will to ensure I stay in!!

 

[Domus]

Cracking day in South Cumbria. Ride postponed from yesterday (high winds) still windy but lighter than yesterday. Grange via Levens to Arnside for lunch. Caught the bore tide rushing through the railway viaduct. Very impressive.
A light lunch of beans on toast before returning to Grange by same route in glorious sunshine, to cap it off got an early February point. 56 kms.

 

[13 rider]

Wow! 42, that's amazing.
It's going to take a lot of keeping track of. In view of the number of people in the challenge, I wonder if it would be better to only make a new post once a month, just editing it as new rides are added.

Meanwhile, good luck to everyone. Hope you all managed to get to the end and enjoy the ride on the way. Especially all the new challengees.

I have a system as longer as people post in the challenge thread at least once a month I get an alert and tick them off . If people want to edit this initial monthly post that's fine .

 

[Domus]

Another point today, frosty early on so waited 'till 10.00. So eager to be off I left my water bottle at home, called at bike shop in Bury, they were just unlocking, I explained my school boy error and bought a bottle which they kindly filled. Blooming cold all day but stayed dry

 

[tallliman]

A point in two parts today....nice ride up to London followed by a 2 hour train journey aborted early at Leicester. Then the remaining 20miles for the 50k back home. Slow but the knee feels Ok, not great but ok.