The 2019 Half Century a month Challenge chatzone

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aferris2

Guru
Location
Up over
The second ride for May completed. This is exactly what I was hoping to be able to do in retirement. Nice sunny day, hardly any wind, so go for a ride. Headed out to Danbury for a few hills then back towards home. Realised that I was going to get back with about 28 miles on the clock so had to put in an extra leg along my old commuting route.
 

Domus

Guru
Location
Sunny Radcliffe
Tree surgeons arrived very early this morning, did what they needed to do so I had time to get out and make the most of the sunshine.
Short sleeves, track mitts and sun screen, at last. Tail wind to Chorley so didn't bother with coffee stop at Frederick's, had a pleasant time with my mum who kept dozing, then waking and smiling, then dozing again.
Headwind all the way home with lunch in Horwich before the climb up to The Blundell. Lovely day, 61 Kms and another point. ^_^ :sun::bicycle:
 
Slipped out with the Saga CC boys for a spin around the hilly Derbyshire Dales. Been struggling a little with my mojo just lately but this was a perfect kick up the ar5e to get it firing again. Some beautiful scenery as expected in this part of the world and enhanced by the great weather. A lot of steep and long climbs and brutal headwinds made for tough but enjoyable riding, averaging 100ft per mile.
https://strava.app.link/7N0WzjRhKW
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Squeezed a cheeky 50 miler in today with my Saga CC compatriot Martin for another couple of points on the board.
Sadly the original plan to ride a century with @13 rider @Supersuperleeds and @tallliman did not come to fruition due to doggy day care issues and so I had to keep it shorter and more local. Very cloudy throughout but really warm and thus my clothing choices of full summer gear were somewhat justified!

We kept it reasonably flat and 15-17 average so we could just have a gentle chinwag on the way round and recover from Thursday’s monster efforts in the Derbyshire Dales. Made coffee stops in Market Bosworth and Atherstone and just chewed the fat on the way round, actually taking in the superb views of the Leicestershire countryside instead of a “head down chasing numbers” thrashfest. There was little to no wind and so was pretty effortless throughout.

A thoroughly enjoyable relaxed pace ride in perfect conditions- 51.8 in 3h 6.
https://strava.app.link/Xmn4cvObNW
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NorthernDave

Never used Über Member
Another hard won point in the bag today.
I was against time, and the easy option would have been to just do a non-qualifying ride, but I wanted to make a point to myself after last Sundays abandoned ride.
Despite feeling like I'd pushed on my moving speed was around my usual average, so clearly putting too much effort in serves no benefit and I'll continue pootling...:laugh:
 

Domus

Guru
Location
Sunny Radcliffe
What can I say, my first 100 miler, FOUR points and a cracking day out to boot. I signed up for Nickyboys Llandudno ride with some trepidation due to the distance, however with his encouragement I managed it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The weather was kind, the route was interesting, the other riders were friendly and the refreshment stops were first class. My only disappointment was getting to the Rhyl Bike Hub just after the coffee machine was cleaned when I would have sold my soul for some caffeine. Still an incentive for next year.
 

Domus

Guru
Location
Sunny Radcliffe
I have to say I'm a little embarrassed, never been called an inspiration before. :wub:
 
What can I say, my first 100 miler, FOUR points and a cracking day out to boot. I signed up for Nickyboys Llandudno ride with some trepidation due to the distance, however with his encouragement I managed it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
The weather was kind, the route was interesting, the other riders were friendly and the refreshment stops were first class. My only disappointment was getting to the Rhyl Bike Hub just after the coffee machine was cleaned when I would have sold my soul for some caffeine. Still an incentive for next year.

Brilliant effort @Domus, very well done :notworthy:

Capped off a superb weekend’s cycling with a Club Ride out to Fradley Junction cafe near Lichfield. It was almost a carbon copy of yesterday’s ride in terms of distance, elevation, average speed and effort and was well attended due to the fair weather conditions.

We set off at 9am heading westbound through Ashby de la Zouch and Overseal, crossing the busy A444 here and into the beautiful back lanes of South Derbyshire. The pace was surprisingly quite quick but as there were so many of us this made light work and we were able to exchange in pleasant conversation and banter along the way.

The only event of note and a major downside was when one of the lads came off on a downhill approach to a T Junction near Catton park but luckily he was ok and just grazed his hand.

We had a quick break to let him come to and we set off for the last few miles to the cafe stop at Fradley, passing loads of cyclists heading in the opposite direction as part of a sportive.

Frustratingly, the ride lead hadn’t actually plotted a route and I got the impression he was winging it somewhat and subsequently lost his bearings. So I led the troops to the cafe for the last couple of miles. It was extremely busy on arrival and I counted no less than three other clubs had swooped on the place, which lead to a longish queue outdoors and then a twenty minute wait for hot food.

Credit where credit’s due though, the staff did battle through the queue and I was impressed with the way they conducted themselves despite how busy it was. I just had a can of coke, a coffee and cake, all of which came pretty quickly.

After half hour or so we set off and immediately picked up a quick pace along the flat back roads of Staffordshire/South Derbyshire/NW Leicestershire. The increase in pace did cause a few splits in the group because the ride lead had let someone else move in front who was stronger and forcing it.

As we got closer to home we began to peel off one by one, I parted ways with them at Packington and finished the last three and a half miles at a more relaxed pace, finally getting home in one piece and not gasping for breath!

To summarise, this was a great route but not well planned and not very well led which was disappointing. 53.6 miles in 3h 6.

https://strava.app.link/LMpgyQAPOW

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Katherine

Guru
Moderator
Location
Manchester
I saw @Domus yesterday :hello::bicycle:Well done for doing your first 100 miles! I rode with Nickyboy's group for the first 30 miles before turning around at Weaverham.
It was my first metric century and longest ride since last September and being back on the bike this year.
As I said in the Your Ride Today thread, 8 miles to Manchester Piccadily, 30 miles with the Llandudno group and 30 miles home.
I felt tired and elated when I got home.
 

PatrickPending

Legendary Member
Location
Leicester
May's done on Sunday with a very similar ride to last month 106Km - Blaby - Countesthorpe -Willoughby Waterlys - Ashby Magna -Dunton Bassett - Ashby Parva - Leire - Frolesworth - Claybrooke Magna - Withybrooke - Hopsford - Shilton -Brinkow - Little Lawford - Easenhall - Bretford - Kings Newham - Little Lawford - Easenhall - Pailton - Mons Kirby - ClaybrookeParva - Ullesthorpe - Ashby Parva - Kimcote - Walton - Bruntingthorpe - Peatling Magna - Wiloughby Waterlys - Countesthorpe - Blaby - this is quite a straightforward route - no big climbs so suited me as I was just getting over a cold I bought back from a walking trip to Northumbria. Must be the remains of sea air that kept me going!
 
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