The 2023 Half Century (50km or 50m) Challenge Chatzone

[bluenotebob]

April summary

7 qualifying rides completed in April – 10 points added

Total points: 23

I’ve never racked up 10 points before in April so I’m pleased about that – and 23 points by 30.4 is also a personal record.

1173km cycled in April (3807km for the year to date) … slightly ahead of target so that’s fine.

I have kept up my record of cycling every day this year (120 days cycled/120 days elapsed). It’s meant getting pretty wet a few times but that’s April for you – and if lots of rain helps fill the local reservoirs, it can only be a good thing.

I’ve been struggling with a dental problem for the last couple of weeks or so and I’m about to embark on what will be a series of visits to the dentist. Hopefully that won’t derail my 100% record .. or inhibit my ability to add lots more points in this challenge in May.

I hope everyone has a great Bank Holiday Monday tomorrow!

 

[13 rider]

Im away on Holiday this week bike is with me but not sure I will get a quailifing ride in this week but technically Im in as Ive just rode 100miles from home to Shropshire
Update for April we have 28 riders fully posted up leaving 1 ride @Gibbo9 to post who does tend to post late so hopefully were all still in .
Well done @C R the first to post a ride for May
also well done to @bluenotebob for racking up the rides ,its is nice to see people join the challenge and start improving away and upping the mileage

 

[Gibbo9]

Im away on Holiday this week bike is with me but not sure I will get a quailifing ride in this week but technically Im in as Ive just rode 100miles from home to Shropshire
Update for April we have 28 riders fully posted up leaving 1 ride @Gibbo9 to post who does tend to post late so hopefully were all still in .
Well done @C R the first to post a ride for May
also well done to @bluenotebob for racking up the rides ,its is nice to see people join the challenge and start improving away and upping the mileage

Still in and plugging away. A very good month last month with just over 900km covered on the bike, much of it with my partner who has really caught the cycling bug. Talk now about upgrading to a better bike, my wallet is cringing already. A few rides conducted to qualify but only posted the one.

Hope everyone is well and still enoying the cycling.

 

[Jon George]

Took advantage of the weather to get this month's ride in and clear my mind about some grim health news of my oldest friend. I took these to prove that there's some sun-shine out there in Suffolk, folks!

 

[kapelmuur]

I’m wondering whether there are jinxed stretches of road, I’ve had very few punctures or mechanicals in the 12 years I’ve been cycling but 2 were on the same section of road In Normandy on holidays 3 years apart.
Now, on the lane near Wilmslow where I broke a spoke last week I had a catastrophic puncture on Tuesday. A large splinter entered through the tread and exited through the sidewall ripping it in the process.
While standing disconsolately at the side of the road a Good Samaritan in a white van stopped to offer me and the bike a lift home. So a happy ending.
A tough ride into the strong headwind today, my elderly legs are still protesting. I had a short rest to photograph an attractive polling station in Rostherne.

The

 

[13 rider]

Finally off the mark for May just my standard Wymeswold loop , I was away last week and didn't get a qualifying ride in due to not wanting to mess around family time and also because the area around Ludlow in Shropshire is hilly did a few rides and all averaged over 100 ft up per miles . Today's ride had 990ft of up in 31 miles that would have been 3100ft + in Shropshire

 

[Domus]

Back from a gruelling Hadrian's Cycleway. Cracking route and brilliant company but the wind.
The day from Carlisle to Hexham was 86 Kms with 1,400 metres of climbing into a block easterly headwind. I got to the top of one climb and tried to freewheel down hill only to be blown backwards. Still we all survived.

 

[Spartak]

Do I get an extra point for best 50km ride.

An excellent day out on the bike, firstly I rode to Bristol Parkway to catch a train to Swansea for a connection to Llandovery.

However the connection to Llandovery was cancelled but luckily the station manager arranged a taxi 🚖 to take myself and my bike plus another traveller to Llandovery - £94 !!! Paid for by the train company.

I then meet my mates in the excellent West End Cafe for lunch.

We then rode a pre planned route to our holiday cottage in Swyddffynnon via the Lynn Brianne Reservoir, it's absolutely stunning ride with superb views but it's tough but rewarding.

55 kms with over 1200 metres of climbing.

 

[13 rider]

Do I get an extra point for best 50km ride.

An excellent day out on the bike, firstly I rode to Bristol Parkway to catch a train to Swansea for a connection to Llandovery.

However the connection to Llandovery was cancelled but luckily the station manager arranged a taxi 🚖 to take myself and my bike plus another traveller to Llandovery - £94 !!! Paid for by the train company.

I then meet my mates in the excellent West End Cafe for lunch.

We then rode a pre planned route to our holiday cottage in Swyddffynnon via the Lynn Brianne Reservoir, it's absolutely stunning ride with superb views but it's tough but rewarding.

55 kms with over 1200 metres of climbing.

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Err no just because its only the best 50km ride so far not the best ever
looks simply stunning ,was that today ? weather looks amazing we had thunder and ligthening in Leicster

 

[Jon George]

Did an 'accidental' qualifying combination ride today (I'm having to boost my exercise regime for health reasons). A great day to be out and about.
A couple of pics for you all.

 

[Domus]

Good ride today, 95 Kms, 1,000 metres of upness and 3 PBs on climbs including Cox Green Road and Parbold Hill. Quite pleased, would have gone for the 100 Kms but a heavy shower at 90 Kms had me soaked and a bit shivery. New bike needs an Ass saver.

 

[Spartak]

Couple more 50+ kms rides this week in Wales.

Thursday we rode from our holiday cottage in Swyddffynnon to the coast at Aberystwyth along the Ystwyth Trail, a mainly off road route which has varying conditions of track but mostly gravel, the final section along the river into Aber is fantastic.
We enjoyed a well deserved coffee and snack at The Hut on the south side of the front before heading back for a few well earned pints at The Talbot in Tregaron.

Then Friday due to the rail strikes I got a lift to Abergavenny and then rode home from there via Usk and the climb of Llangym.

A brilliant few days in a beautiful part of the world, we did have a day off the bike when we walked along the Aeron trail from Llanerchaeron into Aberaeron & back for a lunch in The HarbourMaster... 👍

 

[Domus]

Long day out with Chorlton Wanderers. Nice route on some quiet lanes and cycle paths to Gawsworth and a lovely pub lunch sat outside.
The only downside to these rides is the 40 Kms round trip to get to the start and home again through Manchester City centre.

 

[ColinJ]

I have brought my MTB out of retirement and will count 50+ km rides on that for my 50-a-month qualifiers as well as those on my single-/'dingle'-speed bike. A 50 km offroad ride is harder than a 50 km onroad singlespeed ride, so it doesn't feel like 'cheating'!

I still aim to do as many of my 50s as possible on my 'singlespeed' bike*** or MTB but it seems a bit odd not to count other 50s just because I am using a different bike!

What has prompted this is because I am in Devon this week away from those 2 bikes. I have planned a ride for this afternoon which turns out to be 44 km long and I need to incentivise myself to add an extra 6 km somewhere!

The weather forecast looks good all week so I may do others too.


*** The bike-formally-known-as-singlespeed now has 6 gears but most of the time I still ride it in just the 74 inch gear (42/15 ratio).

New bike needs an Ass saver.

Have a look at the Zefal Swan. I have one on the bike down here in Devon. It is more effective than an Ass Saver and can be fitted or removed in less than a minute.

 

[ColinJ]

I did do my ride.

Despite having to stop and repair this...

... I was enjoying my sunny ride so I added 8 km to my planned 44 km and got 52 km in.