The 2025 Half Century (50km or 50 mile) Challenge Chatzone.

[13 rider]

This challenge is getting silly - today i did a 50km ride just to pick up the rail tickets for the return journey for a planned 50 mile ride tomorrow.

That's seems perfectly normal behaviour to me 😁

 

[FrothNinja]

Unplanned entry today. Took my car to a trusted mechanic thinking it would be there for a couple of hours and then I would drive it back. Threw the CX in the back so I could have a ride as they fettled the car. Long story short, I ended up having to ride home - without my cycling shoes. After just shy of 8 miles I spotted Shaw & Crompton Cycles down a side street. Steve sorted me with a set of second flats and I put the mtb pedals in the tail pack and proceeded more comfortably.
Only had a porridge bar and 750ml of water with me & I hadn't had any brekkie and nothing to make the bike secure if I wanted to stop at a shop. Was hoping for a butty van at some stage but there was none.
Had half my bar at Warland Upper Lock. By Tod my legs and lungs were fine but I was running out of energy. Ate the other half in Cornholme and dribbled on at more or less the same speed though it took more will power to maintain it. Closest I have been to bonking - bit annoyed with myself too. Ho-hum, still made it though.

 

[ColinJ]

Had half my bar at Warland Upper Lock. By Tod my legs and lungs were fine but I was running out of energy.

You should have given me a ring - I have an emergency stash of Aldi maple syrup cereal bars which I would have brought down to you!

 

[iandg]

So I cycled into Dumfries, stopped the GPS. Did 3 sessions of bikeability 0.6km per session. Cycled home.

Added up the rides 48.3km

TBF, I don't usually count split rides through the day as one ride though, but do add the total to my cycling log.

 

[13 rider]

Well done @teeonethousand the first poster for May , I'm still recovering from yesterday imperial ton so I'm late to the party this month

 

[Jon George]

I had far, far too much wine last night to even consider getting in an early start for May, but getting out did me good and the sun was glorious.
This near Bucklesham.

 

[ColinJ]

I had far, far too much wine last night to even consider getting in an early start for May, but getting out did me good and the sun was glorious.
This near Bucklesham.

View attachment 771187

I rode far too far yesterday (115 km) to even consider getting in an early start for May, but getting out for a short ride this evening will do me good and the sun once again is glorious.

On yesterday's ride, this, near Whitewell (Forest of Bowland).

 

[teeonethousand]

Well done @teeonethousand the first poster for May , I'm still recovering from yesterday imperial ton so I'm late to the party this month

Thanks.

I would have had a longer day out but I was worried about sunburn...isn't it fabulous to be concerned about that rather than cold and wet 😂😂

 

[13 rider]

Thanks.

I would have had a longer day out but I was worried about sunburn...isn't it fabulous to be concerned about that rather than cold and wet 😂😂

Certainly makes clothing choices easier 😁

 

[ColinJ]

I lost my riding partner in traffic at Longridge yesterday!

I didn't realise that a couple of large vehicles had got between us. As a result, he didn't see me go right at a mini roundabout. He didn't know our route and guessed left... I noticed a minute or so later that he was no longer following me and went back for him, turning left at the mini roundabout and returning to where I had last seen him.

Meanwhile, he apparently realised that he had gone the wrong way, went back to the roundabout and went the correct way! He was now ahead of me instead of behind.

It was getting silly so I stopped and rang him. That would have solved the problem if he wasn't in the habit of leaving his phone at home when going out on his bike... (I mean, why would anybody ever need a phone on a bike ride?! )

I gave up and continued my ride, thinking that I might catch up with him somewhere. That didn't happen because he took a shortcut to Chipping, forgetting that I had added an extra loop to extend the ride distance to 111 km or 69 (age-in-) miles. With the faffing about looking for my missing pal I added 4 km to that.

Anyway, no harm done - we both enjoyed our sunny rides though we only did 20-25% together.

He just got in touch to arrange another ride tomorrow. That will be about 50 km shorter, but still well over 50 km so it will be my first qualifying ride for May.

 

[13 rider]

Late to the party but I'm off and running for May, After yesterday's imperial ton and early start wasn't really an option so an early evening ride in near perfect conditions and by way of my standard Upton loop and May banker in the bag

 

[FrothNinja]

Late to the party but I'm off and running for May, After yesterday's imperial ton and early start wasn't really an option so an early evening ride in near perfect conditions and by way of my standard Upton loop and May banker in the bag

How is day 1 of 31 late to the party?
I, on the other hand, am usually late...

 

[13 rider]

How is day 1 of 31 late to the party?
I, on the other hand, am usually late...

Yes bit of an exaggeration but I'm normal all done and dusted before lunch on the 1st weather permitting

 

[sevenfourate]

Tweaking your back is never good. Just before a 3-day Bank Holiday with a ride planned; is a stage or two worse. I have however arranged for myself to be Office bound today. Hoping i may now be feeling ok enough to get my May Banker ride in - sometime in the next 3 days. Welcome to being an old fart........

 

[bluenotebob]

Welcome to being an old fart........

You're not old if you're still working.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone less than 60 is "still young" and anyone between the ages of 60 and 70 is "still quite young".

Back problems aren't much fun - but a neighbour (whose doctor was a 'sports doctor') told me years ago that a gentle bike ride helps to alleviate back pain. I've found that after hours of stacking logs, for example, a non-aggressive 10km ride followed by a hot shower works wonders.

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