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

[teeonethousand]

What I've often thought about this site is the good-natured ribbing that goes on (that I'm fully signed up for ), but what I've found, over the years, is how honest I feel the need to be when recording points - it's as if, in some way, I'd be cheating on myself, and it's just extremely pleasant to be, well, amongst friends. Who love riding, just like I do, and who take the p**s ...

I feel bad enough including the downhill bits in the total 😂😂😂

 

[sevenfourate]

I feel bad enough including the downhill bits in the total 😂😂😂

Downhill bits ? We’re from Suffolk. Please explain…….

 

[ColinJ]

Downhill bits ? We’re from Suffolk. Please explain…….

Yes, they can be hard to spot. If you look carefully on this local '50+' route profile though, they are just visible going to the right towards the bottom of the picture in various places. In local dialect they are known as 'descents'. The bits of road where you can sometimes do 50+ km/hr without turning the pedals.

 

[ColinJ]

I am going to go out and look for some of them this afternoon but it won't be 50 km's worth today!

 

[bluenotebob]

That’s my November qualifier done today – a slightly shorter version of the ride I did on the 6th October (which was a Lunacy Distance metric-century). I could have done a metric-century today too – but I would have reported it in the Lunacy Distance challenge and so I would still be short of a qualifier in this challenge for November.

A 3km loop before heading south on the V3 Voie Verte for about 44km then a 48km return to Mauron via la chapelle St-Barthélemy (fast becoming one my favourite places to visit in central Brittany) and the Claie valley.

One of the magnificent and ancient yew trees in the churchyard of the chapelle St-Barthélemy:

 

[sevenfourate]

Yes, they can be hard to spot. If you look carefully on this local '50+' route profile though, they are just visible going to the right towards the bottom of the picture in various places. In local dialect they are known as 'descents'. The bits of road where you can sometimes do 50+ km/hr without turning the pedals.

View attachment 792722

Wow ! This elevation lark sounds amazing Col. I’m gonna get my bike in a van sometime, go for a drive and get me some of that…..😉 Although I have a sneaking suspicion this freewheeling endlessly at 50kmh downhill without pedalling; probably comes at a price…….

 

[ColinJ]

I have a sneaking suspicion this freewheeling endlessly at 50kmh downhill without pedalling; probably comes at a price…….

One example is the hill between Hebden Bridge and Oxenhope (near Haworth). That gains just over 300 m in just under 6 km, so an average of just over 5%. The first part is steeper, then it eases off towards the top. The price paid by a fit rider could be a hard sub-20 minute effort to get up there. I would probably take nearer 30 minutes these days! There is typically some wind assistance on the climb.

You could freewheel all the way back down, unless you had the headwind from hell! Assuming a lack of headwind, you could really whizz down, especially if you added a bit of pedal power. The lower half from the village of Pecket Well into Hebden Bridge does require caution though so you would probably do about 40 km/hr through the woods into town and then slow right down for the last busy, narrow, twisty turny bit.

Another favourite is the Cragg Vale climb from Mytholmroyd to Blackstone Edge. That is easier but longer. Just under 300 m of ascent (or descent the other way) in 7.7 km. That typically has a bothersome cross-headwind for the top half of the climb, but therefore a cross-tailwind for the descent. The descent used to be marred by an appalling road surface but it has been greatly improved recently. It still isn't perfect, but it no longer makes me ride back by an alternative route!

 

[13 rider]

77km

Disappointed 🤨 ,please try harder and now it's cold but an extra 3 and bit km for another point

 

[Jon George]

I've now settled into a routine of getting my distances via Google Maps after a ride and so, am glad to report I'm able to claim another point.
Sunshine and showers, but I did see a rainbow out near Framsden and Otley.

 

[gbs]

Not a totally honourable ride today - 3/4s downwind. The final 12 k or so, into a cold N'ly, reminded me that I did not have to complete the loop.

 

[13 rider]

I've now settled into a routine of getting my distances via Google Maps after a ride and so, am glad to report I'm able to claim another point.
Sunshine and showers, but I did see a rainbow out near Framsden and Otley.

View attachment 793100

Your sure ? 😚

 

[Domus]

52 Very chilly Kms today, 600+ metres of upness kept me warm only to get very cold on the descents. Note to self, dig out the winter boots.

 

[ColinJ]

52 Very chilly Kms today, 600+ metres of upness kept me warm only to get very cold on the descents. Note to self, dig out the winter boots.

It was nippy, wasn't it!

I didn't set off until 14:15 so a lumpy '50' would have had me riding in the dark to get back. I have lights, so that wasn't the problem; I just didn't fancy potentially standing at the roadside after sunset trying to mend a puncture with frozen hands!

I made do with a short chilly ride instead - only 23 km - but made it more interesting by squeezing in nearly 400 m of ascent.

I already have a '50' done this month but I would like to squeeze more in during November. December's riding is for me always very weather-dependent so potentially only one next month, and that could also apply to January and February.