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

[FrothNinja]

New bike – a LaPierre Crosshill gravel bike – bought last week.

Only done a few shortish rides so far but I’m very happy with the bike. A 22km outing on the Voie Verte yesterday afternoon/evening was fine – we cut through all the leaf-slush, twigs and small branches like they weren’t there … and another 26km local ride this afternoon was easy: no problems with the muddy lanes and we flew back along the D2 with the westerly wind behind us.

Hasn’t got a name yet – I’m waiting for the right name to appear from the ether. Bikes name themselves (anything else seems contrived) but nothing so far.

In other news – Wednesday 3 December looks good here for a December qualifying ride … not sure about the UK.

View attachment 793988

There is a Cross Hills just over the border from us. Scary road to get there unless you go via Lothersdale...

 

[13 rider]

Not sure I will be out for a 1st of the month ride tomorrow

I am a fair weather cyclist 😁

 

[ColinJ]

Wonder if he was also Mr Shouty at Hollingworth Lake a week or so ago

Unfortunately, there are quite a lot of them around. I had one hurl abuse at me near Exeter because I had the damn cheek to cycle 1.4 km on an A-road rather than cross it twice to use a cycle path painted onto the opposite pavement!

There is a Cross Hills just over the border from us. Scary road to get there unless you go via Lothersdale...

Lothersdale for the win!

There is a really nice loop that I used to do... out to Laneshaw Bridge, climb to Black Lane Ends, Lothersdale, Cross Hills, back to Haworth via either Goose Eye or Slippery Ford, Oxenhope, then over Cock Hill to Hebden Bridge. That would be good for a strenuous but very scenic forum ride... Maybe a possibility for Spring 2026?

 

[teeonethousand]

New bike – a LaPierre Crosshill gravel bike – bought last week.

Only done a few shortish rides so far but I’m very happy with the bike. A 22km outing on the Voie Verte yesterday afternoon/evening was fine – we cut through all the leaf-slush, twigs and small branches like they weren’t there … and another 26km local ride this afternoon was easy: no problems with the muddy lanes and we flew back along the D2 with the westerly wind behind us.

Hasn’t got a name yet – I’m waiting for the right name to appear from the ether. Bikes name themselves (anything else seems contrived) but nothing so far.

In other news – Wednesday 3 December looks good here for a December qualifying ride … not sure about the UK.

View attachment 793988

Nice.

My bike is called Trevor.

It's a Giant Revolt so..The Revolt becomes T'Revolt (I am in Yorkshire) becomes T'Rev becomes Trevor. 😂😂

 

[Jenkins]

Not sure I will be out for a 1st of the month ride tomorrow
View attachment 794198
I am a fair weather cyclist 😁

Snap - I spent enough time commuting in grotty weather that now I'm retired I only go out if it's dry. Mind you, a straight south-north ride on Monday could be fun...

 

[bruce1530]

Monthly round up and last weekend warning . We have 18 riders fully posted up leaving just 2 on the nudge list so a more more than gentle nudge for @Bazzer and @bruce1530
Well done everyone next month's the important one let's get it done

In at the last minute again....

Not been the best of months for cycling for me - covid or some similar lurgy early in the month, then combination of family commitments, work, and awful weather got in the way.

But this morning was bright, and no wind. Very cold, so on with the big boots and lots of layers.

Out about 10. Still a lot of frost and ice, so stuck to the main roads and gritted bits. One deviation on to a side road taking me down to Portencross. Road was icy, but the view out over the Clyde made it worthwhile. Back to the main road, along the power station road, stopped again to take in just-as-spectacular view.
About 20k on the clock by this point, headed home by the direct route, down to the harbour to watch the ferry come in, then along the seafront and a lap round the town. Going straight home would have taken it to 48k, so another loop to clock up 51.

Feeling it tonight, though - this has been the first time on the bike for over 6 weeks.

 

[13 rider]

In at the last minute again....

Not been the best of months for cycling for me - covid or some similar lurgy early in the month, then combination of family commitments, work, and awful weather got in the way.

But this morning was bright, and no wind. Very cold, so on with the big boots and lots of layers.

Out about 10. Still a lot of frost and ice, so stuck to the main roads and gritted bits. One deviation on to a side road taking me down to Portencross. Road was icy, but the view out over the Clyde made it worthwhile. Back to the main road, along the power station road, stopped again to take in just-as-spectacular view.
About 20k on the clock by this point, headed home by the direct route, down to the harbour to watch the ferry come in, then along the seafront and a lap round the town. Going straight home would have taken it to 48k, so another loop to clock up 51.

Feeling it tonight, though - this has been the first time on the bike for over 6 weeks.

Well done , you did have me worried ,better late than never

 

[13 rider]

With the last declaration we have all 20 of us fully posted up for November 😁, 1 more to go

 

[ColinJ]

In at the last minute again....

Not been the best of months for cycling for me - covid or some similar lurgy early in the month

Well done!

I am coming down with a lurgy now. I did a 30 minute warm-up on my smart turbo trainer a couple of evenings ago then started climbing a virtual hill. I began to increase my effort but when I was still 20 watts short of my target power I suddenly felt sick, very wobbly, and in danger of fainting! The power was well within what I can normally handle so something was clearly wrong. I quickly dismounted and sparked out on my bed for about 20 minutes, bucketing sweat...

I still felt rough today. I had thought of doing a couple of very easy short sunny rides for the 3-a-week challenge but gave up on that when a short walk to the shops and back left me feeling wobbly again!

I was convinced that I was coming down with Covid again but the test that I took when I got home was negative. I don't know what brand of lurgy it is then, but I am not going to ride again until 2 or 3 days after I stop feeling like this.

 

[FrothNinja]

Maybe a possibility for Spring 2026?

Might be one to go electric on

 

[13 rider]

We have a finisher 🎉🎉 . Well done to @Jenkins first over the line for 2025
Technically I'm over the line as well as I've ridden a 100km today but have posted it in the metric century thread and I like to do separate rides for each challenge ,hopefully tomorrow will see to cross the line officially

 

[gbs]

Job done for 2025. Many thanks to 13 Rider for organising and chivvyng us along.

 

[13 rider]

Well done @gbs ,2nd official finisher

 

[13 rider]

Well done @teeonethousand on your 1st completion of the 50km challenge, finisher no3

feel free to copy and paste the star in to your signature if you wish to proudly display your achievement any issue with this process just let me know I have a special contact who can do it for anyone

 

[teeonethousand]

Done. Had a bit of a ride out with my brother today...oh boy. He fell off after about 4 miles...narrow single track lane, oncoming car coming quite quick round a corner and we each moved to the side and he misjudged the end of the tarmac. The start of the verge was ultra soft and he dropped down about 4 inches and off sideways☹️. All well bar a couple of scuffs that soon crusted over and a bit of needlework required on his best leggings.

Other than that a lovely ride but by the of of the 45 miles it was getting on for 3 o clock and the temps seem to really drop again. I was(and still am) cold.

Bit of house hunting on the way 😂😂