The 2026 Half Century (50km or 50 mile) a month challenge chatzone

[Pgd]

It's not just you @13 rider - there are a few of us on here who don't cross-post.

These are separate challenges and require separate rides.

I would object quite loudly if anyone posted one distance ride in two distance challenges

I hope @PaulSB doesn't do that

Hi there, first year for me of trying these challenges. What are your opinions on a single ride counting for both a distance and a climbing challenge (rather than two distance challenges)? I've not been able to get out so far this month, but today I completed a planned route that hit both 50km distance and my Lunacy climbing target of 600m. If it's frowned upon then I guess at least I won't have automatically failed the Lunacy challenge at the end of the month...

I work in central London and part-drive part-cycle commute up from Sussex, so I'm familiar with Crystal Palace etc. but had never (at least not on two wheels) been to North London. I nicked part of someone's RideWithGPS route and did loops around Ally Pally, Muswell Hill, Highgate (including Swains Lane) and Hampstead to get the climbs in, before getting the distance in by cycling back down south of the river. Lovely stuff -- except for all the traffic and roadworks!!

 

[13 rider]

Hi there, first year for me of trying these challenges. What are your opinions on a single ride counting for both a distance and a climbing challenge (rather than two distance challenges)? I've not been able to get out so far this month, but today I completed a planned route that hit both 50km distance and my Lunacy climbing target of 600m. If it's frowned upon then I guess at least I won't have automatically failed the Lunacy challenge at the end of the month...

I work in central London and part-drive part-cycle commute up from Sussex, so I'm familiar with Crystal Palace etc. but had never (at least not on two wheels) been to North London. I nicked part of someone's RideWithGPS route and did loops around Ally Pally, Muswell Hill, Highgate (including Swains Lane) and Hampstead to get the climbs in, before getting the distance in by cycling back down south of the river. Lovely stuff -- except for all the traffic and roadworks!!

Welcome to the challenge . I have no problem with your ride counting in a distance challenge and a climbing challenge as your measuring different things . There are no rules against posting a ride in different challenges ,however it considered bad etiquette to post distance rides in multiple 'distance' challenges but mixing distance and climbing doesn't bother me
Also the Lunacy challenge isn't monthly it requires you to do 13 rides anytime of the year so you wouldn't be out of the climbing challenge yet if you decide not to use this ride in it

 

[sevenfourate]

Hi there, first year for me of trying these challenges. What are your opinions on a single ride counting for both a distance and a climbing challenge (rather than two distance challenges)? I've not been able to get out so far this month, but today I completed a planned route that hit both 50km distance and my Lunacy climbing target of 600m. If it's frowned upon then I guess at least I won't have automatically failed the Lunacy challenge at the end of the month...

I work in central London and part-drive part-cycle commute up from Sussex, so I'm familiar with Crystal Palace etc. but had never (at least not on two wheels) been to North London. I nicked part of someone's RideWithGPS route and did loops around Ally Pally, Muswell Hill, Highgate (including Swains Lane) and Hampstead to get the climbs in, before getting the distance in by cycling back down south of the river. Lovely stuff -- except for all the traffic and roadworks!!

Welcome to the Challenges and grats on getting January safely under the belt 😁

 

[bluenotebob]

What are your opinions on a single ride counting for both a distance and a climbing challenge

No problem (as @13 rider says above). I've also replied to you in the Lunacy Climbing challenge chatzone

 

[C R]

Finally got my ärse into gear and managed a 52k ride this month. I'm in by the skin o'my teeth, but I'm in. I'm hoping I can keep in the challenge.

 

[bluenotebob]

Finally got my ärse into gear and managed a 52k ride this month

Good to see you back in the challenge!

Take your camera next time ...

 

[C R]

Good to see you back in the challenge!

Take your camera next time ...

The camera is a bit big and cumbersome for the bike. I used to take photos with my mobile. I need to remember to take them.

 

[Jenkins]

I deliberately went out on today's ride with the Garmin display showing the map so I wasn't worried about my speed or distance - until I reached a known 1 mile from home point when I changed the display and the distance was showing 48.78 miles. I couldn't decide whether my own desire to get the 50 miles or to finish at 49.8 just to annoy @13 rider was the most important. Glad I went for the 50 as it turns out that my other two rides this week totalled 49.99 miles and possibly finishing the week 0.2 miles short of 100 would have really bugged me.

 

[ColinJ]

@13 rider can relax about me and @Dadam - we met up today and got our qualifying rides done for January!

@Dadam did close to 60 km despite us cutting our route slightly to dodge the coming rain (and to get to the cafe before it closed!).

I was on about 75 km when I got back to Todmorden. I couldn't face having to explain failing to top that up to 80.5+ km to be able to claim a 50-miler so I added a loop to Walsden and back... 81.1 km, 50.4 miles.

 

[bruce1530]

Sneaking in at the last minute - no surprises there, it's been the pattern for the last 12 months or so. Cycling Mojo has mostly gone for the moment, it's just stubbornness that's keeping me in the challenge!
But I've been doing it for 9 years - can't drop out now!

Last day of the month, biting headwind from the East when I left the house, first 10k was a complete slog into the wind.
turned right (ish), prevailing wind is now more of a cross wind and there are plenty of hedges, so much better.

10k later I'm near Kilmarnock, took the cycle path towards Irvine. Old railway route, so flat and straight, And the wind's behind me now!

South again for a bit towards Dundonald, then to Troon. There's a new cycle path being constructed - the dundonald bit still isn't finished - the hardcore is down, but no tar. So stayed on the main road. Horrible busy road - hopefully the path will be finished in a few weeks, and I'll never have to do that road again!

Further on, the path is complete - apparently it was tarred on Friday - and as smooth as a snooker table.

Into Barassie, then Troon, and on towards Prestwick.

Nearing prestwick airport (42k) I remembered we were going out in the afternoon and should have been home by now, so jumped on a train to a station nearer home, 50.5k when I got back into the driveway.

 

[Dadam]

@13 rider can relax about me and @Dadam - we met up today and got our qualifying rides done for January!

@Dadam did close to 60 km despite us cutting our route slightly to dodge the coming rain (and to get to the cafe before it closed!).

I was on about 75 km when I got back to Todmorden. I couldn't face having to explain failing to top that up to 80.5+ km to be able to claim a 50-miler so I added a loop to Walsden and back... 81.1 km, 50.4 miles.

Cheers for the push to ride today regardless of the forecast, it worked out pretty well, but the bit from Craggies to the valley bottom was grim. Also cheers for the company again.
Garmin said 37.49 miles, 60.3 km

 

[ColinJ]

60.3 km!

 

[13 rider]

Welcome to the challenge @Dadam , a nice few entries on the last day which is nice to see , especially nice to see @bruce1530 kick off his 10 campaign with a last day entry ( which seems to be his favoured ride date )
I'm off the mark for February with an eventful Upton loop . Had a puncture at 12 miles which my sealant wouldn't seal so sealant sprayed everywhere . Pulled over tried to plug it but it was a decent gash so put in the tube that's been in my bag for nearly 37000 miles as I have never had to stop at the side of the road since running tubeless and it had a valve that kept unscrewing as I took my pump off . A rider stopped offered me a tube but I run deep section wheels so the stem wasn't long enough .Had to make the call of shame arranged to meet at a cafe a convenient 1/2 a mile away just before the cafe 2 riders pulled over and donated me an appropriate tube so tube swap done cancel rescue and I'm back on my way . Thankfully it was dull but not raining so it could have been worse . But I'm over the line for February

 

[Domus]

Out in very wet drizzle this morning, I was anxious about February as it is our Golden Wedding Anniversary on the 7th and we are cruising from Southampton on the 8th for 14 nights. I expect to be busy all week so it was today or waiting until after the cruise when I expect to be lugging around a few extra Kilos. Anyway I managed to get a point on the board so can relax now.

 

[13 rider]

So I've recoded ,debugged and rebooted my low tech paper tick list ,which is now up and running for 2026 . We have 25 riders with Januarys posted started the challenge for this year . Good luck everyone