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

[13 rider]

Before setting off this morning on a 50km loop I had seen @sevenfourate post and noticed his elevation gain . That got me thinking how we all cycle in our local areas of how much the terrain differs . Set off on a hilly start to my ride and past the 684ft of uppness of @sevenfourate ride in 5.6 miles , I kept clocking up the elevation until the last big climb which my wahoo informed me gained 388ft in 1.4 miles . 35 miles in total with 2595ft of uppness which is double my normal elevation but I'm sure other riders on here will surpass my climbing figures showing we all ride the terrain around us if you live in a hilly area you have to go up at some point if you live in a flat area there's less chance of going up

 

[sevenfourate]

……… if you live in a flat area there's less chance of going up

Or getting a break coming down…..

Most of my rides - the chain (Feels like ?
) its tight virtually the entire time. Sometimes that in itself is monotonous and hard work.

But yes; Akin to the saying you can only pi55 with the penis you have: You can only tackle the cycling terrain within reach 👍

 

[13 rider]

Or getting a break coming down…..

Most of my rides - the chain (Feels like ?
) its tight virtually the entire time. Sometimes that in itself is monotonous and hard work.

But yes; Akin to the saying you can only pi55 with the penis you have: You can only tackle the cycling terrain within reach 👍

Yes I do benifet from the downhills wheeeeeeee😁😁, I did spend a week on holiday on the Somerset levels the rides were not easier I just went quick but yes you are correct you do pedal all the time no freewheeling

 

[sevenfourate]

Yes I do benifet from the downhills wheeeeeeee😁😁, I did spend a week on holiday on the Somerset levels the rides were not easier I just went quick but yes you are correct you do pedal all the time no freewheeling

Oh i’m far from claiming ‘my’ territory is harder than anyone else’s. I’m pretty rubbish at ‘hills’. Then again - is that surprising ? 😁 It just brings other issues. Akin to the fact an offshore wind is common for me. Like today where it’s basically straight from the North. So a ride up and down the Coast (East to South or vice versa) gets you 50km of sidewinds. Which is just standard……

 

[ColinJ]

Most of my rides - the chain (Feels like ?
) its tight virtually the entire time. Sometimes that in itself is monotonous and hard work.

I didn't appreciate how significant freewheeling is until I started using 'cruise control' on my JetBlack smart turbo trainer. (It is 'erg mode' with controls to make it easy to nudge the target power up or down.) That enforces the specified power so if you reduce your cadence significantly, pedalling becomes very hard rather than very easy, which is a great incentive NOT to freewheel at all! I was doing 90 minute efforts with barely a second of respite. I guess that is similar to what riding fixed feels like?

 

[geocycle]

I didn't appreciate how significant freewheeling is until I started using 'cruise control' on my JetBlack smart turbo trainer. (It is 'erg mode' with controls to make it easy to nudge the target power up or down.) That enforces the specified power so if you reduce your cadence significantly, pedalling becomes very hard rather than very easy, which is a great incentive NOT to freewheel at all! I was doing 90 minute efforts with barely a second of respite. I guess that is similar to what riding fixed feels like?

Too right. I once did a ride from Cumbria, through the Pennines to Southwold, Suffolk. The hardest days were the long flat roads around the Wash into a headwind. I’ve long since given up with padded shorts and rarely have a problem around here but on the flat roads where I didn’t change positions as often I noticed it more.

 

[ColinJ]

(I know that this is a diversion from the thread topic, but it may help riders suffering from similar saddle comfort issues!)

I’ve long since given up with padded shorts and rarely have a problem around here but on the flat roads where I didn’t change positions as often I noticed it more.

That is what I discovered using cruise control on the turbo. I was getting horrible NNS*** within 10 to 15 minutes, and that was despite...

• Using the same type of saddle that I always do
• Having the same position on the turbo bike as on all of my other bikes
• Wearing the same shorts that I normally do (or any other clothing variations that I tried)
• Never having had the problem on a turbo trainer before

It took me a long while to realise that the problem was with me being stuck in exactly that same position without the little changes that one naturally makes with 'real bike feel'. Out on the roads and trails I am often altering my position slightly when I change gear, freewheel, stand for short bursts of effort up little ramps, and so on.

What I do now is stand up on the pedals for 10 seconds every 5 minutes. I slow my cadence over 10 seconds to let the trainer increase the difficulty to a level that works when standing, then I stand for 10 seconds to give me relief, then I spin back up to my normal cadence to reduce the difficulty back to seated level and sit back down again.

This works really well. I haven't yet ridden longer than 100 minutes like that but I am sure that I could.


*** Numb Nuts Syndrome!!

 

[sevenfourate]

(I know that this is a diversion from the thread topic, but it may help riders suffering from similar saddle comfort issues!)


That is what I discovered using cruise control on the turbo. I was getting horrible NNS*** within 10 to 15 minutes, and that was despite...

• Using the same type of saddle that I always do
• Having the same position on the turbo bike as on all of my other bikes
• Wearing the same shorts that I normally do (or any other clothing variations that I tried)
• Never having had the problem on a turbo trainer before

It took me a long while to realise that the problem was with me being stuck in exactly that same position without the little changes that one naturally makes with 'real bike feel'. Out on the roads and trails I am often altering my position slightly when I change gear, freewheel, stand for short bursts of effort up little ramps, and so on.

What I do now is stand up on the pedals for 10 seconds every 5 minutes. I slow my cadence over 10 seconds to let the trainer increase the difficulty to a level that works when standing, then I stand for 10 seconds to give me relief, then I spin back up to my normal cadence to reduce the difficulty back to seated level and sit back down again.

This works really well. I haven't yet ridden longer than 100 minutes like that but I am sure that I could.


*** Numb Nuts Syndrome!!

Rightly or wrongly - and with often being seated and pedalling ‘almost constantly’ (Road riding: I don’t do indoor cycling) I tend to move forward and backward on the seat slightly; to alter my position. Often doing that now; before anything hurts, aches or chaffes. It’s become second nature I guess 🤷‍♂️ Without stopping altogether or standing up - I figure there’s not much else you can do…..

 

[sevenfourate]

The hardest days were the long flat roads around the Wash into a headwind.

Interesting.

3000ft of upness in 50km would trouble me witless on paper. But I’m also very aware every ride has its own ‘story’ because of tarmac, terrain, temp, wind etc etc…….

 

[13 rider]

26th Circuit via Heriot, Innerleithen and Yarrow - 94km (58miles) and 1111m of ascent - 2 points

Err 94km ? ,surely the extra 6 was doable . Please think of my OCD 🤣

 

[VinSumRox]

Err 94km ? ,surely the extra 6 was doable . Please think of my OCD 🤣

Would have had to do a other hill for 6km extra, the legs said no....😄. If I had been 99km then fair enough!

 

[Dadam]

Phew, managed to get another ride in to stay in the challenge by the skin of my teeth

 

[ColinJ]

Few, managed to get another ride in to stay in the challenge by the skin of my teeth

Hang on in there and eventually I hope to do those promised 50-100 km forum rides with you!

 

[bruce1530]

April update and last weekend warning . We have 20 fully posted up with 4 riders yet to declare so a nudge for @Bazzer ,@bruce1530 ,@PaulSB and @Dadam
Well done everyone

Thanks for the reminder - am in again!