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

[bluenotebob]

Somewhat reluctantly, I’ve had to use one of my two-part rides this month as June’s qualifier.

I’d hoped to do an uninterrupted ride as a qualifier – but the heat here is exceptional. Just like the end of May, it’s way over 30C and it’s set to last until the end of the month. God only knows what it’ll be like in July and August ...

I can’t carry enough water on the bike – 2 bidons (flasks) only last for two hours and there’s no chance of topping up mid-ride.

If the forecast changes and I can get a single ride done, then I will – but I’m not optimistic. The only other possibility is an evening ride – but it can be like cycling through soup: utterly exhausting and health-endangering.

 

[gbs]

@domus,@sevenfourate, re TUBELESS: any thoughts on why yr TL buddies have problems? I reverted to TL about 18 months ago on bikes with 32mm tyres running at 4 bar or less, and so far, aside from tyre installation, no problems to report

 

[sevenfourate]

@domus,@sevenfourate, re TUBELESS: any thoughts on why yr TL buddies have problems? I reverted to TL about 18 months ago on bikes with 32mm tyres running at 4 bar or less, and so far, aside from tyre installation, no problems to report

On recent rides (Last 3 ?) someone has always had a problem with Tubeless. If I’m 100% honest and truthful I’ve not paid attention to the problem or solution (2 of the guys I ride with are bike mechanics and if it isn’t them !! [One of the times was] then they certainly helped deal with it.

I’m not slating. I’ve never used and have no personal experience - other than what happens on tides when I’m with others 👍

 

[Domus]

@domus,@sevenfourate, re TUBELESS: any thoughts on why yr TL buddies have problems? I reverted to TL about 18 months ago on bikes with 32mm tyres running at 4 bar or less, and so far, aside from tyre installation, no problems to report

Losing pressure seems to be the main reason for multiple stops. Lots of close inspection to see any obvious sealant leaking out. More sealant added a couple of times. No concrete answers over the whole tour. 🤔

 

[gbs]

Starting with 4 bar, I expect to lose less than one bar of pressure over a week, say about 200km.

Seems to me that the tyres were not correctly installed before your tour began.

 

[sevenfourate]

Losing pressure seems to be the main reason for multiple stops. Lots of close inspection to see any obvious sealant leaking out. More sealant added a couple of times. No concrete answers over the whole tour. 🤔

Two of the guys i ride with are Cycle Mechanics. And one of those running tubeless has had deflation issues twice in 4 rides.

I can't tell you why; if sealant was old / hard. If they were installed properly, if he has a faulty valve or anything else.

All i can say with certainty is that no-one else (Bar one puncture lasy year) has had delation issues on traditional tubular set-ups in 'many thousands of miles' collectively.

Completely unscientific on face value. But thats my limited (?) experience and all i have to offer. Take heed or ignore as you see fit !

 

[sevenfourate]

All roads I’ve ridden. As part of the 50k Challenge. Just not in this order to form a route. And because I wanted to ride inland. But also wanted to see sunrise at the Seaside first thing….

…….which was absolutely worth it !! ❤️

Inland to the Broads. **And I can share that at 5.05am taking this photo I stepped back to capture just the shot I wanted, cleaned the lense, snapped a few, put my phone away - to notice a Lady sitting on the bench beside me: clearly there to admire the sunrise too. But also watching me. I then looked down to see i’d somehow managed to put my Bib shorts on inside out and clearly had what looked like an incontinence pad stuck to my butt. I first thought she smiled at me. I now realise that was a smirk…….🤦‍♂️

Either way. Me, my bike and my inside-out clothing made our way inland. Capturing just one more shot:

Before pushing on courtesy of a back wind on the final few miles.

All good in this hood !!!

 

[ColinJ]

But also watching me. I then looked down to see i’d somehow managed to put my Bib shorts on inside out and clearly had what looked like an incontinence pad stuck to my butt. I first thought she smiled at me. I now realise that was a smirk…….🤦‍♂️

Oops!

I once saw a rider wearing strange semi-transparent shorts. I thought that they were an almost obscene design. Then I realised that they were actually padded undershorts, which were not designed to be on display!

I didn't say anything. I have had bad reactions in the past from some riders when pointing out their mistakes so I keep quiet now unless there is a risk to life and limb.

 

[sevenfourate]

I didn't say anything. I have had bad reactions in the past from some riders when pointing out their mistakes so I keep quiet now unless there is a risk to life and limb.

There was a severe risk in my case Colin…..

I could have died of embarrassment 😂😂

 

[ColinJ]

There was a severe risk in my case Colin…..

I could have died of embarrassment 😂😂

This was before your time on the forum, but you might enjoy it...

I noticed that a mate of mine's shorts were so worn that they were transparent. I rode up to him and said "Do you know that your shorts are see-through?" He nodded and carried on riding.

I went out for another ride with him a week later. See-through shorts again. I mentioned it again. He nodded again.

On a third ride, I thanked him for giving me a really strong incentive to get fit again. He asked what it was so I told him that I wanted to be fast enough to get in front of him so I didn't have to stare at his a*se every time we rode together.

He looked startled and asked me what I was talking about, so I told him about the see-through shorts again. He told me that he hadn't heard what I was saying on those previous rides. (Lord knows why he had nodded his head then! )

On our next ride, I noticed that he was still wearing the same shorts but we had a strong headwind on the ride so I gritted my teeth and rode up behind him. For some reason, I couldn't see his bum!

He told me later that he was too skint to buy new shorts so he'd slipped a J-cloth down the back!

 

[sevenfourate]

This was before your time on the forum, but you might enjoy it...

Wow.

I feel pretty normal now 🤣