The 2016 Half Century (50 KM or 50 Mile) A Month Challenge - Chatzone

[Saluki]

Of course it's fine. The miles just have to be done on the same day. Well done. Have you got the chance to take the bike somewhere on the train or in the car for the occasional change or route?

The route to the train station is a touch interesting. It's 6 miles along the Camel Trail and then up, up, up and up some more, some 100m of climbing to get to the station. We'd thought of that one
Hopefully going off to Portreath tomorrow and riding the Coast to Coast again. It's a nice and varied route. We did it last week. Only about 25 miles all in all, but it's a nice ride and the bike hire/cafe place is not charging tourist prices either. Huge coffee and 2 bits of cake and change from a fiver. We are waiting for Hubster to have another clinic appointment in Launceston and we'll put the bikes in the car and ride on Bude Canal towpath or go on a bit further to the Tarka Trail again, that's a nice place to ride

The climbing wasn't too hideous today. I might have got a bit fitter, but I have put on some weight, that I need to shift PDQ as I am noticing it on the hills. I got to the first proper hill and told myself 'I'll get to the barn gable' then once there I told myself 'I'll go to the gateway' and so and so forth. I did have to stop as I was torn between feinting, throwing up or falling off. I chose to unclip and gasp like an asthmatic 90 year old (I do have asthma so feel that I can say this). I walked for about 50m and then there was a false flat, then got back on and got riding again. I only needed to walk that once. I was nearly taken out by a fast moving hot hatchback (hikers and me scattering to the hedges to avoid being killed) and I couldn't get going again, so I rode down the tiny bit of hill that I'd climbed, to the flat bit, turned back around and got a bit of a run up at the hill and was away again. I promised myself, if I got up it, I would have a lovely bagel when I got in. With butter.

 

[NorthernDave]

@NorthernDave

Looks like you're flying - good points total so far!

Thanks @SpokeyDokey

I'm lucky enough to have a wife who is very understanding (or is just glad to have me out of the house?)

 

[Katherine]

The route to the train station is a touch interesting. It's 6 miles along the Camel Trail and then up, up, up and up some more, some 100m of climbing to get to the station. We'd thought of that one
Hopefully going off to Portreath tomorrow and riding the Coast to Coast again. It's a nice and varied route. We did it last week. Only about 25 miles all in all, but it's a nice ride and the bike hire/cafe place is not charging tourist prices either. Huge coffee and 2 bits of cake and change from a fiver. We are waiting for Hubster to have another clinic appointment in Launceston and we'll put the bikes in the car and ride on Bude Canal towpath or go on a bit further to the Tarka Trail again, that's a nice place to ride

The climbing wasn't too hideous today. I might have got a bit fitter, but I have put on some weight, that I need to shift PDQ as I am noticing it on the hills. I got to the first proper hill and told myself 'I'll get to the barn gable' then once there I told myself 'I'll go to the gateway' and so and so forth. I did have to stop as I was torn between feinting, throwing up or falling off. I chose to unclip and gasp like an asthmatic 90 year old (I do have asthma so feel that I can say this). I walked for about 50m and then there was a false flat, then got back on and got riding again. I only needed to walk that once. I was nearly taken out by a fast moving hot hatchback (hikers and me scattering to the hedges to avoid being killed) and I couldn't get going again, so I rode down the tiny bit of hill that I'd climbed, to the flat bit, turned back around and got a bit of a run up at the hill and was away again. I promised myself, if I got up it, I would have a lovely bagel when I got in. With butter.

Good, you have to have incentives and rewards. Do you enjoy the descents? I see them as rewards for the hard work on the ups!
I'll be on holiday in Marazion at the end of July and thinking of hiring a bike from Long Rock for a day. As regulars to the area, I am well aware of the busy roads but I hope to find some quieter roads. I know there is a path between Penzance and Marazion.

 

[13 rider]

The route to the train station is a touch interesting. It's 6 miles along the Camel Trail and then up, up, up and up some more, some 100m of climbing to get to the station. We'd thought of that one
Hopefully going off to Portreath tomorrow and riding the Coast to Coast again. It's a nice and varied route. We did it last week. Only about 25 miles all in all, but it's a nice ride and the bike hire/cafe place is not charging tourist prices either. Huge coffee and 2 bits of cake and change from a fiver. We are waiting for Hubster to have another clinic appointment in Launceston and we'll put the bikes in the car and ride on Bude Canal towpath or go on a bit further to the Tarka Trail again, that's a nice place to ride

The climbing wasn't too hideous today. I might have got a bit fitter, but I have put on some weight, that I need to shift PDQ as I am noticing it on the hills. I got to the first proper hill and told myself 'I'll get to the barn gable' then once there I told myself 'I'll go to the gateway' and so and so forth. I did have to stop as I was torn between feinting, throwing up or falling off. I chose to unclip and gasp like an asthmatic 90 year old (I do have asthma so feel that I can say this). I walked for about 50m and then there was a false flat, then got back on and got riding again. I only needed to walk that once. I was nearly taken out by a fast moving hot hatchback (hikers and me scattering to the hedges to avoid being killed) and I couldn't get going again, so I rode down the tiny bit of hill that I'd climbed, to the flat bit, turned back around and got a bit of a run up at the hill and was away again. I promised myself, if I got up it, I would have a lovely bagel when I got in. With butter.

Some extra trails come off the coast to coast I did the Busy (place name not busy as in a bee ) loop last year very nice trail through wood bit more scenic than the c2c

 

[Saluki]

Good, you have to have incentives and rewards. Do you enjoy the descents? I see them as rewards for the hard work on the ups!
I'll be on holiday in Marazion at the end of July and thinking of hiring a bike from Long Rock for a day. As regulars to the area, I am well aware of the busy roads but I hope to find some quieter roads. I know there is a path between Penzance and Marazion.

I shall look that path up and give it a go.
I like some of the descents. I used to be a good descender but some of the very twisty downhills I take very steadily, especially on the coastal roads as there are lots of people on those roads, especially as you get towards the bottom.
Have a nice holiday. Marazion is nice.

 

[Saluki]

Some extra trails come off the coast to coast I did the Busy (place name not busy as in a bee ) loop last year very nice trail through wood bit more scenic than the c2c

We noticed that there were a fair few trails down there and hoping to get down again on Thursday (after voting) for another ride about. Might even think about getting the trail leaflet instead of just winging it.

 

[13 rider]

Good, you have to have incentives and rewards. Do you enjoy the descents? I see them as rewards for the hard work on the ups!
I'll be on holiday in Marazion at the end of July and thinking of hiring a bike from Long Rock for a day. As regulars to the area, I am well aware of the busy roads but I hope to find some quieter roads. I know there is a path between Penzance and Marazion.

Im in Cornwall in late July Newquay way taking the bike like last year I look out for you even though I have no idea what you look like

We noticed that there were a fair few trails down there and hoping to get down again on Thursday (after voting) for another ride about. Might even think about getting the trail leaflet instead of just winging it.

Cornwall council do a cycling map £5 from tourist office with all cycle routes on. I think bisscoe cafe will have a trail map. Watch the descents I nearly came a major cropper last year went round a bend and gravel all over the road bit of a moment

 

[SpokeyDokey]

@Saluki

Don't forget - the tourists all bugger off home soon after the kids go back to school in September. The roads will quieten down then.

And the farmers cut the hedges back in Autumn.

Plus everyone loses a bit of weight in the Summer.

That's three positives!

Happy & safe riding down there in Cornwall.

 

[NorthernDave]

A cheeky midweek entry for the challenge this morning. Report in the usual place!

 

[Saluki]

Im in Cornwall in late July Newquay way taking the bike like last year I look out for you even though I have no idea what you look like

Cornwall council do a cycling map £5 from tourist office with all cycle routes on. I think bisscoe cafe will have a trail map. Watch the descents I nearly came a major cropper last year went round a bend and gravel all over the road bit of a moment

The descents and gravelly bends are the reasons that I have barely touched my roadie for 3 months, it's all CX with disc brakes at the moment

 

[NorthernDave]

Well, what do you know?
Another mid-week half century in absolutely gorgeous weather!

Report to follow shortly...

 

[Saluki]

Me too. So incensed by the Stay Campaigners and the Leave Campaigners banging on my door to 'secure my vote' that I left a note on the door saying "I've voted and out on my bike now". Got back and someone had written on the bottom 'good for you'

611m of climbing today, 57km and the hill that I had to stop and walk for 50m half way along on Monday was got up without the walking bit. I was mightily impressed with myself. Must have been due to the cup of coffee and 20 minute sit down at the cafe half a mile from the bottom. I did have to walk up a couple of hills in places. Once because a green car was not slowing down at all and the fact that I was on my bike in the road didn't matter a jot to her or her teenage daughter who waved merrily as they put me in the hedge and once as I simply ran out of legs.

I really need to have a look at my disc brakes I think. It's making a funny sound, not unlike when a car has a worn pad only much, much higher in pitch.

 

[ColinJ]

It is a lovely evening here. I have only done one ride since my head-banging/fainting experience last week, a flat 10-miler. I want to do about 110 miles on Saturday (The Humber Bridge forum ride from York, including a few extra miles to get from the car park to York Minster and back again at the end of the ride). That wouldn't be sensible without testing myself a little first so I need to get out and do a reasonable ride this evening to see if I am up to the long ride at the weekend. I'm just waiting for the traffic to die down a little, then I am gong to go out and try to do a hilly 50 kms. I will report back later!

PS Mission accomplished! (I left it a bit late and had to up my pace a bit to get back before dark. No lights on the bike!) 50.1 kms with about 750 m of climbing.

 

[Katherine]

It is a lovely evening here. I have only done one ride since my head-banging/fainting experience last week, a flat 10-miler. I want to do about 110 miles on Saturday (The Humber Bridge forum ride from York, including a few extra miles to get from the car park to York Minster and back again at the end of the ride). That wouldn't be sensible without testing myself a little first so I need to get out and do a reasonable ride this evening to see if I am up to the long ride at the weekend. I'm just waiting for the traffic to die down a little, then I am gong to go out and try to do a hilly 50 kms. I will report back later!

PS Mission accomplished! (I left it a bit late and had to up my pace a bit to get back before dark. No lights on the bike!) 50.1 kms with about 750 m of climbing.

Well done! I see that 10 miles became 31,so you must have felt good. Best of luck for your long ride on Saturday but don't overdo it.

 

[ColinJ]

Well done! I see that 10 miles became 31,so you must have felt good. Best of luck for your long ride on Saturday but don't overdo it.

Thanks.

I think that I will be ok with the distance but I have the early signs of a saddle sore developing and the weather forecast is deteriorating so the second half of the ride might become uncomfortable!