The 2022 Half Century (50km or 50M) a month challenge chatzone

[Saluki]

Just caught up with 3 challenge rides.
Yesterday as a challenge as Phil the bike bud (an exceedingly stubborn man at the best of times) refused point blank to let me call ETA to get us back and continued, the long way from Holkham Hall to King’s Lynn Railway Station, with a stuffed wheel. Had that been my wheel, I would have called ETA immediately, but there is no helping some people.
How that wheel remained vaguely circular his 115kg weight, it beyond me and a testament to the wheel builder. It was on the verge of dying by the station though. This is how it looked at the 25 mile mark. It was somewhat worse by 63 miles.

 

[Noodle Legs]

Another point today from an Easter Social with the Nuneaton crew down to and around Draycote Water. Superb weather from the get go, nice flat roads and great company, made even better by the chance passing of regular riding buddy @Supersuperleeds who was heading in the opposite direction on a solo effort.
41 miles non stop and very pacey as there wasn’t anywhere open on route other than petrol stations or McDonald’s- neither of which we fancied! I believe @13 rider may have had more luck finding an open cafe, even if it was 3 miles from home! 🤣

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Another point today from an Easter Social with the Nuneaton crew down to and around Draycote Water. Superb weather from the get go, nice flat roads and great company, made even better by the chance passing of regular riding buddy @Supersuperleeds who was heading in the opposite direction on a solo effort.
41 miles non stop and very pacey as there wasn’t anywhere open on route other than petrol stations or McDonald’s- neither of which we fancied! I believe @13 rider may have had more luck finding an open cafe, even if it was 3 miles from home! 🤣

I stopped at Hinckley McDonalds for a bacon roll and coffee.

 

[Noodle Legs]

I stopped at Hinckley McDonalds for a bacon roll and coffee.

We weren’t feeling McDonald’s (there was one we passed on the A45) and one of the lads wanted to get back to catch Paris-Roubaix so we just pushed on. It’s nice out that way. 👍

 

[13 rider]

Yes set out on a cafe ride 50km ride ,normally I don't stop on 50km rides but just fancied it today . With my favourite cafe Nice Pie which is the perfect distance of 16 miles from home closed for Easter . I checked the interweb which told me love and piste in East Leake was open from 10 it's a bit further but that's the target .Anstey ,Mountsorrel ,Barrow all with cafes closed ,Wymeswold ,Wysall ,East Leake got to the cafe to find it closed !! 😠 and it's 11 .Ride to the main shops in East Leake both cafes closed . No more local cafes so I headed home ,Stanford on soar ,Barrow and Rothley . The station on the heritage great central line has a cafe at Rothley so rolled in to find a fun fair etc set up but the cafe was open 🙂. Ordered a flat white to be told they are just doing Americanos 😠. That will have to do then . Sausage sandwich also ordered . Sat in the sunshine watching a few trains come and go . To make up for the days trevails I treated my myself to an ice cream cone from Mr Whippy . I then cycled the 3.5 miles home having covered 37 miles looking for a cafe

 

[Domus]

First Friday Night ride of the year, London to Whitstable. 60 I think on the ride with a large group of Bromptons. (Is there a collective noun for a gathering of Bromptons?)
Anyway it turned bitterly cold in the early hours of Saturday morning, the low mist seeped into the bones and my unravelling right leg warmer was most annoying, so much so that I removed them both at Faversham. How Primoz Roglic took his off at speed during Paris - Nice I don't know, I almost fell over twice whilst standing still in Sainsbury's car park. A cracking weekend away and 3 well earned points

 

[13 rider]

So after 3 consecutive days of riding 50km today I decided not to do another 50km ride so I rode 100km instead for that monthly challenge

 

[kapelmuur]

Towards the end of March while walking with my wife my right knee suddenly and painfully locked up. Cycling was a non starter as I couldn't bend my leg and walking only possible with the help of a walking stick, so I thought my challenge was over.

But it gradually improved, although still hurting, and I could bend my knee enough to manage a pedal stroke. I still was expecting to drop out of the challenge but yesterday morning's weather was so lovely and the roads almost free of traffic so I couldn't resist the urge to get back on my bike.

I only intended to do a short local spin, but the knee help up - aching rather than painful - and the miles (or should I say kms?) started rolling by and I was able to carry on past the magic 50kms.

So I remain in, for now!

 

[13 rider]

Towards the end of March while walking with my wife my right knee suddenly and painfully locked up. Cycling was a non starter as I couldn't bend my leg and walking only possible with the help of a walking stick, so I thought my challenge was over.

But it gradually improved, although still hurting, and I could bend my knee enough to manage a pedal stroke. I still was expecting to drop out of the challenge but yesterday morning's weather was so lovely and the roads almost free of traffic so I couldn't resist the urge to get back on my bike.

I only intended to do a short local spin, but the knee help up - aching rather than painful - and the miles (or should I say kms?) started rolling by and I was able to carry on past the magic 50kms.

So I remain in, for now!

Bloody dangerous that walking lark
Glad your still in . Now the weather's better it's great to be on the bike

 

[AndreaJ]

Fastest challenge ride so far done today 74km @16mph average on a lovely spring morning.

 

[bluenotebob]

I can’t leave my new bike alone … I’m having a lot of fun with it. A couple of trips home – once to put my windproof jacket on (that N wind was chilly) and another to grab a banana and some dates. Slow riding, of course – 54km in just shy of 4 hours .. I’m not going to break any records on this bike but I don’t care as long as it’s enjoyable.

Here’s an example of the terrain covered today – and the track surface (photo actually taken on Wednesday …. but not much has changed since then…)

 

[steverob]

First Friday Night ride of the year, London to Whitstable. 60 I think on the ride with a large group of Bromptons. (Is there a collective noun for a gathering of Bromptons?)

A fold of Bromptons?

 

[T4tomo]

I got in a couple of qualifying and a shorter one over the BH weekend. Have unleashed the summer bike with new wheels which is a real pleasure to ride. good warm up for the HHB next weekend, which will be the first 50 miler & 100km ride of the year.

 

[Noodle Legs]

Set off for a post work spin in the afternoon sunshine for a leisurely pootle up to Melbourne and Breedon. The views at the top of Breedon Hill were just perfect today, could literally see for miles! Deviating from a planned Komoot route at Whitwick I did an extra four miles to get another point and make it seven points so far for April. Pleased with that. 👍☀️🚴

 

[13 rider]

One week to go update and nudge list
We have 30 riders with ride in some still to update the challenge thread but I have seen rides posted somewhere so I've counted them
That leaves 8 on the nudge list as follows
@cosmicbike ,@Sbudge ,@Bazzer ,@PatrickPending ,@dickyknees ,@Cranky Knee Girl ,@Slick and @Gibbo9
Well done everyone that's a third of the way