The 2024 Half Century (50km or 50 mile) Challenge Chatzone
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Jon George
Mamil and couldn't care less
- Location
- Suffolk an' Good
That was a bit of a slog. However, the glorious sunny weather made up for it.
Nice view of The Orwell at Levington, I feel. (I should really have paused for a pint at The Ship, but I felt that if I stopped for any length, that would have been it.
)
Nice view of The Orwell at Levington, I feel. (I should really have paused for a pint at The Ship, but I felt that if I stopped for any length, that would have been it.
)
A trip to Stamford to "complete" my County Boundary Lines Challenge 
Nice and dry, but what a cold day, felt more like December
Nice and dry, but what a cold day, felt more like December
Donger
Convoi Exceptionnel
- Location
- Quedgeley, Glos.
Loving these Cyclechat challenges. They keep you turning the pedals over even when you don't particularly feel like it. Then before you know it, you've hit another big milestone. Todays 50km ride got me past the twice-round-the-world mark. Not in the same league as some of you gnarled old mile grinders (it has taken me nearly 16 years), but I was pretty chuffed to at least beat my own lap time by 403 days!. Not every day you can take over a year off your PB.
I'm quite glad I have always kept records of my rides, as they can be quite motivational. I've been doing one or other of these challenges for years now, and it has kept my average ride length over the last 16 years at 28.24 miles. I shall be signing up again next year.
I'm quite glad I have always kept records of my rides, as they can be quite motivational. I've been doing one or other of these challenges for years now, and it has kept my average ride length over the last 16 years at 28.24 miles. I shall be signing up again next year.
It's getting harder and harder. A couple of years ago, I was doing about 3-4 times as many miles as I am today. I'm blaming it on a bout of ill-health last year, but in reality my fitness and motivation has gone. I've been keeping the 50k challenge going through stubbornness, but it's been pretty much one reluctant ride a month.
Today I had been working in the morning. Weather looked not too unpleasant, so booked a half day and headed out on one of my "usual routes" from a few years ago, which I hadn't done in ages.
Breezy, roads were quiet. Discovered that my usual half-way-cafe was gone! Closed a couple of years ago!
Turned along a couple of country roads that I don't think I've been on before, simply cos they had big hedges to shelter a bit from the wind!
By the time I reached the end of my street, I was on 48k, so a spin "round the block" to click over the 50.
The ride was good, once I dragged myself out. But getting that motivation to get started was the hardest bit.
The first hall of that journey for me used to take me between 50 and 60 mins. Today it was an hour and 10. The bike feels slow. But I know it's the engine rather than the mechanicals.
Hopefully the fitness and the enthusiasm will return soon.
Today I had been working in the morning. Weather looked not too unpleasant, so booked a half day and headed out on one of my "usual routes" from a few years ago, which I hadn't done in ages.
Breezy, roads were quiet. Discovered that my usual half-way-cafe was gone! Closed a couple of years ago!
Turned along a couple of country roads that I don't think I've been on before, simply cos they had big hedges to shelter a bit from the wind!
By the time I reached the end of my street, I was on 48k, so a spin "round the block" to click over the 50.
The ride was good, once I dragged myself out. But getting that motivation to get started was the hardest bit.
The first hall of that journey for me used to take me between 50 and 60 mins. Today it was an hour and 10. The bike feels slow. But I know it's the engine rather than the mechanicals.
Hopefully the fitness and the enthusiasm will return soon.
Domus
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Radcliffe
Last ride for a couple of weeks, off cruising and eating for two weeks. Blooming windy over Holcombe Hill even more so on the way back to Bury from Rawtenstall, it was like wading through treacle. Another point in the bag. Just hope the dinner suit still fits on the last formal night. 
bluenotebob
Veteran
- Location
- France
Hey @Domus ... I received an early Xmas present from my sister the other day. It’s the 1947 OS map for Manchester (OS 101).
I’ve spent a few evenings by the fire gazing at this map and the first thing that struck me was just how many railway lines there were in that area just after WWII. For example, there was a railway line that linked Bury with Holcombe Brook – I’m not sure it was there when I knew the area 60 years ago (but perhaps it was). It ran through Woolfold, Tottington and Greenmount.
A lot of the lines were fairly short and linked collieries to other major routes.
I'm guessing that almost all those lines have gone now. I remember taking a train from Trinity Street to see BWFC play Bury at Gigg Lane, around 1965. The train ran along the line behind the Railway Embankment end at Burnden. I'm sure that line's history now.
One of the other things I noticed is that Harwood had moved. The Harwood that I lived in is entitled ‘Harwood Lee’ on the map and Harwood itself was about 1 mile south (towards Breightmet). Longsight is entitled ‘Ruins’ – I’m pretty sure I walked along a Ruins Lane on my way to school, so perhaps that’s why.
And every time you list Harwood in one of your rides, I’m transported back to 1961, walking along Longsight on my way to junior school.
If there’s anything you’d like to see in any detail from this 75+ year-old map, let me know and I’ll try and photograph a part of it (my scanner doesn’t work any more - but I think the digital camera would work, and I doubt that I'd be infringing copyright).
Enjoy your cruise
I’ve spent a few evenings by the fire gazing at this map and the first thing that struck me was just how many railway lines there were in that area just after WWII. For example, there was a railway line that linked Bury with Holcombe Brook – I’m not sure it was there when I knew the area 60 years ago (but perhaps it was). It ran through Woolfold, Tottington and Greenmount.
A lot of the lines were fairly short and linked collieries to other major routes.
I'm guessing that almost all those lines have gone now. I remember taking a train from Trinity Street to see BWFC play Bury at Gigg Lane, around 1965. The train ran along the line behind the Railway Embankment end at Burnden. I'm sure that line's history now.
One of the other things I noticed is that Harwood had moved. The Harwood that I lived in is entitled ‘Harwood Lee’ on the map and Harwood itself was about 1 mile south (towards Breightmet). Longsight is entitled ‘Ruins’ – I’m pretty sure I walked along a Ruins Lane on my way to school, so perhaps that’s why.
And every time you list Harwood in one of your rides, I’m transported back to 1961, walking along Longsight on my way to junior school.
If there’s anything you’d like to see in any detail from this 75+ year-old map, let me know and I’ll try and photograph a part of it (my scanner doesn’t work any more - but I think the digital camera would work, and I doubt that I'd be infringing copyright).
Enjoy your cruise
Monthly update done while on holiday from memory so may contain inaccuracies,
We have 17 riders fully posted up leaving 7 riders yet to declare so last weekend warning and a gentle nudge to @ColinJ ,@Eribiste ,@slow scot ,@steveindenmark ,@Chap sur le velo ,@C R and @Spartak
We have 17 riders fully posted up leaving 7 riders yet to declare so last weekend warning and a gentle nudge to @ColinJ ,@Eribiste ,@slow scot ,@steveindenmark ,@Chap sur le velo ,@C R and @Spartak
I'm aiming for a ride tomorrow.
Domus
Guru
- Location
- Sunny Radcliffe
Hi Bob.
The old railway line from Bury to Greenmount is now a bridleway, much used by dog walkers and families. Alas, Burnden is no more but the old railway line is also a bridleway from "Manny Road" through Bradley Fold all the way to Ainsworth Road in Sunny Radcliffe
Bolton is much changed and not for the better, the Town Hall and Le Mans Crescent are the jewels in a much faded crown. People now go shopping in Bury, something that forty years ago would sound preposterous.
The East Lancs railway still runs steam, manned by volunteers, from Bury to Rawtenstall and brings lots of train spotters to Rammy at the weekends, they run Santa Specials at Christmas and they are VERY popular. The railway from Bury to Manchester is now part of the tram network. If you ever come back let me know and you can borrow a bike.
Peter
The old railway line from Bury to Greenmount is now a bridleway, much used by dog walkers and families. Alas, Burnden is no more but the old railway line is also a bridleway from "Manny Road" through Bradley Fold all the way to Ainsworth Road in Sunny Radcliffe
Bolton is much changed and not for the better, the Town Hall and Le Mans Crescent are the jewels in a much faded crown. People now go shopping in Bury, something that forty years ago would sound preposterous.
The East Lancs railway still runs steam, manned by volunteers, from Bury to Rawtenstall and brings lots of train spotters to Rammy at the weekends, they run Santa Specials at Christmas and they are VERY popular. The railway from Bury to Manchester is now part of the tram network. If you ever come back let me know and you can borrow a bike.
Peter
Spartak
Powered by M&M's
- Location
- Bristolian
Just back from October 's 50K ...
Into Bristol via the Concorde Way [ in heavy rain ] then back out on the B2B track via Mangotsfield station. To complete the 50 I did a loop out to Yate via the muddy lanes of Iron Acton.
Into Bristol via the Concorde Way [ in heavy rain ] then back out on the B2B track via Mangotsfield station. To complete the 50 I did a loop out to Yate via the muddy lanes of Iron Acton.
steveindenmark
Legendary Member
Octobers entry
Chap sur le velo
Ãœber Member
- Location
- @acknee
Sadly my chain is broken. Back problems mean I'm off the bike but hopefully only for a week or two.
Need to reset and come back fresh in January.
Good luck to all those who persevere and I admire your tenacity all the more.
Happy riding.
Tony
Need to reset and come back fresh in January.
Good luck to all those who persevere and I admire your tenacity all the more.
Happy riding.
Tony
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
It was cool and gloomy here today so I didn't really fancy riding but was going to go out and do my October '50' anyway. Then I checked back and saw that I had done a 66 km ride in Scotland on 1st October so I've had a quiet day in instead. I will try to get an early November 50 in over the next few days.
