The 2024 Half Century (50km or 50 mile) Challenge Chatzone

[steverob]

I say this every year - I’m determined to get December’s ride done as early in the month as possible. And then life and (usually) weather gets in the way and that becomes I’m determined not to be the last to finish the challenge. And I now add “again” to the end of that sentence!

Sunday was the first day this month that I could have got out on the bike where it wasn’t raining (although it was blowing a gale) and I didn’t have other tasks to deal with first.

So what did I do? Spent the whole day in bed trying to cough up my lungs having had a horrendous cold passed to me as an early Christmas present by someone.

Next chance to ride is probably the 27th but thankfully I have a few days off between then and the New Year.

 

[13 rider]

PS Sorry to get within 4 km of 50 miles, it was just too cold to add the extras and avoid hypothermia!

As it Christmas and you apologised I will let you off ,just this time though 👍

 

[Willd]

Done, with difficulty, for 50km . Just need to do a separate 50 mile ride (with over 800m of climbing, for another challenge), hopefully on the road bike.

Got about 3/4 of a mile and freehub body went, so walked home (scooted on the one small downhill bit) and as I'm daft dedicated and had already spent 10 minutes getting dressed, I went out on my other bike, all 17kg of it for a shorter than planned ride.

Its only advantage, as far as I can see is that it can go places a road bike can't

 

[13 rider]

Finisher no18 , well done @Willd
Is that a lane near Long Lawford ? , I once routed a road ride down something very familiar to that near Long Lawford ,I turned round

 

[Willd]

Yes, it's the bridle way that goes from Little Lawford to Long Lawford, avoiding the ford over the Avon. I have done it once the road bike (which was interesting) in the middle of Summer

 

[13 rider]

Yes, it's the bridle way that goes from Little Lawford to Long Lawford, avoiding the ford over the Avon. I have done it once the road bike (which was interesting) in the middle of Summer

I thought I recognised it ,which is surprising as I only attempted it once

 

[ColinJ]

I am hoping to get my 50 km ride done tomorrow, otherwise it will be tight at the end of the week, other distractions taking place mid-week!

Well, the local weather forecast turned out to be somewhat optimistic! I had planned to do my last hilly ride for the year but my route would have taken me up into the chilly mist at 400 m elevation. Blow that!!

I took the easy way out and did boring loops on the 3 valley roads out of Todmorden instead. Even at the maximum elevation of 220 m there was a swirling cold breeze and perma-drizzle. Not nice!

I had gone out without drinking anything beforehand and forgot to take a water bottle with me so I called in at home at the halfway point to get one. As soon as I got into the warmth of the house, I realised how cold and damp I was. I really had to give myself a good talking to to get me back out for the second half of the ride!

I am booked up now until the weekend so unless we have unseasonably nice weather between Saturday and Tuesday, that is my 50s done for this year!

 

[13 rider]

Finisher no19 ,Well done @ColinJ . Tops marks for determination getting back out after stopping

 

[FrothNinja]

Going to be post Chrimbo for me, and more of a whimper than a bang, thanks in part to excessive work and pleurisy earlier in the month.
Suspect I am going to be doing the rather tedious cop out of putting in repeated loops of my local quickie ride, with frequent rest stops at home.
Happy Chrimbo, folks, and a merry Hogmanay

 

[Domus]

Managed a damp and foggy ride to Frederick's for coffee and teacake. The number of cars with no lights on.
Might just get another ride on Sunday to make 70 points to match my age.

 

[bruce1530]

Done. Am I last?
Not been easy this year - fitness and motivation all low - but squeezed a trip along the coast to Portencross (great views despite the drizzle, watched the old ferry heading to Arran), along a muddy track to Hunterston castle (bits of Outlander filmed there) then out past the power station. Back home by a fairly similar route - now raining and wind in my face. A trip around the town, a "comfort stop" at my favourite cafe, watched the "new" arran ferry go past, then a gentle ride along the shore front towards home. 53k.

That's 8 years done.

 

[13 rider]

Finisher no20 ,well done @bruce1530 for seeing the challenge through

 

[Aravis]

Back at the start of the year I said I'd try to do a qualifying ride each month, increasing to a ride in each week during the 30 weeks of summer time. This I have accomplished, the final ride being on Christmas morning to my daughter's house near Hereford for lunch. What could be better?

Maintaining the log proved a tougher challenge. It was always "next week". But I've finished, honest!

 

[13 rider]

Another surprise finisher ,no21 ,well done @Aravis ,an update to the challenge thread would be nice but I trust your word and your counted as challenge completed

 

[Aravis]

Another surprise finisher ,no21 ,well done @Aravis ,an update to the challenge thread would be nice but I trust your word and your counted as challenge completed

I'm looking forward to updating the thread - I kinda have to now! I'm also eager to know how many points I've amassed.

Thanks for organising the challenge. It kept me going this year when I might've cycled very little without it. It will be interesting to find out how many of my weekly rides were done on a Saturday afternoon!