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Results are on my NHS app. No concerns, all results in the normal band, apart from weight but after two weeks on a cruise the extra 2 Kilos are no real surprise.
The 2024 Half Century (50km or 50 mile) Challenge Chatzone
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A few days ago I had a "significant birthday".
I had always had a plan that I'd do a 60 miler on my 60th. Unfortunately, lack of time and other commitments (and to be honest, lack of fitness - it's taken me a bit longer to come back from surgery than I had hoped) conspired against me. So settled for a 60k on my 60th (or a few days after)
Left home around 10. Cold morning - first time this year I've worn the big cycling boots.
Pit stop after 1km - had to hand in something at daughter's house - then left Ardrossan and headed north along the coast road.
Slow, steady progress. Lots of road works and contraflows on the road through towns, and between the towns I stuck to the cycle path. Not in a rush.
Through Seamill, then turned down the road to Portencross (11km)
As always, stopped there for a couple of minutes, just to take in the view over the Clyde, and to listen to the silence. Then followed the farm road back to the main road, then the bridleway to Hunterston castle.
Lovely part of the journey - only saw a few other cyclists and walkers.
Followed the service road past the power station, then turned back, past the power station again and on towards Fairlie.
Recalled that I'd seen a message saying that the "coast cycle path" through Fairlie had been completed, so decided to investigate. Fairlie is one of those towns where there's really only one route through, the A78, so difficult to avoid the traffic.
The coast path was interesting, It literally is a concrete path along the edge of the sea. Weather was calm, sea was flat, water was about 2 feet below the path level, and no wall or fence between path and the sea. This was about 2 hours before high tide - I don't think I'll be taking that path if a very high tide, or if it's stormy. Bet it'll be slippery in the winter.
Along to Largs, loop around the back streets of the town, back along the coast road to town centre. Usual cafe was closed, so went to one I hadn't tried before. Usually I just grab a takeaway coffee and sit on a bench overlooking the sea, but it was pretty cold today, so I went into cafe to warm up! Best coffee I have had in ages, but the cake looked better than it tasted. Bet it was lovely yesterday!
Garmin now says 39km, and I'm about 20k from home. Relatively uneventful ride home along the main road.
Arrived home with 59.70km on the clock, so a loop to the end of the road to round it up to my birthday number!
I had always had a plan that I'd do a 60 miler on my 60th. Unfortunately, lack of time and other commitments (and to be honest, lack of fitness - it's taken me a bit longer to come back from surgery than I had hoped) conspired against me. So settled for a 60k on my 60th (or a few days after)
Left home around 10. Cold morning - first time this year I've worn the big cycling boots.
Pit stop after 1km - had to hand in something at daughter's house - then left Ardrossan and headed north along the coast road.
Slow, steady progress. Lots of road works and contraflows on the road through towns, and between the towns I stuck to the cycle path. Not in a rush.
Through Seamill, then turned down the road to Portencross (11km)
As always, stopped there for a couple of minutes, just to take in the view over the Clyde, and to listen to the silence. Then followed the farm road back to the main road, then the bridleway to Hunterston castle.
Lovely part of the journey - only saw a few other cyclists and walkers.
Followed the service road past the power station, then turned back, past the power station again and on towards Fairlie.
Recalled that I'd seen a message saying that the "coast cycle path" through Fairlie had been completed, so decided to investigate. Fairlie is one of those towns where there's really only one route through, the A78, so difficult to avoid the traffic.
The coast path was interesting, It literally is a concrete path along the edge of the sea. Weather was calm, sea was flat, water was about 2 feet below the path level, and no wall or fence between path and the sea. This was about 2 hours before high tide - I don't think I'll be taking that path if a very high tide, or if it's stormy. Bet it'll be slippery in the winter.
Along to Largs, loop around the back streets of the town, back along the coast road to town centre. Usual cafe was closed, so went to one I hadn't tried before. Usually I just grab a takeaway coffee and sit on a bench overlooking the sea, but it was pretty cold today, so I went into cafe to warm up! Best coffee I have had in ages, but the cake looked better than it tasted. Bet it was lovely yesterday!
Garmin now says 39km, and I'm about 20k from home. Relatively uneventful ride home along the main road.
Arrived home with 59.70km on the clock, so a loop to the end of the road to round it up to my birthday number!
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A belated happy birthday 🎂, and well done on 60 for your 60th (even if it's in Kms )
@bruce1530 if you had done 60 miles I would have berated you for not doing 100km 😂
Hope you said hello to everyone just in case it was me 😁, Nice little loop from Shenton and back ,did you do the climb up to the radio tower at Appleby ?Strayed into @13 rider territory today, we've both been to Odstone, Carlton, Shenton & Market Bosworth
Yes that's the one on Austrey rd , it's a nice climb from the A444 few a few twisty bends but from Austrey it's a dead straight climb at 10% + at theendI did wave to everyone. No, not if that's on the other side of the A444, I did go up Birds Hill out of Measham three times though
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Blooming cold this morning in Sunny Grange, wrapped up like a Michelin man and off I went being wary of the ice by the golf course which floods on a regular basis. Rivers & Roads cafe in Milnthorpe is now a firm favourite. Thawed out and set off back avoided the ice by staying on the road through Lindale. Back safely with another point for 51 chilly Kms. 
ColinJ
Puzzle game procrastinator!
- Location
- Todmorden - Yorks/Lancs border
There was a 30 metre flooded stretch when I was there in mid-August. I wouldn't have fancied that when ice was about!
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The golf club gave members their money back earlier this year as the course was under water for so long.
