The 2025 Half Century (50km or 50 mile) Challenge Chatzone.

[PaulSB]

I have a 111 km route planned to mark my 69th birthday last month (111 km = 69 miles). I will catch the train to Blackburn then ride up into the Ribble Valley. I will take in Longridge, Chipping, Whitewell etc then head back to Todmorden via Whalley and Padiham. I want the ride to be as early in the year as possible, subject to finding a warmish sunny day to do it on!

The last time I rode out there (last year) I was pretty shocked by how bad the road surface was from Newton to Dunsop Bridge. I was playing dodge-the-potholes then!

I haven't been round Dunsop Bridge and Newton for 18 months or more. I can warn you the usual Longridge - Chipping road has suffered badly this winter. The same is true of the long drop from Longridge to Ribchester. Both of these are roads where we would previously up the pace confident in the surface. Much less so now.

 

[ColinJ]

I haven't been round Dunsop Bridge and Newton for 18 months or more. I can warn you the usual Longridge - Chipping road has suffered badly this winter. The same is true of the long drop from Longridge to Ribchester. Both of these are roads where we would previously up the pace confident in the surface. Much less so now.

I will be going in the opposite direction over the Fell by minor roads then via Inglewhite. I will have to be extra vigilant on those battered roads!

I had been thinking of coming home by a different route to usual (via Fence instead of Padiham) but I might leave that option until another ride later in the year.

 

[FrothNinja]

I will be going in the opposite direction over the Fell by minor roads then via Inglewhite. I will have to be extra vigilant on those battered roads!

I had been thinking of coming home by a different route to usual (via Fence instead of Padiham) but I might leave that option until another ride later in the year.

I would always go Fence then Cuckstool Ln. Greenhead Ln is getting very dangerous, even in a car. Down into Padiham is awful surface unless you take the lower road from Rishton etc

 

[ColinJ]

I would always go Fence then Cuckstool Ln. Greenhead Ln is getting very dangerous, even in a car. Down into Padiham is awful surface unless you take the lower road from Rishton etc

I have always used Greenhead Ln, which is much handier to get to the A646, and then to Todmorden. Dangerous due to potholes, or traffic?

Cuckstool Ln would be handy for coming back via Widdop. It is a long time since I went that way.

I have never felt tempted to go via Rishton! I suppose the canal towpath might be an option though?

My normal route from Whalley to Padiham is via the Old Roman Rd (which has had a terrible surface for years!) and the northern side of Read, then the Greenway from Padiham to Rose Grove.

 

[PaulSB]

A beautiful day meaning everything went on hold in favour of a bike ride. I'm not a great fan of solo rides around my local area, I know all the roads too well. My club had three rides on two of which I fancied; one 60 - 70 miles and pacy, the other 53 miles more sedate but with a potential 14mph head wind. The longer ride was very urban for the first 12/13 miles. With a beautiful day there would be a big ride turnout but also a lot of traffic. I didn't fancy 12/13 miles of 30mph zone Saturday traffic in a group. I chose the 53 miler.

Got to the meet point to discover I was the only person up for the 53 route so I jumped on the social ride. A 36 mile sedate pace but with +/- 2500 feet of climbing over 20 miles, well beyond the golden ratio. It suited me and meant an early finish. Result!

 

[teeonethousand]

We are on a cruise for the week...do I get extra points for how many Kg I can put on in 7 days? 😂😂

 

[sevenfourate]

We are on a cruise for the week...do I get extra points for how many Kg I can put on in 7 days? 😂😂

I’ve done a stone before in a week. There’s your marker 😁

Have a fab time !

 

[13 rider]

We are on a cruise for the week...do I get extra points for how many Kg I can put on in 7 days? 😂😂

I give you bonus points if you take your bike and do 50km in laps of the ship 👍

 

[sevenfourate]

I give you bonus points if you take your bike and do 50km in laps of the ship 👍

Strava route gonna look interesting……

 

[Spinney]

Well done @Jon George not only getting a ride in but missing the 1st nudge list of the year 👍
We have 17 riders fully posted up for February leaving 7 riders yet to declare so a last weekend warning a just a gentle nudge for @Spinney ,@bruce1530 ,@ColinJ ,@Gibbo9 ,@Donger ,@Spartak and @Norry1
Let's hope it warms up in March 🌞 I for one am fed up with this cold wind

Did it today! Windy, but worked out a convoluted route so that almost all of the into-wind bits were downhill!

 

[geocycle]

Strava route gonna look interesting……

I‘m imagining a sort of spring!

 

[sevenfourate]

I‘m imagining a sort of spring!

Yes ! All in mid-sea….. 🤣

 

[steverob]

I‘m imagining a sort of spring!

Indeed - this from a friend who was running laps on their cruise:

 

[bruce1530]

Bright and dry morning here in the West of Scotland, although had been raining heavily overnight. From the house, didn't seem windy.

2 mins away from home, turned downhill towards the seafront, wind hit me in the face.
Next mile was a stiff crosswind along the seafront path, avoiding seaweed that had been blown up last night. Decided to head inland to keep to more sheltered roads.

Followed NCN7 for a bit to Kilwinning, then Eglinton park, arrived as the 9.30 Parkrun was in full swing. Without really thinking, I followed one of the paths through the park which avoided the runners, forgetting just how muddy that path gets when it's wet ...

Explored routes through a new-ish housing estate for a bit, then headed around Irvine. Some main roads closed, so diversions, and the back roads were busier than usual. Eventually ended up on NCN73 outside Irvine, and followed that path to Kilmarnock. Nice easy section, old railway route, so pretty flat and sheltered.

In Kilmarnock, headed towards Dean Castle country park. Coffee and cake, then home by a mostly similar route.

53 slowish km, but a very pleasant ride.

 

[bluenotebob]

I was coming back through Loyat on a very windy ride this afternoon.

A small boy on the pavement spotted me, grabbed his mother's sleeve, pointed at me and said:

"Regarde, Maman - c'est Père Noël" ("look, Mum - it's Father Christmas")

Ho, ho, ho