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

[sevenfourate]

^^^^^One interesting thing Ive just noticed on Strava - is I only managed 743ft of elevation gain in 31.2 miles. Recording from my IPhone 15 Max via Strava. It’s been mentioned before how flat people ‘imagine’ my rides to be. I know I’m not in the Penines. But also know it’s not stupidly flat……

My riding buddy (Jack Love - pictured below) - who I rode from mine to ‘collect’ today - and dropped off (Effectively) back at his house. Where I carried on for a further 11 miles…….managed 928 feet of gain whilst sat beside me - and only covered less than 2/3 of my ride / route. (His: Measured on his Garmin) 😳

That’s quite some difference. And could have had him at well over 1200 ft if he’d have done the whole ride I did.

Which could have amounted to a 500ft difference between recording media. Or a least 50% extra on top of the 750ft I supposedly did.

Makes no difference to me at my level whatsoever. I just noticed this huge variation. And have been involved in various Strava calculations / assumptions / recordings discussions before !!!! 😉🙄

 

[13 rider]

^^^^^One interesting thing Ive just noticed on Strava - is I only managed 743ft of elevation gain in 31.2 miles. Recording from my IPhone 15 Max via Strava. It’s been mentioned before how flat people ‘imagine’ my rides to be. I know I’m not in the Penines. But also know it’s not stupidly flat……

My riding buddy (Jack Love - pictured below) - who I rode from mine to ‘collect’ today - and dropped off (Effectively) back at his house. Where I carried on for a further 11 miles…….managed 928 feet of gain whilst sat beside me - and only covered less than 2/3 of my ride / route. (His: Measured on his Garmin) 😳

That’s quite some difference. And could have had him at well over 1200 ft if he’d have done the whole ride I did.

Which could have amounted to a 500ft difference between recording media. Or a least 50% extra on top of the 750ft I supposedly did.

Makes no difference to me at my level whatsoever. I just noticed this huge variation. And have been involved in various Strava calculations / assumptions / recordings discussions before !!!! 😉🙄

View attachment 767136

Wow that flat 🤣🤣
Your iPhone is probably using Strava GPS data where as your mates Garmin will be using a barometric altimeter which will be more accurate,but I wouldn't worry about it if you always measure your rides with the same device you can guage what's a hilly ride ( if that's possible in Suffolk 👍)
or a flatter one

 

[ColinJ]

Yes, I need to get it done ASAP. I don't want to be doing it in the last couple of days of the month.

So, naturally, I have left it to the last couple of days of the month!!

It is sunny here today and supposed to be again tomorrow. There is a strong, blustery wind blowing today which is supposed to die down overnight.

I will go out later today and see if I can face that wind for 50+ km. If it puts me off I will just have to do my ride tomorrow.

 

[sevenfourate]

So, naturally, I have left it to the last couple of days of the month!!

It is sunny here today and supposed to be again tomorrow. There is a strong, blustery wind blowing today which is supposed to die down overnight.

I will go out later today and see if I can face that wind for 50+ km. If it puts me off I will just have to do my ride tomorrow.

Was blowing pretty strong here today. A 20mph cold Westerly. Which meant it was side-on for 80% of my South to North or vice-versa ride back 🙄

Come on Col…..let’s get this done ! 🙏

 

[ColinJ]

I will go out later today and see if I can face that wind for 50+ km. If it puts me off I will just have to do my ride tomorrow.

Was blowing pretty strong here today. A 20mph cold Westerly. Which meant it was side-on for 80% of my South to North or vice-versa ride back 🙄

Come on Col…..let’s get this done ! 🙏

Yes, that wind WAS strong AND chilly!

It was a circular route so sometimes it helped and sometimes it hindered. Fortunately, it helped on the biggest climb; unfortunately, it hindered on the second biggest!

That time included 15-20 minutes of stoppages.

For some reason, on a circular route the Wahoo always indicates about 30 m more descent than ascent! I have had random discrepancies on other devices but this one is consistent!

 

[sevenfourate]

Yes, that wind WAS strong AND chilly!

It was a circular route so sometimes it helped and sometimes it hindered. Fortunately, it helped on the biggest climb; unfortunately, it hindered on the second biggest!

View attachment 767320
That time included 15-20 minutes of stoppages.

For some reason, on a circular route the Wahoo always indicates about 30 m more descent than ascent! I have had random discrepancies on other devices but this one is consistent!

Yay !! 🙏 ✅ 😉

 

[steverob]

Certainly noticed the strong winds on my route yesterday - on my way out, I rode the Aylesbury Relief Road in the downhill direction and I averaged 12.5mph for its length (1 & 1/3 miles). On the way back I did it uphill and managed a 20mph average with not that much more effort! Okay, it's quite a small hill, but usually I'd expect my speeds to be the other way round.

 

[13 rider]

Time for my end of month round-up for March - doubtless @13 rider will have something to say about today's distance

March 31st – ( again to @Jon George ) Nacton, Ipswich, Chelmondiston, Erwarton, Harksted, Holbrook, Tattingstone, Washbrook, Sproughton, Claydon, Westerfield, Bucklesham & Falkenham, 96.8km, https://www.strava.com/activities/14038456179

Wtf !!!! The discipline in this thread has gone to pot who rides only 96 and a bit Kms !!!! and then admits it ,argh my cycling OCD just flared up again

 

[bluenotebob]

Wtf !!!! The discipline in this thread has gone to pot who rides only 96 and a bit Kms !!!! and then admits it

Forgive him - he's 60 years old ...

 

[PaulSB]

^^^^^One interesting thing Ive just noticed on Strava - is I only managed 743ft of elevation gain in 31.2 miles. Recording from my IPhone 15 Max via Strava. It’s been mentioned before how flat people ‘imagine’ my rides to be. I know I’m not in the Penines. But also know it’s not stupidly flat……

My riding buddy (Jack Love - pictured below) - who I rode from mine to ‘collect’ today - and dropped off (Effectively) back at his house. Where I carried on for a further 11 miles…….managed 928 feet of gain whilst sat beside me - and only covered less than 2/3 of my ride / route. (His: Measured on his Garmin) 😳

That’s quite some difference. And could have had him at well over 1200 ft if he’d have done the whole ride I did.

Which could have amounted to a 500ft difference between recording media. Or a least 50% extra on top of the 750ft I supposedly did.

Makes no difference to me at my level whatsoever. I just noticed this huge variation. And have been involved in various Strava calculations / assumptions / recordings discussions before !!!! 😉🙄

View attachment 767136

I've no doubt your local geography dictates the elevation gain you can achieve. Please don't think me rude but these elevations are flat. For example today we rode 46 miles and 1175 feet, last Wednesday 62 miles and 1650, both rides as flat as a pancake.

IMV a hilly ride would be at least 2500+ feet, closer to 3000.

If you want a consistent record of elevation gain in Strava choose "adjust elevation" and Strava will check your route and adjust the climbing accordingly. If you do this for every ride you will always compare like for like.

 

[Jenkins]

Wtf !!!! The discipline in this thread has gone to pot who rides only 96 and a bit Kms !!!! and then admits it ,argh my cycling OCD just flared up again

It's almost as if it was done on purpose...

 

[ColinJ]

For some reason, on a circular route the Wahoo always indicates about 30 m more descent than ascent! I have had random discrepancies on other devices but this one is consistent!

Hah - typical... I did a little local loop today and the Wahoo said 409 m ascent and 408 m of descent!!

 

[FrothNinja]

Hah - typical... I did a little local loop today and the Wahoo said 409 m ascent and 408 m of descent!!

Often have that on my loops - especially if I cross into Yorkshire

 

[ColinJ]

Often have that on my loops - especially if I cross into Yorkshire

I can cope with a phantom metre but the phantom 30+ metres were odd.

I wonder if temperature has anything to do with it? The inaccurate rides were chilly and yesterday's was a bit warmer.

I assumed that elevation data was calculated from GPS readings. That is known to be less accurate than GPS positioning. Maybe the Wahoo uses a barometric altimeter?

 

[13 rider]

I'm off the mark for April and appear to be the 1st poster for the month . Just my standard loop out to Upton still a bit blowy out there . While I was out I did momentarily think of poor @sevenfourate stuck at work while us retirees are free to ride in the week it also crossed my mind that @Jon George may have snuck out earlier than me and was beating me to the post