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

[teeonethousand]

I would like to join in please. Today I did intend to go for 50 miles but the state of the lanes around here and the cold means I diverted from the plan and came home. I'll post it in the report card and gave the Strava record if anyone needs me to prove it.

 

[13 rider]

I would like to join in please. Today I did intend to go for 50 miles but the state of the lanes around here and the cold means I diverted from the plan and came home. I'll post it in the report card and gave the Strava record if anyone needs me to prove it.

Welcome to the challenge, basically the challenge runs on trust so no proof is required as really your only challenging yourself just as brief route description will be sufficient. You can choose to do half imperial or metric centuries or a mixture of both the minimum required is 1 50km ride per month , have fun

 

[Domus]

And we're off

50.3 Kms, very wet mist and drizzle all the way but I was going stir crazy looking out at ice and slush.

Going to Grange for the weekend so hoping for at least one more ride this week.

 

[Spartak]

Finally a day in January when it's not raining, icy, foggy or working.

Rode out to Chipping Sodbury to see my Dad, then kept going to reach the 50, headed out to Warmley and then Fishponds.

No pictures today, just a screenshot of my route.

 

[bluenotebob]

I’m finally up and running in this year’s challenge with a potter down the V3 Voie Verte from Mauron to la Chapelle Caro and back.

I picked up La Rossa (my road bike) from Tony’s bike shop in Mauron at 2pm – she’s now fitted with new mudguards, a sacoche (saddle bag), a new front light and she had a quick but thorough service. Bike felt great – just wished it had been a bit warmer so I could have completely enjoyed the ride. Back to the van at 6.15pm .. only 2C and no street-lights working. Swift roll-up then back home at full speed in the van – I’ve lit a big fire and I’m slowly de-frosting.

La Rossa on the Pont-des-Deux Rivières on the way home

.

 

[kapelmuur]

I was starting to wonder whether I'd get a ride in this month, floods, snow, ice and a new hazard dazzling low winter sun.

I finally got out 5 weeks after I last turned a pedal outside. The roads remain wet with parts very muddy as a reminder of the recent floods.

The turbo is a godsend but it's so much nicer to be outdoors.

 

[sevenfourate]

1st ride of 2025. 1st CC Challenge entered. 1st Qualifying ride.

Freezing cold - but hugely enjoyable. I stopped my Strava recording and forgot to reset at one point. Not sure it makes too much difference as ‘I’m on the board’ for the first time ever either way 😁

 

[13 rider]

Welcome to the challenge @sevenfourate glad you got your ride in ,but to set the tone for the year ,surely you could have added 9.83 miles to get the extra point 👍

Only joking 😂

 

[sevenfourate]

Welcome to the challenge @sevenfourate glad you got your ride in ,but to set the tone for the year ,surely you could have added 9.83 miles to get the extra point 👍

Only joking 😂

I ‘think’ I probably did. Or would have been close enough to push me to do a ‘couple’ more to get to 50 miles. But we stopped for photos…I paused Strava. And never realised until the next stop miles further on. Either way - my names on the scoreboard. Which was looking dubious for a couple of frosty weekends !! Cheers 🙏

 

[13 rider]

I'm in though I don't understand the reporting rules! I'll watch and learn.

Welcome to the challenge ,excellent report if anything a bit too detailed but that's me nit picking ,good luck for the rest of the year

 

[PaulSB]

Welcome to the challenge ,excellent report if anything a bit too detailed but that's me nit picking ,good luck for the rest of the year

Noted. What might I leave out? Happy to have some guidance. I did feel the route description was too long but also had the impression this was wanted. As I say happy to be guided on my first few posts.

 

[sevenfourate]

Noted. What might I leave out? Happy to have some guidance. I did feel the route description was too long but also had the impression this was wanted. As I say happy to be guided on my first few posts.

Welcome aboard. From an equally green entrant who also popped his cherry today 👋

 

[13 rider]

Noted. What might I leave out? Happy to have some guidance. I did feel the route description was too long but also had the impression this was wanted. As I say happy to be guided on my first few posts.

Just to keep the challenge thread tidy and stop posts getting too long if you do multiple rides per month I would prefer something like
Brief description , (not essential)
Date , distance ,elevation ( not essential)
Route summary , 2 lines is plenty
Everything else how you felt ,speed etc any unusual on route can be put in the chat zone thread . This is just keeps the admin easier as less information to go through

 

[PaulSB]

@13 rider gotcha. Wednesday's report will be more concise.

 

[steverob]

Bloody hell that was cold! I got back in over 2 hours ago but have only just now warmed up enough to be able to log my ride in the thread. And yet, I've been out in colder temperatures than that before and not felt as cold.

I had an opportunity to turn around after a mile or so and go back to get extra gloves and socks to be honest, but I thought that I'd warm up as the ride went on and decided to persevere. In some respects I did get slightly warmer for a while, but the temperature started to drop again not long after I'd reached the halfway point of my ride and for the last half an hour I did start to lose feeling in my big toes and some of my fingers.

But I was determined not to leave it to the last weekend and risk there being a wash-out which would end my chance of doing 10 years in this challenge.