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.