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

[PaulSB]

We didn't get the promised sunshine which was a blow. I joined a new group today. A good route, nice people but 12 average is a bit slow. C'est la vie.

 

[bluenotebob]

I’m glad you guys have got some decent weather. It’s dry, bright and sunny here but being on the south side of the high pressure that’s located above England, we have to put up with a bitterly cold and gusty NE wind ... which makes route-planning a bit difficult.

Somewhat against my better judgement, I decided to try the Voie Verte south again today for a qualifying ride. It’s always a hassle getting through Ploërmel – so many people about on the chemin des hortensias – and I decided to leave the Voie Verte at le Clos Hazel and hammer through the centre of town. I wouldn’t do it on a weekday but as it’s Sunday (and all the shops are closed), I reckoned it was worth a try. Turned out to be slightly longer but much, much quicker.

Picked up the Voie Verte again by the roundabout next to the old railway station and headed down to the canal. Over the Pont-des-Deux Rivières and off the Voie Verte at la Touche Carné. I pondered swinging west to l’Herbinaye and coming back along the canal – but the towpath surface is truly dreadful on that stretch and, as I was on the road bike, decided against it.

Followed a quiet road down to le Roc St-André and stopped by the bridge to munch a piece of millionaire shortbread and to take some photos. Over the bridge and along to le Pont du Hingleux – then straight back north to the van (using the diversion through Ploërmel again).

It never fails to amaze me (and please me) how many kids are out on their bikes on the Voie Verte. Some as young as 2 or 3 years-old – I half expect some of them to stop on their bikes, get off and fall over as they haven’t learned how to walk yet.

La grotte (the grotto) in the rocks under the church at Roc St-André

 

[13 rider]

Monthly round up for February , We have 23 riders fully posted up with just 1 rider yet to declare who does tend to post late so hopefully that will be 24 of us , Let's hope that's the worst 2 months done and dusted and a bit of sunshine makes such a difference with 14 of us already with a qualifying ride in for March and it's only the 2nd

 

[teeonethousand]

I planned a bit of a longer ride today ending with coffee in town with SWMBO. I thought I was being clever getting the head wind out of the way first and having a wind assisted final leg. No such luck . The wind seems to move around a bit but enough to catch you and then I met a road closure and had to do a large loop back and abandon coffee . 38M though. I am upping frequency and mileage for next few weeks in prep for our ride across Hadrian's Wall next month. I hope to get a 50 or even 60 miler in if/when weather conditions are just right.

 

[13 rider]

I wanted to do my March MCAM qualifying ride today – but it didn’t happen. I need to get a few ducks in a row before I can tackle a metric century and the first two are to get a good night’s sleep and wake up early – and neither of those ducks showed up on parade this morning.

I was full of bone-deep tiredness and no amount of coffee, roll-ups or wishful thinking will help me do a 7-hour ride. But I did drag myself out late morning for a 17km local loop on one of my mountain bikes – and after lunch I did a 32km ride down the Voie Verte from Mauron to Lézonnet and back.

Out of the shade of the trees, the temperature reached 19C – probably the warmest day of the year so far … a great improvement on those cold grey days in late February.

By the Lac au Duc near Lézonnet

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Those distances has set of my cycling OCD 17 + 32 = 49 !!!!!!! Argh my OCD hurts

 

[bluenotebob]

hose distances has set of my cycling OCD 17 + 32 = 49 !!!!!!! Argh my OCD hurts

The total for the day was actually 49.82km - which is probably even worse (from your perspective).

But I'm no longer bothering to include "multi-bike rides" as HMCAM rides .. I've had a few days this year when the total was over 50km but I just couldn't be bothered to post them.

Daily totals are fine for Lunacy Distance rides or for Eddington calculations - but not (as far as I'm concerned) for HMCAM or MCAM rides.

But I will try a little harder in the future to avoid setting off your OCD ...

 

[Jon George]

Over the last couple of years my time for this distance has really fallen - nearly three hours today on Suffolk flat roads - but I really enjoyed it. The weather was just right and I saw numerous other riders out enjoying the sun.

This looking towards Bawdsey: The Home of Radar.

 

[Norry1]

I did the Gospel Pass Climb on Tuesday with my older brother as part of a 53 mile loop. It was a beautiful day and the Pass was stunning. Very pleased with my Climb Time as well - It is No 194 of Simon Warren's 100 Climbs.

 

[ColinJ]

It is No 194 of Simon Warren's 100 Climbs.

He has nearly 200 in his list of 100 climbs?!

 

[FrothNinja]

He has nearly 200 in his list of 100 climbs?!

It's a Yorkshire 100 😜

 

[Norry1]

He has nearly 200 in his list of 100 climbs?!

I thought someone might spot that

He also has a book "Another 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs".

 

[Norry1]

I enjoy the concept/books. Another list to tick off.

I definitely recommend Gospel Pass as a climb. Like ColinJ with Cragg Vale, I had set a target of 20 mins. Pleased and surprised to say I beat it comfortably.

 

[Spartak]

March ride completed early, must be a record for me, the 6th ... 🤔

Early morning sunshine as promised by the weatherman.
Rode west out of Bristol via Cribbs Causeway before passing under the M5 and then dropping down into Easter Compton and Piling, for a coffee stop at the excellent Shirley 's cafe at Severn Beach, a nice cycle along the seawall up to the gravel path that leads to Aust then back inland via Olveston & Almondsbury.

 

[teeonethousand]

Intended a longer ride today in prep for Hadrian's Wall. Managed 50.6 which is almost the first (and longest) leg so I think I am ok for it. Definitely much more tiring than 30 odd but on the day we will have all day to do it so no rush. I had to go round the village a bit when I got back as 48 4 was just too close to stop there 😂😂😂

I fitted a rear rack yesterday and it didn't fall off, rattle or come loose in any way so all good there too.

 

[sevenfourate]

As per the title. A ‘Run in the Sun’ (Yes that’s novel in itself !……to a spot we’ve not been to before - Covehithe: to see the severe Coastal erosion going on there. And the Church ruins…..

Heading to meet point (This is Hopton, Norfolk) pre sunrise:

Covehithe Chuch ‘ruins’:

Overlooking the Beach / Coastal erosion / Benacre Nature Reserve….

Back in via the Coast / Main Beach at South Lowestoft…..

And finally down some of the ‘Promenade’ at the far North end of Lowestoft to home:

43.5 really lovely miles with good lads 👌