Three 30-minute rides each week of the year Challenge 2025 [NB Starts 30/12/24!]

[ColinJ]

My relaxed riding plans have suddenly changed... I had rides planned for today and tomorrow, with my sister arriving tomorrow afternoon. She just rang to say that she's coming a day early!

I will dash out on the bike now then de-bike-workshop the kitchen so it is suitable for entertaining. I have tools and spare parts lying around everywhere!

Today's ride will probably be the last of the week unless sis decides to go back a day early too.

The two rides so far were in much nicer conditions than of late and the sun is shining again today.

I'll leave the weekly report until Sunday in case I do manage a 4th ride then.

 

[FrothNinja]

Chuffed with myself - though I did get a bit sweaty under the heart monitor but overall it was pleasant out.
Riding slow the sun's warmth actually kicks in and you see a lot more too. Quite muddy in places.
Canal has started freezing again.
Looking forward to seeing how slow I managed to go.
Took a lot, lot, lot more concentration and discipline than I expected but I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to others.
@bluenotebob I did take a pic or two as it happens.

 

[FrothNinja]

Still some snow clinging to the southern face of Pendle today - crisp weather for long views

 

[ColinJ]

I am back from my ride. Yes. It was very nice in the sun. Making an effort uphill in sunshine felt nice and warm. Some rapid descents in the shade were still a bit nippy though! Gritters were out so it looks like a cold night is forecast.

As expected, the deadline for the A646 repairs has slipped again. They still don't look anywhere near finished. As for putting a single lane of traffic through, controlled by lights... It doesn't look like there is enough space. Obviously, you don't want heavy vehicles half a metre from the edge of a deep hole with men working at the bottom of it. (They ARE all men!)

Apparently, it has become a tourist attraction! (The hole is now MUCH bigger than that shown in the aerial photograph in that article!)

 

[FrothNinja]

Half thinking of riding into the office on Monday if it's above freezing & not raining. I am likely to need to make a diversion, work related, on the way back for about 20 minutes. The return leg would be over 50km in total. Surely it would qualify for a metric half wouldn't it?
Mind you, if rain is forecast I'll be in the brmm brmm

 

[bluenotebob]

The return leg would be over 50km in total. Surely it would qualify for a metric half wouldn't it?

I don't see why not .. a 20-minute stop is probably less than some people make for a café stop .. and I'm fairly certain that some people have used a train journey in the middle of a ride too.

I would avoid making any reference to commuting when you post your ride.

But if you're not sure, then you really should pose the question in the 2025 HMCAM Chatzone before you do the ride.

 

[ColinJ]

@bluenotebob - I walked along the Rochdale canal towpath today with my sister and her dog. I told her that we would soon be seeing the 'Great Wall of Tod'. We walked round the bend, and there it was...

I noticed for the first time how thick the wall is! It is thick at the top and gets thicker and thicker down towards the canal. I am beginning to think that estimates of the number of bricks in the wall might not be as exaggerated as I had thought!!

 

[bluenotebob]

estimates of the number of bricks in the wall might not be as exaggerated as I had thought!!

Nice photo !

If anything, I suspect that the number of bricks is an under-estimate. That wall is colossal.

 

[bluenotebob]

Week 3: 5 rides over 30 mins, including one HMCAM ride; distance cycled 132.86km

Weeks 1 to 3 (2025): total distance cycled 463.67km

A difficult week – the cold weather hasn’t helped but mostly I’ve been tied up doing various things and I’ve had limited time to get out on one of my bikes. On the positive side, my van passed its MOT, I’ve got a brand-new door for my outside cellier, I’ve re-arranged one of my woodstores and La Rossa is now equipped with a new front light, new mudguards and a saddle bag.

I wanted to do a Lunacy Distance ride this week but everything was stacked against me – I did squeeze in my January HMCAM qualifier though.

Week 4 looks milder – but it’s looking very wet. Hopefully I won’t need to light the fire first thing every morning next week though and that would be a bonus.

Here’s La Rossa north of Trégadoret on Friday afternoon, showing off her new accessories

 

[Elswick Cotterpin]

You wouldn't think you'd need seven days to get out for three thirty minutes (or so) rides, but I 'm here to prove you do. Well, I do, anyway.

Was not very well last weekend, got to see a doctor last Thursday. Gastritis, he said, I'll give you some tablets. I was happy enough to get them at the time, gastritis not being the most fun thing in the world. But later, I was texting my daughter, and she asked did the doctor say what causes the excess acid, and he didn't and I didn't ask.

So then I started wondering myself, as you do, and googling this and that.. And also, checking out the side effects of the tablets he'd given me; possibly dizziness, maybe headaches, could cause diarrhoea. Oh joy.

Long story short, I've not yet had to take any of the tablets. I figure maybe I can manage the cause in some way myself rather than rely on tablets to cure the symptoms. So far so pretty good.

Anyway, finally, I did get out for three qualifying rides, which I was pleased about after the way the week began. Yesterday involved a walk with the bike just because there were so many dogs with their owners along the riverbank.

Today I got out at 8:00am when it seemed as if all the world was still asleep, apart from a small group at the tables outside the local Greggs. Which suited me perfectly.

All done; I 'm at peace with the world.

 

[FrothNinja]

W3R1 - Hybrid 4 hours 9 mins - Extended commute.
W3R2 - CX 52 mins - local slow miles, average speed 6.4 mph / 10.3 kph
W3R3 - CX 45 mins - local miles
W3R4 - Centurion 39 mins - local miles
A bit disappointed I was over 10 kph but it was still a fun ride and I hope to do another one soon. Feels odd trying to ride slower. If I use the Folda it should help too.

 

[ColinJ]

I was distracted this week by a visit by a Border Terrier and his owner (my sister!) so just 3 rides completed...

Week 3: 3 qualifying rides, 77.0 km in 4.05 h.

Total qualifying rides: 9. Distance to date: 193.0 km (vs 330 km; 3 x weekly target of 110 km). Time to date: 9.80 h (vs 21h; 3 x weekly target of 7 h).

Ride 1 (Tue): 24.5 km. Tod, road closure at HB, Tod, just beyond Wn, Tod. 1.20 h.

Ride 2 (Wed): 26.9 km. Tod, HB, Hl (another cafe fail!), HB (cafe there instead), Tod incl. stretch of By Rd and circuit of Tod park 1.50 h.

Ride 3 (Thu): 25.6 km. Er, I forget which valley roads I did! 1.35 h.

All rides on my 6-er.

Abbreviated local place names (now sorted alphabetically):

• BE = Blackstone Edge, BH = Blackshaw Head, Bp = Bacup, By = Burnley
• Ce = Cornholme, Cn = Colden, CV = Cragg Vale
• HB = Hebden Bridge, Hl = Heptonstall
• JB = Jack Bridge
• Lh = Littleborough/
• Royd = Mytholmroyd
• Tod = Todmorden
• Wn = Walsden

 

[bluenotebob]

Anyone else having a difficult/challenging week on the bike?

I failed to get a ride in on Monday – simply ran out of time. I got a 19km ride in yesterday mid-day but gosh, it was cold. 0C and misty – I was shaking like a leaf at the end of the ride. Took me until mid-evening to recover some equilibrium.

Tipping down with rain here today so I did something I haven’t done for a long time and went out wearing a cagoule. Stuck to quiet roads – lots of surface water and very muddy in a few places. Managed 18km – on the RAID with big fat tyres. Took 83 mins so an average speed of around 13kph – not quite @FrothNinja ’s zen riding .. but close.

Tomorrow afternoon looks dry but very windy – in advance of Storm Eowyn. I reckon I can get a ride in on the Voie Verte – it’ll be slow but who cares. Saturday afternoon also looks dry (if windy) so I should get at least 4 rides in this week … but it won’t have been easy.

Most of the year this challenge is a doddle but just occasionally it really is a challenge.

 

[sevenfourate]

Anyone else having a difficult/challenging week on the bike?

I failed to get a ride in on Monday – simply ran out of time. I got a 19km ride in yesterday mid-day but gosh, it was cold. 0C and misty – I was shaking like a leaf at the end of the ride. Took me until mid-evening to recover some equilibrium.

Tipping down with rain here today so I did something I haven’t done for a long time and went out wearing a cagoule. Stuck to quiet roads – lots of surface water and very muddy in a few places. Managed 18km – on the RAID with big fat tyres. Took 83 mins so an average speed of around 13kph – not quite @FrothNinja ’s zen riding .. but close.

Tomorrow afternoon looks dry but very windy – in advance of Storm Eowyn. I reckon I can get a ride in on the Voie Verte – it’ll be slow but who cares. Saturday afternoon also looks dry (if windy) so I should get at least 4 rides in this week … but it won’t have been easy.

Most of the year this challenge is a doddle but just occasionally it really is a challenge.

With a busy lifestyle - this would be the hardest CC challenge for me without question. Finding an hour or more to get ready, ride, change / shower etc 3 times a week (would) require quite some planning . Kudos to everyone who make the efforts required week on week on week…….🚴👌

 

[ColinJ]

Anyone else having a difficult/challenging week on the bike?

I failed to get a ride in on Monday – simply ran out of time. I got a 19km ride in yesterday mid-day but gosh, it was cold. 0C and misty – I was shaking like a leaf at the end of the ride. Took me until mid-evening to recover some equilibrium.

I know the feeling!

Today was my first ride of the week, being uninspired by the weather, and struggling with 'owl mode'...

I no longer have to do much synchronising with the real world and now find that I tend to slip into a day length of 24.5 to 25 hours. It means that my bedtime gets later and later until I eventually have to force a reset.

Last night I went to bed at 04:00, got to sleep about 04:45, woke up a couple of times, then got a phone call which stopped me going back to sleep. I gave up and got up, but had only had about 5 hours broken sleep.

I didn’t have enough energy (or daylight left) to do the 69 km ride that I had hoped to do, but went out aiming for about 40 km. A flat tyre put paid to that. I was on a misty road in chilly conditions, about 150 m above the valley bottom. I got very cold fixing the puncture so I cut my ride short and headed home to my nice warm room.

Things are not looking good for Thursday and Friday! I doubt that I will ride at all, or if I do, only for 30-45 minutes at a time.

Hopefully, Saturday and Sunday will save my week! I will make the effort and do at least 2 x 30 minute qualifying rides, but I had wanted a much better week than that.