Further to my recent loss of mojo post, I’m contemplating possibilities for a challenge in 2025.
It would have been ‘ride 2025 miles’ as the last two years have been… this has been decent and has certainly got me out on the bike but…. It’s a bit of a fun vampire.
I’m sort of ready for a change. Less emphasis on riding for riding’s sake, maybe more on riding for the sheer joy of it.
Having a goal of some description makes this more enjoyable.
Possibilities are currently… restart the veloviewer squares thing this year (if that’s possible? )
Visit every church in a given area? Not religious but the research would be fun and there’s LOTS of them in most communities. Pubs is more my thing but there’s a dearth of them nowadays.
Trig bagging? Not really feasible with a bike.
Any other collections of things anyone can think of?
Standing stones/burial chambers/ stone circles etc
Could obvs do a few different collections simultaneously …
I love doing BCQ’s but have mopped up all the localish ones. Something else like BCQ would be grand.

What are you lovely people setting yourselves?

I’ve done a custom map and coloured in each square I’ve visited by foot or bike (driving allowed to get to places). Bit of a luddites veloviewer

Done that for two years but this year, it’s another custom map but I’m going to try and do an A-Z of it (thankfully I live near a zoo for Z…)

I’ve often thought about a second instagram page for all the churches I visit or pass whilst out, few photos and a brief description of its history but never got around to it

I tend to avoid anything that involves bagging, ticks or counting totals since riding for the joy of it is just that for me, nothing more. One ride that always entertains me for the pure exploration experience is the 'all new turns' routing plan. Ride out for an hour or 2 then take all turnings you've not been down before, ideally a small lane, byway or track. Follow your general loop direction when you exit, then repeat. Ride home when time/energy dictates, hopefully with GPS battery to help as I'm usually somewhere new which is the point - or, somewhere I know having got there via new links. It's a great way to use a gravel bike (the original reason I got into CX bikes for winter road and tracks rides) and increase your mental map of an area.

Another thing I love is early am rides. Make a habit of getting out early and getting that first hour or 2 of light, lovely time to be out and it's good for you too.

Visit every church in a given area? Not religious but the research would be fun and there’s LOTS of them in most communities.

One of my favourite places to stop on a ride is a church or cathedral. Good places for water and interesting architecture, sometimes interesting local people pottering around looking after the place. Usually route myself past a couple of cathedrals that look interesting on tours in France as a way to see the old town areas, since I'll be going into a town or city for food etc along the way anyway.

You near a decent rail network? Train our, ride back?

boxelder wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 1:01 pm You near a decent rail network? Train our, ride back?

Yeah we have a station in Ludlow and we’re only one stop / short ride to Craven Arms and the start of the Heart of Wales line and all its interesting stops. I love doing this, having previously got trains to Leominster / Hereford / Church Stretton / Shrewsbury and ridden home. good suggestion. Would definitely be up for more of this. Maybe out to Welshpool / Newtown

Groups of "things" can be quite varied:

• * old railway stations
  * medieval sites
  * iron age/prehistory sites
  * industrial heritage.
  * Greggs stores
  * etc.

As suggested, get a train "somewhere" and ride back. The "somewhere" could be a randomly chosen station or something like "Which is the furthest station I can reach for £20?". Take a die with you and when you come to a junction, roll it: 1 for left; 2 straight on; etc./whatever.

boxelder wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 1:01 pm You near a decent rail network? Train our, ride back?

Despite speaking as a big fan myself, Mart's latest train out ride back wasn't quite what he expected

I'm keeping mine simples. Etape Du Dale's. 2 attempts in the last 5 years of which both were scuppered by one of the partners needing to throw in the towel.

I'm gonna give it another go, again with an partner or 2 to keep good banter/company. It's a fantastic (and hilly) route.

I find events are great for motivation, to visit new places and to meet new people.

I'd stay away from tiles...at least the way i am. It would just force me to do rides that don't excited me for the sole purpose of ticking a box that nobody really cares about.
Visiting cafés, that does excite me haha
I have been considering doing a blog or something with reviews of cafés in my area...not very original but definitely something that would motivate me to get out. Probably as expensive as signing up for events though haha.

Ps: sign up to Tor Divide

I’ve got one simple objective .. to sneak a Brompton into the house and then go folder packing with Reg

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:29 pm I’ve got one simple objective .. to sneak a Brompton into the house and then go folder packing with Reg

Why not do a guide book for Brompton packing/touring and then you’ll have to get one. See it as a business transaction?

voodoo_simon wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 4:22 pm

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:29 pm I’ve got one simple objective .. to sneak a Brompton into the house and then go folder packing with Reg

Why not do a guide book for Brompton packing/touring and then you’ll have to get one. See it as a business transaction?

Because I have a Scottish bike and she saw straight through that one

Can you not win it in the FREE christmas raffle on this website ?

Where there's a will there's a way Dave. I'm not allowed to bring a bike into the house full stop. But I always keep forgetting and it stays in longer each time until we have a reset.

Brompton should be small enough to hideaway right. You just briefcase it down the road and then, BAM... You're off away into the wind.

BAM? Even if you don't make it out for the full 12, it's a great way of going out without it necessarily being about bagging something. You can theme every bivvy, or just visit nice local woods around your area.

I think this is what you're looking for...

https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpB ... hp?t=25161

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 3:29 pm I’ve got one simple objective .. to sneak a Brompton into the house and then go folder packing with Reg

Dave, I have a Brompton and bike packed from Leominster to Chepstow on it this year … flippin marvellous bike !

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:27 pm Where there's a will there's a way Dave. I'm not allowed to bring a bike into the house full stop. But I always keep forgetting and it stays in longer each time until we have a reset.

Brompton should be small enough to hideaway right. You just briefcase it down the road and then, BAM... You're off away into the wind.

Mine pretty much lives in the car Shaf

MuddyPete wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 7:55 pm I think this is what you're looking for...

https://bearbonesbikepacking.co.uk/phpB ... hp?t=25161

I was there !!!

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:27 pm Where there's a will there's a way Dave. I'm not allowed to bring a bike into the house full stop. But I always keep forgetting and it stays in longer each time until we have a reset.

Brompton should be small enough to hideaway right. You just briefcase it down the road and then, BAM... You're off away into the wind.

We have my old Omega race bike on the living room wall..

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 1:36 pm

boxelder wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 1:01 pm You near a decent rail network? Train our, ride back?

Yeah we have a station in Ludlow and we’re only one stop / short ride to Craven Arms and the start of the Heart of Wales line and all its interesting stops. I love doing this, having previously got trains to Leominster / Hereford / Church Stretton / Shrewsbury and ridden home. good suggestion. Would definitely be up for more of this. Maybe out to Welshpool / Newtown

Train to newtown, back to Ludlow via start of Kerry ridge, anchor, Offa's dyke, bucknell and into back of bringewood?

It’s old hat now, but - Geocaching. As near or as far as you like. Some caches are not about finding a hidden container, but about being somewhere interesting or beautiful, or solving a puzzle.

Years ago, when hot air ballooning was more of a “thing” and you’d see one every calm day, I’d jump on my bike and chase one until it landed. Not always easy, what with rivers 'n stuff to get in the way. Good local knowledge helps in this regard.

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 9:26 pm

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 5:27 pm Where there's a will there's a way Dave. I'm not allowed to bring a bike into the house full stop. But I always keep forgetting and it stays in longer each time until we have a reset.

Brompton should be small enough to hideaway right. You just briefcase it down the road and then, BAM... You're off away into the wind.

We have my old Omega race bike on the living room wall..

You flippin 'Gangster'. My Independent Fabrication (just frame now) has to hang in the messy outhouse. Wife would kill me if I tried to hang on the living room wall

Al wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 9:50 pm

godivatrailrider wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 1:36 pm

boxelder wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 1:01 pm You near a decent rail network? Train our, ride back?

Yeah we have a station in Ludlow and we’re only one stop / short ride to Craven Arms and the start of the Heart of Wales line and all its interesting stops. I love doing this, having previously got trains to Leominster / Hereford / Church Stretton / Shrewsbury and ridden home. good suggestion. Would definitely be up for more of this. Maybe out to Welshpool / Newtown

Train to newtown, back to Ludlow via start of Kerry ridge, anchor, Offa's dyke, bucknell and into back of bringewood?

Yeah doable … I’ve Bikepacked the Kerry Ridgeway before, not overly brilliant on your own as there’s so many gates.
Bringewood is my stomping ground. Bucknell and Offas Dyke from Five Turnings is all good stuff
I can sort ‘routes’ out fine.
It’s the day to day “where can I go today” riding I’m trying to make more interesting rather than doing a 15 mile loop 3 times a week just to get my required 40 miles …

frogatthefarriers wrote: ↑Sat Dec 21, 2024 10:01 pm It’s old hat now, but - Geocaching. As near or as far as you like. Some caches are not about finding a hidden container, but about being somewhere interesting or beautiful, or solving a puzzle.

Years ago, when hot air ballooning was more of a “thing” and you’d see one every calm day, I’d jump on my bike and chase one until it landed. Not always easy, what with rivers 'n stuff to get in the way. Good local knowledge helps in this regard.

Good call I have done geocaching quite a bit ( 210 finds) really kept me interested when I was a contractor and working away from home I could certain look at firing that up again