Anyone going to try the Rapha Festive 500 this year?
Discussion
z4RRSchris said:
i did 300km in one sitting on zwift and it was f
king mind numming. mentally very very hard. physically pretty easy.
I keep thinking I should have a go at an "all off road" Festive 500. That'd be hard work. I find myself working much harder on a MTB than on a road bike. But that's just me. MTBing requires all of your attention all of the time, whereas on a road bike I often "nod off" in terms of the amount of effort I'm putting in. Usually I'm only stirred from that "effort slumber" by some older dude on a full mudguard winter bike with panniers on it zooming past me up a barely noticeable incline. But there's no coasting on a MTB trail. The biggest drawback is that it'd take so damned long, and I'm not sure I could afford what it would cost in brake pads, chains, and cassettes... king mind numming. mentally very very hard. physically pretty easy. ...anyway, speaking of doing big numbers in one sitting on Zwift... https://www.strava.com/activities/4527933718
yellowjack said:
...anyway, speaking of doing big numbers in one sitting on Zwift... https://www.strava.com/activities/4527933718
This talk of online versus offline - have any of you got actual first hand experience?
Having ridden the 12hr Revolve event on FulGaz in November and then the Festive500 in 15hrs - I found the Revolve event much tougher.
The same when I have to do a 6-8hr session - I’d far rather be doing it outdoor from a mental and physical perspective.
But then what would I know, I did my Festive500 in sunshine with a 12mph Easterly with an average temp of 20 degrees so presumably it isn’t ‘in the spirit’ anyway..?
Having ridden the 12hr Revolve event on FulGaz in November and then the Festive500 in 15hrs - I found the Revolve event much tougher.
The same when I have to do a 6-8hr session - I’d far rather be doing it outdoor from a mental and physical perspective.
But then what would I know, I did my Festive500 in sunshine with a 12mph Easterly with an average temp of 20 degrees so presumably it isn’t ‘in the spirit’ anyway..?
keith2.2 said:
This talk of online versus offline - have any of you got actual first hand experience?
Having ridden the 12hr Revolve event on FulGaz in November and then the Festive500 in 15hrs - I found the Revolve event much tougher.
The same when I have to do a 6-8hr session - I’d far rather be doing it outdoor from a mental and physical perspective.
But then what would I know, I did my Festive500 in sunshine with a 12mph Easterly with an average temp of 20 degrees so presumably it isn’t ‘in the spirit’ anyway..?
Cheat Having ridden the 12hr Revolve event on FulGaz in November and then the Festive500 in 15hrs - I found the Revolve event much tougher.
The same when I have to do a 6-8hr session - I’d far rather be doing it outdoor from a mental and physical perspective.
But then what would I know, I did my Festive500 in sunshine with a 12mph Easterly with an average temp of 20 degrees so presumably it isn’t ‘in the spirit’ anyway..?
I'd agree though - give me the choice between 12 hours outside or on the turbo there is no way I'd be indoors. Like I said - for me - the challenge aspect is getting out there when by far the easier option would be to have another piece of cheese and not bother. I'd probably not complete it if I tried to do it indoors....so maybe next year that should be my challenge.
It doesn't really matter anyway and we risk getting okgo frothing at the mouth
Funny username said:
F500 on a turbo at any point doesn’t count.
Irrespective of Raphas decision this year.
Love the classic superior cyclist's arrogance. Overruling the concept creator and event organiser as to what constitutes acceptable. Some cyclists always think they know better..... Irrespective of Raphas decision this year.
Despite normally averaging over 500km/wk, I seldom do the F500 (only ever done it once, when in Chicago for the 'holidays').... I usually have too much else on/too much family/too much alcohol to do it.
I did manage it this year. Just over 200km outside, the rest curtailed due to the weather. Even with covid restrictions, being away from the family for the 15-16 daylight hours 500km would take (plus prep/cleaning/etc time) is a tall order over Christmas IMO.
Short blog post dissing the concept of mileage challenges https://road.cc/content/blog/own-goals-279813
I think it misses the point that for many tackling a challenge is a motivation, and the sense of well-being after is nice.
That said, I'm getting a bit irritated by the mass of weird and wacky 'challenges' that my Strava feed shows me people I follow have signed up for each week/month!
I think it misses the point that for many tackling a challenge is a motivation, and the sense of well-being after is nice.
That said, I'm getting a bit irritated by the mass of weird and wacky 'challenges' that my Strava feed shows me people I follow have signed up for each week/month!
It is unbelievable how many there are, surely once I've seen it once or twice Strava doesn't need to keep showing me it. And it's the same few people that enter anything and everything. I've unfollowed most of them just so I don't have to scroll 4 times to see someone actually having done a bikeride!
ThumperMc said:
Did it this year for funzies (wife was mainly working anyway).
I managed to get ahead early on so decided to do it proper... final ~200km on the single speed rigid, offroad. Mainly as the roads were getting a little slippy in places.
Good effort!I managed to get ahead early on so decided to do it proper... final ~200km on the single speed rigid, offroad. Mainly as the roads were getting a little slippy in places.
Everyone I know who did it, me included, didn't really do it for any other reason as a bit of a personal challenge (and a marital excuse/pass to get out). As soon as the snow came, it kiboshed the desire to do it outside, but then as the KMs ticked, encouraged those who don't normally do that kind of weekly distance to tag on an extra hour every now and again.
Ares said:
ThumperMc said:
Did it this year for funzies (wife was mainly working anyway).
I managed to get ahead early on so decided to do it proper... final ~200km on the single speed rigid, offroad. Mainly as the roads were getting a little slippy in places.
Good effort!I managed to get ahead early on so decided to do it proper... final ~200km on the single speed rigid, offroad. Mainly as the roads were getting a little slippy in places.
Everyone I know who did it, me included, didn't really do it for any other reason as a bit of a personal challenge (and a marital excuse/pass to get out). As soon as the snow came, it kiboshed the desire to do it outside, but then as the KMs ticked, encouraged those who don't normally do that kind of weekly distance to tag on an extra hour every now and again.
Ares said:
Love the classic superior cyclist's arrogance. Overruling the concept creator and event organiser as to what constitutes acceptable. Some cyclists always think they know better.....
Despite normally averaging over 500km/wk, I seldom do the F500 (only ever done it once, when in Chicago for the 'holidays').... I usually have too much else on/too much family/too much alcohol to do it.
I did manage it this year. Just over 200km outside, the rest curtailed due to the weather. Even with covid restrictions, being away from the family for the 15-16 daylight hours 500km would take (plus prep/cleaning/etc time) is a tall order over Christmas IMO.
I’m not sure if you’re in the UK or not, but we’re under mobility restrictions. Couldn’t really see family/friends so that’s not an issue this year. Despite normally averaging over 500km/wk, I seldom do the F500 (only ever done it once, when in Chicago for the 'holidays').... I usually have too much else on/too much family/too much alcohol to do it.
I did manage it this year. Just over 200km outside, the rest curtailed due to the weather. Even with covid restrictions, being away from the family for the 15-16 daylight hours 500km would take (plus prep/cleaning/etc time) is a tall order over Christmas IMO.
But 500km a week, good for you champ. You sound like a superior cyclist.
Funny username said:
Ares said:
Love the classic superior cyclist's arrogance. Overruling the concept creator and event organiser as to what constitutes acceptable. Some cyclists always think they know better.....
Despite normally averaging over 500km/wk, I seldom do the F500 (only ever done it once, when in Chicago for the 'holidays').... I usually have too much else on/too much family/too much alcohol to do it.
I did manage it this year. Just over 200km outside, the rest curtailed due to the weather. Even with covid restrictions, being away from the family for the 15-16 daylight hours 500km would take (plus prep/cleaning/etc time) is a tall order over Christmas IMO.
I’m not sure if you’re in the UK or not, but we’re under mobility restrictions. Couldn’t really see family/friends so that’s not an issue this year. Despite normally averaging over 500km/wk, I seldom do the F500 (only ever done it once, when in Chicago for the 'holidays').... I usually have too much else on/too much family/too much alcohol to do it.
I did manage it this year. Just over 200km outside, the rest curtailed due to the weather. Even with covid restrictions, being away from the family for the 15-16 daylight hours 500km would take (plus prep/cleaning/etc time) is a tall order over Christmas IMO.
But 500km a week, good for you champ. You sound like a superior cyclist.
And I'm an active cyclist, not a superior one. I also don't besmirch another cyclist for not riding 'properly'.
It’s that time of year again folks. Who’s in?
And please, can we leave the discussion around whether doing some or all of it on an indoor trainer is cheating at the door. It’s been done to death, we’re never all going to agree and fundamentally it doesn’t matter.
Indoors, outdoors, warm, wet or cold, it’s a great effort at a time of year when everyone else is sat in the warm stuffing their faces.
And please, can we leave the discussion around whether doing some or all of it on an indoor trainer is cheating at the door. It’s been done to death, we’re never all going to agree and fundamentally it doesn’t matter.
Indoors, outdoors, warm, wet or cold, it’s a great effort at a time of year when everyone else is sat in the warm stuffing their faces.
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