Anyone going to try the Rapha Festive 500 this year?

[Solocle]

The only true festive 500 is this one
Full Fat Festive 500

[okgo]

Awful. Did a 300km Audax once and that was more than enough!

[Master Bean]

I'm going to do the Festive 50 again. I dare not say what it involves as I'll get banned from these parts.

[frisbee]

No, unless PM Bozo locks down the real world again and my family decide to obey the clown, again.

[Solocle]

okgo said:

Awful. Did a 300km Audax once and that was more than enough!

In 2019 I got through a 300k, then tried that one the next month. I got 300k in before bailing, go figure.

[lauda]

I’ve looked at the long range forecast for where I am and it actually looks pretty much perfect. Dry, 4-10 degrees and not particularly windy.

Of course when it comes to the actual time, it will be freezing rain and driving northerly winds.

Assuming the weather is ok, I’ll try and do it again by cycling to various family gatherings whilst the wife and kids go in the car.

[okgo]

Solocle said:

In 2019 I got through a 300k, then tried that one the next month. I got 300k in before bailing, go figure.

Indeed. I did heart of england one, and by the end I was using hand soap in pubs for chamois cream...

[mooseracer]

I'm in again.

As per usual I'll try and get 100+ miles in on xmas eve to get a decent start at it.

[ukbabz]

Sadly not for me, I'm away seeing family and also not riding due to surgery. I can do about mins on the turbo at the moment before it gets too uncomfortable.

Hoping to take the road bike out on new years day as a 'stretch' target to recovery.

[keith2.2]

I don’t have any hol left this year so no ‘one shot’ attempt again.

So I’ll be kicking it off with an mtb day, then trying to break the back of it without with rides before work (sadly the island I live on only really has one road so it’s going to be something of an out-and-back fest) - then take the TT bike to Disneyland and lap the car park again at the weekend to finish off.

That’s the plan, at least.

[lauda]

I'm going to have to do it now since I've just ordered the jersey.

[Dnlm]

keith2.2 said:

then take the TT bike to Disneyland and lap the car park again at the weekend to finish off.

That’s the plan, at least.

wow! tell me more about this car park...

Last year was the perfect opportunity for me (alone under lockdown) and grinding the cold miles out became more of a chore than pleasure, so gave up at 180 odd miles. probably never again

[keith2.2]

Dnlm said:

wow! tell me more about this car park...

Last year was the perfect opportunity for me (alone under lockdown) and grinding the cold miles out became more of a chore than pleasure, so gave up at 180 odd miles. probably never again

A foolhardy decision to smash it out on the TT bike overnight.





Off-season and unsupported so I hadn’t done any prep for it at all, so sub 16hrs was fine but is a way off my 12hr TT pace. I’d like to give it another go and shoot for sub 15, maybe even sub 14 but life gets in the way!

[lauda]

Well, the start is almost upon us. I'll be switching the pedals over from my summer bike to my winter one today and slapping the mudguards on. The weather forecast definitely isn't as favourable as the long-range one at the start of the month suggested, but it's not awful enough to put me off either.

Will try and crack 100km tomorrow to get things off to a decent start and give the new jersey an airing.



Good luck to everyone who is going to give it a go.

[mike80]

Good luck - I'd like to try it one year, but I don't think I've even ridden my bike since the end of October this year sadly.

Love reading the stories from people who have done it though! I might give that Full Fat route a go over a couple of days some time, as it conveniently passes right by my house!

[mooseracer]

161km today, half of it in rain
I'll try and get up early tomorrow and get some more in.

[lauda]

mooseracer said:

161km today, half of it in rain
I'll try and get up early tomorrow and get some more in.

Good effort. I managed 90km today and it felt like a real slog. I’m taking tomorrow off but will be back on it Boxing Day. Hopefully the hangover won’t be too bad.

Happy Christmas!

[PomBstard]

Haven’t planned to this year but currently 7.30 Christmas morning and I’ve taken my family for a jolly jaunt to the COVID test centre to get a PCR result so we can go to another part of the same country. We’ve been here an hour already.

If, as a result of the clownish running of this country, our trip to FNQ is canned, I shall be smashing some kms and 500 may not be enough…

To those that are already ahead, good luck!

[ALawson]

Not committing to it, but holiday to Lanzarote has been cancelled so will be riding daily on Zwift land.

[moonigan]

ALawson said:

Not committing to it, but holiday to Lanzarote has been cancelled so will be riding daily on Zwift land.

Did an hour with pace partners on both Watopia and Makuri in the 2.5wkg. Watopia is definitely the faster and easier of the two.