Anyone going to try the Rapha Festive 500 this year?
Discussion
After much umming and ahing, I final signed up to this on Strava today. I think I might regret it and my wife will possibly file for divorce when she finds out but I’ve decided to give it a go.
Anyone else having a crack or done it before and have any decent tips? I normally only ride between 100-200km per week...
Anyone else having a crack or done it before and have any decent tips? I normally only ride between 100-200km per week...
lauda said:
After much umming and ahing, I final signed up to this on Strava today. I think I might regret it and my wife will possibly file for divorce when she finds out but I’ve decided to give it a go.
Anyone else having a crack or done it before and have any decent tips? I normally only ride between 100-200km per week...
My activity on Strava for this challenge last year...Anyone else having a crack or done it before and have any decent tips? I normally only ride between 100-200km per week...
https://www.strava.com/activities/810576099 - 24/12, MTB, 34 miles. (Riding with a mate for some of it, if he'd bailed out I would have too...)
https://www.strava.com/activities/811048042 - 25/12, road bike, 24 miles. (Before most of the family were up and about to miss me)
https://www.strava.com/activities/812024719 - 26/12, road bike, 24 miles. (Unexpected Boxing Day ride opportunity)
https://www.strava.com/activities/813111111 - 27/12, road bike, 49 miles. (Windsor Great Park, 1948 Olympic Road Race Lap, and back)
https://www.strava.com/activities/814172486 - 28/12, road bike, 60 miles. (Garmin froze, robbing me of 33 miles that I rode. I 'claimed' the missing miles for my own records, but they wouldn't count for the challenge. I'd have my work cut out now!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/814197720 - 28/12, road bike, 33 miles. (Manual Strava upload of those mising miles.)
https://www.strava.com/activities/815151368 - 29/12 - road bike, 70 miles. (Freezing fingers - make sure you're appropriately attired for any Festive 500 silliness!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/816027365 - 30/12 - MTB, 22 miles. (Four of us on MTBs and a pub stop half way. All work and no joy makes Jack a dull boy!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/817028796 - 31/12 - road bike, 42 miles. (Getting one in to finish things off. Back in time to celebrate my son's birthday and to crank up the internet to bag an entry for Battle On The Beach in the spring...)
As you can see it's no easy ask. You need to commit, and you need to ride most days. There were two "large" rides in there for me, a 70 and a 90+. I could have racked the miles up more efficiently by ditching the MTB rides but that'd mean ditching mates too, and I'm primarily cycling for fun not figures. Getting a few rides in on 'family' days would help too. Get up earlier than they do and be back by the time they're breakfasting and it'll be OK.
Mae sure you have...
* Good lights.
* Appropriate clothing.
* Well maintained bike.
* Extra gloves and warm boots or shoe covers.
* 'Top cover' if you need to call the team car (I didn't have this though, I'm the only driver at home).
Take food and fluids, tools, and plenty of spare tubes, a tyre 'boot', maybe even a spare tyre.
Keep your wits about you. You'll meet plenty of drivers who are distracted, out of practice, or half-cut at this time of year.
If it's icy, or particularly foggy, BIN IT OFF! It's a Strava digital badge and a small cloth patch. Neither are worth risking life and limb for.
There are notes in the 'description' section on most of my rides, and stuff in the comments too. I'm no professional, and won't try to 'coach' you through it, but click on a few of those and it'll give you an idea of what it feels like to take it on as a 47 year-old rank amateur who averaged about 115 miles per week across the whole year. The riding itself, while not particularly "easy" isn't the hardest part. The difficult bit is persuading people around you to give you the space and time to complete it, and it may mean riding early/late on "visiting days" to work those miles into your schedule.
The previous year I did fewer rides, but generally bigger mileage per ride... https://www.strava.com/activities/458364910 ...but there'll be no heroics like that one this year as my Garmin seems to run out of power between 7 and 8 hours into a ride these days. That one in the link was, at the time, the longest and furthest I'd ever ridden in one hit.
I'm not sure I can commit to the challenge this year. I signed up, but things at home aren't great right now so my wife may need me around more than I need a silly Rapha patch...
I hope that little lot may be of some use to you.
Good luck!
Edited by yellowjack on Saturday 16th December 16:46
okgo said:
I've done it a few times, not really sure why - best bet is to make sure you just ride most days vs having to do any big ones.
On the flipside I made last year surprisingly easy by riding 260k on christmas eve. Was a walk in a park after taking a couple of days off to recover. Bit grim doing a cold, dark to dark ride though.A lad in our club has done it for the last couple of years and i# doin* it again
Weather permitting I will join him for a couple of the rides, but I’m not planning on doing the 500
With club runs on 24th and 31st in the mix too it could sort of happen by accident I suppose, but I doubt it very much
Weather permitting I will join him for a couple of the rides, but I’m not planning on doing the 500
With club runs on 24th and 31st in the mix too it could sort of happen by accident I suppose, but I doubt it very much
Thanks for the tips gents.
I’m planning on riding seven of the eight days (maybe eight out of eight if I can manage to nip out for a quick one on Christmas Day after I’ve delivered and consumed lunch...) and plan to cycle to family visits whilst the wife and kids travel in the car so that I can minimise the time away from them.
Certainly no excuses on having the right kit - my Christmas present list was basically the Rapha winter range so I’ll have tights, jerseys and race capes coming out of my ears.
I’m planning on riding seven of the eight days (maybe eight out of eight if I can manage to nip out for a quick one on Christmas Day after I’ve delivered and consumed lunch...) and plan to cycle to family visits whilst the wife and kids travel in the car so that I can minimise the time away from them.
Certainly no excuses on having the right kit - my Christmas present list was basically the Rapha winter range so I’ll have tights, jerseys and race capes coming out of my ears.
No!
Did it 3 years ago and it made me miserable .... I can't just 'do' something, it has to be completed. Past 2 Xmas's I have ridden and generally enjoyed myself.
I reckon Xmas eve is the most important day .... smash a big number in and then you know come Boxing day, you're well on your way. Of course, the weather can play a huge part, hopefully all that are going for it get some milder weather for it.
Did it 3 years ago and it made me miserable .... I can't just 'do' something, it has to be completed. Past 2 Xmas's I have ridden and generally enjoyed myself. I reckon Xmas eve is the most important day .... smash a big number in and then you know come Boxing day, you're well on your way. Of course, the weather can play a huge part, hopefully all that are going for it get some milder weather for it.
yellowjack said:
My activity on Strava for this challenge last year...
https://www.strava.com/activities/810576099 - 24/12, MTB, 34 miles. (Riding with a mate for some of it, if he'd bailed out I would have too...)
https://www.strava.com/activities/811048042 - 25/12, road bike, 24 miles. (Before most of the family were up and about to miss me)
https://www.strava.com/activities/812024719 - 26/12, road bike, 24 miles. (Unexpected Boxing Day ride opportunity)
https://www.strava.com/activities/813111111 - 27/12, road bike, 49 miles. (Windsor Great Park, 1948 Olympic Road Race Lap, and back)
https://www.strava.com/activities/814172486 - 28/12, road bike, 60 miles. (Garmin froze, robbing me of 33 miles that I rode. I 'claimed' the missing miles for my own records, but they wouldn't count for the challenge. I'd have my work cut out now!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/814197720 - 28/12, road bike, 33 miles. (Manual Strava upload of those mising miles.)
https://www.strava.com/activities/815151368 - 29/12 - road bike, 70 miles. (Freezing fingers - make sure you're appropriately attired for any Festive 500 silliness!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/816027365 - 30/12 - MTB, 22 miles. (Four of us on MTBs and a pub stop half way. All work and no joy makes Jack a dull boy!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/817028796 - 31/12 - road bike, 42 miles. (Getting one in to finish things off. Back in time to celebrate my son's birthday and to crank up the internet to bag an entry for Battle On The Beach in the spring...)
As you can see it's no easy ask. You need to commit, and you need to ride most days. There were two "large" rides in there for me, a 70 and a 90+. I could have racked the miles up more efficiently by ditching the MTB rides but that'd mean ditching mates too, and I'm primarily cycling for fun not figures. Getting a few rides in on 'family' days would help too. Get up earlier than they do and be back by the time they're breakfasting and it'll be OK.
Mae sure you have...
* Good lights.
* Appropriate clothing.
* Well maintained bike.
* Extra gloves and warm boots or shoe covers.
* 'Top cover' if you need to call the team car (I didn't have this though, I'm the only driver at home).
Take food and fluids, tools, and plenty of spare tubes, a tyre 'boot', maybe even a spare tyre.
Keep your wits about you. You'll meet plenty of drivers who are distracted, out of practice, or half-cut at this time of year.
If it's icy, or particularly foggy, BIN IT OFF! It's a Strava digital badge and a small cloth patch. Neither are worth risking life and limb for.
There are notes in the 'description' section on most of my rides, and stuff in the comments too. I'm no professional, and won't try to 'coach' you through it, but click on a few of those and it'll give you an idea of what it feels like to take it on as a 47 year-old rank amateur who averaged about 115 miles per week across the whole year. The riding itself, while not particularly "easy" isn't the hardest part. The difficult bit is persuading people around you to give you the space and time to complete it, and it may mean riding early/late on "visiting days" to work those miles into your schedule.
The previous year I did fewer rides, but generally bigger mileage per ride... https://www.strava.com/activities/458364910 ...but there'll be no heroics like that one this year as my Garmin seems to run out of power between 7 and 8 hours into a ride these days. That one in the link was, at the time, the longest and furthest I'd ever ridden in one hit.
I'm not sure I can commit to the challenge this year. I signed up, but things at home aren't great right now so my wife may need me around more than I need a silly Rapha patch...
I hope that little lot may be of some use to you.
Good luck!
Christ. You could have ridden 500km in the time it took to type that.https://www.strava.com/activities/810576099 - 24/12, MTB, 34 miles. (Riding with a mate for some of it, if he'd bailed out I would have too...)
https://www.strava.com/activities/811048042 - 25/12, road bike, 24 miles. (Before most of the family were up and about to miss me)
https://www.strava.com/activities/812024719 - 26/12, road bike, 24 miles. (Unexpected Boxing Day ride opportunity)
https://www.strava.com/activities/813111111 - 27/12, road bike, 49 miles. (Windsor Great Park, 1948 Olympic Road Race Lap, and back)
https://www.strava.com/activities/814172486 - 28/12, road bike, 60 miles. (Garmin froze, robbing me of 33 miles that I rode. I 'claimed' the missing miles for my own records, but they wouldn't count for the challenge. I'd have my work cut out now!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/814197720 - 28/12, road bike, 33 miles. (Manual Strava upload of those mising miles.)
https://www.strava.com/activities/815151368 - 29/12 - road bike, 70 miles. (Freezing fingers - make sure you're appropriately attired for any Festive 500 silliness!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/816027365 - 30/12 - MTB, 22 miles. (Four of us on MTBs and a pub stop half way. All work and no joy makes Jack a dull boy!)
https://www.strava.com/activities/817028796 - 31/12 - road bike, 42 miles. (Getting one in to finish things off. Back in time to celebrate my son's birthday and to crank up the internet to bag an entry for Battle On The Beach in the spring...)
As you can see it's no easy ask. You need to commit, and you need to ride most days. There were two "large" rides in there for me, a 70 and a 90+. I could have racked the miles up more efficiently by ditching the MTB rides but that'd mean ditching mates too, and I'm primarily cycling for fun not figures. Getting a few rides in on 'family' days would help too. Get up earlier than they do and be back by the time they're breakfasting and it'll be OK.
Mae sure you have...
* Good lights.
* Appropriate clothing.
* Well maintained bike.
* Extra gloves and warm boots or shoe covers.
* 'Top cover' if you need to call the team car (I didn't have this though, I'm the only driver at home).
Take food and fluids, tools, and plenty of spare tubes, a tyre 'boot', maybe even a spare tyre.
Keep your wits about you. You'll meet plenty of drivers who are distracted, out of practice, or half-cut at this time of year.
If it's icy, or particularly foggy, BIN IT OFF! It's a Strava digital badge and a small cloth patch. Neither are worth risking life and limb for.
There are notes in the 'description' section on most of my rides, and stuff in the comments too. I'm no professional, and won't try to 'coach' you through it, but click on a few of those and it'll give you an idea of what it feels like to take it on as a 47 year-old rank amateur who averaged about 115 miles per week across the whole year. The riding itself, while not particularly "easy" isn't the hardest part. The difficult bit is persuading people around you to give you the space and time to complete it, and it may mean riding early/late on "visiting days" to work those miles into your schedule.
The previous year I did fewer rides, but generally bigger mileage per ride... https://www.strava.com/activities/458364910 ...but there'll be no heroics like that one this year as my Garmin seems to run out of power between 7 and 8 hours into a ride these days. That one in the link was, at the time, the longest and furthest I'd ever ridden in one hit.
I'm not sure I can commit to the challenge this year. I signed up, but things at home aren't great right now so my wife may need me around more than I need a silly Rapha patch...
I hope that little lot may be of some use to you.
Good luck!
Edited by yellowjack on Saturday 16th December 16:46
JEA1K said:
No! Did it 3 years ago and it made me miserable .... I can't just 'do' something, it has to be completed. Past 2 Xmas's I have ridden and generally enjoyed myself.
I reckon Xmas eve is the most important day .... smash a big number in and then you know come Boxing day, you're well on your way. Of course, the weather can play a huge part, hopefully all that are going for it get some milder weather for it.
Long range forecast currently says.... uh oh! Did it 3 years ago and it made me miserable .... I can't just 'do' something, it has to be completed. Past 2 Xmas's I have ridden and generally enjoyed myself. I reckon Xmas eve is the most important day .... smash a big number in and then you know come Boxing day, you're well on your way. Of course, the weather can play a huge part, hopefully all that are going for it get some milder weather for it.
Some storms coming through christmas day and boxing day!
Anyone planning to ride this and near a Rapha store?
If so, there's a 'collectible' route sheet (it's not -it's just a mileage list really
)...
...that you can pick up and "wear on your sleeve while you attempt to complete the challenge".
No real details, but it was posted on the Festive 500 Strava club page...
https://www.strava.com/clubs/221142/posts/893672
If so, there's a 'collectible' route sheet (it's not -it's just a mileage list really
)......that you can pick up and "wear on your sleeve while you attempt to complete the challenge".
No real details, but it was posted on the Festive 500 Strava club page...
https://www.strava.com/clubs/221142/posts/893672
Looking at the numbers on this one right now...
500 km or 311 miles
63 km or 39 miles per day needed to achieve the Festive 500 target.
My personal goal of 6,000 miles for the year now looks as though it will need 47 miles per day to complete.
I feel like I really ought to give this a crack, still. But I haven't got a road bike with winter tyres or mudguards that's serviceable right now, and not likely to have in time for the challenge either. I'm still very much "on the fence" as to whether to try at all this year, or just relax and ride when I can, putting the "challenge" element out of my mind this time around. The weather will probably have a big affect on me too. I can deal with the cold, and I'm happy(ish) to ride in the wind. But this constant drizzly black cloud, and it's associated permanently damp roads? It's probably my least favourite type of riding. The jury is out on my attempt at the moment, but for anyone else who's trying it, best of luck to you...
500 km or 311 miles
63 km or 39 miles per day needed to achieve the Festive 500 target.
My personal goal of 6,000 miles for the year now looks as though it will need 47 miles per day to complete.
I feel like I really ought to give this a crack, still. But I haven't got a road bike with winter tyres or mudguards that's serviceable right now, and not likely to have in time for the challenge either. I'm still very much "on the fence" as to whether to try at all this year, or just relax and ride when I can, putting the "challenge" element out of my mind this time around. The weather will probably have a big affect on me too. I can deal with the cold, and I'm happy(ish) to ride in the wind. But this constant drizzly black cloud, and it's associated permanently damp roads? It's probably my least favourite type of riding. The jury is out on my attempt at the moment, but for anyone else who's trying it, best of luck to you...
yellowjack said:
Looking at the numbers on this one right now...
500 km or 311 miles
63 km or 39 miles per day needed to achieve the Festive 500 target.
My personal goal of 6,000 miles for the year now looks as though it will need 47 miles per day to complete.
I feel like I really ought to give this a crack, still. But I haven't got a road bike with winter tyres or mudguards that's serviceable right now, and not likely to have in time for the challenge either. I'm still very much "on the fence" as to whether to try at all this year, or just relax and ride when I can, putting the "challenge" element out of my mind this time around. The weather will probably have a big affect on me too. I can deal with the cold, and I'm happy(ish) to ride in the wind. But this constant drizzly black cloud, and it's associated permanently damp roads? It's probably my least favourite type of riding. The jury is out on my attempt at the moment, but for anyone else who's trying it, best of luck to you...
Will missing out on the personal target you set for yourself matter enough to motivate you to get out?500 km or 311 miles
63 km or 39 miles per day needed to achieve the Festive 500 target.
My personal goal of 6,000 miles for the year now looks as though it will need 47 miles per day to complete.
I feel like I really ought to give this a crack, still. But I haven't got a road bike with winter tyres or mudguards that's serviceable right now, and not likely to have in time for the challenge either. I'm still very much "on the fence" as to whether to try at all this year, or just relax and ride when I can, putting the "challenge" element out of my mind this time around. The weather will probably have a big affect on me too. I can deal with the cold, and I'm happy(ish) to ride in the wind. But this constant drizzly black cloud, and it's associated permanently damp roads? It's probably my least favourite type of riding. The jury is out on my attempt at the moment, but for anyone else who's trying it, best of luck to you...
Fast forward in your mind to the end of 31 Dec and imagine how you would feel i) knowing you hit the 6,000 mile target and ii) knowing you didn't reach the goal
That might nudge you off the fence, on one side or the other
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