Anyone going to try the Rapha Festive 500 this year?
Discussion
All done for another year. I took the full eight days this year (normally I’ve worked it so that I get NYE off) and also only did three rides outside. But after nearly losing it on some ice on Christmas Day (it was only thanks for the fact there was already an ambulance there that slowed me down enough to slither past safely) I’m not making any apologies for that.
Well done to all this who’ve made it and good luck to anyone still pushing to get over the line.
Well done to all this who’ve made it and good luck to anyone still pushing to get over the line.
Funny username said:
The whole spirit of F500 is to go out when it’s absolutely w
k out, and ride. Suffer in the cold, wet and dark.
Maybe that’s what it means to you. Perhaps it means something different to other people. Like providing motivation to do some exercise at a time of year that we’re mainly sat around eating and drinking too much. k out, and ride. Suffer in the cold, wet and dark.It’s the end of a s
tty year when cycling, either indoors or outdoors, has provided a bit of respite for a lot of people. Completing the Festive 500 in whatever form is an achievement and I applaud all those who have done it, or even just given it a go. Anyone who wants to moan or b
h about it can start their own thread. This one is about celebrating, not denigrating, the achievements of others. Happy new year.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. I'll try and get up early tomorrow and get some more in.
Happy Christmas!
Another ride in absolutely filthy conditions today. Managed to break the nose off my saddle to which meant the remaining bit wasn’t properly attached so kept falling off, requiring me to stop and retrieve it from the gutter.
Then, to add insult to injury, I picked up a puncture so had to change the tube on a wet and filthy rear wheel.
Luckily a nearby bike shop was open so only had to do about ride about 10km on the dodgy saddle.
Total is up to 350km now with a planned 100km tomorrow and a 50km ride over to friends for NYE so I should have it in the bag. Can’t say I’ve enjoyed it much this year though and the ride on Friday will be horrible as I’ll be into a headwind the whole way and some of the route across the New Forest is pretty exposed.
I’ve been wet on every ride and completely soaked on two of them. So much for that long range forecast at the start of the month.
Then, to add insult to injury, I picked up a puncture so had to change the tube on a wet and filthy rear wheel.
Luckily a nearby bike shop was open so only had to do about ride about 10km on the dodgy saddle.
Total is up to 350km now with a planned 100km tomorrow and a 50km ride over to friends for NYE so I should have it in the bag. Can’t say I’ve enjoyed it much this year though and the ride on Friday will be horrible as I’ll be into a headwind the whole way and some of the route across the New Forest is pretty exposed.
I’ve been wet on every ride and completely soaked on two of them. So much for that long range forecast at the start of the month.
Done for another year. This is my fifth on the trot now. Might be time for a rest year in 2022. Anyway cheers and happy new year.
I weighed myself this morning and I’ve put on 3kg over Christmas. I burned over 13,000 calories doing the Festive 500 so even allowing for extra calories required from gels and drinks, I reckon I’ve halved what my weight gain would have been.
I weighed myself this morning and I’ve put on 3kg over Christmas. I burned over 13,000 calories doing the Festive 500 so even allowing for extra calories required from gels and drinks, I reckon I’ve halved what my weight gain would have been.
I’ve got about 90km to go which should be easily dispatched with a quick ride tomorrow and my normal Saturday morning cafe ride.
I’ve mixed up indoor and outdoor riding this year as it was practically difficult to do it all outdoors and the weather has been cack. As a result, it hasn’t felt anywhere near as hard as previous years but it has still provided some motivation to ride every day, which I probably wouldn’t have done otherwise.
Also ticked off my annual target of 8,000km today which I hadn’t even remembered that I’d set in Strava.
I’ve mixed up indoor and outdoor riding this year as it was practically difficult to do it all outdoors and the weather has been cack. As a result, it hasn’t felt anywhere near as hard as previous years but it has still provided some motivation to ride every day, which I probably wouldn’t have done otherwise.
Also ticked off my annual target of 8,000km today which I hadn’t even remembered that I’d set in Strava.
wobert said:
JayRidesBikes said:
wobert said:
The use of turbos for the F500 is an interesting one.
I have a friend who completed the challenge just on a trainer.
Whilst I would agree that sitting on a turbo for 25+ hours is mind-numbing to even think about, doing ‘miles’ on a turbo presents a different issue.
My friend regularly will average 20-21 mph on the turbo, but when out on the road will be closer to 14-14.5mph.
I suspect the turbo isn’t set up correctly, but allowing trainer use leaves the achievement open to question in such cases.
It doesn’t take a genius to realise the goal of doing a set distance at a higher ‘average speed’ kinda devalues the achievement.
I have another friend who did the same challenge entirely outside, and I know from his posted rides, his effort was nearer the true intention of the challenge.
95 miles in the cold and pissing rain sets a level that is entirely different imho.
Have you ever ridden on a decent turbo with Zwift racing or similar workouts? I have a friend who completed the challenge just on a trainer.
Whilst I would agree that sitting on a turbo for 25+ hours is mind-numbing to even think about, doing ‘miles’ on a turbo presents a different issue.
My friend regularly will average 20-21 mph on the turbo, but when out on the road will be closer to 14-14.5mph.
I suspect the turbo isn’t set up correctly, but allowing trainer use leaves the achievement open to question in such cases.
It doesn’t take a genius to realise the goal of doing a set distance at a higher ‘average speed’ kinda devalues the achievement.
I have another friend who did the same challenge entirely outside, and I know from his posted rides, his effort was nearer the true intention of the challenge.
95 miles in the cold and pissing rain sets a level that is entirely different imho.
Edited by wobert on Thursday 5th January 12:01
I've ridden the Festive 500 fully outside and predominantly indoors. It's much, much easier indoors.
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