Post by: quixoticgeek on 13 December, 2020, 10:28:56 am
Anyone else planning to do the festive 500 this year? What are people's plans?
The last two years I tried to complete it within the first 3 days. But I'm going to have to work on the 24th, so won't have that option. The last couple of years I started about 3am on the 24th.
Am thinking a 50k after work on the 24th, a 200k on the 25th, 150k on the 26th, and then finishing off with what ever's left on the 27th.
For the 200k, I'll look at the wind, get a train to somewhere, then cycle back with a tailwind.
J
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 13 December, 2020, 10:40:42 am
Post by: Ivo on 13 December, 2020, 11:01:50 am
Post by: Chris S on 13 December, 2020, 12:25:37 pm
'Rona restrictions have meant we've pretty much cancelled any Christmas visits/visitors, so this year would be a good one for it, as the Festive 500 always seems a bit fucking antisocial wrt to Christmas visitors. It's OK if you're fast like my nephew, and can crack off 70km in a couple of hours over the Fens, but for the likes of me (especially now we're in amongst the hills and I'm fat as fuck) it's going to take ages.
We're hand wringing TBH.
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 13 December, 2020, 12:45:04 pm
Post by: Kim on 13 December, 2020, 12:51:22 pm
Post by: Geriatricdolan on 13 December, 2020, 02:53:05 pm
Anyway, I'll have a go... I have a 40 mile loop around Coventry which takes in roads which are not overly filthy... I can do it clockwise and anti on alternate days and should add up to 500 km in 8 days.
I might throw in a longer one if the weather is decent, so I can buy a day off...
But no roundel... :'( :'(
Post by: slugbait on 13 December, 2020, 04:22:01 pm
Post by: quixoticgeek on 13 December, 2020, 04:26:58 pm
Working at a university (mandatory holiday from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day!), the Festive 500 is usually a piece of cake. I might even make it a Festive 1000 this year since there is little else to do.
My big concern is that this year it's not possible to warm up in a cafe/bar every few hours. Means I'm going to have to be even more self sufficient than normal.
J
Post by: bairn again on 13 December, 2020, 04:30:45 pm
Christmas Eve is a half day for me so will aim to get maybe up to 100km in.
No riding planned 25th but might sneak a short ride in on the 26th as the rest of the house is unlikely to surface much before noon.
A 200 on the 27th, a recovery ride of 50km the day after and whatever daily distance is required 29-30-31 to reach 500. While they are all work days, a long lunch break or early finish is pretty much custom and practice.
While the 200 will be solo, im hoping that the majority of the rest will be on the tandem.
Post by: grams on 13 December, 2020, 04:34:20 pm
OTOH no plans to see family this year so I have most of the 8 days available, which I don't normally.
(* I think, it's only explicitly not allowed for "travel")
Post by: Paul H on 13 December, 2020, 04:49:05 pm
Not done any planning, I have a regular 100km Christmas morning ride which I'll do weather permitting. Not sure about an Audax this year, too many Covid complications, I'll probably keep it local. I have five afternoons deliveroo, which will probably get me close to the half way mark, I'm tempted not to count that. though then wouldn't be able to award myself a badge for completing at the slowest speed.
Post by: FifeingEejit on 13 December, 2020, 05:01:06 pm
It involved:
67km ride to visit my gran on Boxing Day
A 206km DIY from Fife to Fort William - Boring as feck up the A9 and across the A86, wind behind.
A failed 200km to Torridon from An Gearasdan that ended in a howling gale as my second attempt to escape Achnasheen in a Torridonish direction proved as stupid as trying to pushing into the wind on the Kinlochewe road.
174km followed by :shrug: back down to Loch Carron in the back of a van that had been to Contin to recce the strathpuffer route
and then 36km over to Torridon.
Leaving me with 17km to do which involved deciding not to bother with the idea of riding Applecross and sitting in the café which between there and the hostels is probably where I picked up the colds that floored me until April.
But anyway I rode up to Loch Claire and back to claim the 500.
70k a day in the garage for some logo on Strava? nah.
Post by: slugbait on 13 December, 2020, 06:10:22 pm
My big concern is that this year it's not possible to warm up in a cafe/bar every few hours. Means I'm going to have to be even more self sufficient than normal.
Last couple of weekends I've had take-away coffees to stay warm. It works well, especially at (bigger) train stations where you can get some shelter from the weather as you're drinking. My main worry is that the (Dutch) government will close all non-essential shops. In the worst case scenario, we can still do multiple local loops and warm up inside our own houses.
Post by: Lightning Phil on 13 December, 2020, 06:19:11 pm
Post by: De Sisti on 13 December, 2020, 07:13:31 pm
Post by: Ivo on 14 December, 2020, 12:20:57 am
My big concern is that this year it's not possible to warm up in a cafe/bar every few hours. Means I'm going to have to be even more self sufficient than normal.
Last couple of weekends I've had take-away coffees to stay warm. It works well, especially at (bigger) train stations where you can get some shelter from the weather as you're drinking. My main worry is that the (Dutch) government will close all non-essential shops. In the worst case scenario, we can still do multiple local loops and warm up inside our own houses.
To make multiple loops interesting I should cross borders.
What works good is taking a termos flask with you with hot tea/coffee. And use some busshelters or other forms of shelter for your breaks. I'd certainly carry a warm bodywarmer so you can actually sit down without freezing. And enough fluids for the whole ride
Take away food is still available nearly everywhere so this option still exists. I'll probably do one +200k ride where I'll plan to pass through the Eindhoven railwaystation to be sure of an open supermarket + hot food during about halfway.
But let's see what the new rules will be. Closing of non essential shops is nearly certain, at least for my province, otherwise it'll be way too crowded in all bordertowns with the masses of Belgians and Germans coming over for shopping.
Post by: Geriatricdolan on 14 December, 2020, 07:32:16 am
Post by: JonBuoy on 14 December, 2020, 07:38:02 am
Post by: L CC on 14 December, 2020, 08:47:13 am
This far north, that's all the daylight hours at a screen.
125km/ day seems OK, but once you factor in the patisserie I'll be cooking, a substantial quantity of damson vodka to consume and the local hills, it all looks a bit unlikely. Or dark. My eyes can't cope with that much night riding.
We'll see.
Also: No Roundel. I might have to make myself one.
Post by: L CC on 14 December, 2020, 08:58:57 am
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201214/c893c9c038d2785deb259594a1bfd258.jpg)
Post by: tatanab on 14 December, 2020, 09:08:42 am
No idea what it is.It is another "challenge", like the summer one that Cycling Weekly did. They include indoor cycling :facepalm: 500km 24-31 Dec. When I started riding, on the Christmas youth hostel tour we did that and much more. I know- rose tinted specs and changing times.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 14 December, 2020, 11:24:42 am
Ivo, Slugbait,
Looks like it's about to get a lot harder for us...
https://nos.nl/artikel/2360591-bijna-alles-dicht-harde-lockdown-tot-en-met-19-januari.html
To make multiple loops interesting I should cross borders.
What works good is taking a termos flask with you with hot tea/coffee. And use some busshelters or other forms of shelter for your breaks. I'd certainly carry a warm bodywarmer so you can actually sit down without freezing. And enough fluids for the whole ride
I carry my big fluffy jacket in a 5l dry bag on the front of the bike. Put that on when I stop. Keeps me from cooling down.
It's 40 miles a day... are you guys not overthinking it with bus shelters and thermos?
Yep, but if you miss a day, you have to spread that 62.5km over the remaining days. Less of an issue if you miss day 1. But if you miss day 7, you now need to do 125km on day 8. This is why I try to front load as much as I can. A 200k on the 24th of the 25th, means I then have 6-7 days to do the final 300, If I can get to >300k by the end of the 25th, than it's much more achievable.
In 2018 I was the 7th woman world wide to complete the festive 500. In 2019 I was the 91st woman world wide to complete.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DvXaCsiXcAEZFcR?format=jpg&name=4096x4096)
This was entirely unexpected, So many people take part, I'm not a fast rider or anything, but it seems by having no family commitments and putting in big distances on day 1 and 2, it helps a lot. For some it's just a challenge to complete the distance. For me it seems to now be a case of how fast I can complete the distance.
In 2018 I rode to Leipzig over 3 days. In 2019 I rode up the Rhine to Liechtenstein. My xmas day ride from Bonn to Mainz last year remains one of the most memorable rides I've ever done. Crossing the Rhine at the end of a long day with Hans Zimmer's 13 minutes to the moon them playing was amazing. Such a beautiful ride.
J
Post by: marlan on 14 December, 2020, 12:52:20 pm
No idea what it is.It’s the fault of Rapha
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/stories/festive-500
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Post by: Karla on 14 December, 2020, 12:56:18 pm
Post by: quixoticgeek on 14 December, 2020, 06:20:02 pm
Well after Rutte's latest mixtape, i guess that means a packed lunch and 5 laps of the Ringvaart for me then.
This will probably only make sense to a very small number of you...
J
Post by: Lightning Phil on 14 December, 2020, 06:24:38 pm
Well after Rutte's latest mixtape, i guess that means a packed lunch and 5 laps of the Ringvaart for me then.
This will probably only make sense to a very small number of you...
J
You’re going into lockdown and you need to stay local?
Post by: quixoticgeek on 14 December, 2020, 06:51:24 pm
You’re going into lockdown and you need to stay local?
Yup, strictest lockdown so far.
J
Post by: morbihan on 14 December, 2020, 07:21:55 pm
I did have the germ of an idea to try it in a oner, but Im struggling to get more than 23.5 kph out of my new endurance rig. (or my older legs)
We have just had a night time curfew introduced until the 22nd though. Im hoping that they extend it through Christmas so that a big ride is off the table.
The winter Weather is usually pretty agreeable in these parts, but the 20 square miles to work with is mind numbing.
Post by: slugbait on 14 December, 2020, 07:26:12 pm
You’re going into lockdown and you need to stay local?
Yup, strictest lockdown so far.
J
How is this lockdown stricter? (Disclaimer: I don't visit a lot of shops, apart from the supermarket.) We can still cycle, without doing boring loops of the Ringvaart. Staying local is a very subjective thing ;-)
Post by: quixoticgeek on 14 December, 2020, 07:46:34 pm
How is this lockdown stricter? (Disclaimer: I don't visit a lot of shops, apart from the supermarket.) We can still cycle, without doing boring loops of the Ringvaart. Staying local is a very subjective thing ;-)
Main thing is that we can't can't do trains any more. Essential travel only. Taking a train to then ride home probably doesn't count.
The "I can't cycle home as I'm exhausted", might count as essential...
J
Post by: Chris S on 14 December, 2020, 07:49:54 pm
We at least have the option of Tandem Assist to get us upwind for the easier return, but this worked much better when we lived in a region with many fewer contours.
Post by: Ivo on 14 December, 2020, 10:28:04 pm
How is this lockdown stricter? (Disclaimer: I don't visit a lot of shops, apart from the supermarket.) We can still cycle, without doing boring loops of the Ringvaart. Staying local is a very subjective thing ;-)
Main thing is that we can't can't do trains any more. Essential travel only. Taking a train to then ride home probably doesn't count.
The "I can't cycle home as I'm exhausted", might count as essential...
J
This time bikes aren't excluded from trains. Last time the NS was criticised by parliament for even banning bikes of essential workers.
Rutte explicitely said that solo cycling is permitted and even encouraged.
No word of cross border cycling
I've done my main loop for the 25th passing near a main railway station just after the 200k mark. It's then still 50k to home. If all goes well I'll cycle that. If there are issues, I can bail out. Bailing out in case of bad weather, I think you'd get away with it. Just to start somewhere to take into account the prevailing winds, not really.
Post by: Chris S on 23 December, 2020, 09:06:56 pm
Post by: Pedal Castro on 23 December, 2020, 09:17:26 pm
The "Train Assist" is an essential part of any Festive 500 arsenal, and will be sorely missed if not allowed.
We at least have the option of Tandem Assist to get us upwind for the easier return, but this worked much better when we lived in a region with many fewer contours.
Train assist for Festive 500? That's a new one on me.
I'm not doing this year as there's no badge, it was bad enough when the roundel wasn't round! ;)
Post by: Ivo on 23 December, 2020, 09:34:14 pm
The "Train Assist" is an essential part of any Festive 500 arsenal, and will be sorely missed if not allowed.
We at least have the option of Tandem Assist to get us upwind for the easier return, but this worked much better when we lived in a region with many fewer contours.
Train assist for Festive 500? That's a new one on me.
I'm not doing this year as there's no badge, it was bad enough when the roundel wasn't round! ;)
Train assist in the sense of taking the train out into the wind and cycling a long stretch with a tailwind.
Post by: Chris S on 23 December, 2020, 09:37:00 pm
The "Train Assist" is an essential part of any Festive 500 arsenal, and will be sorely missed if not allowed.
We at least have the option of Tandem Assist to get us upwind for the easier return, but this worked much better when we lived in a region with many fewer contours.
Train assist for Festive 500? That's a new one on me.
I'm not doing this year as there's no badge, it was bad enough when the roundel wasn't round! ;)
Train assist in the sense of taking the train out into the wind and cycling a long stretch with a tailwind.
Yes, this. Sorry - "Train assist" became something of a technical term here; I guess out of context it could sound odd.
Post by: slugbait on 23 December, 2020, 09:49:52 pm
Yes, this. Sorry - "Train assist" became something of a technical term here; I guess out of context it could sound odd.
Oh, it's a thing, especially in the Netherlands (where Ivo, Quixoticgeek and me live). If it works out, it's glorious. Last year I averaged 33km/h on 180km ride, courtesy of a gale force tailwind.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 23 December, 2020, 09:57:19 pm
Yes, this. Sorry - "Train assist" became something of a technical term here; I guess out of context it could sound odd.
Oh, it's a thing, especially in the Netherlands (where Ivo, Quixoticgeek and me live). If it works out, it's glorious. Last year I averaged 33km/h on 180km ride, courtesy of a gale force tailwind.
Aye, that it is. I did Groningen to Amsterdam in under 8 hours moving due to a stonking tail wind. It was heavenly.
J
Post by: JonBuoy on 23 December, 2020, 10:44:27 pm
Post by: Chris S on 23 December, 2020, 10:49:38 pm
I know it as a Dirty Downwind Dash.
:thumbsup:
Post by: Pedal Castro on 24 December, 2020, 08:22:22 am
The "Train Assist" is an essential part of any Festive 500 arsenal, and will be sorely missed if not allowed.
We at least have the option of Tandem Assist to get us upwind for the easier return, but this worked much better when we lived in a region with many fewer contours.
Train assist for Festive 500? That's a new one on me.
I'm not doing this year as there's no badge, it was bad enough when the roundel wasn't round! ;)
Train assist in the sense of taking the train out into the wind and cycling a long stretch with a tailwind.
Yes, this. Sorry - "Train assist" became something of a technical term here; I guess out of context it could sound odd.
Oh, I know what train assist implies, I just was surprised it was used for the Festive 500. ;)
Post by: Chris S on 24 December, 2020, 05:41:35 pm
Tomorrow: Might do a Zwift ride before the festivities begin.
Boxing Day: Storm Bella - definitely an indoor riding day
Sunday: Might get to add some outdoor kms.
Monday onwards: Increasing risk of wintriness outside.
Post by: Zed43 on 24 December, 2020, 08:18:38 pm
Oh, it's a thing, especially in the Netherlands (where Ivo, Quixoticgeek and me live). If it works out, it's glorious. Last year I averaged 33km/h on 180km ride, courtesy of a gale force tailwind.Grab you chance this Sunday: gale force from the SSW. Regarding trains, my experience in the past months is that the first train out on Saturday or Sunday has very very few people in it. Breaks the letter of "essential travel only" of course, up to you if it's within the spirit :)
Clocked 216km today ;D It would be my first festive if I complete the 500
Post by: quixoticgeek on 24 December, 2020, 09:13:26 pm
Did 100km today. Forgot overshoes, and got very very very very cold feet. Slowly defrosting now.
Seems this year there's no league table on the challenge :(
J
Post by: L CC on 24 December, 2020, 11:39:50 pm
Indoor feels like cheating.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201224/af65c04150029a9fafa0d201fe9e4e2d.jpg)
Post by: Deano on 24 December, 2020, 11:47:47 pm
As ever, it'll depend on weather and mood, but I'm not working, and since tomorrow will be an ice rink, I had a quick spin round on the Surly with 3" tyres and I'll hopefully have some fun on the icy tracks in the morning.
Post by: Chris S on 24 December, 2020, 11:51:03 pm
It's like they know folks will be doing it indoors, so it doesn't really count.
Indoors, you still do the watts, but you don't do the bone numbing cold, the visit to the fracture clinic when you come off on ice (seriously, our road was properly sparkly with ice at 4pm. If we'd chosen to ride a 200 to "get some headway" into the event, we'd likely have come a cropper), and the interminable hours in darkness among drunk idiots in cars.
I won't take any personal kudos for riding 500km indoors over Christmas, other than - it's further than I've ridden a bike (indoors or out), in even any month this year.
Post by: slugbait on 24 December, 2020, 11:54:41 pm
Oh, it's a thing, especially in the Netherlands (where Ivo, Quixoticgeek and me live). If it works out, it's glorious. Last year I averaged 33km/h on 180km ride, courtesy of a gale force tailwind.Grab you chance this Sunday: gale force from the SSW. Regarding trains, my experience in the past months is that the first train out on Saturday or Sunday has very very few people in it. Breaks the letter of "essential travel only" of course, up to you if it's within the spirit :)
Clocked 216km today ;D It would be my first festive if I complete the 500
Today I cycled to my parents with a nice tailwind (only 115km, unfortunately). Tomorrow I'll have to pay for it: looks like a headwind, maybe some hail and sleet as well. Day after boxing day looks horrible, even if I take train south.
Post by: morbihan on 25 December, 2020, 02:33:41 am
We have curfew from 11pm to 5am over here so thats pretty much all I can manage at the sedate 23.5 kph that the loaded bike trucks along at.
Weather was fairly agreeable. Long sleeves, a few spots of rain here and there. A bugger of a sea breeze after dusk though . 25+ knots on the nose was a bit of a ball breaker.
Family ride and gentle miles tomorrow so no plans to wrap it up.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 25 December, 2020, 09:14:10 am
Had planned to be on the road at 0800. But had a lot of issues getting out of bed. Hit snooze for far too long. Now cooking bacon. I'm thinking today's 180km may be a tad optimistic. Am suffering from a major motivational failure.
Checking Windy, it looks like Sunday afternoon and evening will be ok, but Sunday morning is going to be proper bouncy.
Have realised that I'm at 3572km for the year, would like to get that to 4000km by the end of the year.
Let's see how I feel once I get out on the bike...
J
Post by: zigzag on 25 December, 2020, 09:26:20 am
festive 500 completed!
Post by: JonBuoy on 25 December, 2020, 09:28:46 am
I know it is indoors so 'it doesn't really count' but this guy has set himself a pretty ambitious Festive500-related target in the name of charity: http://rob-gardiner.com/festive4000/
Post by: quixoticgeek on 25 December, 2020, 10:03:27 am
rode 482 laps around the regents park inner circle yesterday, all went well, with only wet/cold feet being minor(?) inconvenience (it rained for the first four hours). it felt like -3'c with bitter northerly wind, i was layered like an onion and i still got cold on the final third when the energy has run out and cafes have closed.
festive 500 completed!
That's impressive! Nicely done!
J
Post by: zigzag on 25 December, 2020, 02:33:44 pm
for those doing the festive500 - keep at it. it's worth it in the end (some good memories from the seven i've finished so far)!
Post by: Jurek on 25 December, 2020, 02:46:28 pm
rode 482 laps around the regents park inner circle yesterday, all went well, with only wet/cold feet being minor(?) inconvenience (it rained for the first four hours). it felt like -3'c with bitter northerly wind, i was layered like an onion and i still got cold on the final third when the energy has run out and cafes have closed.I'm impressed.
festive 500 completed!
Nice one Rimas.
Post by: morbihan on 25 December, 2020, 05:01:46 pm
Post by: L CC on 26 December, 2020, 12:51:05 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201227/62e07ad4c89d59abf917bb4aca4cebc6.jpg)
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 December, 2020, 01:26:19 pm
I've got 300k down, but I'm struggling with the motivation. I have work the next 3 days, so this was my final chance to make a dent. I just don't fancy going out in the cold.
Also means I'm going to miss the 4000km target for the year. Ah well.
J
Post by: L CC on 28 December, 2020, 01:45:40 pm
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20201228/4894c29f654f767aeaf1785edb0d5637.jpg)
Post by: Geriatricdolan on 28 December, 2020, 02:21:08 pm
Never mind, no roundel and even the virtual badge looks shite... the worst logo I have ever seen... don't know what they are thinking
Post by: fimm on 28 December, 2020, 10:29:04 pm
Post by: Geriatricdolan on 29 December, 2020, 03:55:03 pm
Post by: Paul H on 29 December, 2020, 05:09:21 pm
Still, I've had five nice rides, I could tell myself I'd have done them anyway, but I probably wouldn't, at least not all of them. So, I'll probably sign up again next year.
Congrats to those who succeeded.
Post by: fimm on 29 December, 2020, 08:02:04 pm
Going to be back out the East Lothian coast road again too as that's the most ice-free option.
Post by: Chris S on 29 December, 2020, 08:53:05 pm
Post by: Deano on 29 December, 2020, 10:12:29 pm
Post by: Feanor on 30 December, 2020, 02:45:32 pm
Fit the First - 163k (https://www.strava.com/activities/4520714052)
Fit the Second - 113k (https://www.strava.com/activities/4529736163)
Fit the Third - 163k (https://www.strava.com/activities/4535017718)
Fit the Fourth - 64k (https://www.strava.com/activities/4539178695)
All straight out-and-back on the main A93 North Deeside Road, to avoid ice.
Although the repetition is a bit tedious, it's a bit of a first-world problem having the likes of Deeside right out of your front door.
Post by: vorsprung on 30 December, 2020, 08:19:39 pm
No idea what it is.
every year I decide I can't be arsed
Post by: fuaran on 30 December, 2020, 08:35:33 pm
You could sign up for the Festive Fuck All instead. And you actually get a badge. https://www.pvsevents.com/festivefuckallNo idea what it is.
every year I decide I can't be arsed
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 30 December, 2020, 10:44:07 pm
You could sign up for the Festive Fuck All instead. And you actually get a badge. https://www.pvsevents.com/festivefuckallNo idea what it is.
every year I decide I can't be arsed
I love it! And have managed to complete it! :thumbsup:
Post by: Kim on 30 December, 2020, 10:51:36 pm
You could sign up for the Festive Fuck All instead. And you actually get a badge. https://www.pvsevents.com/festivefuckallNo idea what it is.
every year I decide I can't be arsed
I love it! And have managed to complete it! :thumbsup:
I particularly like the bit about
Post by: grams on 31 December, 2020, 12:58:55 pm
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324436852746?ul_noapp=true
(I have a saved search because mine got lost in the post)
Post by: FifeingEejit on 31 December, 2020, 01:16:01 pm
You could sign up for the Festive Fuck All instead. And you actually get a badge. https://www.pvsevents.com/festivefuckallNo idea what it is.
every year I decide I can't be arsed
I love it! And have managed to complete it! :thumbsup:
I also appear to have done fuck all since christmas eve.
Wasn't even intentional.
Post by: Geriatricdolan on 31 December, 2020, 03:29:02 pm
4 cycling hours away from completing the real thing... but I can't see where I was to find those ice-free 4 hours...
Sure, some would have gone up and down the same stretch of gritted road to clock the miles, but that's really dull, makes a turbo trainer sounds exciting.
Post by: markcjagar on 31 December, 2020, 06:07:27 pm
Post by: farfetched on 31 December, 2020, 06:55:58 pm
(at least not where I am)
I actually found it tough going, no places open to get a bite or a coffee. So I ended up doing local loops of 30 to 40km and stopping
at home occassionally. Was out every day but never went further than 105km - I prefer Audax to be honest, I think next year I will
enter the "festivefuckall" - hopefully by that time we will have returned to normal and I wont be able (allowed) to waste my time 8 days on the trot. ::-)
Post by: Chris S on 31 December, 2020, 07:37:35 pm
It's a massively intrusive challenge; at a time of year that's supposed to be all about family time. Obviously, it's fine for many folks for whom "family" has different interpretations and that's fine by me.
I was kind of hoping to get at least one or two rides outside, but conditions/energy/inclination never coincided.
FWIW (not much, to be fair) my HRV app, and TrainingPeaks are both having a fit because I've gone from 0km per week to 250ish; apparently a "Form" of -85 is a bad thing.
Post by: Lightning Phil on 31 December, 2020, 08:04:09 pm
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 31 December, 2020, 08:13:06 pm
Post by: bairn again on 31 December, 2020, 08:56:21 pm
I’ll have a go at it.
Christmas Eve is a half day for me so will aim to get maybe up to 100km in.
No riding planned 25th but might sneak a short ride in on the 26th as the rest of the house is unlikely to surface much before noon.
A 200 on the 27th, a recovery ride of 50km the day after and whatever daily distance is required 29-30-31 to reach 500. While they are all work days, a long lunch break or early finish is pretty much custom and practice.
While the 200 will be solo, im hoping that the majority of the rest will be on the tandem.
I managed 85km on Christmas Eve.
Every other day since has featured gale force winds, sub zero daytime temperatures or both. The latter means ice for sure on most cycle paths and likely on all but the horrid A roads too.
Another time maybe. Probably not though.
Post by: Feanor on 31 December, 2020, 09:11:31 pm
I’ll have a go at it.
Christmas Eve is a half day for me so will aim to get maybe up to 100km in.
No riding planned 25th but might sneak a short ride in on the 26th as the rest of the house is unlikely to surface much before noon.
A 200 on the 27th, a recovery ride of 50km the day after and whatever daily distance is required 29-30-31 to reach 500. While they are all work days, a long lunch break or early finish is pretty much custom and practice.
While the 200 will be solo, im hoping that the majority of the rest will be on the tandem.
I managed 85km on Christmas Eve.
Every other day since has featured gale force winds, sub zero daytime temperatures or both. The latter means ice for sure on most cycle paths and likely on all but the horrid A roads too.
Another time maybe. Probably not though.
Yes, it was consistently sub-zero here too.
And yes, that meant that only A-roads would work for me, and that meant repeated out-and-backs on the same A-road.
It doesn't need to dominate the festive period: it can be done comfortably as 2 full 160k days, and 2 shorter half-days.
But it's not been totally horrid ( other than the silly traffic ).
Familiarity breeds a certain disinterest, a disregard of your local roads and landscape that many other people would find interesting.
I guess that in these strange times, I'm trying to rediscover the fantastic landscape I have at my disposal, right from my doorstep.
Not just for cycling, but for running, hiking, paddling, mountaineering, climbing and skiing amongst other things.
Post by: slugbait on 31 December, 2020, 09:38:08 pm
What I did notice: the abscence of a leaderboard made me ride less. Last year I was really pushing hard to get into the top 10 within the Netherlands. Now I rode when I felt like it.
Post by: fimm on 01 January, 2021, 11:52:58 am
Well mr fimm decided he fancied having a go so I joined in. Nearly gave up before I even got going by managing to loose 15km or so by running my garmin on indoor cycling mode. However have stuck at it - after a couple of 60km-ish days did 100km yesterday (lovely if cold) and today (colder and frostier) leaving me with 177km to go - just under 60km a day. They've suddenly posted a forecast for overnight snow...Finished.
After the two 100km days I did a 75km along the East Lothian coast road which I'd ridden the day before for 100km. I got a puncture at the halfway point but got it sorted and got home fine. There was snow in Edinburgh but none in East Lothian.
The following day was icier and I planned some kind of stupid inside the Edinburgh bypass ride. However after 6km my front tyre went flat again, so I walked the bike home and went out on my moutainbike instead. I did a bit of road bashing for distance and then had a lovely ride up into the Pentlands - a mixture of easy off road and some quiet tarmac that I wouldn't have touched with a bargepole if I'd been on the road bike. I did 50km on the MTB and had a much nicer time than I would have had just bashing up and down the main roads of Edinburgh. It was lovely and sunny and snowy up in the Pentlands.
That left me with 42km to do on the 31st so after bashing out another 15km on tarmac I joined up with mr fimm (who had less to do than me) and we did a mountainbike ride together to finish it off. The weather was less good and we were quite cold and damp when we got home.
I'm glad I did it, as it was a good adventure. I'm also glad to have finished, and don't see myself trying again in a hurry. We were pretty fortunate with the weather here.
Those saying it interferes with Christmas - that's the main reason I've never even thought about trying it before, as we normally spend Christmas with one of our families, and that's why we could do it this year, as we were not spending much time with our families!
Post by: Geriatricdolan on 01 January, 2021, 02:26:39 pm