Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: djrikki on 27 December, 2018, 09:09:05 am

Title: #Festive500
Post by: djrikki on 27 December, 2018, 09:09:05 am
Hello, couldn't find a thread devoted to the 2018 Rapha #Festive500 "event" so lets hear what you've been up today so far this Christmas period.

On Christmas Day I drove from Lincolnshire to Cornwall to start my holidays, Boxing Day I started day one of my effort to go 500km this Christmas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBC1IoGtm0
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 27 December, 2018, 09:16:27 am
I've been sucked in to it (again :facepalm:) - currently 273km in. Got to catch a train back home from spending Christmas with family today so will only have a short ride to the station, but back on it tomorrow. Fortunately I'm not back at work until the 3rd and don't have any particular plans, so will just carry on chipping away over the next few days (I'm not really into long rides at this time of year, especially on my own, so prefer to do it in small chunks!).
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: JonBuoy on 27 December, 2018, 09:20:41 am
Been away since 24th with family but managed to borrow a bike yesterday.

That's 5 down and only 495 to go  :-\
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: mattc on 27 December, 2018, 09:25:36 am
If you're anywhere near* Bicester, folks, the Rapha outlet shop/cafe is doing free drink+cake to F500 riders!


*I guess within 250k is close enough?


[I'm deffo out this year - dodgy knee brought on by wet/cold 300km ride in November  :facepalm: ]
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: psyclist on 27 December, 2018, 09:35:49 am
45km so far on Christmas Eve, taking it easy as I've been recovering from the lurgy. Aiming for something similar this afternoon and then a group perm 200km tomorrow ... Boudicca's Revenge starting from Great Dunmow in Essex. If anybody is in the vicinity or would like to meet up mid-ride, the details are at https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=110440.0 (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=110440.0)

After that I'll have 3 days to fit in another 200km.

In the first few years of the Festive 500 I aimed to do circa 70km each day, but in recent years I've found fewer but longer rides makes it more achievable, especially when needing to dodge weather. Thankfully this year the weather has been rather benign, at least in the south.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: Whitedown Man on 27 December, 2018, 09:42:12 am
Have ridden 50km on each of the four days so far. Have a 200km DIY scheduled for tomorrow, with the plan then being a rest day on day six and 50km on each of days seven and eight.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 27 December, 2018, 10:34:31 am
60km (Eve) + 100km (Xmas) to date but commuting today and tomorrow should get me comfortably past halfway. A couple of decent weekend rides and commuting on Monday would get me over the line.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: bhoot on 27 December, 2018, 02:39:38 pm
Timed it all wrong with a 300km on 23rd!  .... unless of course finishing at 01.30 on 24th means it counts  ;)
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: bairn again on 27 December, 2018, 03:08:38 pm
Never done this before but thought id give it  ago given that I need to get some miles in as part of my recovery from a knee injury

Matters are made more complicated by the fact that Im working (erm thats "working"   :P) the 24th, 27th, 28th and 31st and I have a long standing beer based commitment from 12 noon on Saturday 29th when Id otherwise have done a 200.  My commute to work is a paltry 4km shortest distance.

So far.....

24th.  Commute to work the long way, lunchtime spin [cut short due to puncture] & commute home the long way. Total 56.1km.  Some pics from a crisp Winter day....
https://twitter.com/graeme_wyllie/status/1077251005874651137?s=21

25th.  Intended getting maybe 20km in during the lull between end of present opening and Christmas dinner, but that never happened.  Total 0.0km

26th.  Morning ride on the flattest possible route.  Total 86.3km.

27th.  Commute to work the long way and a lunchtime spin.  Total so far 28.8km

So Im on 171km with the rest of today and 4 other days to go.   
   
Im toying with doing an overnight 200 Fri/Sat but equally could be overcome with CBA and end up doing less than 200km over the entire week!

Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: mattc on 27 December, 2018, 03:14:31 pm
Our very own Quixotic Geek tweeted that she was 7th woman to complete, worldwide. (that was on Boxing Day, so 3 days of riding)

 :thumbsup:

https://twitter.com/quixoticgeek/status/1078007437213515776
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: mattc on 27 December, 2018, 06:27:56 pm
... and a "Chapeau*" to Rapha for giving a traditional option to the Str**a refuseniks:

http://rapha.a.bigcontent.io/v1/static/Rapha%20F500%20BREVET%20CARD


*Not Chapeau (https://www.chapeau.cc), obviously ...
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: Peat on 27 December, 2018, 09:59:00 pm
I went to enter, but it said i had to join the Rapha Strava club.

*sigh* Alright then, just for xmas.

My mileage still hadn't logged, then i saw it insists that you make your rides visible to everyone.

*sigh* No thanks. I'll forgo the digital badge and do it anyway.

345km in. #notrapha
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: djrikki on 27 December, 2018, 10:51:31 pm
I'll be uploading today's ride to YouTube shortly... I think I may an unplanned day off tomorrow.  All these Cornish hills soon tire you out and after 225km in 2 days I think I need to rest my legs.

Edit: Here we go... the video is up!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyfhInxh8h0 - Day Two - Porthcurno to Truro and back
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 December, 2018, 12:45:48 am


Finished it yesterday. I was either the 7th or 8th woman to hit the magic 500. I did a 240km DIY Audax on 24th (left at 3am!). Xmas day I was trying a 180km DIY, but in the end my poor eating the day before left me doing the ride basically on empty. 14.5 hours to do 180km, my first DIY DNF/DNV. Then Yesterday I did a short ~20km to a train station, then skipped ahead a bit, before doing the final 57km. I ended up doing a bit of a dog leg and then a lap of the block to make the 57km needed to make the magic 500km.

It was a bit of a mixed bag, Xmas day was mostly type 3 fun, a little type 2, and the tiniest sprinkle of type 1. Xmas Eve was mostly type 1, and then boxing day was a slog, with added puncture, random unexpected off road, and rain.

500km in 3 days is still the most I've done in such a short time, even if It was pretty damn slow. Respect for anyone even trying this was harder than I expected.

J

Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: quixoticgeek on 28 December, 2018, 12:50:26 am
Our very own Quixotic Geek tweeted that she was 7th woman to complete, worldwide. (that was on Boxing Day, so 3 days of riding)

 :thumbsup:

https://twitter.com/quixoticgeek/status/1078007437213515776

Thanks! Hadn't spotted your post before adding mine. I forget there are people on here who follow me on twitter...

J
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: mattc on 28 December, 2018, 09:40:57 am

Thanks! Hadn't spotted your post before adding mine.
Don't worry - it's very unfashionable to actually read the topic you are replying to. We're all very busy!

I went to enter, but it said i had to join the Rapha Strava club.

 :facepalm:

;)
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: TigaSefi on 28 December, 2018, 12:10:27 pm
I am working 12 hours shifts on 5 of the 8 days we need to do it so not going to be done. Although I have done 90 miles of commuting already. However I am tired and have a massive dose of CBA'd.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: zigzag on 28 December, 2018, 02:06:20 pm
i've done it in two rides this year, my fifth consecutive festive500. i enjoy it as i wouldn't otherwise go out much during this time of the year, and i've had many happy moments/experiences to remember from these festive rides.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: grams on 28 December, 2018, 08:12:05 pm
Done.

I did most of the distance on a rather oddball three day tour of £29 Travelodges in Milton Keynes and Maidenhead (via Cambridge and Oxford) to avoid the daily slog out of London. I Marsh Gibbonned for first time, but was thoroughly Sustranned on the way there from MK.

The last two years I've either crashed on ice or felt constantly on the verge of doing so. This year I barely needed gloves. It's also going to be weird not spending New Year's Eve noodling for miles.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: morbihan on 28 December, 2018, 10:57:36 pm
Completed the event on day three, mainly by knocking out a big ride on day one (365 km)  I had half a plan to go 500+ with a 24 hour effort but made the flawed mistake of mixing it wth a fast group ride for a couple of hours, 5 hours after I started. I got suckered into being seduced by the increased av speed but was hanging off the back and having to make anaerobic efforts going up the inclines. I paid in triplicate by the afternoon and learnt a good lesson.  All was not lost though as I called it by 6 in the evening and was able to attend a boozy Christmas eve celebration with friends instead.
I've been keeping Mrs Morbihan company in the subsequent days as she drills out her own Festive 500 which is nice.
Best of luck to those of you finishing it off and I hope that the weather is kind.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: phantasmagoriana on 29 December, 2018, 12:34:42 pm
Finished it off this morning. :)
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: djrikki on 29 December, 2018, 08:01:04 pm
Not quite finished my festive 500 just yet; 200km ish to go

My day three is documented here on my YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwioZxx8rRI
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: Peat on 30 December, 2018, 02:04:44 pm
All done in a smidge over 19hrs (6 parts).

That's a good-ish challenge for this time of year.

Kudos to those who did it in 2 or less parts! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: Karla on 30 December, 2018, 02:25:24 pm
29.5 km to go tomorrow.  I'll cross the tropics in the morning but it's still single figure temperatures  :'(. I guess I'll have to keep the thermals and leave the Bermuda shirt in the panniers.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 30 December, 2018, 05:24:24 pm
Still 145km short. Perhaps I'll stretch the commute to work tomorrow a little bit and extend the return trip by quite a lot. Or I might have a lie in and a cup of tea instead...
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: JonB on 30 December, 2018, 10:00:56 pm
Completed yesterday,

Xmas eve - 65km loop, Bristol - Wotton Under Edge
Boxing Day - 125km loop, Bristol - Raglan - Monmouth - Bristol
27th Dec - 207km DIY audax, Bristol - Lambourn Downs
29th Dec - 109km loop, Bristol - Melksham

That's five of these completed and up to now, the biggest challenge has been the weather but this year has been about as good as it gets for winter cycling.  I still enjoy it and find it a good challenge, mixing it in with the family commitments and sometimes the challenges that the weather brings.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: djrikki on 31 December, 2018, 09:27:55 am
Finished my #festive500 yesterday with a 219km audax, the Chalke and Cheese perm with it's impressive climb up Cheddar Gorge. I use the word "impressive" quite loosely as it had gone 7 o'clock so it was pretty dark!  Video will follow tomorrow probably; back at work today... barely keep my eyes open  8)
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: bairn again on 31 December, 2018, 12:30:16 pm
I hit the buffers of apathy on Friday so my total following my short commute home from work later today will be just over 300km.

Interesting exercise, its reminded me that a ~15k ride is do-able at lunchtime weekdays, but without a ride of at least 200km its difficult for me to fit in as much as 500km over the 8 days when I only have Christmas Day and Boxing day as non work days in addition to weekends. 

However, Ive been reminded how much "just going for a bike ride" is very enjoyable, and its allowed me to test out different types of lights/clothing etc  :thumbsup: 

If I bend the roolz beyond breaking point to cover the period starting 7am on 22.12.18 I am over 500km!   :P :P)



   
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: Karla on 31 December, 2018, 12:49:34 pm
Finished.  I'm on 597 and am tempted to go out and do the extra 3 km, bit then this hotel room is warm and I have food.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 31 December, 2018, 11:48:37 pm
Did a stupid thing and completed the 500 with 148km today, mostly during my return from work. Lots of diddling about in suburban darkness near home to get the distance but also wandered past Heathrow T5. I don't think I'll bother doing that sort of thing again.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: JonBuoy on 01 January, 2019, 09:25:09 am
Veloviewer tile-chasing rides of 90, 160 and 140k on Thursday, Friday and Saturday broke the back of the challenge for me.  I did 60k on a MTB Orienteering event on Sunday and a 10k 'recovery ride' to pick up a takeaway in the evening.  This just left a 40k loop to finish it off yesterday.

As others have pointed out - the weather has been ridiculously good for the time of year and it was far easier than usual to get out of the door.  The tile-chasing also helped my motivation as it added purpose* to the rides and it didn't feel like just riding for the sake of it.



*Yes - I know!
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: zigzag on 01 January, 2019, 10:51:59 am
ended up with 750km this time, it was probably the easiest festive500 so far (in se england) due to favourable weather - not a drop of rain and temperatures were always positive. loving this little incentive to get outside more in winter.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190101/c08b7dff48a2207949c4a64e18683650.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190101/249c287c0bbb7a1204a051d0e83d119e.jpg)
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: parkysouthlondon on 01 January, 2019, 12:32:42 pm
My Rapha #Festive500 completed for the forth year in a row. Not a difficult as previous years due to the warm and dry weather.

Day 1 Looking for VeloViewer tiles around Guildford.
Day 4 Ride to Stan’s Shack.
Day 6 Hub Vélo gravel ride along the Thames (best ride)
Day 8 Long ride around club sportive course

Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: djrikki on 01 January, 2019, 11:38:08 pm
First time taking part in the Festive 500, and oh yeah, such favourable weather this year; thoroughly enjoyed every minute.  It was great to bundle it into a holiday away from home as well; so did lots of sight seeing and climbed some pretty gruelling climbs - especially in Cornwall!

DAY 1 /// Boxing Day - Cornwall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBC1IoGtm0
DAY 2 /// 27th - Cornwall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyfhInxh8h0&t=4s
DAY 3 /// 29th - Cornwall - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwioZxx8rRI&t=7s
DAY 4 /// 30th - Cheddar Gorge, Somerset - 200km Audax - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeZ1vZfgsWI
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: quixoticgeek on 02 January, 2019, 12:01:58 pm

For those of you who completed, how many of you are opting to get the physical badge? I've decided I want the badge to add to my collection, but will also be making a personal donation to World Bike Relief, so getting the best of both worlds.

What are others planning?

J
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 02 January, 2019, 12:11:38 pm
Same, I like collecting Boy Scout badges.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: aidan.f on 02 January, 2019, 11:16:29 pm
Has anyone tried the no-Strava claim option? I linked to FFF500 results but Rapha website won't accept it as valid.
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: quixoticgeek on 18 January, 2019, 10:46:48 pm

For those who have completed the festive 500 in previous years, how long does it normally take for Rapha to send out the badge?

Just wondering when I need to start checking my mailbox.

J
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: parkysouthlondon on 18 January, 2019, 10:49:26 pm
Sometime around mid February if my memory is correct  :-\
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: quixoticgeek on 24 February, 2019, 01:26:25 pm

For those who have completed the festive 500 in previous years, how long does it normally take for Rapha to send out the badge?

Just wondering when I need to start checking my mailbox.

Just got a note saying badge is on the way!

*bounce*

J
Title: Re: #Festive500
Post by: quixoticgeek on 20 March, 2019, 01:50:30 pm

And it's arrived!

They screwed up the address somehow, but it go here eventually.

yay!

J