Rapha Festive 500 2015

[parkysouthlondon]

I have just finished the Festive 500 which is a challenge bases on riding 500km between Christmas eve and New Year's Eve.
Looking at the number of riders via the strava website I was surprised by the how few AUK riders do it.
Total UK riders that completed the Festive 500 = 1780
Total AUK riders that completed the Festive 500 = 67

I think there must be lots of people out there who like riding their bikes.

[jamesld8]

Well done  ,Yes must be a lot of potential AUK material out there in UK with that number completing

 I entered and DNF ie got to just 320km, two days off midway through and some awful weather finished it for me.

[hillbilly]

I started doing it, but travel meant I lost two days that my having to work couldn't recover. 

Good challenge though, one I hope to manage in the future.

[TigaSefi]

The only way to do it was to take time off work to do it after Christmas midweek. My holidays are valuable so rather save them for proper nice weeks. Next Christmas I'll be in the Canary Islands so will do it then!!

[Delph Cyclist]

I was surprised by the how few AUK riders do it.

I'm not.  Speaking personally I enjoy taking a break from my bike during the sort of weather we've had recently.  I also don't "do" strava.  I wonder how many other AUKs don't either.  When I am out there collecting 200km rides and more, recording all the bits and pieces rides just doesn't interest me.

[hillbilly]

Strava is your friend. Join us.

[Martin]

Is that 67 AUK's last year or ever? I did it in 2013 (all GdS too culminating in a 200 on New Year's Eve) it requires you to not have much else planned that week (including work)

[L CC]

I did it this year, failed last year, we both did it in 2013. I think I've had a go every year tbh. Working in manufacturing means I pretty much always have to have the time off. I agree with TigaSefi that I'd rather take the holiday when the weather's nicer, but sadly I don't get that choice.
The weather was pretty benign this year - wet and windy but only one frosty morning (the 25th) here in Northumberland.

[HK]

Number five in the bag for me.

[adam w]

Absolutely! this year Audax Club Bristol completed a DIY 500 to complete it in one go! check it out
https://www.strava.com/activities/459370871

[The Seldom Killer]

Was tempted this year but ended up bailing due to a cold and not wanting to make myself worse in the bad weather. Maybe next year?

How do you know how many AUKs did it? There doesn't seem to be a way to indicate membership on my Strava profile.

[parkysouthlondon]

Absolutely! this year Audax Club Bristol completed a DIY 500 to complete it in one go! check it out
https://www.strava.com/activities/459370871

That one way of doing the #Festive 500
Here's another way.  https://www.strava.com/activities/459917083

[parkysouthlondon]

How do you know how many AUKs did it? There doesn't seem to be a way to indicate membership on my Strava profile.

I just filtered the AUK strava club members to get the number who completed this years challenge and compared that to all the riders from the UK. It's not a perfect analysis but I am amazed that there are so many more non AUK completing.
This challenge is really only possible if you have the week off work between Christmas and the New Year, which I do being in the construction industry.

[jamesld8]

Absolutely! this year Audax Club Bristol completed a DIY 500 to complete it in one go! check it out
https://www.strava.com/activities/459370871

That one way of doing the #Festive 500
Here's another way.  https://www.strava.com/activities/459917083

amazing !

also noted one rider from Indonesia did a 520km ride with 10 000m ascent , just over 24 hr IIRC 

[eck]

I don't do Stravaaah (or Rapha), but I had a go just to see what all the fuss was about.
Rough distances:
Thu 24: 26k
Fri 25: 105k
Sat 26: 0k
Sun 27: 130k
Mon 28: 107k
Tue 29: 64k
Wed 30: 0k
Thu 31: 76k

I just meandered about a bit: http://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4216913.html

[L CC]

You don't have to do strava to claim.
http://pages.rapha.cc/festive-500-2015

[marcusjb]

First time I have been in the country for Christmas for years, only second time I have spent Christmas with a bike near me in years (though even on our tandem tour last year, we spent most of the festive 500 period on an island in the middle of the sea snorkelling with the bike hundreds of miles away locked up back on shore!).

I managed a very festive 350.

I actually managed to clock up a lot of mileage working for my wife's new business over Christmas. And then I was able to get some time out on the bike to myself. But still fell short.

One day I will manage it, but it will probably be somewhere warm where I am on tour with Cass and can share doing it. Otherwise it is sadly a little selfish for me to go off and do on my own.

[jamesld8]

You don't have to do strava to claim.
http://pages.rapha.cc/festive-500-2015

however I thought that you had to log km on Strava as evidential for the 500?

[L CC]

Not at all. You can log however you like.

This could be a Strava profile URL, Twitter and Instagram posts, or even photos of a training log

[marcusjb]

I seem to remember from years past, Waffa rather actively encourage different forms of evidence as they give out prizes to the most creative rides and write ups/photo diaries etc.

[L CC]

They do indeed. Like the mile Eater the intention is to gather stories and not just miles

[Arry-R]

I think there must be lots of people out there who like riding their bikes.
[/quote]




Yes Steve Abraham  !

[psyclist]

+1 to the list of AUK members who completed the Festive 500. I have now joined the AUK group in Strava.

It's a nice little challenge that provides some motivation to ride a little extra over the holiday period. First time that I have completed it though ... I'm usually deterred by the weather.

[zigzag]

the challenge is pretty easy if you are disciplined enough to do 63km every day. however in reality if you skip a day or two it becomes quite hard to make up the difference, especially if the weather is typical for this of year. managed 507km, just because i've signed up to the challenge, otherwise would have only done 100-200k. good motivation to burn 10000kcal

[D.A.L.E.]

How do you know it was only 67?

I've fancied it for a couple of years, but I'm usually working stupid amounts of hours. Wasn't working that much this year so thought it would be a decent way to ride myself fit after 2 months off the bike. Managed it despite being a fat, unhealthy mess (and being hit by a car). 540ish km I think.