[Closed] Annual Festive 500 Thread

I'm contemplating it. After 18 festering months of long covid, I got back on the bike in June and have been riding regularly ever since, though still not great on anaerobic stuff - mountain biking in particular is hard atm - which is probably part long covid and part deconditioning. I've done it three or four times in the past, usually a mix of road and mountain biking with a shedload of climbing thrown in, which is what you get for living in the Peak and riding here rather than cunningly relocating somewhere flat and sunny for the duration [you know who you are 😉 ]

No idea if it's a realistic target in my current state, but I've still got a place in next year's Fred Whitton, effectively postponed since 2019, so I should probably find out. Shout if you're about and fancy something flat and steady @crazy-legs - planning on sticking fast tyres on the cross bike and riding mainly on the road I think.

I'll be doing it, a mix of Zwift and real rides. Going to be using it as a springboard for making 2022 a much better year riding-wise, see if I can get some semblance of base fitness ready to hit some training in January.

.. still not great on anaerobic stuff – mountain biking in particular is hard atm – which is probably part long covid and part deconditioning.

Same here although it's down to loss of condition due to pretty much stopping riding mid-summer and my diet going to crap. A mountain bike ride is hard now as I struggle up any kind of hill! Hopefully I can get my fitness back nearly as quickly as I lost it.

A mountain bike ride is hard now as I struggle up any kind of hill! Hopefully I can get my fitness back nearly as quickly as I lost it.

I'm actually amazed at how fast I've regained fitness. Steep stuff on or off road at a steady pace is fine, but what kills me are the sort of short, hard efforts you get on technical uphill sections round here, which just nail me atm. Good luck with it 🙂

Going to give it a shot. Will be in Altea in Spain from 21st til 28th so hoping for some sunny dry outdoor miles, then back to Edinburgh to finish it off, most likely on the turbo.

My 3rd serious attempt this year was thrown off yesterday by snapping my winter road bike frame at the chainstay/seatstay junction (where the threads for the mech hanger are drilled).

If I attempt it it will be on the MTB (with a good portion on tarmac), and not starting till the 27th when I’m back from my parents. At best I’ll get 30-40km a day in while I’m there.

i fell 60 mile short last year, so had plans to do it this year.
i reverted back into AF in november, so my riding had be curtailed a bit.
but i am not one to surrender easily, so i am still gonna give it a go.
it will be very slow. a 10mph festive 500.

I'm working in the middle week, so it's unlikely, but I have 250km ish to knock off to break 5k this year, so want to get that done.

Still in covid recovery so will have to take it reasonably easy...

One year I'll get some time off work to give it a go, but sadly not this year.

Working so no. Still not sure indoor riding should qualify

Will probably give it a go, but it will be mainly on Zwift and that feels a bit of a cheat (again). I’ll have to squeeze most of the rides in when the kids are asleep.. depends if I can manage a run if early mornings or not. If it happens then great, and if not I won’t worry either.

Still not sure indoor riding should qualify

Agree.
I always thought part of the challenge was getting out in bleak conditions.

Can't see me attempting it this year having done my first ever one last Xmas on Zwift, needs an average of 62.5Km per day, I've not done a single ride indoors or out close to that since my outdoor ride up Road To Hell in early October.

Think I'll simply stick to completing my 365 hours for the year, just over 9 hours left now.

I always thought part of the challenge was getting out in bleak conditions.

Depends where in the world you are I guess, but certainly my own experiences of doing it have been in some seriously sketchy and challenging conditions, which is what it's all about for me. 500k in Dec is nothing like 500k in Jun.

That said, I know I'll not get the chance to do it in the real world this year but I might be able to do much of it on the trainer, and it's a good motivator. It should be it's own category for indoor riding though, because it's really not the same thing at all.

I’m doing it again this year. It will all be outside again.

Last couple of years I’ve considered it right up to Christmas Eve and then thought ‘sod it, three years on the trot was enough’.

This year I have a 7 week old baby going into Christmas and am barely scraping one bit of exercise a week around work, baby and remaining a functioning adult, so i might make the Festive 50 an aspiration.

Steep stuff on or off road at a steady pace is fine, but what kills me are the sort of short, hard efforts you get on technical uphill sections round here, which just nail me atm.

I'm struggling with anything resembling a gradient offroad! My timing on technical stuff is all gone too, catching pedals and totally failing to soft pedal on slippery stuff. It'd got to the point where I don't want to go out as I know I'll get frustrated.

I always thought part of the challenge was getting out in bleak conditions.

Totally agree but I think that's why they don't do the physical badge. Also anything that gives people motivation right now is a good thing, happily see it go back to outdoor only once the threat of lockdowns is completely gone.

I'm planning to do it but will admit here and now that I shall probably do a good lump of it indoors because it is easier to get it done like that in terms mainly of time, also I'm not the biggest fan of road riding so.

Did it last year in much the same way with a few mtb rides and some Zwift to pick up on mileage deficits or cover of Christmas Day, Boxing Day etc. as appropriate.

All miles indoor or out are lapping the folk on the sofa. And if an image of a badge on Strava encourages people to get fitter then that has to be a good thing regardless of how it is achieved.

No way could I commit the time to 500k, the wife will still be working and I'll have our boys to entertain. Maybe a festive 250k might be more doable.

Got the bike sorted for a 100km tomorrow, weather is looking decent. 🤞

125km planned for tomorrow & the weather looks meh😁
Doing it indoors is cheating though.

Me. Done a festive 1000 when I lived in Australia. Much easier given the weather. I'll be doing the 500 this year. Attempting to do it mostly on my Xc bike. If I'm feeling sore, I'll be bringing the roadie out to finish it off. Gravel tyres and mudguards on. Recently bought lots of new winter kit, so I don't have a reason not to do it. Starting with about 75km tomorrow, 50km Xmas morning early then a few big rides after. Good training for the season ahead and the Dirty Reiver in April.

100km route planned for tomorrow, everyone else has dropped out already.

Mother in law is down for Xmas so still pretty motivated.

i wont be doing this now. the combo of heart pills and just having a tooth taken out which is still painfull has put a damper on my spirits for it. gonna have a xmas in front of netflix and such.

Did it last year, really struggling for motivation this year but I really want to do something.
I'm 227 miles off 3000 this year so I might just go for that....be mostly on Zwift.
or a festive250 (kms)

Did it last year but forgot to switch on the Garmin for 30 km on one ride and Strava wouldn’t accept a manual upload to complete the 500km. Just seen one of my riding buddies has completed his festive 500 in one sitting riding 47x round one of the local lakes in heavy rain! Might give it a go again this year.

First 100km complete - sodden.

I'd forgotten how much chilblains hurt (and make you feel alive at the same time).

Just under 100km out into the North Downs. Went past North Pole Lane and Christmas Tree Farm, just because.

I only got a smart trainer last week so ticked off 100km this morning doing 25 laps of the volcano circuit. I've got a 50k local loop planned for tomorrow morning and then it'll be a mix of indoor and outdoor after that. This is my 1st attempt.

sod it. #festive250 here I come :-p

After a foolish 40km shakedown ride last night on my new Resolution the 104km initial F500 ride today was hard going. I'm hoping it's going to get easier but the weather looks rubbish for the week ahead.

114k outdoors in the bag.

Got properly soaked from the 50km mark onwards.

I've got a loop up in the centre of London planned for tomorrow on the grounds that it should be relatively traffic free...

Had work, so only got out on an extended lunch break on the MTB. Was like a quagmire. Reckon the road bike is coming out for a few hours early tomorrow morning.Most days I'll be doing 60-70km then two longer days chucked in. 55km today, mostly off road.

100km of sludge on the cross bike. I think I might take up ballet. Or bowls. Just something cleaner 🙂

Hats off to everyone doing it. I'm out this year - too much work to do, which doesn't let up until Feb. But I might start a 2022 riding goals thread to get some ideas to make up for missing the 500. Oddly, I've done fewer miles this year than usual. Not sure why, it's not for lack of desire. Here's to a better 2022.

Anyone actually riding tomorrow?

112km in the bag this morning. Had to do about an hour at vo2 max to get back for my pre-Christmas haircut appointment. Tomorrow definitely a rest day!

Anyone actually riding tomorrow?

I've got a route planned up in central London. Had a couple of ideas over the years but the only realistic day for it is Christmas Day otherwise the traffic is just too shit to make it worthwhile.

On the occasions that I have ridden on Christmas Day in the UK, you tend to get horrendous driving as families load up the car and head off on the unfamiliar route to the relatives with a car full of hyper kids so driving standards are even lower than normal. In the evening, you get the same in reverse except everyone is pissed. It does also feel slightly tragic going out for a ride on Christmas Day...

Hoping central London might avoid those issues. However it's chucking it down here at the moment so if it's like this in the morning, the ride is getting binned off!

Anyone actually riding tomorrow?

I'll probably nip out for a night ride once Mrs_H is off for her nightshift.
TV will be shite anyway 😁

Managed 71km on turbo this morning before going away til late boxing day, may get some short turbo rides tomorrow or Sunday, if I can be left with 400 to go on Monday I'll be pleased any less is a bonus

Hope to do 50 or 60km on the turbo tomorrow (only zwift I'll do), there is that big gap when they all trot off to mass that I have to fill.

I’ll be going out before Mrs Gastro wakes up. Back home for breakfast then out for a few gentle miles with the mrs. We’ll take some port and mince pies for a little snack.

Got out this morning at 6:15 for 45km loop, got home before my wife was up so the rest of the day is ours.

Forgot I don't have a road bike that'll fit on the turbo (just upgraded to an R9 frame and it's bolt thru).

So 40km on a too small 98 Kona Hahanna with 2.35 big apples (🤪) before I couldn't be arsed.

Flat laps to 80km tomorrow on the road bike (fingers crossed). Should have company so I can draft a bit.

out at dawn this morning for another 56km outdoors but now have a puncture to fix before tomorrows ride.

Moderna booster put paid to my Festive500 plans. It was like a bingo card of side effects yesterday and only starting to feel better today. Can’t be bothered trying to squeeze 500k into 6 days outside of 7-7 family hours. Next year.

Did 130k (80miles) yesterday in gopping conditions. Was hoping for a imperial ton but ran out of time. Only got a two day window next week so it’ll be two big rides 😬

Squeezed in a bonus 40km on swift today, had to use sister in law's bike on their turbo, not ideal but will probably try the same tomorrow to ease pressure next week, hopefully get outside come Monday and top up on turbo as required

Had Christmas lunch then went out on the bike up into town. Some of the central bit was quite busy - LOADS of people riding around on hire bikes. Followed the river down to Richmond and then dipped into the park through the pedestrian gates. It's quite something riding through Richmond Park in the pitch dark with nothing but a Toro on full beam. No-one around. Absolute bliss, might try that more often!

London was looking nice and festive, had a few stops for photos of the Christmas lights. Hardly any traffic and no buses so it was actually a nice relaxing ride rather than the normal London gig of constantly looking for the next close pass.

Waterproofs and winter gear at the ready for tomorrow. A camelback packed too. Taking the MTB on a 100km round loop. Mostly bridal ways and some road. 6am start...cannot wait...not 🤪🤣

santa brought the gift 'rona to chrispy towers.
all plans for the next week are pretty much null and void.

Pouring with rain.
I've gone back to bed.

another puncture/slashed tyre limited me to 37km today.

Weather was total shithouse in the NE. Went to gym instead, done 30km on peleton then weights. Decided to abstain for the 500 as this stage, given the week ahead of awful weather. Still looking to put in 3-400km in the end.

Sitting at 210km after today's 50km ride in the pissing rain so on target.
Got a 95km planned for tomorrow, I've run out of chamois cream and my bum is sore!
Forecast looks OK for tomorrow compared to the rest of the week.

Ice and snow for about 10 miles over the Carron valley road this afternoon which quickend the sphincter somewhat gave me 75 miles today, not too shabby for boxing day. I imbibed the contents of my hip flask (Green Spot) for the whisky lickers which numbed the pain, sadly it didnt warm up my freezing digits. 🙂

Now at 188km after a 70km ride yesterday morning. Full force gale for the last 10 miles straight into my face on the Angus coast 🌀🌀 Now got to withstand a longer ride with FiL where he tries to drop me on every climb with already sore legs. Still keeps me honest.

Just back from a 100km road-ish cross bike jaunt around the Peak District in proper dreich conditions, which takes me up to 290km. In a way the crap weather is a blessing as it means I'm not pining for the mountain bike too much, though I did do 20km on it yesterday.

The whole thing is intrinsically pointless of course, but it's reassuring that my long covid battered body seems to be holding up so far. Weather looks uninspiring for the rest of the week, brilliant!

Just done a few laps of Richmond Park as it was coming up to dusk. Last one was traffic free as the gates had all closed - absolute bliss! Still a few riders going around though.

Stopped off at Herne Hill Velodrome on the way back to cheer on the ten nutters who were just starting the 500-in-one-ride. Last year 2 riders did about 23hrs riding laps of the outdoor velodrome (it's about 1150 laps!), this year it's become a bit more of a thing and there was some decent support, the bar was open. Good atmosphere.

Halfway here, never done it before and it will help me tick over 5000miles for the year which is 2000 more than I've ever done previously.
It's already a PITFA but I'm into it now so might as well finish. Gonna do a couple of big ones outdoors Thursday Friday to complete it.
People say group rides on zwift make it easier but not with my attention span, each km feels like a lifetime.

224km done with 4 days left.
Driving to my sister's tomorrow and it would be regarded as bad manners to get there then bugger off for a ride. Might manage a few km later in the night once we've eaten and her kids have gone to bed. Plan is for an early spin on 29th before the kids are up and then it'll have to be two long days on 30th / 31st to finish it off.

If the weather is truly horrendous, I may just bin it off, I'm not suffering for the sake of it. Done 10 consecutive years, not got much left to prove on it to be honest!

Finished it today - due to covid positive it's all been indoors on zwift. I've also kept things in zone 1 in terms of heart rate as although my symptoms have been very mild i didn't want to tax myself too much.

Doing a group ride on a flat course or following the C pace bot then a couple of hours is about 80km then had another couple of slightly longer days while watching the cx. To be honest it didn't feel like much of a challenge this year as with self isolation I had lots of time to do it and the zone 1 didnt really add much fatigue. Of course i could have made it harder and selected more difficult routes or harder group rides but i just wanted it done as quickly and as easily as possible...

Another 105 windy km done today takes me to 415km overall. Short one planned for tomorrow as I need to appease my wife with a nice walk around Westonbirt. Should finish on 30th.

115km done today in further chilly windy conditions. The total 337km. Hoping for a solid 60-70 miles of the weather holds on Thursday then finish it off on Friday. Doing it outside is a different ordeal to inside no doubt although no matter how you manage it, it's blooming tough!

2nd ride of the challenge for me today. Bloody crap for the first 3hrs (2 of those were in the dark) Rain and wind so very cold. Was struggling to change gear at times due to numb hands.Thankfully the rain stopped and the sun came out and it made all the difference. Set off with the intention of doing the first few miles fasted then take food on as soon as I felt my energy levels drop. Amazingly I managed to do the whole ride with just water, my longest ride fasted. Today’s stats :
120miles (194km)
18.2mph av
130bpm av
220W av power
The forecast for the next two days around here is pretty dire so a 110mile ride on the 31st should see me complete the challenge.

Had yesterday off due to driving up to my sister's.
Got out early this morning. Lovely sunrise, met a mate I rode LEJOG with a few years ago and we set off for a 40-miler. Rain started. Rain got worse. Wind picked up too. It was that sort of rain that will eventually find its way past any and all waterproofing.

Mate started getting very cold and we arrived back at the start just in time for him - he'd driven out there, I'd ridden to the meeting point so we got into his car and he turned all the heating on max and we bought coffee from the local cafe. His hands were shaking so much he could barely hold it.

Before we got to that point, the ride had actually been quite fun in a sort of "well it's so ridiculous, it's funny" way. The roads were absolutely soaking, was like riding through a stream in places. Thank God for my new waterproof, there's no way I'd have survived without that.

89km today and that's me up to 313km done, 187km to go. Not sure I've got it in me to finish off to be honest. Someone tell me to MTFU...

Man the **** up!

I've bailed - rubbed raw from cycling in too much wet, missus noticed blood on my gillet and went mad.

Going out on a potter with #1 child around the local woods to get me up to 250km today after 2 days of healing. Aiming for an additional +50km to get me over the 300 on my first attempt (only managed 2k km this year so not too annoyed tbf).

Weathers been crap and I'm sticking to doing it outdoors, trying to squeeze it in with family time and days out. Thursday and Friday I'm at work from 7.30 until 5. 114km to go...

Like @bjj.andy.w I'm starting in the dark and I live nearby to him. It's a double edged sword whichever way you go round here. It's either pan flat or hills with shit covered roads!

120miles (194km)
18.2mph av
130bpm av
220W av power

Nails.

468km done now, so a club ride tomorrow will see me over the line. All done outside and whilst the weather has been decidedly soggy, it’s at least been mild. This is my fourth on the trot and has probably felt the easiest - last year I was alone and with no stops due to lockdown and it nearly broke me. This year I’ve had company and it’s made all the difference. Unfortunately my mate is a bit further back and I’ve promised to ride with him on Friday to get him the distance he needs, so looks like I’ll be nearer to 600km…

Unfortunately, getting the confirmation from a PCR test that I have COVID on the 26th, not as much of my riding has been outdoors as I was aiming for due to isolation. I've done the whole thing solo, tomorrow should be my last ride at 68km, however for my 1st attempt I'm still pleased. After tomorrow, I'll hit 35% outdoors, 65% indoors for the 7 days.

60 wet and windy kilometres today saw me over the line to complete with a total of 520km. Day off tomorrow. It felt harder this year than last, must be my age.

Well after a whole load of Other Stuff throughout the day, including trying to get a problem fixed on the car and waiting for the rain to pass over, I finally got out for a couple of hours on the CX just as it was getting dark.

The drenching the other day hasn't done the rear hub any good, can hear it starting to crunch. That's taken me to 350km so 150 to go tomorrow. I can do it, there's a decent enough imperial century loop that I know well so the plan is to go for that on the SS road bike. However I still think it's 50:50 if I complete it. If I wake up tomorrow and it's pouring with rain, I don't really feel the need to be out in it all day!

Normally I like to finish off with a ride in the Lake District but the broken car means I can't get up there. 🙁

Tried for a century to finish it off today but the whole ride was into a 20mph headwind so only managed 70 miles. 52 km left according to Strava. Got to care for my son tomorrow as my partner is at work so it's in the balance whether I can get out or not.

92km left to do tomorrow.

466 done; an off-road metric ton, a couple of mostly-on-road imperials and a Boxing Day 10 on fixed.

Will be doing no more than the bare minimum to get over the line tomorrow.

Not sure if my current fitness or more to do with weather and winter set-up on bikes, but very noticeably 5 or 6kmph slower than normal

I've given up on it. Had no enthusiasm this morning to go out into the wind and rain. 350km is OK though.

This year has been one of the lowest mileage years ever for me on Strava, will try and get back on it next year and spending most of the day slogging into the wind around filthy lanes isn't going to help with a desire to ride more!

Well done to everyone who completed! Same again next year...?

Here in Australia need to do the rides early in the morning otherwise it gets too hot.