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Had a slow start. Going to my parents place in cold Belgium to find out my spare kit was mostly missing(it was later found at my sisters place an hour away, the place i left in the morning). So went to fetch the old mongrel in the cave it seems my dad doesn't own a track pump any more....
So a walk to the petrol station made me end up wit 4 bar of tire pressure and still no cycling tops. Of for a 35k suffer stroll. Tuesday left for a nice 80k ride but the below zero temperatures made the GPS only record 53 of it.
Wednesday found a mate to do the same route the other way around so 80 k done but freezing again.
170 on the clock which should be 200. Fed up with the cold already so sitting at the airport should be reuinted with my good bike early afternoon for a little leg stretcher in southern france.
After the i will hop into the car to cheat a bit and head of to Spain.
At least I am better of then last year then I had over 300 to go on the morning of the 30th
187 miles (300K) so far average speed 18.1mph, do 100 miles tomorrow and then one easy ride, sorted.
422km done and dusted. Today was a nice easy run down to a nearby town, coffee in the town square then a spin down to the coast and back up.
There was a "moment" where the route planning apps had decided that the 30 degree concrete slope was indeed a road and sent me up that - one of those insane tracks used to access houses / farms and little else but once that was out of the way it was all a steady ride.
78km left to do but I've got another 3 days out here so I'll make the most of it!
I sometimes wish I lived somewhere flatter. That is pretty much all, but 305km done now. It would have been more, but I went for a Christmas morning communal dog walk out of politeness and decency. There's a first time for everything.
I have fully bought into the cynical marketing ploy side of it all too and have Rapha tattooed on the knuckles of one hand and Strava on the other.
Had a couple of cracking rides thanks to Rapha. Rode down to the coast on Christmas Day (UK, not somewhere sunny) and explored Chichester harbour (Salterns Way) while waiting for the rest of the family to arrive by car for lunch. And today rambled around the Downs on my GT Grade, got lost, saw some vintage tractors and got mixed up with a running race. Up to 315km now. I don't think I'll do a monster ride this year, so two more 100kmers.
I'm up to 341km now. My legs feel like they are gonna fall off. Just looked back and I've ridden a grand total of 12 hours altogether in the last 5 weeks and had a month off before that.
I've done 13 hours in 4 days. #deconditioned
I'm hoping this is a good way to start a higher volume (than I have been doing for 6 months) training programme in the new year. That way 8 hours a week wojt feel much when I'll have done about 20 or so this week.
Tom and I are just over half way off the back of not much recent pedalling. It's all starting to come good now though.
Just read this thread with interest, as a chance conversation with MrsMC this morning as we saw lots of solitary riders in the murk of Derbyshire made her announce that it sounded "like something I could do next year".
Slight hiccup would be the club Boxing Day hill climb challenge though.
Finished. Had a route of 93 miles (and 4000m climbing...) planned but then decided on an alternative route back whcih upped the mileage fractionally but dropped the climbing. Or at least, that was the plan but then I was on 95 miles so I decided to take it up to 100 with the aid of a very contrived loop through the local town which promptly took the elevation back up as well.
Anyway, 162km today so 584km total and 3 days left to play with. I'm going to the beach tomorrow!
89km left. Considering a day off tomorrow but wandering if the legs will hurt more the following day for taking a break... DOMS. Maybe best to just go and get it done?
chucked out the first big one today with 145K today which should get me around the 400k mark. Was a bit colder in spain then expected. Legs where sore from riding my rubbish bike in the cold earlier on, but they came round after a pizza at the beach. Two days left before I am due back in the office most likely finished tomorrow though.
65km to go, should knock that off tomorrow with a trip up and over to Betwys. All rides completed on the Tandem!
Five rides in five days and I'm "done" though since I'm off work for a few more week keep enjoying this very mild December. Weather wise this has been one of the resist milage challenges I've done.
Back home from travels so out tomorrow first thing for a quick 135 Km and then m25 (225 km) on Sunday. No takers to join me yet. Might leave a few km spare for a trike ride on Monday too.
I started a big late - although I ambitiously signed up for the 500 some time ago. Playing catch-up I’ve knocked off an 82mi, 52mi & 60mi in the last 3 days. A long ride home into a headwind was a pain today. 246mi now done & a 50+ mile club run planned for tomorrow - with Monday as a contingency. It’s been a challenge to fit it in - & the mild weather has certainly helped - but the end is in sight now!
Finished my final 50 miles today on what was a remarkably uneventful ride. With the mild weather the biggest hazard has been the local hedgecutting. Did all but one ride on my GT Grade and probably did about 60:40 on-road to bridleways, byways and rail trails. I think my legs deserve a lie-in tomorrow. Good luck to the late starters!
Did a mellow 85km today, mostly into a headwind, which was refreshing then broke a spoke in my rear wheel just as I got home. Cross bikes are ace, but maybe not so good at being hammered over rocky Peak District things repeatedly. New spoke fitted and all happy again.
Anyway, that leaves me 70-odd km to do. Plan is to get out and ride local hills tomorrow and mostly finish it then go mountain biking on New Years Day. Been riding the cross bike on a mix of road and off road stuff.
It does feel a bit like the weirdly mild conditions have taken the edge off it for me. The other two times I did it there was loads of sub-zero nastiness and dragging mountain bikes through snow-drifts on Cut Gate and stuff. This all feels a bit tame. But not as tame as flying to some tourist hell hole because the weather's guaranteed to be nice. You know who you are 😉
Did 55 miles on the mtb yesterday to avoid sitting on my road bike saddle again.
That leaves 3km to do today to finish it off. Gonna do that with my wife and 2 year old daughter as they've been super supportive of the time I've spent on this. My daughter thinks it's like Hey Duggie and I'm getting my "cycling badge".
Can't wait to show her the Rapha patch (I'm gonna donate to charity myself as I feel bad saying I want one).
And I'm done. 501km, 1 very sore arse. Legs feel like lead!
Feel like I've gained fitness in 6 days though!
How's everyone else got on?
All done - just needed 65mi to-day to complete - but did 71 to be on the safe side. 317mi / 511km now done & ordered my roundel - shame they don’t do a decent jersey (rather than a T shirt) with one on but I probably couldn’t afford it anyway - being Rapha!
And also finished. Three rides 140, 112 and 251 km. All fixed wheel. That’s 86500 pedal strokes. Was quite slow today, about 30 minutes over my usual time around the ring. Easy to Dartford but a headwind all the way home. A puncture at 130 km and I accidentally saved the ride. So a ride of two halves.
Rest day tomorrow then back for more non Festive 400s. Might use some gears next week.
Well done everyone who entered. Hardest part this year was my glasses misting up. Weather was distinctly mild.
Completed today. First timer. Exceptionally mild weather made it quite easy in Scotland, except for the freezing fog on Christmas Eve. Very pleased to do it as I'd normally be sat on the Sofa drinking beer this time of year. Thanks for all the encouragement on this thread. Good luck to those still trying to complete.
This all feels a bit tame. But not as tame as flying to some tourist hell hole because the weather’s guaranteed to be nice. You know who you are 😉
/whistles innocently
As it was still nice, I did another 48 miles today. Because - well it'd be a shame not to. 713km. Flying home tomorrow so no riding then, that's my 2018 done.
And I bet you freewheeled down those hills :p . I pedalled up and I pedalled down. Henri would have been proud.
And I bet you freewheeled down those hills :p .
I had a FOURTEEN MILE descent today. From 5000ft down to just under 1000ft altitude. So yes, some freewheeling was enjoyed thanks! 😉
/whistles innocently
As it was still nice, I did another 48 miles today. Because – well it’d be a shame not to. 713km. Flying home tomorrow so no riding then, that’s my 2018 done.
You missed all the mildness. I'm just back from a very mellow 45km around the local hilly back lanes wearing shorts and a bikini top to make the most of the winter sun, which leaves 28km for tomorrow.
Finished the challenge yesterday with another 160 mile ride in pretty grim conditions. The TT bike was absolutely filthy by the time I got home. All in 2 rides, 322 miles (519km) 11800ft at 20.1 av.
Nipped out for a hilly 46km with 1400m of climbing. And finished. All on the cross bike with a mix of roads and tracks. Did around 9500m of climbing for the whole thing. Like I said earlier, sometimes it would be nice to live somewhere flat. It was all quite mellow though, at least after my right knee stopped giving me gip.