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A slightly longer than planned ride this morning puts me just over two fifths of the challenge completed.
A very different day to yesterday, bright sun. Another 65km done, so 215km down, forecast for tomorrow isn't looking good and I don't know if I can stomach another soaking.
forecast for tomorrow isn’t looking good and I don’t know if I can stomach another soaking.
Yeah tomorrow's forecast isn't great and then on 27th I'm driving up north so 2 days off.
I've done 180km so 3 more days of decent weather and big rides (100km +) should see it finished in good order.
I like to finish on NYE up in the Lakes.
Three fifths done. Today was not pleasant so I'm hoping tomorrow's a bit less damp.
50 miles accompanied by my wife today. It felt quite cold all day, with a nippy headwind all the way out, but nowt to help on the way back. Thankfully there was one cafe open in North Berwick. Back along some very nice, new to me, roads through East Lothian.
44% complete now.
I do wonder as I see other people cycling along if they’re doing the challenge too. I was passed by someone, flying along in full Rapha clothing.
399k to go, 5 days left. Best set an alarm and go for another 100k tomorrow. Was cold and tough today in Northumberland.
Just over halfway. But wife has come home with a stinking cold so hopefully I can complete before succumbing.
Coold'nt gather the courage the go and commute in and out on icy roads in rural france while parents still around for breakfest. Managed 30 on my lunch break(they haven't gasped the concept of boxing day public holiday down here yet, so up to 120k total now.
Absolutely no stress though two year ago I was 310K short on the 30th at 9am and made it so I am large in my timing. Tomorrow back in the office for a long day and then the cheating can start from saturday onwards 😉
Managed 80km yesterday morning before going round the in-laws for the rest of the day. The rain wasn't supposed to start until midday(ish), so obviously I got utterly drenched about 45 mins from home at half passed nine. Not riding today, but hoping to get out tomorrow and attempt to rack up 150km or so. Not sure I'm going to complete it, unless I do either two 160km, or four 80km rides, which I'm not sure I can fit in.
Another damp century to a closed cafe. Today was miserable but 142km to go. Probably in two rides.
Rode home from the outlaws today in grey cloud the whole way (150km). Now got 146km left, with 100km group ride planned tomorrow (first ride I will have any company for).
Might take a rest on Sunday and finish it commuting next week.
Passed 300km today. Starting to feel it.
Drove up to my sister's today so another day of no riding.
Meeting a mate early doors tomorrow for my first ride since Xmas Day. Hopefully be a 100km or so taking me up to 300km total.
Finish it off on Sunday - Tuesday although I don't reckon it'll be much over 500km total.
100 miles today leaves me about 30 to go. However I have my daughter for the weekend so no riding until Monday. My commute will put me over the line by Monday evening.
Done 170k but has to bail today due to hamstring. Was planning on another 300 over the weekend but need to rest up and admit defeat.
Quick one on Boxing Day on the cycle path, then a long grey drizzling day around Swindon today. Brings us up to 320k done.
A fairly flat out and back to Bristol for 140km , bringing me to 350, so only 150km to do in 4 days and the weather forecast looks ok.
The ticker reaches 280km the furthest I've ever made it.
I'm going big tomorrow in an effort to break the back of this leaving me a little to do on the coming days.
Today was v wet and miserable. Good luck to all taking part.
Kudos.
73.1km.to go. Today was the hardest yet. Strong headwind. Thought I'd judged it for a boost on the climbs but it was a westerly not a southerly so it was on my face not my arse.
Everyday has been +1000m which is beginning to tell.
100km around the Yorkshire Wolds today although I sort of made it harder than it had to be by going up Rosedale Chimney. It was so foggy though I couldn't see much of the road in front of me so not seeing the top actually helped!
280km now. 3 more days, 3 more rides. No worries.
Hard going today, with a hellish headwind all the way out. But the Sun was shining and it was beautiful on the edge of the Moorfoot Hills. The thing I’ve struggled with most is dry painful lips, no matter how much ‘lip therapy’ I use.
Another 50 miles today, leaves me with 95 to go. Hopefully 45 tomorrow and 50 Monday, then I can finish off any shortfall on Tuesday.
Today’s ride was again fuelled by a very large portion of Christmas cake 😀.
Now done 467 km. Should be a relatively easy finish tomorrow.
I wasn't planning on completing it, but I managed a 7 hour, 171km ride this morning. Damp and dank, but at least there wasn't much wind. That puts me on 352km, so one more big effort and it'll be done, wasn't expecting that...
Damn - with 110km to go I'm going to have to retire. Developed achilles tendonitis and it's painful enough that I can feel it off the bike and very sore riding. Ride back in this morning (I've be out the house a 0500 every morning to fit riding around family commitments) was not pretty. Discretion the better form of valour and all that - I'd like January to be a big push month and thoroughly cooking my ankle now would be silly.
37km to do today and I’m done. Probably bumble out to a farm shop for lunch as a reward. Been eating everything in sight this week, and my bike has taken a beating on the back lanes of Wiltshire, so will need some TLC in the new year.
Really chuffed with my second completion (assuming I make it!) in about 6 attempts (only previous one was 2016 as panic training for the puffer in Jan 2017).
Not out today it blowing 40mph in the borders and there's no ride that's worth it that doesn't involve getting some height, where it's proper windy. Been doing the whole thing in the gravel bike the 42mm tyres have been a saviour on shitty roads and the gearing has helped into the wind. I know my ride tomorrow mainly road with a bit of fire road thrown in.
Only 32km left after today’s clubrun. Half tempted to just take the MTB down to the FoD and do a few laps of the verderers for some variety.
105km on the flatter bits of the Yorkshire Wolds leaves me with 110km to do over the next two days. Going to try and finish it off in one go tomorrow.
Just finished today with a total of 512km/318mi. My efforts have been helped by a few club runs - one of 102mi & today’s 40mi with me doing an additional 20mi to finish the Rapha 500 off. The mild weather has also helped but the wind has been a bit of a challenge at times. Now completed for the 2nd year.....
Ive got 25kms to go. Favorable weather has allowed me to get there this year. I've tried on several occasions in the past but the weather has always scuppered me.
I understand that this is the last time that Rapha will offer a roundel to finishers, from now on it'll be a digital reward only.
Its a tough ask at this time of year for anyone.
Congratulations to all who've made it.
One third done, two days left. Another 100 km on my standard training ride fixed on 82”. Sore legs. The #M25ride will be with gears this year I think. Being sick over Christmas certainly makes it a challenge. Despite the best weather in years!
I understand that this is the last time that Rapha will offer a roundel to finishers, from now on it’ll be a digital reward only.
Doesn't surprise me, it must cost them a fortune now.
357k done. I’m shagged out. I hate quitting but I find the idea of staying in bed for 48hours incredibly attractive.
Doesn’t surprise me, it must cost them a fortune now.
I'd thought that they could afford it..
Done. Strong winds made that last leg a lot tougher than it should have been.
Day around Trowbridge and Devizes. Quite a nice ride, bit hillier than before, dry, windy but in the right direction, sun even came out a bit. Thank god, if it had been like Friday I think we would have been divorced. Now we are up to 441 done. Knock the rest out on NYE.
45km to go so looking good for my first completion. Tried a few times before but family and illness always curtailed the attempt. Anyway, not on Strava so what to do if/when I complete (I have a downloaded Brevet card and Garmin data)?
Don't know why you lot are moaning about tired legs with rest in between rides
https://www.strava.com/activities/2965919667
Hope link works.
323.83mi
21:54:19 (houre/mins)
12,421ft
well done everyone for getting out there and riding.
I’d thought that they could afford it..
There is no room for costly sentiment when venture capitalist are involved. It’s owned by a fund set up by Walmart
And a 500 km Audax is pedestrian. The top guys are knocking out 500km in 12 hours not 21. Not in winter, but then this weather isn’t winter.
I rode into work this morning and uploaded my rides from 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and today. That puts me on 495.4km. If I'd have realised I was that close I would have added a loop to this morning's commute. Bugger!
Done. Scottish borders weather and 40mph gusting wind made the last three rides tough. Gravel bike gave me a forest road option today which put the wind on my back for the last 20km home. Slainte
Well done to everyone who's completed it so far!
I had 110km to do and thought I'd head out, see how I felt and just make up the route to suit. The wind was really awkward - never really a tailwind at any point and very definitely a head / cross-head an awful lot of the time and my legs really weren't feeling it so I didn't fancy the idea of full distance, made do with 80km. I'm on 471km now and will just head out tomorrow, steady away to finish it off.
Glad I got out though, stunning day - not a cloud in the sky, warm(ish), dry. Very busy at a couple of points in the Peak District, loads of people out enjoying the sunshine.
Agreed, well done to everyone who’s already finished. I had planned to finish today, but it was wet and windy and I’m still 40km short. Should be easy enough to complete tomorrow.
I’ve been having a wee look at the couple of people who are just above and below me in the table; it’s amazing how far and wide they come from. Yesterday the person a place above me followed 500 people and had 2400 followers on Strava! I have my daughter 😂. Who on Earth gets 2400 followers? [I guess I know who, but why?].
did the last 20miles this morning so all done. Got home to discover the clamp bolt on the front mech has snapped and the new brakes pads I ordered were a box of 4 rights.... guess its fates way of saying enough.
Finished it today with 124km ride. The drizzle started about an hour in and lasted for an hour but I managed to stay dry(ish) and more importantly warm.
Felt pretty done by the time I got home.
Glad its done because my bum needs a rest😀
Well done to all you who made it
Quick blast to take us over tomorrow morning
(Blah blah corporate clothing blah blah was harder back then blah blah I’d do it it one go but can’t be bothered blah blah we don’t need no stinking badges blah blah)
I failed, but I wasn’t really planning on succeeding. The rave I went to on Friday wrote off both Saturday and Sunday. I thought I’d be human again by the Sunday but didn’t get out of bed until afternoon. If I’d bothered on Boxing Day and managed 70km or so on Sunday I’d be on target.
Done 248km, mainly on road, but I’ll get another 30 or 40km tomorrow on the MTB. Better than nothing.
I completed today's ride thinking I'd get over the line only to find I'm 5k short. Bugger, back out again tomorrow. I thought I would buy the Rapha top for a treat but as I'm not a member of RCC I can't, seems ****in' dumb to me!
I rode into work this morning and uploaded my rides from 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th and today. That puts me on 495.4km. If I’d have realised I was that close I would have added a loop to this morning’s commute. Bugger!
and
I completed today’s ride thinking I’d get over the line only to find I’m 5k short. Bugger, back out again tomorrow.
A mate finished his NYE ride a few years ago, uploaded it and found himself on 499.3km - he'd miscalculated from what he was on to what he needed to do. He had to go back out for a few laps of the block to get it over the 500km mark.
It does become strangely addictive in a Mastermind "I've started so I'll finish" sort of way.
Quick blast to take us over tomorrow morning
Err not quite. Just 222km to go. Round the M25 ring (for my ninth time). Not fixed this year. Weather looks good though. I won’t be under 7:30 though! Think I’ll stop for lunch too.
Done. Went out at sunrise:
Got back at sunset (wasn't planned):
Even though I put on road pedals and used my road shoes, I couldn't help a few gravel segments. They were mostly fine, although one had 100m of ankle deep liquid mud, while another had been underwater and still had very deep puddles on it. I also took a look at one byway, then turned round and went another way, it looked unrideable on 40mm tyres.
Strava threw a shit fit after a couple of hours, but I didn't notice, as my phone was in a bar bag. Finished with it saying I'd done 147km, but did the auto correct distance thingie and it's now saying 231km. True distance is probably the mid point of those two, I'll work it out tomorrow, if I have time.
Got a link to this?
Not read it all😏
well done everyone who completed this.
not touched my bike since the 19th december.
Done. By the time I get home tonight it will be Festive 600.
And I'm done. 40km this morning got me over the line with a bit to spare after being 5km short yesterday due to crap adding up. Well done all.
Waiting for the Dartford bicycle crossing. Then just a short 120 km home across Essex, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Legs feel ok but it’s foggy and colder today. Need wipers on my glasses. Bit of a tradition now. It’s the third year this has been my last ride of the year.
Finished, thank goodness. Bright and still today, but cold and icy and far too many people out and about. It’s slightly tempting to go out later and add a few more km to move up the placings, but I doubt I will. Rueing forgetting to start the timer the other morning and losing 2 miles 😂.
Done. Equal parts damp fog and glorious sunshine. In the bath now with a large Scapa 16
As expected, it got complicated but not as complicated as I’d expected! Did a century on Christmas Eve only to return to find out my Dad was in Hospital. On top of this, we had the in laws at home for Christmas. Dad was in for four days, everything fine. I managed to get ou every day for about an hour with a grand total 258 miles. Great therapy!!
Well done to all who completed it and possibly even more kudos to the family members who made it possible. I only had time for a festive 200 (and 50 of that was Zwift) but that's better than nothing!
Leaving my house this morning I unusually caught up a serious looking cyclist and chatting it turned out he was on the last 10k! He'd done it every year for the last 10 years and in his own words " I think this will be the last bloody one!"
Finished it off today with a lovely 110km round Lancaster / South Lakes. Beautiful day but nice and quiet out on the roads. It's one of my favourite rides from when I lived up there - I've done countless variations on a theme of that ride and it never gets dull.
580km total.
Leaving my house this morning I unusually caught up a serious looking cyclist and chatting it turned out he was on the last 10k! He’d done it every year for the last 10 years and in his own words ” I think this will be the last bloody one!”
My 8th consecutive one and probably my last to be honest. 8 years of woven roundels and Rapha aren't doing them anymore after this year.
It never gets tired
https://www.strava.com/activities/2971186432
Not my fastest ring by some margin, but tired legs meant I took some gears this time. Not a lot of gears as I rode my cross bike with 1x10.
Well done to all who finished and to those who tried. It’s a mixture of good weather, good timing and good health. I missed two of those this time, so 433km in the last three days is a useful training block. I’ve also done this weeks training in two days 🙂
A quick question. I believe I have claimed my woven roundel, but the orange redeem button is still there. Is that correct?, I don’t want to miss out, but equally don’t want to claim it twice.
Thanks.
Ps, that’s an impressive looking route around London TiRed, nice and round.
Loop around north Wiltshire yesterday morning and we are done. That’s me and Mrs who has only been cycling a little over a year. Found it harder than expected, the tiredness kind of creeps up on you. Plus eating and drinking to excess does not help as much as you might think, I guess there is a reason you don’t see pros on the cheese board and tin of roses.