Can't see a thread for this yet.
My cheeky bid for time off at Christmas has been granted, and it occurred to me that for the first time I might have the time to have a go at this.
Subject to family sign off.
Never attempted something like this before, so interested in tips and experience. Assuming get big miles in the bank early.
If I have a go I'm not going to get fixated on it, if weather, injury or family commitments get in the way of completing this, so be it, it's meant to be fun after all.
Ah, I think I started a thread on this last year and it then became the first year where I didn't complete it! Got to the final day with 150km to ride, had a route planned and I just could not be bothered in the slightest. There was no interest, no spark at all in going out even for 50km.
Yes, getting the miles in early really helps. It's also quite weather dependent - I've slogged around any number of muddy wet lanes in the last few years and then we got bored of that and did a couple of years in Gran Canaria which, in spite of the hills, was a LOT more pleasant!
See if you can arrange family things so that you can ride there while partner/kids drive. I've done that a few times and it's an easy way of banking a load of miles which is otherwise dead time in a car. One year I got the train down to my Dad's then rode back the next day - that was 1/4 of the mileage right there.
Any time I've considered this I've been put off by the weather - and fitting riding in around family and friends.
It's now possible to do it indoors (on Zwift etc) or as a mix of the two. However I'm not sure I'd be happy sitting in a stationary bike for that long. I might bank a couple of early rides and see what develops.
Century ride on Xmas eve starts you off nicely. Couple of hours on Xmas day and you're almost half way there. Makes the rest of it easier, for sure.
Weather is definitely the limiting factor. Battled through snow and black ice the first time I did it. That was challenging. Otherwise you just need the time. Little bit each day.
Last time I bothered, I got to 300km then the weather was foul until NYE morning, so I got up early and crashed round the other 200km in the day. Wasn’t totally unpleasant and set me up nicely for Majorca 312.
Ah, I think I started a thread on this last year and it then became the first year where I didn’t complete it!
Well, thats an auspicious start....🤣
I might bank a couple of early rides and see what develops.
Is as far as my plan has got
Zwift will no doubt be nicer weather than outdoors and you can get draft benefits on group rides and pace partner rides, but compared to outdoors extended turbo time can be very brutal on your backside!
Never managed this. I've started a few times and given up. Once because I got injured with 100 to go but mostly because it became a chore or it just felt selfish. I reckon you either need to be happy to do the bulk in the dark very early or late, you have few family commitments or are an unreconstructed 1970's male with a 'her indoors' that does all the festive cooking/household bobbins whilst you go out and tap out the miles. But mostly I think I've reconciled myself that I get all year to ride tons but very few days a year off work at the same time as Mrs C so making the most of them is more important than ticking this box.
Yet every year I feel the urge to do it! Conflicted!
And zwifting it......nope. Yes, the challenge is very different in northern Europe to southern (or southern hemisphere) or flat or hilly terrain. But zwifting feels like a cop out even though the idea of that many miles on a turbo would be a different kind of pain!
I was planning on doing it again this year but I've been cited for jury service at the high court in Dundee from 28th December. I'm not sure they would appreciate me turning up betighted and sweaty.
My usual strategy is to alternate 100km rides & 50km rides each day and try to keep the rides as flat a possible.
yes, i shall be having another crack at this after falling 40 mile short last year.
going on a mini 4 day tour in the yorkshire Dales on the 27th so this will hopefully help me to success this year.
Whats the rules for this? I might have a go
Whats the rules for this? I might have a go
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/stories/festive-500
Basically ride 500km between 00:01 on Christmas Eve and 23:59 on NYE.
Any combination or permutation of rides, anywhere, any bike.
You sign up to it on Strava (although this year's one isn't listed in their challenges yet).
Just volunteered to marshall the Boxing Day charity hill climb, so that's one day off the list. 🤷♂️
Rapha has just dropped me an email about some content for this year's campaign.
I've not done it for a few years.
I may like Tony go on tour for a few days. Much more fun than riding on the roads round here.
It's now up on Strava - go to the Challenges section and hit Join on the Festive 500!
cant find the challenge on my strava. there is a festive 500 thing that is generated in Holland with 32000 members. is that it?
Might do it if the weather's not too wet. I tend to do a mix of road and off road, though the mountain bike stuff is relatively inefficient. Beats sitting around eating family-sized Toblerones.
i did it last year, albeit via zwift. Was a pretty decent challenge indoors, so i suspect in the real world its a fair chunk harder.
My plans are to do it again on zwift this year, but havent used my turbo for about 8 months....
I've completed it a few times previously but have no motivation to ride that much this year. It would be 10% of my total distance for 2022 so I don't have the legs for it.
If you fancy a bit of practice/motivation there's the Restrap Solstice Century the weekend before.
I loved the challenge and the battling of the weather gods ,even had to drive down our valley due to the ice to get to the salted roads one year, but it kinda wears me out ,esp balancing the family /xmas indulgences/commitments and so the good work is usually undone in January when it's best to be building up my my mojo for the New Year.
So deffo not doing it this year.
Please ban this post before I get tempted again.....lol!
It is fun though! Esp when u see other riders out.
Fresh roads is the key.
I kept looping the same old roads which again makes it harder to get out on the same roads after the 500 is completed.
Fresh roads is the key.
I kept looping the same old roads which again makes it harder to get out on the same roads after the 500 is completed.
I actually prefer familiar roads, ones where I don't have to think about navigation, where I know the distance, the time it normally takes and the location of cafes!
That counts double if I'm riding in the dark...
True about riding in the dark.
It was really nice riding to/from relatives last year. Helped morale and onto to familiar roads as it got dark.
We have a slightly limited choice here, esp if factoring in the salt issue and cafe issue. Not so bad if its slightly warmer and get onto higher roads etc.
The turbo option must be tough ,big respect to anyone doing that, I did think that was an error by Rapha introducing that but actually pretty damn tough mentally I would think.
And physically. Sitting on a turbo for hours tests your saddle...
See if you can arrange family things so that you can ride there while partner/kids drive. I’ve done that a few times and it’s an easy way of banking a load of miles which is otherwise dead time in a car.
I find this is a good way of getting it done; this year I'll ride to & from a visit that'll see the best part of 400km done in a couple of days, leaving the rest to be done at leisure
As head chef and driver in my house i just cannot see how i'd get the time to do this - unless i was up and out at 4am.
Maybe in a few years when the kids are older and we're not cooking for elderly relations.
Putting it out there now that if the weather is like this (1 degree, sleeting) for Festive 500 I won't even be attempting it!
Hours on the turbo is easier than on the road I find. Can get off, have a drink, chat, change the radio station etc.
Tried it last year and the starting 100km on Xmas Eve was in the lashing rain, everything got drowned and a bit tender. Did 60km Xmas day on zwift (whilst the wife and kids were at mass), then another 100km out on the road bike on boxing day.
That was that, as I got back home I discovered I was pissing blood from where a seam had rubbed. The joys of blood thinners.
Back on our usual tour of friends this year so will probably try for 250km over Xmas.
Long range weather forecast is suggesting wind and rain but probably not as cold as the last few days...
I might have a crack this year, if the weather plays ball. I've completed it about three times now, skipped last year. It's always the weather and opportunity that is the determining factor, not the distance. I try to mix it up, so I'll do road rides of about 100km and some MTB rides that often turn out quite epic. I'll usually ride to or from some Christmas family occasion, meaning I get to cycle somewhere new. It's actually been a lot of fun, mostly. Obviously, it doesn't count if you're doing it somewhere hot and sunny!
Couple of events now making the official 8 days unlikely for me, but I'm off work 1st-9th January so pondering a belated attempt.
Mmm, snuffly cold and goosed. It's the weather on Saturday that will decide it for me. That and Mrs100th who was working all but Xmas day now taking 5 days off
I'll be content with a 'Festive 5' if it means just keeping some consistency.
Have an opportunity for 110km on Christmas Eve (morning) and might be able to cycle the first part of the way en route to Oban to visit my mum.
That's 220km...
31st is off limits, so that leaves approx 55km a day for the remaining 5 days, and I'll be lucky if I can get an hour on the turbo Christmas day morning (actually that's not so crazy, wife will appreciate an hour to herself as well after the initial 5yr old 4am present frenzy has subsided... 🙄)
So maybe 65km a day between the 26th and 29th. Two big rides probably more acceptable to family than 4 small rides, but I suspect motivation, weather or sniffles might have blunted my ambition by then...
Did anyone else do the Restrap Solstice Century last weekend? I have done it before as a oner but conditions were bloody grim here on Saturday so I ended up splitting it. 77 on Sat and balance Sunday morning. It was hard work, tbh. Not filled with enthusiasm for F500.
Did anyone else do the Restrap Solstice Century last weekend?
Was considering it. Even started planning a route on Friday night. And then the weekend weather was horrendous. Freezing rain, icy roads and trails - didn't even attempt to ride.
Was treacherous enough walking anywhere. Even the towpath and the shared use old railway line path were sheet ice.
Wow, forecast for Christmas Eve and Boxing day is looking pretty good up here (Perthshire). Might try and extend both those rides slightly (although my riding buddy for Boxing Day has told me he's just had the snip, might need to add a loop on after he's staggered home 😂)
I've signed up but don't think I'll be doing it on the road, don't fancy dicing with black ice on my early or late rides.
I'm aiming for 150km ride on Christmas Eve but then we're at my wife's parents for Christmas day and the next two days after. So will be hard to get rides in then although I could take my bike along, even if I don't, I should've enough time left to hit my goal.
Without riding on the 25th, 26th and 27th
1. 24th - 150km
2. 28th - 100km
3 29th - 100km
4. 30th - 100km
5. 31st - 50km
Some riding on the 25th, 26th and 27th
1. 24th - 150km
2. 25th - 25km
3. 26th - 25km
4. 27th - 25km
5 28th - 100km
6. 29th - 50km
7. 30th - 75km
8. 31st - 75km
I'll do some of it indoors if need be. I rode 30km last night indoors and it was easy enough.
First time doing it so will have to see how I get on.
Good luck. PS as the old saying goes: if you want to make God laugh - tell him your plans... ;0)
Have anyone seen this year's festive 500 clothing?
Bit fussy for my taste, plus I'm piss poor.
My trip to the High Court has been cancelled, the weather forecast looks like rain & snow, the mudguards are on the bike so I've no excuse to miss out on my annual Puffer preparation😁
You definitely need mudguards on the bike if wearing that jersey. Which reminds me...
Have anyone seen this year’s festive 500 clothing?
Bit fussy for my taste, plus I’m piss poor.
Blugh!
Whoever thought that that was either appropriate for riding at this time of year, or in some way represented it aesthetically.
Hmm... realising the folly of attempting any of the rides on gravel.
A) That 80km will take a minimum hour or more longer than the equivalent on road
B) More likelihood of disasters
C) More likelihood of epic-ness and therefore anti-social exhaustedness around the in-laws dinner table in the afternoon...
Decisions decisions... 😎
I did it 5 or 6 years ago and found the key was to have a plan which was weighted to the first half. A metric century on Xmas eve, 30 miles on Xmas day and another 60 miles on Boxing day meant the back was broken early on. I planned my daily distance before the start of it based on what other plans I had, and had a rough idea of route too. Figured the less I had to think about it the better, you just have to get out and ride.
I'll get shot down for this, but I think part of the challenge getting out in grotty weather. Doing 500km indoors might get you the mileage it's not really the same is it? The challenge is getting out when the weather is bad and any sane person is indoors.
Doing 500km indoors might get you the mileage it’s not really the same is it?
I would instinctively agree, if nothing else it's quicker as less faff time, so is easier to find the time.
BUT
I couldn't even imagine trying to do that many hours on the turbo, if only because I haven't yet invested in anything smart or interactive, so I respect that there is still some dedication required 👍
I did the Restrap Solstice century by cheating and doing 60 miles on turbo saturday and 40 miles outdoors as roads defrosted on the Sunday. I always say i'll do the Festive 500, but til this year never had a turbo, so going to give it a go with combo of longer rides outdoors and "topping up" on turbo as and when family time allows, but not going to beat myself up if i don't make it, as xmas is about spending time with family
The years I have completed it I have been working 3 days between Christmas and new year so there's 150 miles (240km) of commuting. I find riding with a purpose easier than simply going for a ride.
done it a few times and planning on using it to kick start my 2023 riding as I havent touched the bike in months. Indoors isnt the same but its actually quite doable, as 13th said, break the back of it as early as possible and you are game on.
I’ll get shot down for this, but I think part of the challenge getting out in grotty weather. Doing 500km indoors might get you the mileage it’s not really the same is it? The challenge is getting out when the weather is bad and any sane person is indoors.
I agree. There should be some sort of indoors and outdoors distinction. Here in the Peak it's generally pretty hard thanks to the almost unavoidable climbing. Meanwhile you can easily average a virtual 30kph + on Zwift with minimal effort. Also slightly iffy is heading off to the Canaries or Mallorca for a week then boshing out the miles in perfect sunshine on dry roads 😉
Good luck. PS as the old saying goes: if you want to make God laugh – tell him your plans… ;0)
Yep, planned on trying to get off to a good start Christmas Eve, but it's currently forecast 3°C and 80% chance of heavy rain all morning 😖😖
Yep just checked the weather for me and heavy rain forecast all day on the 24th….gutted. Will still get out but it will cut short my planned 50 mile gravel ride down to about 20 miles.
I really really wanted to do this outside, but I’m not fancying 500kms in near freezing rain.
Snow's sort of gone here 🙁 In its place is some proper wet n' boggy off road and some patches of properly evil compacted snowice with a watery coating on the roads. Pretty much the worst possible cycling ground conditions you could imagine.
I think it'll be paddling and whatnot for the moment for me.
Buggeration. Went ice skating, one little fall. Thigh flat onto key fob. Now the mother of all dead legs.
I'm showing some willing and planning by cleaning up the CX ready for a ride on Christmas Eve.
That's the plan anyway...
Think I've managed to wangle a Sheffield-Bristol attempt on Boxing Day, with the Mrs driving down in the evening to pick me up en route wherever I've got to. I love a linear ride, although I wonder if knowledge of the taxi pick-up might take the urgency out of it. Weather is looking great for the 24th as well so hoping to get a ton in then. I can see things tailing off fairly rapidly though...
...aaaand GO!
I'm already 25km behind target as we had a bit of a broken night with our 5 year old sharting the bed 😭😭
100km to Callander and back, hope Ciao Bridge of Allan is open, will need that coffee!
I'm still in bed! Had big plans for this morning but scuppered already! There's always tomorrow 🤔
Was planning a decent road ride in my head for today - MrsMC has booked the annual family cinema trip for the 12:30 screening....
I’m going for the lame indoor option as living in very hilly territory it won’t happen outside... ironically, might be good training to do a week of flattish, easyish base miles rather than the usual 2 x 300m steel climbs and descents that means you’re done for in just over an hour
my attempt is also cancelled.
massive AF episode this morning, brought on by far too much beer yesterday. buggerations.
Going to do the majority of it indoors as my fitness is nowhere near good enough to do it off road (don't have a road bike). The plan is to tick lots of the longer routes off on Zwift at a Z2 pace, give me a big boost of base fitness ready for the New Year. I do have an uplift day and one decent XC ride booked up for the period though so it won't be all indoors!
@ton bad news 😢. Was impresssed seeing the pint numbers go up on FB tho !
Fingers crossed for you 🤞
100km this morning - stunning weather. Soaking wet roads cos of the overnight rain but a lovely ride out around the Yorkshire Wolds. The hills towards the end were really starting to tell - I've lost fitness due to not riding for 2.5 weeks cos of the weather.
Got back in time to watch How to Train Your Dragon with youngest niece.
100km here as well, great ride and if I don't get out again all holiday then I at least have the Festive 500 to thank for dragging me out in the rain and dark at 8am this morning.
Low back not really feeling it annoyingly, still a lot of tightness down there so have two days to loosen it off for Boxing Day morning..
100km here too. The headwind on the 50km return was a pain and made me cut short the planned 120+. Should’ve planned better. It’s going to get harder as the weather deteriorates 🙁
Poor start from me. Needed to replace a rotor on the gravel bike, tool wouldn't fit over axle so went to shop to buy better tool. Replaced rotor and reseated tubeless tyre. Then found gear lever was broken after a flight. Gave up and went out two hours later on road bike without mudguards. Got rained on (but not cold - it was tropical temperatures) and thoroughly gritted. But it felt better to have been out regardless, as it always does. Now need to figure out what's wrong with my gears as my road bike doesn't deserve such treatment.
Im just in 100 miles in the bank.
I keep saying it's the last time I'm doing it but it really is this time. It makes me about as popular as a fart in a lift.
It's far from easy, fair play to anyone attempting it.
I think it should only apply in temps under 10 degrees..
94km done today in fairly mild weather.
The only hitch was when I got home to discover my daughter had gone out leaving the key in the back door locking me out😆
Also, the best bit about it was the patch.
Miserable sods pulled it a couple of years ago.
Have just seen an acquaintance do '100km' on Zwift, averaging 42km/h 🙄
That's definitely cheating! 😂
It’s really quite annoying every year watching the Aussies with their almost flat rides, 16 hours of daylight , 23deg average temp and NO bloody wind and rain! Grrr.
Still, could be worse - our other former colony seems to be suffering worse than us.
Also, the best bit about it was the patch.Miserable sods pulled it a couple of years ago.
It was costing them a FORTUNE. Fine when it was a few thousand people doing it but it quickly grew too big to do that.
102km in today, felt a bit rough from last night's works meet up.
Enjoyed the - wet - ride but was a touch disappointed with only 102km, legs felt I'd done at least 120km.
It was costing them a FORTUNE
Yeah, didn't realise it was north of 200k participants.😯
First ride boxed off for me. 103 fasted miles (165km) Found it quite hard going today. Set off heading North with what was supposed to be a tailwind but unfortunately the wind didn’t pick up until the return leg so was fighting a headwind all the way back 😩 Hoping to get two more 100+ rides in between now and NYE
so was fighting a headwind all the way back
I know it depends on where you live, but it's best to return with a tailwind, the breeze will generally pick up during the day giving a net wind benefit. Plus, if you've knackered yourself going out, you can soft pedal on the way home, hills depending.
114km in the bag today. Hopefully get out for a quick blast in the morning
