[Closed] The 2016 Festive 500 thread

just signed up.....finally managed it last year after years of illness/bad weather over the festive period.

Nah, done it for the last few years.

Time for me to do something else.

Yeah me and crashtestmonkey hoping to do it! Although we are racing CX on Boxing Day so that's a day of 7 miles total! Can't really go out and do 60 so miles on Christmas Day. we don't have family commitments so free to ride but still hard work squeezing it all in! Should be a good fun challenge though.

Yep, had a break last year, but did the two before that. I think I'll do it mostly on the road this year though. I had an absurd day a couple of years ago pushing a mountain bike through snow drifts over Cut Gate. It was 'interesting'...

Can I do it on Zwift?

Can I do it on Zwift?

pmsl 😀

Just signed up. Going to be struggle given my current fitness level, but I'm up for a shot at it.

The really neat thing about this event is most people you see out on the road are doing the same thing.

Nah, doesn't float my boat. I can imagine I would do it if I didn't have kids, but for me, a precious week off at Christmas with them means playing with them, trips out and eating and drinking lots.

good luck to all that take it on, i hope the weather gods are kind 🙂

We're going to do it again.

This time we're going to do it in Mallorca though, so hopefully no weather like this. 🙂

[img] [/img]

Did over 900km last year whilst working 9-5 and not riding Christmas Day. Definately going to try and beat it this year but I shall not ride Christmas Day again. I just find this motivates me enough to get out there for some reason. Must be that pathetic little roundel sent out as a reward.

This time we're going to do it in Mallorca though, so hopefully no weather like this.

The rain might be slightly warmer. 😉

I've done it every year - I did have plans for an imperial 500 a year or two ago but couldn't be bothered in the end and just made do with the 500km.

My usual plan is to try and get as much done on Christmas Eve / Boxing Day as possible to buy myself a bit of leeway the rest of the week. I like to finish off with a big ride in the Lake District on Dec 30th or 31st.

Racing CX on Boxing Day and New Year's Eve are going to hamper my plans a bit! Guess I'll have knackered legs for racing and a few big days out elsewhere!!

Hoping to manage it at the first proper attempt this year. I've planned all the family visits for a couple of days in the middle, the rest is riding time in prep for the 'puffer!

Probably. I've done all of them so far, I think. It's a nice idea if you've got nowt else on. We're always away after boxing day, so I've always done most of it beforehand, with 50 or 80k remaining to knock it off on nye.

Failed so far but alwasy game to give it a go , depends on the weather

In again but so far my record has been
Broken
2012 - Broken
2013 - Hosting Parents for Christmas
2014 - Suprise return to the UK no road bike
2015 - Too Damm Hot!

Lets see what excuse I find this year

Well, this is how just promoted it on a club page...

yes it's that time of year when those of us who have accepted we inhabit the middle of the Rapha W*nker and Strava W*nker Venn Diagram sign up to ride 500km over crimbo limbo week for the sake of a free square-inch sized embroidered patch.

So enough of the hard sell, who's in

Does it have to be 100% cycled or does driving to work count?

Didn't they knock the patch on the head? Can't remember getting one last year.

No, but I wouldn't mind the prize...

[img] [/img]

is this a roadie thing? couldn't think of anything worse than 500km on the road over xmas.

I'm in for the first time - inspired by the Pips - although I'm slightly against the Rapha/Strava aspect of this so may not "sign up" as it were.

Yeah, I'll probably give it a whirl. I did around 625km last year then didn't ride for pretty much all of January. So I think toning it down a touch might be a better idea this year.

richpips - that is cheating!! Almost as bad as the Southern Hemisphere guys!! 😀

I am in again of course. Planning on cycling to Bethlehem on Christmas Day again.

Well, I've entered, but find it highly unlikely i'll actually complete it.
Having ruined myself in Corsica last week in September, ruined myself again at Relentless last week in October, and then taken November off, I doubt I'll have the speed or endurance to be knocking out 500km in a week.
And that's before getting round to the likelihood of half suitable weather.

I'm in. I think I remember signing up for it for the last couple of years but never managed to achieve anywhere near the amount of distance required.

Concerted effort this year to get it done, that and I've got a Mrs who doesn't seem to mind me spending hours on my bike 🙂 she's a keeper!

Well, this is how just promoted it on a club page...

I think that just about sums it up 🙂

Can I do it on Zwift?

If turbo kilometres counted it'd be easy. But they don't 🙂

Bob, last year was my first year (only signed up to Strava then) and I got a patch, and blurb says there's one this year.

Just signed up for this

I'll give it a go, if I do it great, if not..

always next year

Sod it, I've joined. Is it too early to start making excuses?

If turbo kilometres counted it'd be easy. But they don't

Hey, I did 50km and 1000m of climbing last night, I'm sure it was a genuine representation of the time and effort needed to do that in the "real world".

😆

In. Have a decent ride planned for my visit to Devon, will try and get a few 100Km off early.

richpips - that is cheating!! Almost as bad as the Southern Hemisphere guys!!

He's earned an easy one.

[img] :large[/img]

Starting to try and plan rides now and also looking at the long-range weather forecast which is looking thoroughly miserable for Christmas Eve & Day. 🙁

Got a vague plan to ride home from my Dad's house which is about 210km but that is definitely going to be dependent on weather and wind direction!

Well having started the thread it's looking pretty unlikely here. Family down for xmas, away for NY, and Mrs B working between xmas and NY so I'll be looking after the kids (my 4 and 2 year olds not quite mini-minipips yet!) It's probably the toughest time of year to find the time to ride. Who's up for a belated Festive 500 sometime early Jan 🙂

18 degrees in Pollença on Saturday is the forecast. 😆

Failed last year, will try again and fail again this year.

I'm in. Did it in 2014 and swore never again...
Got a quiet Christmas planned so no real excuses. Yet. 🙂

I've signed up but realistically got no chance... family over, kids to look after and 2 days at work.

having a lighter week mileage wise this week in preparation so I'm not exhausted by the end of it, and racing CX on Boxing day means more miles needed on the other days. Both Munqe Chick and I are doing it so plenty of support and motivation (she's also trying to hit 6000 miles so needs to do more than the F500!).

Not long until the off now folks. Good luck to all those attempting it. Let's hope the weather plays nicely this year.

Tomorrow looks like a train day, which means I shoudl be nice and fresh for 40 miles on xmas eve. Got two days in work which is another 80.

Might have to take some long routes in.

It's not happening is it..

is this a roadie thing? couldn't think of anything worse than 500km on the road over xmas.

Na, any miles you like. I normally mix up mtbs and cross rides maybe with a long road ride thrown in for light relief. Down to you.

Let's hope the weather plays nicely this year.

according to BBC (ha) looking dry and record-breakingly warm, 12C or more on Xmas Day!

according to BBC (ha) looking dry and record-breakingly warm, 12C or more on Xmas Day!

My Christmas Eve ride is already planned, 100km out to Box Hill and back but I'm actually tempted to do a really early spin round Richmond Park on Christmas Day.

Problem with riding on Christmas Day is that you look like a tragic lonely person with no friends but last time I went round Richmond Park on a Christmas morning it was really lovely with kids out playing on brand new bikes and flying their new kites and drones. Everyone just seemed happier than normal.

Except for the kid who'd crashed his drone into a tree and was crying his eyes out. 😳

Good luck to anyone in Scotland trying this... 24th to 26th looking "challenging" on the West Coast at least.

I've downgraded to a Festive 300. My therapist says it's good to set low expectations.

Bad start already. Night drive home for Christmas, usually nice & easy, very little traffic, get home, sleep a bit then out for a pre-planned 100km.

But I'm stuck on the fully-closed M1, there's been a big accident, been here for 3 hrs now, can't move. Not going to be home in time for the ride. That in turn will impact on all the family stuff I need to do..

Arse.

Just about to set off on my first ride of the 500, a 100miler around Lancashire with a bit in North Yorkshire. The first 50 should be quick in this wind but the return leg not so 🙁

Had 2 weeks off bike, as per usual after the cx season.
Plan now is for a gentle 100k up & over the Rhigos.

Not too sure I will have time to complete the full 500k this year ... although weather looking great next week.

Out at 6:15 and knocked off 20% before breakfast. Managed to drop a group of Rapha wanabees two hours in for extra points :). Now to family duties and an early Christmas Lunch with in-laws.

and we have a winner
https://www.strava.com/activities/809980626
Looks like a dull ride!
For me 21km down, was always going to be a MTB ride today but it got cut short when a mate went OTB and needed an Ambulance...
See if tomorrow morning is a little cooler too

I am far too impressionable to read this forum, with a push from my wife I signed up for this challenge. However, I guess I ride at about a third the pace of the majority of others who have signed up - it is going to take a good while.
50 km done this morning, in the pouring rain, but I did see a kingfisher 🙂

Managed 70km. Took me 9hrs to get from my house to my Mum's; a journey that normally takes a little under 4hrs. Missed the ride I was supposed to be on so just went out on my own later on, 70km round the lanes of Kent & Surrey.

Might go out on Boxing Day after all.

That's 1/3 of it in the bag. A poor choice of route meant the last 20 miles was a slog into a headwind.

The linked ride on Strava looks absolutely mind numbing. I'm more impressed by the mental stamina than the physical.

On just over 120km after a couple of rides today. Breezy...

The weather was shocking today so we only managed a short ride, then an afternoon with the girls in a bar. Oh 67 Kms BTW. So James unusually you're ahead of Tom early on. 😉

[img] [/img]

[img] :large[/img]

Managed to get the 100 miler in I mentioned up there ^^ but chuff me the last 50miles were horrible going into that headwind 🙁 First fifty was great (well, apart from the rain and hail) averaging 18mph. Second half not so. You kinda know it's a war of attrition when your pushing out 300w along the flats but only clocking 12mph 😯

https://www.strava.com/activities/810266348

Just this once, I'd like to live somewhere flat with no headwinds. Not lovely. Not very far.

Didn't realise it started today! Have done 15km so far... 🙁

60mph winds forecast for tomorrow round these parts...

I'm in it though. Put on a bit more than expected winter warmth this year. Need to burn some of it back off again.

What happened at 34 miles bjj.andy.w? Stop for a wee?

So James unusually you're ahead of Tom early on.

I'm going to have to up my game a bit and not actually upload any other rides until 31st December, just to keep you guessing... 😉

Mister P - Member
What happened at 34 miles bjj.andy.w? Stop for a wee?

Several times, it's an age thing 😳

50 mile roadie club run with café stop yesterday. 32 mile post xmas lunch spin this afternoon. CX race tomorrow going to put a hole in the daily average. Mid week looking bloody cold but dry and lower winds which I'll take so will be extended commutes and then longer rides before late shifts towards end of the week.

We could really do with a heavy downpour to clean the roads, it's just damp enough to lift the film of crap and make it slippy 😕

I'll take lower temperatures if it means lower winds. I was pushing 9mph on the flat at one point today whilst trying to keep my HR below 140.

We could really do with a heavy downpour to clean the roads, it's just damp enough to lift the film of crap and make it slippy

Not wrong there and I have a tennis ball size patch of road rash on my hip from Saturday's ride to prove it 😡

Only managed about 24 miles today- Storm Conor bit in half way round, I double punctured in a pothole with only 1 tube and had to be rescued 🙁

So far it has been hard work. Normally when the weather is dreadful i'll still see a few other people out on bikes and you'll nod to each other with a look of grim satisfaction and for a while it lifts your spirits because someone else is out feeling the same. But i've only seen 1 other person out on a bike, ive never known it to be so quiet.

I ended up going out today after all, just a short spin around Richmond Park. It was late afternoon when I went out and I got very lucky with traffic, the roads were almost deserted and what little traffic there was gave me loads of room.

The park was lovely - the last few families heading away, a nice sunset, lots of deer and a few owls. The last half lap it was completely dark, the roads were empty and it was really peaceful.

So far it has been hard work. Normally when the weather is dreadful i'll still see a few other people out on bikes and you'll nod to each other with a look of grim satisfaction and for a while it lifts your spirits because someone else is out feeling the same. But i've only seen 1 other person out on a bike, ive never known it to be so quiet.

First ride yesterday featured two punctures (hedge trimming) and a very welcome pint in my local. Only 50 miles though. Got some longer rides planned next couple of days, fuelled by Christmas cake.

Knocked off another 95km this evening. Left at 16:30 and it got dark pretty quickly. Windy but dry, and of course, almost no cars. A couple of days off now as I'm visiting family. Rides planned for later next week, with a top up club ride on Saturday.

Definitely a bit chillier out there today. The wind was still a pain though.

I'm pretty sure for the effort I've put in for my first 200k, I would have normally netted around 300k! Feel pretty hard done by so far. Maybe I need to find some easier routes.

Oh... 'Mrs' BWD finally managed to pass on her pro-level death bug to me after a week of having dodged the coughing viral courtesy of intravenous injections of First Defence and hiding in a large cupboard for long periods of time...

I'm resting up today and I'll see what tomorrow brings, but I suspect it'll be coughing, spluttering and sneezing with lashings of sore throat. More Vit C with Zinc vicar?

Oh well... there's always next year 😐

Three rides in now, and we're up to 240kms now.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

Just over 200km for me, more or less on schedule for where I want to be, possibly a bit behind but all OK so far.

The wind today was a proper pig though. One of those days that looks perfectly calm yet as soon as you start riding, there's a headwind. Annoyingly, it remained a head/cross wind all the way round the ride. 👿

Got past halfway this evening so fairly happy with progress, though I'm inclined to agree that it's been a bit of a slog so far with this wind. Pollenca looks very enticing, richpips! Enjoy

Did a biggish ride today which brings us up to 350kms

[img] [/img]