[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. 🙂

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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...

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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.

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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.