Forum search & shortcuts

Festive 500 - 2022
 

Festive 500 - 2022

Posts: 11862
Full Member
 

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 👍


 
Posted : 20/12/2022 3:31 pm
 scud
Posts: 4108
Free Member
 

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


 
Posted : 20/12/2022 4:22 pm
Posts: 8907
Free Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 20/12/2022 4:28 pm
Posts: 2784
Full Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 20/12/2022 5:06 pm
Posts: 11472
Full Member
 

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 😉


 
Posted : 20/12/2022 5:08 pm
Posts: 11862
Full Member
 

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 😖😖


 
Posted : 21/12/2022 5:32 pm
Posts: 2434
Free Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 21/12/2022 6:12 pm
Posts: 13496
Full Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 21/12/2022 7:00 pm
Posts: 7855
Full Member
 

Buggeration. Went ice skating, one little fall. Thigh flat onto key fob. Now the mother of all dead legs.


 
Posted : 21/12/2022 9:07 pm
Posts: 20677
Full Member
 

I'm showing some willing and planning by cleaning up the CX ready for a ride on Christmas Eve.
That's the plan anyway...


 
Posted : 22/12/2022 9:05 pm
Posts: 1058
Free Member
 

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...


 
Posted : 22/12/2022 9:53 pm
Posts: 11862
Full Member
 

...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!


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 8:29 am
Posts: 734
Free Member
 

I'm still in bed! Had big plans for this morning but scuppered already! There's always tomorrow 🤔


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 8:51 am
Posts: 33240
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Was planning a decent road ride in my head for today - MrsMC has booked the annual family cinema trip for the 12:30 screening....


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 9:16 am
Posts: 597
Full Member
 

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


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 9:20 am
 ton
Posts: 24290
Full Member
 

my attempt is also cancelled.
massive AF episode this morning, brought on by far too much beer yesterday. buggerations.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 10:43 am
Posts: 4710
Free Member
 

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!


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 11:14 am
Posts: 17449
Full Member
 

@ton bad news 😢. Was impresssed seeing the pint numbers go up on FB tho !

Fingers crossed for you 🤞


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 12:31 pm
 ton
Posts: 24290
Full Member
 

@iainc
I am now on the wagon mate. Feeling like death today.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 1:17 pm
Posts: 20677
Full Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 2:14 pm
Posts: 11862
Full Member
 

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..


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 2:43 pm
Posts: 10636
Full Member
 

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 🙁


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 4:23 pm
Posts: 2628
Free Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 5:41 pm
Posts: 3877
Free Member
 

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..


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 5:48 pm
Posts: 20677
Full Member
Posts: 1447
Full Member
 

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😆


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 6:03 pm
Posts: 3877
Free Member
 

Also, the best bit about it was the patch.

Miserable sods pulled it a couple of years ago.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 6:45 pm
Posts: 11862
Full Member
 

Have just seen an acquaintance do '100km' on Zwift, averaging 42km/h 🙄

That's definitely cheating! 😂


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 7:44 pm
Posts: 10636
Full Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 7:49 pm
Posts: 20677
Full Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 8:20 pm
Posts: 4748
Free Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 8:58 pm
Posts: 3877
Free Member
 

It was costing them a FORTUNE

Yeah, didn't realise it was north of 200k participants.😯


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 9:03 pm
Posts: 1823
Free Member
 

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


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 9:27 pm
 joat
Posts: 1450
Full Member
 

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.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 9:48 pm
Posts: 4337
Full Member
 

114km in the bag today. Hopefully get out for a quick blast in the morning


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 9:55 pm
Posts: 5353
Full Member
 

I would like to propose the ‘Holiday Hundred’ for those amongst us who are time crunched or just plain lacking the mojo but would still like to get a reasonable amount of riding in. Anyone else in?


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 10:32 pm
 ton
Posts: 24290
Full Member
 

i did make a start, with 2 short rides.
fingers crossed i can gain some momentum.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 10:32 pm
Posts: 4710
Free Member
 

Only managed 30.7km on my first Zwift ride, just nothing in the legs and it was at the end of a busy day. Still, made a start.

I would like to propose the ‘Holiday Hundred’ for those amongst us who are time crunched or just plain lacking the mojo but would still like to get a reasonable amount of riding in. Anyone else in?

Sounds good to me. I'll pretty easily pass the hundred mark (km and miles) but it'll be a nice mid target to aim for.


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 10:36 pm
Posts: 1031
Free Member
 

Festive 500: for the Christmas soulless and/or those that hate their friends and family.

https://www.pvsevents.com/festive****all


 
Posted : 24/12/2022 11:29 pm
 ton
Posts: 24290
Full Member
 

stingmered
Full Member
Festive 500: for the Christmas soulless and/or those that hate their friends and family.

https://www.pvsevents.com/festive****all/blockquote >

or from another perspective........... how ****ing sad are the people or person who would create something just to be 'anti'.

happy festive 500 to all those having a go like me.


 
Posted : 25/12/2022 10:48 am
Posts: 20677
Full Member
 

Quick 30km this morning in between stocking openings (for the kids) and then the full presents stuff later once in-laws etc arrive for lunch.
Normally I try to avoid riding on Christmas Day cos the driving standards are usually woeful but the roads around where my sister lives are super quiet anyway. Saw about 6 cars, a couple of runners, one other cyclist and a few people out dog walking. Lovely morning, just peaceful.

I'm tempted to do the same route again but in reverse later tonight.

Which was kind of needed after 2 hyper kids unloaded their stockings over the living room floor!


 
Posted : 25/12/2022 11:02 am
Posts: 13349
Free Member
 

@ton That wouldn't encourage me to join one of their events. A massive own goal really.


 
Posted : 25/12/2022 1:12 pm
Posts: 11862
Full Member
 

I didn't dare try to negotiate any time on the turbo today, even though we're in that lull between presents and visitors. If I'd planned it right I could have gotten a wee spin in but am watching the Bottom Christmas special with a beer instead 😎

Am feeling sufficiently motivated for 80-90km gravel tomorrow, there's a wee bit of snow forecast so could be very scenic.

Actually managing 500km is already likely to be out of the window but I should break 5000km for the year which will have to do 😂


 
Posted : 25/12/2022 1:41 pm
Posts: 10636
Full Member
 

Day2 - second bike. Quick 40k for me this morning before the kids got up and before the rain came in. Legs are still tired from yesterday.


 
Posted : 25/12/2022 1:49 pm
Posts: 20677
Full Member
 

I’m tempted to do the same route again but in reverse later tonight.

Update: Unable to move. Also, trying to balance is not a good idea...


 
Posted : 25/12/2022 5:51 pm
Page 2 / 4