Rapha Festive 500 -...
 

[Closed] Rapha Festive 500 - Are you in?

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^^ which one, there's 2?

I've done both, both are excellent, not sure I'll be in Town but if I am I'll join you 😀


 
Posted : 30/11/2014 9:59 pm
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Even with last years weather being pretty good (apart from day 1) I have never been so bored on a bike. Getting up late and doing most of it in the dark didn't help.


 
Posted : 30/11/2014 11:07 pm
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The assumption is that it should all be road miles, but I'm planning on throwing some off-road in as I couldn't see any rules forbidding them. (Unless anyone has a link).


 
Posted : 02/12/2014 3:40 pm
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The assumption is that it should all be road miles, but I'm planning on throwing some off-road in as I couldn't see any rules forbidding them. (Unless anyone has a link).

I've done it on my CX in the past, mix of road and off-road miles.
I think it's been done as solely off-road miles in the past - probably somewhere that wasn't a British winter...


 
Posted : 02/12/2014 3:58 pm
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I had planned some fireroad miles on my CX bike. Seems legit as it will be the same bike I'm doing my road miles on!


 
Posted : 02/12/2014 4:36 pm
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The assumption is that it should all be road miles, but I'm planning on throwing some off-road in as I couldn't see any rules forbidding them. (Unless anyone has a link).

you can do them all offroad if you want. I think what constitutes "a road" varies throughout the world anyway.


 
Posted : 02/12/2014 4:39 pm
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After all the planning I have festive chest infection. So I'm out this year. (Festive as there's glitter in the sputum 🙂 )


 
Posted : 23/12/2014 9:03 am
 DT78
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Well my road bike is still sat in a depot in Germany, so I think I'm out too 🙁


 
Posted : 23/12/2014 9:10 am
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We're setting off in a couple of hours time. 😉


 
Posted : 23/12/2014 11:12 pm
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A chap in Japan has done 390km already. 😯


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 10:14 am
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Did 67k on the CX'er yesterday so I'm claiming that. It's hanging up still covered in Mud, clothes still covered in Mud and when I go out later I'll once again be covered in Mud.

Dude 8)


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 10:37 am
 adsh
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Failed first early morning start. Warm bed and incipient manbola


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 11:21 am
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83.4km done - a ride up round Regent's Park this morning, then down to the Rapha Café and out for a couple of laps of Richmond Park.

Given that I arrived in London at 2am, that's not bad going! Day off tomorrow unless it really is too nice to waste the opportunity.

Just looking at some of the other rides listed, one guy in NZ has done 326km in just one ride! 😯


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 2:44 pm
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Another 73ks done on the CX'er in super sunny South Hampshire.

It's sooooo sunny here I'm tempted to go back out 😆


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 2:53 pm
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80k, we rode through the night.

[img] [/img]

[url= http://minipips.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/rapha-festive500-day-night-1.html ]http://minipips.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/rapha-festive500-day-night-1.html[/url]


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 3:35 pm
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Not jealous, oh no not at all. Possible late start in Bristol at the weekend. Man flu is abating or it could be the effects of a third of a bottle of Glenlivet while in the office.


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 3:50 pm
 DT78
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Frame arrived this morning! After a furious 90min build got out and did my first 50miles. Lovely out there. New bike is fast. It is not comfy. Numb bits. Next 250 miles will be fun 🙂


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 5:04 pm
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100k for me, pleased with that. First half of it was into a headwind, the return journey much more pleasant!


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 5:13 pm
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Two guys in Singapore has just done it in one go...
First did 524km, second did 514km.

Quite happy with my 83km today thanks!


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 5:29 pm
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178km done. Pretty windy out there, but nicer weather than last year if I remember right.


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 5:39 pm
 jonk
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I'm doing mine all offroad this year - done 77km today wet and muddy but great fun.


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 6:50 pm
 Spud
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A pitiful 24km for me to start today, the commute to work. Back on it on Boxing Day.


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 7:09 pm
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I'm giving it a punt for the first time - two rides (the first at 5am today before work) and 85km so far, so a little bit ahead of schedule. I'll see how it goes...

jonk - that sounds like a great way to do it; and pretty impressive too!


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 7:13 pm
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I'm 138km down. Hard won kms in sleet, hail and high winds, but some beautiful sights to be seen today.


 
Posted : 24/12/2014 7:14 pm
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pretty epic way of doing a big chunk of it

http://www.strava.com/activities/232917159


 
Posted : 26/12/2014 12:56 pm
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I'm a third of the way in now, two rides done. It was really cold out first thing this morning!
Got a big ride planned for tomorrow then see what the weather is doing the rest of the week and I'll fit it in round that.


 
Posted : 26/12/2014 2:17 pm
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Half way for me now. 2 rides on the CX'er and one (today) on the roadie. Started out very cold and frosty then the predicted thaw came and it started to drizzle, lucky by then I was 25ks from home and didn't suffer to badly.

Bikes cleaned, just about to shower then making a late Christmas Lunch for us two.

Yay!

Out tomorrow unless it's pissing down..


 
Posted : 26/12/2014 2:41 pm
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Just over halfway now. Today's ride wasn't as long as planned due to the wind - no matter which way we went it seemed to be a headwind and a very cold one at that!

But we avoided the rain! 🙂


 
Posted : 27/12/2014 1:51 pm
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75% through now, will do the rest on the xc bike i think, hamstrings are seizing up! been lucky with the weather this year

[url= http://chris-noble-mtb.blogspot.co.uk ]http://chris-noble-mtb.blogspot.co.uk[/url]


 
Posted : 27/12/2014 2:41 pm
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111 clicks today, blooming lovely sunny but blustery windy day down here on the Coast. A jolly jaunt into the Downs and a hack over to Chichester Racecourse then home through East/West Meon and a blast with the wind behind me all the way down the A32 until I hit the Sea..

Phew 8)


 
Posted : 27/12/2014 3:48 pm
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We've retired as both of us are ill.


 
Posted : 27/12/2014 5:11 pm
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😥

Awe, get well soon. Always love reading about your exploits..


 
Posted : 27/12/2014 5:22 pm
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Awe, get well soon. Always love reading about your exploits..

Thanks. A tough decision to make. We need some r+r before strathpuffer though.


 
Posted : 28/12/2014 1:25 am
 DT78
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Sorry to hear you won't finish it this year. It's a lot nicer weather than last year too... still a massive struggle to fit in the time with family commitments.

61% complete so far, but the only way I can finish is morning starts and risking the ice 🙁


 
Posted : 28/12/2014 5:39 pm
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349km done which leaves a nice round 161km / 100 miles to do.
Contemplating doing it in one go, be nice to finish it off with a bang.


 
Posted : 28/12/2014 6:03 pm
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Only 67ks for me today, takes me to 403. Planned Salisbury Plain CX event scuppered by unannounced family gathering otherwise I'da done a little more on the CX'er... 🙄
I'll do the rest over the next couple of days in East Hampshire near Steep, climbing intervals again.. I will be looking forward to a rollout for sure.. 😆


 
Posted : 28/12/2014 6:10 pm
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I'm at 391km done - resorted to the 456 this morning in an attempt to embrace the ice... then back on the Tripster to churn round the main roads at sunset tonight. Fog forecast for tomorrow, so will probably just click round a few more miles and finish up strong on Tue / Wed.

Major credit to anyone doing the big rides in the cold - mine's been done over 9 rides so far but grinding it out for hours on end deserves a cloth badge at the very least 🙂


 
Posted : 28/12/2014 6:13 pm
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I work in miles 🙂

Only got 155 miles in bag but will finish it off no probs .. Can't beat a few big mile panic rides 😉


 
Posted : 28/12/2014 6:16 pm
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132 km left .. a road ride and a mtb ride will finish it.


 
Posted : 28/12/2014 7:05 pm
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All done, didn't expect to clear it today but surprising finish to the last 43ks..
Set off early for a stint in the Downs, route planned took me up to Romsey, Stockbridge down through the Wallops and back into the heartland, then a stint through Bishops Waltham and home.. The last 40 odd ks I was joined by a lad on an Argon 18 Track Bike running Fixie 46/16, bloody lovely thing it was, hard as nails on the Downs so he says and I can beleive that 😆 so conversation ensued, turns out he's riding from Basingstoke to Portsmouth, does this on the fixie most days of the week to go to work.. So we joined up and had a bloody great laugh chasing each other up/down and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in the cold, clear sunshine. What a fitting end.

Recovery food:
[img] [/img]
&
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 29/12/2014 3:08 pm
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@bikebouy Well done!


 
Posted : 29/12/2014 4:20 pm
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I wasn't planning on going out today but it was such a nice day that I thought I'd take in some of the snowy trails at higher level in the Peaks on the CX. Up to Rushup Edge - one bonus of the snow is that it hides all the shit that DCC have put down to sanitise it! Then followed 20 minutes of trudging through knee deep snow along the ridge. Barely anyone else around, the only marks in the otherwise virgin snow up there was from a couple of XC skiers who'd passed earlier in the day.

Bumped into two other MTBers lower down, also pushing. Stunning views from the cairn in amongst the swirling mist and cloud.

Managed to ride a surprising amount of the DH bit down to Mam Tor then down into Hope for warming coffee and soup. Only 50km but far and away the slowest ride of the week! Lovely to be out though, glad I went for it. Should finish it tomorrow barring disaster.


 
Posted : 29/12/2014 9:07 pm
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Avoiding the ice here visiting the in-laws in Northern Ireland - a good excuse to find nice coastal roads. Also managed to drop by SeeSense to get my rear light fixed. Really cool to see a small company doing things right (and making my rear light even better than it was).


 
Posted : 29/12/2014 10:16 pm
 DT78
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@bikebouy, welldone! I was out round romsey this morning too, but it was a little icy for me around Mottisfont so called it short. Have tomorrow afternoon and a couple of hours on NYE for the last 100 miles. Should be doable.

It is a lot nicer than last year! Last year my last 55 miles was up and down a 2 mile stretch of road in hail!


 
Posted : 29/12/2014 11:45 pm
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Hurray. All done.

503km over 7 rides plus 5,500m of climbing.

Nicer than last year weather wise but chuffin' cold over the last few days.

I hope Santa's elves are embroidering the badge right now.


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 1:48 pm
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Done, finished it off with 60 miles this morning a bit chilly but then a big scoff in the cafe.

Tea and bike cleaning now 🙂


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 3:14 pm
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Well done! I gave up hope a couple of days before Christmas due to illness but stayed in the challenge anyway - if I do 13km tomorrow then it'll have been a Festive50. Maybe I'll try and add a 0 next year.


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 3:29 pm
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80 miles today leaving 50 to finish morn 🙂


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 3:42 pm
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Just seen this: http://2014story.strava.com (although all of you who are finishing off tomorrow might want to hold off until then)


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 4:38 pm
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All done for another year.


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 5:07 pm
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Done and dusted with a nice 50 miler to finish today which got me to 512km. Still icy and cold but looking back at last Friday night's blizzard, it felt like child's play!

I've not particularly enjoyed ploughing along the A roads over the last few days trying to avoid the ice, but it's been a good way of getting some chunky miles in (and helping the waistline a little too!)

[img] [/img]

There's a pic that probably sums it up for me - christmas tree, ice & snow, an A road - plus the ever reliable and enjoyable Tripster that saw me through 95% of the miles. Big well done to everyone who's completed / completing / attempted it this year - it's all good.


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 6:58 pm
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Fabulous, you took pictures! Great.
You know next year I ought to stop a little more and do some sort of blog, some idea of where and what I'm riding at the time. The miles just seem to blur into a ribbon of cold bone rattling whirring and the occasional squeal of brakes on damp rims.
I look back on mine and wonder "where did I go, what did I see"? But then this years hack was all about training and intervals so no matter where I've been most of it's been me looking at the road, bends, potholes, mud, hedges and the occasional bursts of sun blinding light.
Been great though, should have taken more pictures! Well I'll qualify that by saying I should have taken pictures.

Brilliant effort all, whether you completed it or not, irrelevant, the fact you got out is all it's really about.

8)


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 7:10 pm
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Finished mine today with a 71 mile CX ride in the Lake District. Nice weather, not too cold.

518km in 6 rides.
17,231ft / 5225m climbing.

Been great though, should have taken more pictures! Well I'll qualify that by saying I should have taken pictures.

I took a few photos, tweeted and instagrammed the odd one here and there but (today especially) I was more concerned with getting back before darkness so less worried about pictures...


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 7:42 pm
 dazh
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Done. Finished with 205km today. 503km in 7 rides, 7529m climbing. The snow and ice had me worried for a bit so needed a big effort today. Think I'll have a few days off now as I'm b*ggered 🙂


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 9:37 pm
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Finished today as well. Probably my last ride of 2014, forecast for tomorrow looks awful but its been an enjoyable year on the bike - although a bit scary when i see that ive riden over 555 hours in total!


 
Posted : 30/12/2014 11:15 pm
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Nice easy 40k to finish mine off today. Definitely worth doing as those are training miles I certainly wouldn't have done without the lure of a pointless badge to motivate me. I even had some fun at times.

Well done to all the other finishers. An achievement not to be sniffed at.


 
Posted : 31/12/2014 1:21 pm
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Done 🙂


 
Posted : 31/12/2014 2:46 pm
 DT78
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And I'm done too. Bit saddle sore! Looking forward to this evenings beers


 
Posted : 31/12/2014 3:57 pm
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Ouch... 537 Peak District kms done with 9613m of climbing, mostly on the cross bike but with two brutal days on a mountain bike with Ice Spikers fitted when things got snowy. Worst idea was probably dragging the mtb across Cut Gate through unridable snow, I'd have been better off riding Strines, but it was a nice place to be in a slightly masochistic way...


 
Posted : 31/12/2014 5:07 pm
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BWD: Just seen your ride on Strava; you beat my distance by about 15km!

The guy at the top of the leaderboard is someone in Japan who's done 2200km. Considering my LEJOG ride was only 1400km and I had nothing else to do in all that time other than eat, sleep & ride (and it was summer) that's really impressive!


 
Posted : 31/12/2014 5:20 pm
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The guy at the top of the leaderboard is someone in Japan who's done 2200km. Considering my LEJOG ride was only 1400km and I had nothing else to do in all that time other than eat, sleep & ride (and it was summer) that's really impressive!

To be fair, I suspect that it [i]is[/i] summer in Japan - I'd like to see how he'd cope with dragging a mountain bike over Cut Gate in knee-deep snow... 😉


 
Posted : 31/12/2014 6:04 pm
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