[Closed] Rapha Festive 500 - hints and tips?

Fraction under 90km today, we went off to do the Gran Canaria equivalent of Stelvio Pass, the sort of iconic must-do climb. It's called Valley of the Tears or less romantically, the GC-606

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1000m of climbing in an 11.7km ribbon of rough tarmac draped across what is basically a cliff wall. It is stunning, the views are incredible but it's a proper brute of a climb. There's no sitting and spinning here. Took me exactly 1.01.00, I was slightly disappointed at not getting under the hour but looking at the KOM time of 43 minutes, I simply cannot imagine being able to knock 18 minutes off my time!

Still, a stunning day out in amazing scenery and it leaves me with 107km left to do.

Superb day today despite my legs being absolutely f***** due to previous rides and too much xmas drinking. Bloody freezing though. Knocked another 75km off in between one set of relatives leaving and others arriving. MTB ride tomorrow so not much progress expected, then it looks like 2 days of grimness (sleet and rain forecast) to finish it off. It's going to be a test of willpower I fear.

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think tomorrow is going to be far to icey to ride to work. I feel like I need a rest day anyway

Another 40odd k today. Just over halfway. Roads are treacherous here. Im feart to take a rest day in case I don't get back to it!

Beautiful day in Lancashire today, just over half way. I’ve definitely underestimated the time this thing takes but it’s a great stimulus. There’s very little easy miles round here. Chapeau everyone having a crack at it.

31 miles today as an extended 'pop to Evans for some parts'. Road miles in the dark, not the most fun and getting pretty cold on the way back. Gets me to 300k, so 30 miles a day for the rest.

Mostly concerned with what feels like a tweak in my Achilles- had problems with it a few years ago and could really do without it flaring up again

Recurring knee injury put a halt to my attempt today. 233km hopefully get one more ride to take me over half way. Annoying as was getting into the swing of things. Good luck to all those still in it.

Yesterday was like.
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Had a detour to a favourite castle.

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I'll not make it. Decent ride Christmas Eve, only out for an hour Christmas Day (and along a coastal path on CX so only 7 miles) and missed Boxing Day - family travel, and yesterday - spent building my new hardtail.
Will get out every day though - good motivation in that sense.

Actually yesterday's ride was very eventful. Nearly taken out by a car that hadn't been scraped, well it has now, I had to fend off it using my winter mtb boots. Damp cold Road and sideways action meant my only form of action was foot out.
Have reported it to 101, 2calls back to say a partial reg isn't really enough but they'll keep an eye out.

Might have hit a snag with my 500: very icy round here today. Might try to take the MTB around QECP if it’s frozen. Otherwise I’ll be left with two 75 mile days over the weekend.

Not going to make it now 🙁 Weather and work has failed me. Ho hum, there is always 2018. Goodluck everyone who still has a shot at it.

Up to 370km now.

Ive done this the last few years and finding this one the toughest yet. The rain on the 24th and 25th wasnt great to start things off but then the freezing temperatures after that when the roads were wet just made it worse. So its meant having to use the same route on main roads and its becoming a bit of a slog as a result. Now snow forecast for tomorrow...think it will be mountain bike and out for a play on that forget the distance just try and enjoy it then finish things off on sunday

Today's scheduled MTB ride didn't happen so took the opportunity to knock off another 100km. Hardest one yet with 2000m of climbing in freezing temps, wet roads and a couple of hail showers. My feet were completely numb by the end despite thick wool socks and heavy duty overshoes. Tomorrow looks even worse with snow turning to rain. The weather is not making it easy this year.

150 km to go. But all the roads are treacherous. 50km on mtb tomorrow but if roads don't clear I'll be short by an annoying amount.

Just 35 km to go now. 😉

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I had a day off today. Partly just logistics, partly know that I've only got 107km to do, I'm on holiday until NYD so I've got 29/30/31 to get it finished.

No hurry. 🙂

Literally just got ready and the snow's come on.

Oh and Rapha winter embrocation is good but apply after chamois cream, not before. I really need to go out just to cool off.

I'm declaring a DNF today. I really did try my best but with a couple of inches of snow on the ground and the forecast saying more of the same I'm out.

I dodged some icy bullets over the past few days, riding my luck for a sew on patch.

276km the scores on the doors.

Good luck to anyone still in the hunt. Keep it shiny side up!

I'm out.
No way I can finish it now, I had big plans for yesterday but won't ride on frosty roads as I feel it is dangerous.

I'll probably end up at around 250kms.
Massive kudos to all of you who've completed it in the UK, as the weather has been shite.

There is always next year.

Unsurprisingly I'm out too, with a chesty cough and freezing temps last night it was some zone 1 on the turbo for me.

Next year I'll be leaving the family at home to enjoy Christmas on their own while I nip off to Grand Canaria on a Festive quest to earn that roundel 😉

So its 8 days you need to do 62.5 km a day.

Day one I did 63.8 a full k ahead of schedule christmas I stayed in the valley near my parents place average 2 degrees munched away 104 km so got some margin. But then boxing day in France thats a working day with raods iced ver no commuting. Wednesday I was surprised to get up to the house in the snow and Ice. I am off today in the afternoon but icy rain left the bike in the car and nice sliding car on the ice to get home gets the afternoon hopes down with the icy rain. Of to spain tonight for the sunshine but 330km to go I really needed that ride today another DNF i guess

Just 100k to do now. Been intresting weather this time lots more snow and ice this year, its made things a lot slower.Black ice made going up hills quicker than going down,On the brakes every 50 meters really started to get to me. Average speed down to 9 Mph using CX bike with 35mm file treads.
Should finish it tonight or tomorrow morning after taking today off to go sledging with my kids.

Completed this morning, 503 road km in 6 days. Didn't sound like our weather is as bad as some tough I've had a lot of wind and had to pick ride runs based on roads that out.

Today probably sums it up the best, left the house in sunshine once temps were up to 7ish, did a little over two hours and managed to have binding sun, hail, fussy wind then fund as the heavens opened a deluge of rain.

Now looking out of the window it is sunny and calm!

Well done to anyone getting out this Christmas, it feels like the mix of weather has made it hard.

308kms done, got a 30km commute home today and then a 70km ride with a mate tomorrow. New Years is going to be a struggle hungover after curry and beer night with friends on 30th.

It’s been slow and tough going with ice, wind and hail on most rides!

88km to go and it's been tough. MTB day today, sensible option given the weather. This is as good as it got. Hellmoor quite literally freezing over.

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This was the point I had to pee on the frozen rear mech.

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Massive kudos to all of you who've completed it in the UK, as the weather has been shite.

another 90km down just 150 to go over the next two days. Snowshill certainly lived upto its name.

Next two days forecast is actually looking pleasant, which after the last few days will be appreciated.

A hard fought 35km in torrential sleet and I'm now within 75km. Forecast is good for tomorrow so looking forward to finishing it off.

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😯

Winter miles, summer smiles eh..

Brave lads, brave.

Here's a few pics from my "never gonna make it" attempt

Christmas Eve 50km to a distillery and back. Last half was 5 whiskies in and into the wind ewww

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9km CX along the Fife Coastal Path on Christmas Day. Hardly any distance but a tough ride

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26th was travelling to see family and 27th was building my new ti hardtail

Yesterday was a lovely day, but due to getting AirBnB guests in I left too late to get a decent ride in as was due to cook my Girlfriend's tea...
However, I did get in 40km along the canal

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Today was meant to be a trip up to Beecraigs Park and to try out the hardtail on some trails, then cycle back along the canal. But tres snowy and the lure of sitting on couch and watching Black Mirror was strong. Train home instead, but did fit in 5km around Arthur's Seat as a detour home from the train station.

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Will get up the Pentlands tomorrow on the hardtail (this evening's boozing dependent) and hopefully a bit on the CX for Hogmany...

I did this for the first time last year and found it hard going due to the wind. Wasn’t going to sign up this year, but my family encouraged me to.
It has been much harder this year. Got behind due to family commitments over Christmas and have been struggling to catch up due to all the ice. I have done at least 90% on cycle paths and it has been mostly treacherous even with spiked tyres, often with a cm thick ice across the whole path.
So today I got to 200 miles, with 100 left to do over the next two days I was feeling knackered but positive - and then I realised that 500 km was more than 300 miles!! Those extra 12 miles seem like a long way at the moment.
I guess I’m lucky I didn’t stop at 300 miles though.

Only 18 miles yesterday due to family commitments. After dark and took the singlespeed because it forces me to stand up and seems to irritate my ankle less. Strangely patchy cold, passing from completely frosted winter wonderland to no frost at all in tens of metres.

Today, other half and I went on what was going o be a medium length pootle to a cafe and back- she's getting over a cold, so it was a 'get some fresh air' ride once the rain stopped. Got onto the downs and it started peeing it down so we made a beeline for the nearest place selling cake and coffee and waited it out before heading back. Rather than another 18 mile day I wandered off and made it to 34. Today on the singlespeed too and it's starting to feel like hard work!

35 miles needed each day now.

Tom's 5th #festive500 is done.

Plane home in the morning, then out on the bikes in the afternoon due to an oversight. He's a few miles short of his first 5000 mile year.

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Pretty icy my way as well yesterday....
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Another 90 km done leaves 100 km or so over the weekend.

Finished today. 89 miles including a short section of walking over a huge landslide!

I'd like to say it's been easier doing it in Gran Canaria and, weather wise it certainly has given the weather the UK has had. But it's bloody hilly out here. You'd struggle to do a ride with less than 2000m of climbing a time!

My heart bleeds. -6 and 4 inches of snow in Scotland.

It must have been hell for you.

It must have been hell for you.

It was.
But I suffered out here so you didn't have to!

managed to do a little today on the mtb, a lot of fun but going to need to be the road to finish things off. Only 110km to go so definitely doable but with the snow, slush and heavy rain and wind forecast the biggest problem is going to being able to persuade anyone to go out for a ride. I enjoy solo rides, but when the weather is so shit its nice to have someone to share the misery with!

Aye solo rides becoming tough in this weather I've done 406km solo and 6km with company. I'll get 60odd in tomorrow solo. Then finish off on hogmanay in company
Bloody glory hunters.

Just back from my after-dinner 93km reverse training loop, as one does after two days off. Faster than Boxing Day too, on the 1x10 cross bike with bigger tubeless tyres.

So 200kn to go. Might race tomorrow and still plan on riding the M25 on Sunday, which is a 05:15 start to be back in time to take Son1 back to uni for his New Year's Eve party.

I really pity some of the weather conditions shown on here. Cold and damp, but no ice and snow (yet).

FINISHED!!!!!

Started in Temps above 0 for the first time. Soon hit freezing fog and sleet, for 2.5hrs of riding. Feeling tired now and wondering what to do with the second week of the holidays.

Did an extra 80km today cos, y'know, holiday, nice weather, good company and amazing scenery... 😉

Make the most of it! Might even have time for another 50km tomorrow morning before packing the bike up and heading home to the cold, wet & dark of the UK...

I'll have to find things like tights and waterproofs which I haven't needed for the last 10 days!

Done another 95, so only 60 for tomorrow.

Quite staggering the difference between yesterday and today.

Snap! 95km done today leaving 60km to finish it off tomorrow, looking forward to it finishing it now.