Tom and I did most of it the first year. Each year the route has changed though.

The organisers are lovely people, and the atmosphere of the event is ace. The route varies between road, fast tracks and slow hike a bike.

My top tip is carry lots of water.

We use that regularly, I know no more than you.

<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”>I do know that a farmer uses it, maybe he’s levelled it.</span>

We rode a similar route a couple of years back.

https://www.strava.com/activities/693746802

We used cyclestreets.net for planning.

Matt it was hard and I tried to make it sound harder than usual without being to intimidating. :)

Colin, we were spot on for food stops along the way, not through planning especially. It was great to see the Struy Inn open after passing it closed numerous times before.

Glad you all enjoyed the write up.

Thanks Mark.

Did it last year. We rode to Cramond, camped then rode back next morning.

It’s a quick route, I think Tom and I averaged 25km/h on the outward leg.

Great event. Hoping to be back again this year.

We’re packed and ready to go.

My son has a 29er and loves it. When this pic was taken he was under 5′

We wrote a blog which I tried to post a link to just after the event without avail.

‘Tis here now though – http://minipips.blogspot.co.uk/2018/01/2018-strathpuffer-24-hour-mountain-bike.html

Having done a month trip with Tom in 2016 and 2017 with only one pair of shorts (each).

Baby wipes. Chamois cream with tea tree oil or other anti bacterial. Sudocreme for the evening if any tenderness.

Certainly didn’t shower everyday, more like once a week.

My conclusion with the couple of dicks we came across, is that they liked to think they were awesome, but didn’t actually possess the bike handling skills to back it up. :lol:

Hi bigjim. We have just taken over in the past month and one of the things we are trying to do do is get people to come in instead driving past Signage has seen better days (on the urgent to do list) but inside is now very cosy with a snug bar and log burner in the lounge. Draught beer will be here in a few weeks but we have a very good selection of local beers, a Guinness surger unit, 50+ whiskeys and 15 gins. It’s ace!

I don’t think we’ll call in this weekend, but we’ll endeavour to call in (again) when we do the Highland Trail 550 in May.

£85 to Pollenca one way last year, got the bus back.

£30 each way to the other side of Palma this year.

How much is it to hire a car?

Wrote a few words to go with the pictures I took.

I can highly recommend a Mallorca trip over Xmas. :D

http://minipips.blogspot.com/2018/01/rapha-festive-500-2017.html

Avignon seemed pretty hectic as we passed through this summer. Too touristy in town for us. Lots of nice places around though, and yes Ventoux.

For a true 3 season tent in Scotland I’d say you’d have to be pretty careful with sub 1.5kg tents. A sheltered site is a must, None of the groundsheets will tolerate pointy rocks.

I’ve used the Alpkit Ordos, Force10 Helium tents, and have just ordered a sub 1kg Nordisk. They’ll all keep you dry, but all have their limitations.

I like the look of the Ride to the Sun

We did it last year, a great ride. For logistics, consider riding both ways, that’s what we did.

Tom (minipips) and I had to ride today so he could achieve his first 5000 mile year.

Distance 5,000.7 mi
Time 554h 30m
Elev Gain 355,883 ft

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.

Just 35 km to go now. ;)

It’s been ridden on a CX with file treads, though when Ben won it is was on a FS.

You would take a fair beating on a CX bike imho.

Short travel full susser.

As above go big on Xmas Eve, then do a few Km on Xmas day, you should be over a 1/3 of the way then.

Oh, and Minipips says go somewhere warm. :)

https://pages.rapha.cc/feature/how-to-finish-the-festive-500

We’re off to Mallorca!

The route has changed a fair bit since the first year (which we did some of). But yes, definitely a ride to do with urgency to make the cut offs.

Great vibe, run by some nice people.

From a conversation tonight it looks like there’s a few pals who are thinking of heading out there. ;)

getting enough food could be tricky too.

That was my concern there’s some long distances between resupply.

All part of the fun though.

And to everyone else it’s a total mystery, hence my post asking about it… Maybe someone who finds it obvious could actually make some sort of reference to it rather than just stating how obvious to them it is

Highland Trail 550 – http://www.highlandtrail.net/%5B/url%5D

I was reading up on this earlier, looks good.

Beehive pub, and chippy near opposite.

In New Miils your options are limited.

A few from this year’s trips.

Top of the Highland Trail 550

Dropping of the Galibier on our 3000 mile 1955 Tour de France trip.

Early morning on the Lakeland 200

Bothy trip in the Borders.

One more from Scotland.

Because of school holidays we had an early weekend up in the Lakes.

http://minipips.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/some-lakeland-hills.html

Minimum of 6mph needed to charge a battery. Hire some lights from exposure.

Supported vs unsupported, yeah whatever.

Doing that sort of mileage on consecutive days is nails.

Without an figures as to profitability I go and look at the advance bookings on their website, then run away.

My big concern this time of year would be snow.

https://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/France/Chamonix_snow.html

As for the route, there are lots of variants, though carrying/pushing your bike is unavoidable.

You still in Hayfield Rich?

Yep, come over, it’d be good to see ya.

Thanks for posting those, my babies are now 12 and 15. What happened to Andy Champion?

Solo again for Tom. :)

We did it a few years back. Sold the house, bought a camper and drove round Europe for 6 months with a 2 year old and a 5 year old.

Do it. We had a great time.

Thanks Folks.

Brian – Top 20 is his plan. ;)