The Rapha Festive 500

you've got mail.

^ But no discount code :(

Its on strava .. http://www.strava.com/challenges/362

Signed up, although will be a tough task for me considering I've never even ridden a century. Still... Wouldn't be a challenge otherwise! Got a month to cut the cigarettes and get myself in some sort of appropriate shape

Planning a 60/70km ride on xmas eve followed by 140km from Essex (parents house) back to Brighton (where I live) on 26th/27th, where I can hopefully push for the remaining 300 with the uni team as I believe a few of them are onboard

P.s. Calling @vneilv - if you're up for this when I get back into Brighton I'll (hopefully) be raring to go

Doesn't feel that long ago since the last one. Bloody hell

Gonna do my first festive 500 this year.. really looking forward to it

Going to be my first one (at least proper attempt) too. Back in the Essex countryside for the Christmas period and have an accomplice. Aiming for 150km on the 24th and then build off that.

@nick.earthloop, you still on track to do this in one ride?

Its 312 miles. I am aiming to do it in 3 century-ish rides this year; anyone up? I am SW London.

My tentative plan is:
Ride 1: Somewhere in Oxfordshire and back
Ride 2: Blue egg cafe loop
Ride 3: Visit Velo House in Turnbirdge Wells for a coffee

I'm up for one or more of those, but am slower than you.

If anyone is riding on Christmas Eve in the Harlow/Epping/Loughton general area, let me know as I'd love to tag along and get some company to get a reasonable chunk of the 500 done before the 25th

I could do the blue egg loop on 24th ..

Could work nicely, the entire route is probably too long for me so I'll join you in Harlow and do as much of the loop with you as I can before (heading back/getting dropped/having a seizure)

Nope, I've picked up an overuse injury on my ankle, and it's taken a long time to heal. I've only just worked back up to doing my commute fixed 5 days a week, stupidly long rides are still a way off.

I'm riding from ondon to Colchester early Christmas morning, if anyone fancies it? Also looking to join some longer rides from London on Other days if there's any going...

3rd time lucky for me hopefully.

GPS error lost 120k for me last year and with it my motivation.

Garmin for this year

I'll be in Colchester so would be up for riding out to meet you and then riding back. Miles are miles.

If its raining, snowing or icy I'm not doing it

Ollie I could be up for Xmas eve run. Heading out from woodford so Loughton is doable

Anyone got a daily distance breakdown in mind?

I was thinking: 100, 60, 60, 80, 40, 60, 40, 60

I usually try and do five rides of 100km each. It's an achievable distance and allows for a few 'spare' days if I can't be arsed or I'm hungover or the weather conditions are bordering on dangerous.

Although last time, I ended up about a mile short and had to go out and cycle round the block on the last day!

My approach has been 50km every day. Find the smaller rides are more doable than big hitters. If you miss a 100km one, the pressure is on you to really make it up. If the weather goes to shit, it's even harder

That sounds good. How far out do you want to come? Know a good route? You'll be catching me at the end of a long ride so you may need to throw Jelly Beans in my mouth and tow me...

I'll have a whip round the house for jelly beans. Wasn't planning a massive one on Christmas day but would be happy to come out 40km or so towards london for towing duties etc. Never ridden London-Colchester but have got a route on the basis of strava's best estimates.

http://www.strava.com/routes/56758

That'd be awesome. A little company would make it easier.