The Rapha Festive 500

Brötchen Tour.

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Of the people on yesterdays ride the only ones to hit the deck were those with brakes ;-) Id have been happier on the cross bike though, and will probably use it for the rest!

woke up thinking 'i can smash this 170km over 3 days'. walked outside and noticed my entire road was a mixture of black ice, real ice and ugliness. I can just imagine what the lanes of essex will be like.

chapeau to those out riding today, i'm not risking breaking anything else this year

Low tech feet-warmer method which works for me when sub zero ...

Foot -> Sock -> Sandwich bag -> sock -> Sandwich bag -> Shoe

You may laugh, but try it and see ;-)

is it safe to go out yet?

No.

Back to bed, then.

Same recipe for me, with Merino socks.

http://www.npo.nl/holland-sport-special-luik-bastenaken-luik/30-04-2014/VPWON_1221976

Make sure your legs are warm otherwise that warm blood won't be so warm by the time it gets to your feet. I'm considering winter tights over my bibs + roubaix leg warmers.

I wore non cycle specific gloves today which meant toasty hands. Tried a layer of cling film between socks but no real help. Still frozen. Also still 140km to go. Achievable if I want it I guess.

Isn't that debunked a while ago?

Yes it is, stop being picky.

(Assuming you're in SW)

If heat's being lost, the total heat is gonna go down, and the feet are served by the same blood flows...

Oh noes...

412km...

Was -3.3 degrees this morning in Hyde Park, but my feet were fine: summer shoes, summer socks, neoprene overshoes. Might try to finish this off tomorrow.

http://www.strava.com/activities/234145735

Was very icy out in Essex today. Had today earmarked as a "big" day, with a planned trip to the Blue Egg cafe. Reached down for some water after 50km, only to realise I had gone out with zero bidons.

Nearly wiped out on some ice a few minutes after that, and decided that today was not going to be my day.

Came back to London, had a sandwich and a drink, then smashed it r0und Regents with a stranger for a bit.

Still managed 140km in total, taking me to about 75%. Looking doable.

File under "Tales of Epic Suffering and Forgotten Bidons".

http://www.strava.com/activities/234172675

We planned to go out in the Chilterns today, but I canned it for safety reasons - neither of us can afford a nasty spill at the moment. 30 miles of Regents park, then. Easy miles I guess.

Went over to the New Forest today, some ice in the lanes, and quite thick ice where the water runs off the fields over the road surface, but we were fine - unlike some chaps on MTB's who had a spill coming down to a ford.

http://www.strava.com/activities/234181413

I have ~30km to go, me Julie has 130, I expect I'll keep her company though.

I find dropping down a gear and spinning a higher rpm for a min warms my feet up.

Too much mashing can make them ache, then go numb.

#protip

I'll try that tomorrow.

[upsetting picture]

You need to find a way not ending up like that - the viscious circle is on.

*closes tab*

Thanks for the nightmares.

Two of my toes went blue yesterday whilst out in Kent. Don't see me ruining threads with pictures of them