The Rapha Festive 500

It is a fucking chore. I knew I should've flown to Australia for xmas.

Xmas morning around London is a treat. Screw the fam

I would join anyone to do festive 500 preferred place East-South but quite open for good routes, Pm me

Where are you? London is only a bit damp in the arvo... get out early and you're done and maybe dry.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcpvn15h9#?fcTime=1450915200

Well, I think @amey and I are heading out on the 24th to get some early miles in. South of London...

Cool guys, hit me up, I hope I can cope with you guys!

Most of mine will be done around Rutland when staying with family with a 220k back to London via Cambridge. 100k hopefully already done on the 24th should leave me with a day to spare.

I live in SE London but will be at the 'rents from 24th to 26th, which is Daventry, Northants (NN11 postal area).

Your website is slightly different to when I last looked at BBC to be fair - it's similar forecast for Daventry - clear morning and shitty afternoon. So, early start and get the old dearest cooking up lunch for my return!

Boom! Winning

I'm starting to plan some flattish rides....

Yep, a flat 130-150km on the 24th, then a few nifty fifties. Job done.

@amey has a route going out westward from Kingston for the 24th.

Met Office is predicting 48mph gusts for East Kent on the 24th. Went out this morning in what was supposed to be 40mph and got blown around a lot. Hope it calms down otherwise not much chance of Festive 500.

Idea is head to kent via toy's, coffee at Ide hill community shop move towards surrey, sausage roll and coffee at Tanhouse farmshop, box hill for double espresso, cake then to richmond park cafe for a flat white and a croissant.

tl;dr: My coffee machine is broken and stupid amount of caffeine is never a bad idea.

My coffee machine is broken.

Aeropress then.

This:

Idea is head to kent via toy's, coffee at Ide hill community shop move towards surrey, sausage roll and coffee at Tanhouse farmshop, box hill for double espresso, cake then to richmond park cafe for a flat white and a croissant.

has fuck all resemblance to this, from your email yesterday:

I am thinking of doing a Henley on thames ride on 24th via Coombe lane keen? Its about 65 miles return from Hampton court.

The first sounds like a realm of pain with me hanging off the back and dropping like a sack of spuds on every hill.

The second sounds more civilised and we could meet start at mine for coffee and finish at mine for coffee. My new coffee machine should have arrived and be up and running by Thursday.

Write me in, the more people, the less work.

The Henley's while never enjoyable in the winter time would actually be good for this year.

Only problem it can be a trifle boring.

I have also noticed the threat of 48mph winds in Kent, which makes your idea of heading to Toys sound even worse.

Don't you want to watch @amey struggle with keeping two wheels on the tarmac?

it might be fun watching him airbourne, but no

What time are you thinking of riding?

100 miles to Diss in six hours. Problem the train back is £50.

Croissants then sausage roll then cake surely. You're gonna have to rethink the whole route, its totally flawed

I'm with DJ on this: fewer hills the better. For I am heavy, and climbing is pain.

Spending the weekend at Coed Y Brenin, so losing Thursday to work/driving and Monday to driving/laundry... leaves 6 days for 312.5 miles, or 52 miles per day. Back to work on Tuesday so either I'm commuting the whole 25 miles each way for the first time in months or I'll be doing several laps per day in the woods.