The Rapha Festive 500

Another 50km today and was supposed to leave at 6am tomorrow for Leicester which based on the weather ain't going to happen. Cant take my bike up otherwise so will just have to see what happens over the remaining time.

Rocks and 0 gears makes me happy

3rd photo is awesome.

66k today. That just nudges me over half way and 50k per day to go to the finish. A bit wet tomorrow so will be wearing all the clothes. Trying to avoid riding on Friday as that is currently forecast to be the worst of all. I should be able to get this in the bag as along as I don't get soft.

Got super delayed setting off and didn’t leave till 10:55, not an ideal start to 220km, had a decent headwind for the first 80km but at least it was dry, rain started as I arrived in Salisbury and dived into a Pret A Manger for some real food about 100km in, bit of a phone and garmin charge and was back on the road within 20 minutes, dark and proper raining by this stage but at least the headwind had died down, still 110km to go, and realised I’d be hitting the holiday inn express Taunton at about 9pm missing out on my planned harvester dinner!

No bailout options so kept on trucking, was getting pretty chilly as the rain had saturated my gloves and shoes. First light battery died 12km out from the end but other than a bit of confusion as to why it had got so dark the battery change took a minute and I carried on.

Rolled up to the hotel, I’d arranged for my bike to stay in conference room b and after a quick shower I’m now sat in the bar waiting for a dominoes pizza to be delivered.

Thankfully my saddle bag kept my dry clothes dry and I’m slowly warming up too!

https://www.strava.com/activities/1328392636

#classy!

Bravo!

Good ride Ed

Anyone got any flat route recommendations from south east? Got 100k done in the hills today but it was slow going in the weather!

If it's only getting worse, I might need something flatter / faster to get the Kms done...

Well done Ed impressive stuff I haven’t got that in me at the moment.

It’s so great reading everyone’s efforts

Bar tape got black grime from old north face gloves today but hopefully will wash off. The bike is amazing though makes me smile so much.

Hopefully go out for just a short slow few KM’s tomorrow then meet up with @Pifko on Thursday for a 100 ish

Meon Valley today:

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Whats that big yellow thing!?

Is that the A32? I hope you didn’t Spend too much time on there, it’s a fucking scary road.

Pretty grim out, in Dorset, at the moment. Quite wet and windy.
Lack of childcare means I’ll be in the warm today

13.8 miles into work this morning, it was horrible, driving sleat and rain with gusting winds. Everything is soaking wet and I could hardly open the bike lockers because my hands were so cold.

Fuck bikes and fuck the Rapha 500

Currently on 258 km

Weather looking good tomorrow though!

Supposed to be snowing in Poland. Didn't bother taking any cycling kit.
Motherfucking sun was out, no snow, it was like 14degC, we were walking around the hills in t-shirts.

Hmmmm.

Todays cancelled 80km adds to tomorrows 80km

I am hotboxing the toilet at work with sport smells and burning dust.

commute home will take me to 290km

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Yeah I think I bust one of those dyson air blades this morning. It turns out it don't like having a soaking wet winter cycling shoe jammed in it whilst I was having a shower.

fuck the over priced air blower and its brexit voting master.

Bollocks, its been a lovely day in the Brecon Beacons, now the weather has closed in and its snowing hard, grrrrrr

Not doing anywhere near 500km this year.

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Yep! I’m about to go out to turn the legs over.
I’ve pm’d my number, drop me a txt and can arrange a rendezvous once I’m back.

Another 70k on the clock today bringing me up to 320. Definitely the coldest ride so far but at least its still dry up here.

Going to try and knock out another 70ish tomorrow with a view to skiving of Friday (snow forecast) and making use of the warmer weather at the weekend.

Where is that?