The Rapha Festive 500

Can't wait for the inevitable 40 degree days ...

Going to try a gravel version where at least 50% needs to be off-road.

I did pretty much all of last year at regents, which isn't very exciting but fairly easy if you just wanna mash out the miles. Practically turbo

ooh haha that would be hard dayum

Im keen

In. At a leisurely festive pace of course!

Yeah I could be tempted for some winter shoes

SIDI Diablo boots, thick socks and iThermic electrically-heated insoles work for me. For up to 12 hours, anyway. Then I have to recharge the batteries for the heated insoles.

Haven’t done a f500 since I did it in 2016 in one ride. Might try to do the same thing now that I live in Los Angeles.

No patches this year. Not interested

No patches this year.

Oh. Is this confirmed?

Yeah could be down for that

I was thinking this last night, not sure if I’m in do it in one shape. I’ve only ridden over 200 3 times this year.

I’d quite like it on gravel means less ice worries. But alas no bike still at the moment.

This still makes me shudder - Amazing!

I haven’t ridden more than 120k this year. Lol! So it’s doubtful but I could do it I reckon.

@chopsicle 2016 was a vintage year of riding, G 😘 it was single speed, no less.

500 on Zwift? 1 hour+ (~20 digital miles) is absolutely misery, and this is coming from a guy who loves the A21.

I know! That’s what makes me shudder!
@robadob didn’t your eyeballs freeze that night?! 😳

Frozen eyes balls or even the thought that this may have occurred is not appealing.

So 500km on Zwift is both 'lame' and 'misery'

Sounds like my kind of challenge

It was on their website last time. Who knows, they could always reverse their decision, or sell physical patches, but afaik there will be no more free physical patches

Here's some inspiration / tips https://katherinebikes.com/festive500offroad/

That looks moderately horrific. Props to her, braver than I am.

I don't know, it looks fairly dreamy to me. Although, I imagine some of those snow rides were bitter on the bones, but I think I'd turn into a giant kid and wouldn't care.

Depending on the weather I'll try to use less muddy sections. And luckely we seldom have snow during Christmas here.

I might have a crack at doing this at least 50% off-road.

Off-road is a version I've not contemplated until now. Maybe something to do.
Not interested in doing road version any more unless I was in Oz or something and could do some massive, nice weather rides.