The Rapha Festive 500

Yep. (Except I'll be at work)- but happy to organise some.

That certainly used to be true, but the path maintenance people have done a lot of work recently and these days as long as you have decent tyres you will be fine. I’m really looking forward to riding my hardtail there is whatever the weather throws at me.

I did part of it a couple of months ago on CX bikes +1 Hardtail with very light rain. My group had over 2hrs worth of punctures in 50k.

I had none contrastingly on 33c tyres and tubes.

as long as you have decent tyres you will be fine

700x20mm diamond tread, yeah?

Nobby Nic and a Hans Dampf for me.

I have Racing Ralphs? for the Inbred.

Ugh don't mention the Inbred. I pine for my old one errydai.

I'm gonna treat mine to new brakes at some point. I'm out of Magura pads and I'm sick of those bent, rattling bastard brakes. waves at Shimano

I have Racing Ralphs? for the Inbred.

They should be ok, little bit slidey as a front tyre but I'm sure you're cat-like handling skills will make up for that.

^ those were the standard stock bike issue Shimanos, M445 or something (£40 for the set I think) and they were pretty good for that price.
However, I have gone for SLXs for my new build and I know they work. So, kinda rate Shimmys.

I'm gonna treat mine to new brakes at some point. I'm out of Magura pads and I'm sick of those bent, rattling bastard brakes. waves at Shimano

I have a full set of these if you want them?

Bit overkill for my shopping bike, no? :)

I’ve been meaning to switch out my Rocket Ron/Racing Ralph set up for something chunkier this winter.

Are you putting the Nobby Nic on the front or rear? And why?

Last winter I ran a Nobby Nic on the back and a Magic Mary on the front, at the moment I’m running NN on the back and a Hans Dampf on the front and seeing how I go. On the Scalpel over summer I ran Rocket Ron on the back and a Hans Dampf front, but will admit that I’m just feeling my way with tyres.

The Minion DHR’s on my trail bike shit all over the Maxxis (apart from maybe the Magic Mary) in terms of grip - but also rolling resistance.

I think that night goes down as possibly my worst experience on a bike.

I'm thinking of doing this challenge over Xmas, who is with me?

https://www.pvsevents.com/festivefuckall

Say No To Junk Miles

Upload your rides to our non-existent Strava group

I get that its a joke, but I don't think its fair to say its one big old willy waving competition.

At least it isn't for me or for my friends.

I did it for myself last year, had some of the best riding I have done, with good company and I enjoy the challenge.

that's true, I did it back in 2012 when you still got the cloth badge to sew on your swimming trunks and yes I also did it for myself and enjoyed the feeling of achievement.

However like many things there is a large portion of bellendery going on around it too

:)

willy waving competition

It's definitely this, for the most part. But that's not to say there's not enjoyable aspects to it. I've used it through the years to encourage me to do something other than sit around sinking piss for a week straight, moaning about how fucking cold it is.

The people who willywave during the F500 also do it during the rest of the year as well. It's not like these bros are board members of Wheels for Wellbeing and then come out of the woodwork on their Stiners and gram their muddy eTap for just 6 days a year.

Winter riding is my favourite, and I would ride the challenge if I could. But then again who knows, maybe I am myself a 365 dickhead

yeah i think dickheads are dickheads year round, F500 is fun.

I did f500 last year and all went well, then headbutted the planet after losing it on some ice while riding in January. I wasn't out because of some arbitrary fulfilment of a km goal, i still thought to myself "theres no ice", until i was sliding on my chin hah.

I think getting irrationally annoyed at people riding round christmas so much that you make you own counter event is a bit wierd.

Maybe i too am a 365 dickhead.

I broke my leg hitting a patch of ice on a ride :( All I've decided from that is pay closer attention to the temp and take it easier on the decents.

There is merit in almost every criticism of Rapha. Like you say though that event smacks of someone who is upset with something but which at the core is not about a clothing brand.

By the way @Biggles567 those Kinlin wheels you sold me are fucking awesome. Thanks again for a great wheelset at a good price

I have done it two or three times and generally enjoyed it. It is like lots of things in cycling, you can make it as willy wavy as you want. I don't think it is any more or less silly than veloviewer for example, they are all primarily just challenges against yourself. One year I even did quite a bunch of it around RP and enjoyed that too. It was warmer than the countryside, there were lots of people to talk to, there was the cafe. I'll try it again this year but actually think it will be quite a challenge this time.

Was better when it started the day before Christmas Eve