The Rapha Festive 500

Right. Done. Third times a charm etc. A brilliant and ridiculous challenge.

Yesterday's cyclocross stage meant I'd shredded my front disc pads so had to call on the summer bike to get over the line today. Was a nice treat but I'll be glad to get back to mudguards and disc brakes soon.

Well done to everyone that is there, best of luck to those still chasing. Stay safe.

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upto 442 now. only 165 of those outside. all this zwifting better make me rapid

Done.

24th: 126km
25th: 50km
26th: 100km
27th: 70km
28th: 71km
29th: 50km
30th: 39km

Now to have a dinner of cheese and wine.

134km today with a few clubs mates to bring my total to 472. Mam Nick in the snow was fun. Easy spin tomorrow and I’m done.

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All done here too.

200k outdoor
300k turbo

Unremarkable, but good to have got some base miles under the belt. Well done to everyone else, especially those grinding it out in wintry conditions.

My 4 long days included lots of Regent's Park. Uninteresting but it helps motivation during the 10 - 15, laps you're likely to have done, as I did, and found chasing faster riders kept my speed up.

Front loading mileage is also the way to go. Choosing flattish routes is also a great win!!!

Keep going mate. Good to see your posting and glad you younger guys suffer as much as oldsters.

Holy shit. I thought the chill in central London on Tuesday was bad enough

glad you younger guys suffer as much as oldsters.

I don’t know about as much. You seemed to have breezed it and I must say I’m struggling.

Tim and Boru - Friends of Herne Hill ( and superstar coach ) , have done the 500 in one hit down at the track .... ! 1,111 laps .... ‘kin ‘ell .... !

Weather wise this felt like one of the easier ones I’ve done in London. Not a sniff of ice anywhere.

Trying again.

Good to hear from you.

Glad some of you young bucks found it as testing as I did

It was maybe 5 years ago? I last saw you. Did you say you were moving out of London?
Hope you’re safe and well!

If you're still in/near Putney I'm inclined to say how about a Richmond Park spin? You'll gave to promise to go easy on me!!!

I'm in Acton these days

Tried a Specialized power yet?

I am, yes. Once things are a bit calmer, I’ll hold you to that.

Weather wise this felt like one of the easier ones I’ve done in London. Not a sniff of ice anywhere.

A 6:30am lap of Rutland Water on Xmas Day left me crunching through long frozen puddles like an ice-breaker. In the dark. It was quite fun.

I’ve got 3 of them :/
Best I’ve tried so far and fine for my normal riding but a 170k ride earlier this week has proved it’s only fine up to a point

170km is too much, don't ride that far.

Finished. Cold first few hours but gorgeous weather today in Los Angeles.

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I think it was 19 laps. But only the last few were a drag. I had company for the first few and then I drifted around some fast groups and enjoyed a few pace lines. It was a lot more fun than the previous day’s grind out into Essex.

Don’t fancy any more 200s then? Quite enjoyed our last

Done. A really cold and windy last day made for slow going (at least for about 60kms of headwind), but Japan’s winters are dry at least.

Like many, a mix of indoor and outdoor (largely flat) made things a little unspectacular, but it was good to be able to do it again and still manage to be an active parent.

Some shots from the 8 days.

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I like your photos mate

aye those are class. what's riding in japan like ?