The Rapha Festive 500

388 done, zero motivation this morning. I’m not sure I’ve got 112km in me tomorrow, we’ll see.

The couple of times I’ve completed it, in hindsight wished I’d skipped a couple of days which were absolute misery.

388km in December is tremendous anyways

Did a nice casual ride today and turbo yesterday

340km down.
Grey, damp, forgettable "just get it done" ride today.
Long ride Thursday and short one Saturday planned.
Well done to everyone else at it :)

250km ride today to complete it. Glad I don't have to go outside again with that f*cking cold wind.

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Nice one

It's gonna be a fun day today...

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Ouch, I'm out walking the dog in Amsterdam and it's just not nice. Thoughts and prayers.

Haha thanks!

Grim morning, 446kms done, should stumble over the line at some point tomorrow.

Much respect to @MisterTomTom on a super early finish.

@veganjoseph also smashed out the best part of 400 miles fixed yesterday, fucking monster

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^ just saw that on twitter. Chapeau @veganjoseph that is a mental ride!

Weather mingin today but managed to squeeze in another 40... 130 to go....

I tried to embrace the bad weather today and managed to do 120km, the longest ride I've ever done on a fixed gear, only 110km left now!

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👏🏼

Nice going for a day like today!

Good luck with the finishing day !

Nicely done! And great pictures

I’m done, got up late after being out last night and nearly sacked off going out, but the weather forecast for tomorrow is dreadful so glad it’s finished.

Bike needs some tlc

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Great job! Congrats!

If only we could give #rep these days... :)

Is this The World's Most Festive Festive 500?!

Checkpoints:

• 94km - Partridge Lane & Pear Tree Close - Bedford
• 172km - Turtledove Close - Coventry
• 183km - Hen Lane - Coventry
• 187km - Bird Street - Coventry
• 318km - Goldring Way - St Albans
• 350km - Goose Green - Leighton Buzzard
• 383km - Swans Close - St Albans
• 420km - Milk Street - London
• 458km - Ladies Grove - St Albans
• 464km - Lords Meadow - St Albans
• 465km - Pipers Close - St Albans
• 533km - Drummer Street - Cambridge

It was a 31-hour ride with no sleep, one gear (50/18) and 12 Christmas themed roads.

I had numerous segments of feeling great and feeling terrible - I tried to smooth it out by focusing on just cruising along, no thought of the distance or time left to go.

2 years ago, I dreamt up the idea of riding to the streets named after Christmas carol items, in order, to form a 500km+ trip and complete the Festive 500 in one go.

Unfortunately, on that attempt I had my worst ever crash - I lost traction on a patch of black ice, landing head-first on a cattle grid, dislocating my shoulder, smashing up my hip and consequentially being off the bike for almost a month.

Since then it has been rather tame for me in terms of anything ultracycling related - with my longest ride being a mere 220km and dreams of international bikepacking races quashed.

So I am super happy, and relieved, to put this challenge to rest. It was incredibly difficult but incredibly rewarding - at least if I regain function of my knees and ankles I think it will have been.

Strava data: http://www.strava.com/activities/8299102742

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Bloody hell. Incredible job.

Amazing, what an effort.

Amazing! Respect

The most effort anyone ever made to get to Coventry?

Super windy again today, 55km done 55 to go, I will get it over with tomorrow

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