You are reading a single comment by @maffyoube and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
maffyoube
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