The Rapha Festive 500

Cat 3 and it's not even 2013 yet. Most organised of you.

Yeah farkin wet out there and blowy. Should've stayed in bed.
#justacouplemoreyearsbeforethatspanishvillaismine

#justacouplemoreyearsbeforethatspanishvillaismine

If you can't afford it now, you'll never be able to afford it. :)

74 miles still to go. Arseholes to this. Hit an invisible pothole in the dark and the wind and the rain this evening and couldn't face fixing it so just rode it home flat. That'll teach you, bike. That'll teach you.

My girlfriend lives in Alresford, and if she allows me to bring the bike down next week, I think I'm going to have to steal one one of your recent garmin routes and check out what all the fuss is about!

(...and learn it from google maps...)

You're welcome to borrow my Garmin if you want?

I'll create a course for you, the Meon Valley/Temple Valley area is really beautiful.

My girlfriend lives in Alresford, and if she allows me to bring the bike down next week, I think I'm going to have to steal one one of your recent garmin routes and check out what all the fuss is about!

(...and learn it from google maps...)

Grab the route from this one: http://app.strava.com/activities/34185721

Go clockwise, and when the course crosses over go straight across.

Heading out to RP>Windsor - then either box hill or just back to RP.

Will be between 100-160km to get me within spitting distance of 500km

I'll probably be doing laps of RP tomorrow, say hello if you spot me on my Boardman.

Boardman? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I want to see the dale.
But will do, is that how you're finishing your mileage off?

Dunno, depends if I get bored. Dale is in bits currently.

Grab the route from this one: http://app.strava.com/activities/34185721

Go clockwise, and when the course crosses over go straight across.

Thanks! It might be impractical for me to take the bike down, but if I do bring it I'll definitely do this route :)

No worries, and I did of course mean anti-clockwise

^ Speaking of which I was out on Friday and did 8 laps of RP. I can confirm two things: anyone capable of doing laps like that on a consistent basis has my ultimate respect, and two: clockwise is definitely harder/slower.

I'd like a forum ruling by the way. I did 130 miles on the 21st. I'm not allowed to count that towards the R500 am I? Because if not then I'm definitely fucked to get to the 500k mark. I hate rules!

Fuck the rules!

A couple of years ago there were no rules. Progress I suppose.

Progress my butt!

The Rapha Festive 500 is fun idea, but whether or not you're accredited for your milage doesn't matter shit.

Fuck the rules. Just ride.

Fuck the rules and fuck getting a little round bit of material. This is a great idea if you like losing the sensation in your toes and projectile vomiting festive foodstuffs.

I just got partially-digested alcohol-soaked turkey and stilton all over my overshoes #festive500.

Wallop.

Fuck the rules and fuck getting a little round bit of material. This is a great idea if you like losing the sensation in your toes and projectile vomiting festive foodstuffs.

I just got partially-digested alcohol-soaked turkey and stilton all over my overshoes #festive500.

I was sick in my mouth today riding back from Box Hill, of all the stupid places to vom after, ffs. Luckily I managed to re-swallow it before it went anywhere near my beautiful bike and / or clothes.

Frankly the crappy patch is the only thing keeping me grimly hanging on at this point.

527km completed. Even with strava / GPS glitches costing me 80 odd km's. Richmond park and box hill laps for the week, still didn't get as boring as I thought it would.

Wallop.

527km completed. Even with strava / GPS glitches costing me 80 odd km's. Richmond park and box hill laps for the week, still didn't get as boring as I thought it would.

Well done chaps.

I'm at 435km after todays ride with Toby out to Windsor (which is a cracking ride).
That's it for me - don't have time or the inclination to try and bang out the remaining 75km tomorrow.

still not too bad.

I'm 68 miles away from 5,000 for the year, struggling to find the motivation to get on the bike tomorrow.

Looked out for you today but didn't see you.

Lots of new bikes out today in RP - not sure how fun laps would've been

It was nice to just see people out, after doing the first 300km solo and seeing very few cyclists in Norfolk.

I did three laps of RP, then 4 of Regents, then headed home via Dulwich park just to hit my target:

http://app.strava.com/activities/34766519

Far from fun miles, just trying to keep the wheels turning.