The Rapha Festive 500

well i tried and tried..upside I now live by the Downs and South coast so great roads and climbs, downside bloody windy and floods everywhere..

my 2 attempts

http://app.strava.com/activities/34194981
http://app.strava.com/activities/34038845

a useless 72km and 3000ft...maybe next year i'll manage it!

Try a flatter route?

If someone can provide me with a flat route starting and ending in Plymouth then I'll bust out a century tomorrow.

Ride along the coast

If someone can provide me with a flat route starting and ending in Plymouth then I'll bust out a century tomorrow.

http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Plym_Valley_Cycle_Track-Cycle-Route-58.html

^
Which way is the wind blowing

I've been sticking to the flat stuff but including one alpine ascent at the beginning because I want to beat my PR on it. Today I was 10 seconds off it, yesterday 4 seconds off it.

324Km done, today was horrid- had to abandon my original route as all the roads heading in the direction that I wished to go were flooded.

Ended up doing a sort of out and back through the marshes, 200 watts/22 mph one way, 350 watts/12 mph coming back.

I've never been wetter at the end of a ride, either.

Still! 64% of the Festive 500 done.

Does anyone know if they are doing it next year? Lack of mudguards and a far too comfy bed have limited my milage somewhat! Next year could be better though!

This one hasn't even finished, you're already crying it off and wondering about next year? Try the new Waffa Festive 2013 where you try and ride 5k in the year 2013 for a free pat on the back.

Finally got back to london yesterday. So put the mudguards back on the bike and got the shoe covers.
Todays miles were pleasant.
Not like the others I've done.

Racing tomorrow, will knock out some miles after. Then an 90 on monday should see me on 500.

Neil your CTL must be taking a steep ramp up, with this extra milage your doing.

cue flurry of screenshots and analysis

http://www.cycle-route.com/routes/Plym_Valley_Cycle_Track-Cycle-Route-58.html

Appreciated, but at 10 miles long, a little short. The roads by the coast are surprisingly hilly, too. Guess HTFU is the only way.

I have to work so I've been doing most of mine by riding Regent's Park loops. They're ~4k long and about as interesting as staring down empty filing cabinets.

^ Agreed, in my experience, the Regent's Park loops are only enlivened by the pitying look of the coppers with the guns as you pass them at 2am in the rain for the 11th time. All for a badge - what am I, a Cub Scout?

I'm not doing it for a badge. I didn't bother getting last year's badge and won't bother getting this year's. It's a nice way to break out of my usual total lack of motivation during festive period I find.

My front light died in the park last night. I was worried copper might put a round into me to teach me a lesson..

Cycle path along the river Rhine was mostly closed for cyclists.

Another 53 miles this morning, although it was a struggle to get out of bed and my legs felt like lead weights for the first 20. Saw at least five red kites around Huby, which was nice. You know it's never going to be a good ride when you're counting down the miles till home, although on the upside this is the first ride since coming home that I haven't had to ride through flood-closed roads

Surprisingly few people out over the past few days up here in Yorkshire - there must have been a whippet show or something

^^ That's the biggest swan I've ever seen. Are swans bigger in Germany?

I went swimming today. Actual swimming, as opposed to falling into floodwater swimming.

Will have to make up for that tomorrow.

I have to work so I've been doing most of mine by riding Regent's Park loops. They're ~4k long and about as interesting as staring down empty filing cabinets.

I did one (1) of these today plus 3 laps of the inner circle. My motivation has gone through the floor. I hate riding in Central London for longer than an hour or so but the winds in the lanes are battering me whichever direction I take along them :(

Did 68km today before getting new tattoo.

puts me at around 250km.
Tomorrow Im going to get up early and do another 60km to push me over the 300. Then maybe try for 160km on Sunday with Toby.d

leaving me 40km of RP laps on NYE :)

I'm loving this thread*

*from the warm, dry comfort of my bedroom.

I need to do ~450km tomorrow if I'm going to make it this year.

Another good day today - 56.7 miles (and 4621ft) in Yorkshire including Cragg Vale.

Unfortunately, my phone crashed before the end of the ride so I've 'lost' 23.1 miles as Strava won't count manual entries. Bugger.