Cycling UK Forum

I couldn't find a thread devoted to the 2018 Rapha #Festive500 "event" so lets hear what you've been up today so far this Christmas period.

Personally my own journey started on Christmas Day when I drove from Lincolnshire to Cornwall to start my holidays, Boxing Day, day one of my effort to go 500km this Christmas started with a ride to Land's End, St Michael's Mount and St. Ives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBC1IoGtm0

Would love to do something like this but too many family commitments. Did do a few utility runs and dodged the traffic! Actually got out yesterday for two hours to clear the head. For once it’s not icy or blowing a gale. Cornwall looks great, thanks for sharing.

So far, so good.
Christmas Eve 100 km, early puncture meant I didn't get to the planned cafe so changed the route a bit.
Christmas day 55 km, I usually go up into the Peak District in the morning, but half way and the fog was so thick it felt unsafe and unpleasant, so I turned around.
Boxing Day 70 km deliveroo and laps while waiting for orders... not the most fun riding but it all counts#
Have friends over for lunch today, may fit in a a short ride this evening. Tomorrow is the last full day I have to ride, so weather permitting I'll get a long one in.
I've entered every year since 2012 with one I didn't complete in 2014 when it snowed on Boxing Day and I didn't get out again. It's a bit of fun and I like a badge, but it doesn't demonstrate anything other than having a lot of time on my hands...
https://www.strava.com/athletes/1491591

djrikki wrote:
Personally my own journey started on Christmas Day when I drove from Lincolnshire to Cornwall

I don't wish to be funny, but surely that doesn't count?

3 rides done, 330km in Austria/CH so only 170km to do when I get home spread over 3 days. Hopefully the weather will be kind enough to get the distance in.

I did it a couple of years ago and enjoyed it but I feel that devoting every Xmas week to doing even more miles than usual is unlikely to lead to domestic harmony!

The end of Day 4 and we've done 256km so far (doing it with the wife) so we are on target to complete it. 96 km on Christmas Eve, nothing on Christmas Day, 60 km on Boxing Day, including timing our club 10 mile TT, and another 100 km today.

I agree that the time required gets in the way of socialising with family, so I don't think I'll do it again after this year.

I had a stinking cold until right before Christmas so I've yet to see some of my family (and enough presents to carry to rule out doing it as an epic cycle ride) so there's just not enough days spare to ride that far at my current reduced speed! Good luck to those who can but isn't Strava the only entry route anyway?

mjr wrote: isn't Strava the only entry route anyway?

No

Those who like to ride with a GPS head unit can sign up on Strava while riders who prefer to log their kilometres by more traditional means can pick up a #Festive500 brevet card from your local Clubhouse.

despite saying you need to collect a brevet card, immediately below that you can download one
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/stories/festive-500

Or you can just make up your own challenge... These things were in existence in one form or another long before Rapha or Starva.

With him in orders having plans for DIY over the holiday it meant an early start on Christmas Eve to get back to do my helping duties.
7am start using my old commute route to the hospital where I knew there would be some cafes open early enough for a break. 45 miles bagged.

Christmas day we usually ride out to a local pub, only 35 miles but meant an average of 80 over 2 days keeping me on track.

Boxing Day 10, obviously not enough miles so had already come up with a plan; take road bike with me and ride back so another 42 miles bagged.

Today 46 miles bagged out to a popular local cycle cafe, and home via Evans for some cable locks.

Oh and the old shed got demolished and the new erected in it's place as well as other accumulated rubbish, some very tired fence panels skipped alongside the old shed.

PH wrote:despite saying you need to collect a brevet card, immediately below that you can download one
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/stories/festive-500

Thanks for the info. The promos I'd heard or read this year only mentioned the S site. Good to know the Brevet continues.

djrikki wrote:I couldn't find a thread devoted to the 2018 Rapha #Festive500 "event" so lets hear what you've been up today so far this Christmas period.

Personally my own journey started on Christmas Day when I drove from Lincolnshire to Cornwall to start my holidays, Boxing Day, day one of my effort to go 500km this Christmas started with a ride to Land's End, St Michael's Mount and St. Ives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBC1IoGtm0

We may have crossed paths. I rode over to Mounts Bay, to Mousehole, St Buryan over to Land's End Airport and then down to St Ives, stopping off to take a look at Pendean lighthouse.

horizon wrote:

djrikki wrote:
Personally my own journey started on Christmas Day when I drove from Lincolnshire to Cornwall

I don't wish to be funny, but surely that doesn't count?

Yeah, if you read the full post, I said I drove down on Christmas Day. Cycling didn't start until Boxing Day and then again today.

whoof wrote:

djrikki wrote:I couldn't find a thread devoted to the 2018 Rapha #Festive500 "event" so lets hear what you've been up today so far this Christmas period.

Personally my own journey started on Christmas Day when I drove from Lincolnshire to Cornwall to start my holidays, Boxing Day, day one of my effort to go 500km this Christmas started with a ride to Land's End, St Michael's Mount and St. Ives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlBC1IoGtm0

We may have crossed paths. I rode over to Mounts Bay, to Mousehole, St Buryan over to Land's End Airport and then down to St Ives, stopping off to take a look at Pendean lighthouse.

I guess that's more than likely I pretty much encircled that small piece of Cornwall; sounds like you went Clockwise - I went anti-Clockwise on Boxing Day.
To be fair I didn't see many cyclists out on Boxing Day.. maybe you were just pushing up that final bump out of Mousehole; turning right. I stopped at the 'unvarnished' garden gates to take a look across at the Ocean view as someone on a bike went past me. Incidently you'll see the unvarnished gates in my latest video on YouTube as I stopped there yet again to admire the view.

Day Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyfhInxh8h0

Probably give me legs a day off tomorrow; it's pretty hard going in Cornwall. The hills are unforgiving and come from nowhere.