Festive 500

CantGetNoSleep

Who is doing it?

Indoor miles count this year although I think 500km on a turbo is more difficult than in the rain but does give you the option

On my side I'm still on the fence. I've had a great year cycling but my last long ride was on Black Friday. Have struggled for motivation in December, missing group rides so just took a bit of a break. Weather near me is miserable too, rain most days and temperatures between 2 and 6 degrees.

But what else would you be doing? I'll decide during the course of today as would need to get a good head start tomorrow

07Lapierre

I'm signed up but given that we have to stay within our county and Coffee shops will be closed...its not as appealing this year.

Feidhlim Dignan

Indoor! Does it really count?

ratracer

I’ve signed up, and planning a 100km spin tomorrow to kick it off, but it’s gonna be a big challenge for me to complete it! I’ll complete my 2020 distance goal tomorrow (5k km), but would be nice to complete this also.

07Lapierre

Feidhlim Dignan wrote: »

Indoor! Does it really count?

Sure does..
"If you are located in an area that does not allow outdoor activity, you may not participate except by means of virtual or indoor activity (i.e., Trainer rides, Zwift, etc.). Please see our blog with information about exercising during a pandemic."

McGrath5

The forecast looks alright tomorrow, going to get out for a 60 to 70k spin.

fat bloke

What is it again? 500km from eve to eve?

CantGetNoSleep

Yes, or six 84k rides and two rest days

fat bloke

Going by the forecast, tomorrow could be a good opportunity to front load a decent chunk of it

dahat

Signed up, made a plan then had surgery.

Plans aborted so it's Festive 5000 cals for me instead.

devonp

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

Yes, or six 84k rides and two rest days

no rest for the wicked.....:D

ratracer

dahat wrote: »

Signed up, made a plan then had surgery.

Plans aborted so it's Festive 5000 cals for me instead.

You can do it!! ......:).


Speedy recovery though.

Agent Smyth

Yes signed up myself for this, it will be the first time doing it and the the first time trying some decent mileage in December

Feidhlim Dignan

07Lapierre wrote: »

Sure does..
"If you are located in an area that does not allow outdoor activity, you may not participate except by means of virtual or indoor activity (i.e., Trainer rides, Zwift, etc.). Please see our blog with information about exercising during a pandemic."

But does it really??

NamelessPhil

Both of us in the house have signed up for it, but we have an 11 year old. I did it last year so it's only fair that he gets first dibs on it this year.

Wishbone Ash

I sign up for it each year but, due to work commitments, I've only finished it once as far as I can recall. I've five 13 hour shifts to work during those 8 days so it's not looking good this year either.

07Lapierre

Feidhlim Dignan wrote: »

But does it really??

Well IMO it should be a “Real World” 500k Challenge. TBH I think doing it on Zwift would be harder as it’s too easy to simply climb off the bike. Whereas in the rear world, if your 50k from home, you’ve no option but to keep going.

nilhg

I'm in for this year again, kicking it off in the morning, we'll see how things go after that.

Chris871

Going to give it a bash this year myself, hopefully take a decent chunk off tomorrow.

Mix of turbo and outdoors for me with work commitments depriving me of daylight hours.

Fann Linn

Just back from a 60 km now. Had all intentions of pushing for 80 to kick it off but the legs were leaden and I took a detour back. Contemplating doing another 60 km early tomorrow morning and then put the feet up for the day.
Happy Christmas to one and all and safe cycling for 2021.

Agent Smyth

Decided to do a 100 today to start this challenge, glad I did but didn't enjoy the return due to the wind
Doubt I'll do the same tomorrow, I'll see how I feel in the morning and if the weather is a bit better

https://www.strava.com/activities/4512391654

07Lapierre

Managed 90k today but damn it was cold! I didn’t start till 12:30 and I was heading North from Kilcoole in Wicklow. A headwind nearly all the way!

I might get out for a few k in the morning, or maybe not as I’ve my feet up and a beer in my hand! Happy Christmas everyone!

secman

Be careful in the morning, best sticking to main roads, a buddy of mine had a spill on a side road this morning and has a fractured arm, spent the day in A&E.
I've bailed out, did it 2 years ago, a tough ask in the Northern hemisphere for sure. Rapha should run one in June to give those southern hemisphere a dose of what its like to do it in winter elements and 7 hours of daylight

siochain

yep signed up and it lands in exactly on my yearly target too so extra motivation to get it done. Hope the weather let's us get most of it done out doors.

Good luck

Biker79

I'm in, starting tomorrow. God help me.

Feidhlim Dignan

Knocked out 133km today. Didn't get going till 11 but what a day, said I'd keep going as the weather was so nice

Agent Smyth

63 Km for me today, not as bad weather wise as yesterday which was a bonus
Really enjoyed the quite roads today compared to yesterday, pity it couldn't be like this more often

https://www.strava.com/activities/4515525557

Happy Christmas everybody, hope you all have a good one

Agent Smyth

Was not looking forward to today with the yellow wind warning but wasn't that bad at all
But unfortunately had little or no NRG in the legs for some unknown reason so unable to make the most of the tailwinds
Anyhow knocked another 68Km off the 500 leaving 268Km for five remaining days

https://www.strava.com/activities/4519152902

mamax

150km done and plan to do 100km tomorrow on zwift cos of the weather so that will leave me 250 to do in 4 days on the road

Agent Smyth

Seems to have turned out quite nice now but early on this morning I felt it was to cold to venture out on the road
So I decided to wimp out and do a 50Km spin on the Wahoo and collect the Garmin badge and the 2 points for indoor training
Hopefully tomorrow is a bit better weather wise but I've a feeling I might be finishing this challenge on the Wahoo
So 218 km left with four days to go

https://www.strava.com/activities/4524174092

07Lapierre

248k done. Hope to get 100+k done tomorrow, 50k on the 29th and finish it on the 30th. That's the plan...but it doesn't take into account the few beers I'll have this evening!

nilhg

330km in the bag, today's 79km was hard earned, wasn't expecting the rain till after 11 but met it at about 10.30, it seemed to stay over us after that all the way home, at least we had a side/tail wind for most of the wet bit.

Hope to knock another bit off tomorrow and finish it out Wednesday or Thursday depending on the weather

Agent Smyth

A 68 Km for me today, luckily the rain only started in the last Km for me
Cold, windy and dead legs made it a chore so thankful the rain didn't effect my spin
150 Km left to do but with the cold and the fact I'm not enjoying the rides, I'm beginning to question the wisdom of this challenge

https://www.strava.com/activities/4528841235

fat bloke

Nothing festive about this 500. 65k of freezing rain and hailstones in Clare yesterday and back in Dublin this morning for a another teeth chattering sopping wet shivering 93km.

07Lapierre

75k today, which brings me to 323klm. 25k short of where I wanted to be today, but with 3 days remaining, it's very doable. I'm working tomorrow so I'll do well to get 50k done. Hopefully the weather on Wednesday is good and I'll get a 100k+ Spin done.

siochain

#raphaunderpressure ain't panning out as planned, 310km to go and the week ahead looks icy ......

RobFowl

342kms in
Legs a bit sore and nothing done today yet (looking at turbo)
70kms Christmas eve
69 Christmas day
100kms Stephens day
100+ yesterday

De Bhál

23 done

Young kids, wine and cheese etc.

Alexzont

fat bloke wrote: »

Nothing festive about this 500. 65k of freezing rain and hailstones in Clare yesterday and back in Dublin this morning for a another teeth chattering sopping wet shivering 93km.

It's a real chore this year, isn't it? Have all the time in the world to knock out the miles but the thought of doing more than 2 hours in that weather makes it a real struggle.

Up around Howth today anyway in fairly miserable conditions. Tailwind never really got going, 62km in just over 2 hours. Saw a few club mates which brightened things up. 382/500, but rest might be on Zwift...

bazermc

Some mighty distances lads.

I’m happy out to do 30 odd km in the park given the lashing rain and 0 degrees temperature

secman

Well done lads, 3 days to finish it, that distance over 8 days in winter is definitely a chore, but you're all on course and can tick it off the bucket list.

thebouldwhacker

Finished mine today, some few days of hard riding but didn't come across any frost. Good luck all🤘

fat bloke

Turned out lovely day today. 111k in the bank, leaving me a leisurely 85 to cover over the next 2 days. Easy Peasy. Should take make hay while the sun shines and head back out now for 3 hours!

Agent Smyth

What a day that turned out to be, 97Km for me had only planned on doing 75 but it was to nice not to make my final ride an easy one (hopefully)
It was also the first ride of this challenge where my legs felt somewhat normal, so looking forward to tomorrows spin

https://www.strava.com/activities/4533915235

07Lapierre

123k remaining. I was working from home today and it was frustrating looking out the window at all the cyclists passing by! I managed to get 50k done after work.....most of it in the dark! :mad:

Weather forecast looks good for tomorrow, so fingers crossed, I get it done tomorrow.

nilhg

90km to go, yesterday's stint in the cold rain left it's mark, today's 80km felt like a bit of a slog at times, we'll see how tomorrow goes, if the roads are OK reasonably early I might get it done if not a nice handy spin to finish it on Thursday wouldn't be the end of the world.

Agent Smyth

That for me was the coldest ride of this challenge, very glad that I only had 54 Km today to finish
Think I'll spend the next few days on the Wahoo till the weather improves slightly

https://www.strava.com/activities/4538541637

Most of the times when I meet another rider when I'm out, the point is usually made about how lucky we are in Dublin to be able to escape the city and head to the hills and Wicklow
Anyhow was on YT the other day and came across this vid and a few others featuring Laura in New York as I went down a rabbit hole
So yes the weather may be cold now, the roads are in bits and there are some drivers that need to learn the rules of the road but at least we can escape the city

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LhnqK_qzs0

Congratulations to everybody who has/will complete the challenge and well done to those who tried

Happy New Year everybody, lets hope 2021 is better than 2020

fat bloke

A swift 100k for me today, 86 of which had me over the line. Was cold up the gap, bit of a freezing fog thing going on so I turned around before the top and went back for lower lands. Wasn't so bad at all then. Cold but dry. Lots of impatient drivers about and lots of silly overtaking when there was no need for it - red lights ahead or driver turning left or right immediately after, that kind of thing. Anyway. Festive obligations over, and actually festive everything over. Stood on the scales today and deserve a slap in the face for what I've done to myself.

07Lapierre

Needed 123k, but miscalculated and did 132k instead! . It was cold out there today and lots of traffic about (where's everyone going?). 12600 for the year, so I think I'll take tomorrow off! Happy new Year everyone and let's hope 2021 is better than 2020!

bazermc

In previous in previous years you could see distance other people did in the app. Doesn’t seem to be available this year?

nilhg

41.5KM today in a spin where my mate had mechanical issues, we got home by the skin of his teeth but by the time we did the clock was against me, 48KM to do tomorrow, on my own in my 5km zone by the looks of it.

This one has been the hardest of the last 5 years, everything that could go wrong seems to have, so I'll be happy enough to see the last of it...