Festive 500 2022

nicksnikita

500Km between Xmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Who's in?

I've signed up, but with less than 1000Km in the legs all year and a wedding the 28th/29th, it's looking dodgy. I'll chance it anyway...

dahat

600k short of 15,000km for the year so I’ll attempt it anyway. Mrs not overly pleased about a 4hr spin Xmas Eve so that will be done on the turbo early doors (7am).

nilhg

Weather permitting a few of us will give it a go outside, as long as there's no ice we should be grand but the turbo is there as a fall back I suppose.

Macy0161

Never really seen the attraction of it tbh, even though I've more hope now the children are older - I'd get my 4 hours in before the teenagers are even up!

fat bloke

I always give it an ol college try, though I often miss the mark a bit. 400 odd is easy enough to get. Getting the 500 is another story especially given that, for me at least, Christmas eve and Christmas day are out, so you're really looking at 5 consecutive 100k spins in likely-poxy weather.

Anyway, it's always a good challenge and if nothing else I find it encourages you out a little bit more than you otherwise might.

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120017082#Comment_120017082

This exactly. Two kids in the house, wife working Christmas week, various people visiting/being visited, it would be like working a job for me to try and make time for this🤷‍♂️

at1withmyself

I registered alright but after last year's dismal 0km, I'm confident I can beat that but the 500km will be a far reach

07Lapierre

Got to 450k last year. Just couldnt motivate myself to do another 50k on NYE. So went home and had a beer instead!

PringleDemon

Indoors shouldn't count . To make it a proper challenge it should all be out doors .

Abandoning the family at Xmas should be right of passage for any aspiring roadman doing the 500 .

stevencn88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120020767#Comment_120020767

I feel like it would be a lot more difficult to do on a turbo tbh. Trying to get the motivation to do 100km in a week inside is torture at the best of times, let alone 500!

Macy0161

Only year I got close was last year, and that was because I got out for spins. Not that the family see me disappearing to my turbo as any different from going out for a spin anyway.

beggars_bush

I'm in. Hopefully the weather will co-operate

dahat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120020767#Comment_120020767

What a load of nonsense.

Roadman - this terminology died last few years with the growth of Zwift/Trainerroad.

NamelessPhil

Got it done last year, a particular highlight was cycling from Dublin to Belfast on little back roads for most of the way and then the Newry Canal and Lagan towpath to get into Belfast.

I think I might try the turbo option this year...

PringleDemon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120022055#Comment_120022055

Nonsense indeed . Zwift is far from real life , the effort involved is much less than trying to replicate on the roads.

All it does is massage the fragile ego's of those fearful of a proper road spin .

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028039#Comment_120028039

Jaysus, you're a barrel of laughs.

Remind me again. This Festive 500, is it a semi-pro/pro invitational race? Or maybe it's a race with a large entry fee?

Oh, no. That's right. It's a marketing tool that has evolved into a completely free, open to everyone, Christmas time fun activity 😂😂😂

Would you go way with your proper road spins and fragile egos. How does people completing it in whatever fashion make an iota of difference to you🙄

iwillhtfu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028039#Comment_120028039

I'm not sure I'd go for the throat quite that badly but he does have a point.

Zwift is great for getting the wok done but for an endurance challenge through what's usually some of the shittiest weather it's not really comparable.

In saying that if I do take part it'll like be split between zwift and outdoors. The trainer just makes it easier to jump off and be down stairs than to roll in the door 2 hours after the time you said you'd be back. 😂😂

nicksnikita

I’m gonna ride the Supersix Evo this year as opposed to the aluminum Trek 1500 SLR. Both rim brake.

I’ve had the Evo over a year but I’ve never nailed down my position on it. So I’ll either do that over the next week and keep it or consider selling it on after Xmas (different saddle and longer stem ready to go on it if required during the week).

Clip-on mudguard only - could be an issue.

Winter bikes or otherwise for ye boys?

Macy0161

And they say road cycling can be elitist...

A (Rapha) badge of honour for abandoning the family and going out in crap weather to all the "roadmen" (which in itself is probably a bit misogynistic)

magicbastarder

I've never had any interest in doing this. Too much on usually. Friends to see.

I had a go about 4 years ago I think it was and a cold Christmas morning spin to Navan and back which I enjoyed did make me question myself. I cycle for the joy of it and the fitness being a happy coincidence so as such I've never gone well with targets and goals, I'll leave those for work where I'm paid to care for them.

To each their own though, what another gets out of cycling or how they want to go about it is for them. The main thing is you enjoy it and like anything in life not become a slave to it.

dahat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120028039#Comment_120028039

Proper road spin - go way will ya.

Indoors provides a safe environment for cycling in all weathers or for folk to scared to play chicken with cars for 4hrs.

fat bloke

Winter weather = Winter bike all the way.

I dunno how all of a sudden endurance spins on a turbo are considered easy? Anything over an hour on an indoor trainer is hard as fcuk, I'd much rather do it outdoors if at all possible.

Anyway, half the planet gets to do their festive 500 in balmy summer temperatures, so whatever works for you. If you do 500km indoors you've earned your badge!!!

dahat

I’ve knocked out more than enough 4hr turbo spins & I can tell you now 4hrs on the road for endurance is the easier option.

Anyway I’m set for day 1, likely to leave at 7.30am to try avoid Mrs & Mrs frustrated car driver as much as I can.

G1032

I spend my fair share of hours on the turbo (well did at least but riddled with colds / and throat infections for what seems like months now) but I never used Zwift.

Can someone who uses Zwift explain this to me .............

'Kilometers' traveled on Zwift always seem hugely inflated to me and don't represent a kilometer traveled outside on an Irish road.

Just looking there at a Strava activity from a mate of mine.

He's 80kg at least. He has a group ride (not a race) up on Zwift from a couple of days ago and it says he averaged 38km/hr at 217 watts average. Power is relatively consistent throughout. There is no group ride you can do on an Irish road what will allow you clock up nearly 40km in an hour at 217 watts and 80kg. It's just impossible.

Squidgy Black

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120030856#Comment_120030856

It can depend on the route you pick, some of them are pan flat or even mostly descents. In those cases it’s more like the equivalent of doing laps of a closed race track than out on the road I guess. Plus if it’s a group ride zwift has drafting, which they say is up to 25% power saving, ie someone doing 225 watts in the draft of someone is the equivalent to 300w

CantGetNoSleep

There's no slowing down for traffic, junctions, needing to take care in the peloton, anything like that. No head winds either. I could probably do the same distance for the same amount of effort on a closed road in a large group. Not sure what my average speed on Zwift is but I'd guess it is 32-34kmh. There's no chance on a solo ride on open roads though - would be more like 25kmh for the same effort.

As said above though, anything above 90 mins on Zwift is tough going and I definitely wouldn't fancy doing 500km in a week on it. It'd be a two hour spin every morning but I wouldn't find it easy or enjoyable.

I've abandoned my festive 500 effort due to a cold but was hoping to get about 120km done today, then finish it off with two 70kms on Zwift and two more outdoor spins

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120031081#Comment_120031081

And that there in a nutshell is the problem for me with logging miles on Zwift. Not a hope in hell does anyone anywhere save 25% power by drafting and we're not going to get a downhill route and end up back home (impossible).

All that said, I'm not for a minute suggesting that turbo isn't difficult. I know only too well. I'm saying it's a stretch at best to think that 50 or 100km logged on Zwift is actually 50km or 100km.

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120031146#Comment_120031146

Maybe you could but I for sure couldn't. I've raced around in enough Pelotons to know I'm not ever covering 40km in an hour at 220 odd watts (@72kg). It's just not going to happen. Unless these Pelotons on Zwift are huge and one can sit in for the hour and never go up a hill then maybe it's possible but I have my doubts

dahat

As a regular user of Zwift I totally disregard avg speed & distance covered. It’s just too unrealistic when you analayze it.Avg / NP with HR with time spent on the saddle are metrics to focus on.

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120031268#Comment_120031268

Exactly!! So a festive 500 on Zwift can't be done with any great accuracy I assume?

Isn't it highly unlikely one won't have actually covered 500km ?

I've seen too many activity files on Strava where, like you say, the distance or avg speed are just pie in the sky numbers.

dahat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120031531#Comment_120031531

3hrs 40 on turbo last week NP 271

4hrs 10 on radio today NP 250

not far off in terms of effort but as festive 500 is a distance thing then yeah it’s better done outdoors for accuracy.

G1032

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120031698#Comment_120031698

How on earth do you do nearly 4hrs on the turbo? I think the most I've ever done is 2h15 and that was something I said I'd never do again 🤣. Fair play to you. I could never do it

dahat

Only when weather is horrid would I do near 4 being honest. Took a chance a few years back on icy roads and broke a shoulder so never again.

nilhg

So, I went outside and rode my bike today, it was dry for the first half, till just after our coffee stop, then it was wet, very wet at times but we all got home safe and sound.

I've the first 118 kms of the Festive 500 done, I'm hoping I'll get the rest done outside but sure if I have to fill in a few KMs on the turbo it won't be the end of the world, better to be riding a bike somewhere than not riding at all.....

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120032105#Comment_120032105

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120031537#Comment_120031537

I'd rather dig a hole/work a kango/break rocks etc etc than pedal on a turbo.

It definitely great physiological training but it's missing all that great about in terms of enjoyment (being outside, scenery, new roads, camaraderie etc) and all that cycling throws at you when outside away from the comforts of your garage 😃.

I'd have great admiration for the discipline lads have to do a long workout on a turbo; I've struggled to finish a bike fitting

beggars_bush

Off to a good start today.

90km on the board before 10am

nicksnikita

100 torturous km done on the rollers.

Weather was atrocious all morning so decided to stay indoors.

devonp

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120032242#Comment_120032242

fair dues !! most i can do on the rollers is 35Km or an hour give or take ...torture indeed

stevencn88

127km down between outside this morning, and 2 hours on Zwift this evening. Leaves me 150km short of 10,000km for the year too.

nicksnikita

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120032304#Comment_120032304

Tidy. I’m up to 507km for the year now 😄

saccades

Envious, I'm dying of lurgy and 30mins of hoovering had me back in bed.

dahat

244/500 done so well on track so far. Some wet weather oncoming so will have to see how that goes next few days.

stevencn88

291 down now, and I've only 2 more days left I can ride......weather is going to seriously hamper getting it finished alright.

nicksnikita

It's going to slip away from me in 2022... 60km on Xmas day and 100km yesterday to add to the 100km on Xmas eve and it looks like I'm in good shape but I'll be away at a wedding the next 2 or 3 days so there's too much to do. Aiming to ride tomorrow morning and again NY Eve regardless.

Went for a hike today instead of bike - I was tired after a grueling 4 hours in the freezing sleet, wind and rain yesterday - don't think I could have faced another ride today.

Glad to be back on the bike anyway and feeling more motivated to get some consistency back in the coming weeks

dahat

Had to train on Zwift today as weather was miserable & fancied a lie in.

133k across 3hrs 40m. 377/500 done & will add on a few ks to cover the fake indoor ones 😂

nilhg

It was very frosty here yesterday morning, roads were really poor in a lot of places so a couple of us took to the safety of the barrow blueway to knock out 80kms, the average speed on there is well down on what it would be on the road but it's good training. This morning was milder so we were back on the road in the slop and wind, knocked out another 103 kms so I'm just over the 300km mark. It should be plain sailing from here but I've got some family stuff happening from Thursday so we'll have to see how tomorrow and the next few days go.

stevencn88

Braved the rain this morning, it eased off after about 45 min but the wind was relentless and the roads was just covered in absolute shite. Got 80km in before calling it a day. Leaves me 120km to go and really only 2 short days to hit the 500km mark.

at1withmyself

I'm out again this year and didn't even manage a km. Went home for Christmas day and picked up a bug, dying now.

Good luck to everyone else working through it in the crap weather 👍

fat bloke

Today was a grand day for the shelter of a group ride! Bit damp but no cold at all. Banked an easy 110k after 125 yesterday in freezing conditions. 4 days left but tomorrow is looking a lot wetter. Thursday forecast is good though. Could come down to the wire! :)

dahat

Job done for this year, big Xmas block for me & still 3 spins left.