Festive 500?

saccades · 18-12-2021 12:23pm #1

I'm usually away for the Xmas period but as I'm home this year I'm going to give the festive 500 a go (500km completed between Xmas Eve and New year's Eve).

Anyone else doing/done this?

I've a fairly chilled set of routes basically choosing the least amount of climbing (tricky in Wicklow) and only 60km of zwift on Xmas day (depending on how I'm feeling I'd like to do an extra outside 60km to complete a proper 500).

Anyone else?

Weepsie · 18-12-2021 12:36pm

I say I will every year, but then stop caring. It's the holidays. I'm going to gorge and sit around and avoid the misery of the world with family while I can

NamelessPhil · 18-12-2021 2:01pm

I completed it in 2019. I put my chocolate Santa to good use as fuel for one ride.

NamelessPhil · 18-12-2021 2:01pm

Eamonnator · 18-12-2021 2:20pm

@Phil,

I fully agree. I couldn't have put it better myself.

fat bloke · 18-12-2021 3:38pm

I always give it a go but I won't put myself out to hit the magic number. I usually get between 3 and 400 km in anyway

nicksnikita · 18-12-2021 4:24pm

Yes, count me in.

Did it last year for the first time. Just getting over a chest infection so hopefully the timing is OK for me this year.

Weather was ideal last year, apart from one extremely windy day (when I had to abort a ride, hide in a church and call for a lift home).

dahat · 18-12-2021 8:39pm

Not for me but will do plenty training but not getting caught up in this.

Buzwaldo · 18-12-2021 10:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118342308#Comment_118342308

Probably did it in one go! (or maybe 2?)

Mefistofelino · 19-12-2021 4:11pm

I've completed five so far and going again this year. If you can get out early ( say 7am) you can be back before noon with 100-120km done. (And if your household is anything like mine, the rest of the family isn't up that long at that point so not much of the day has been missed.) Generally have only one long spin ( up to 200km), 3x 100km early spins and that gets it done while still having 4 days of no cycling.

I've ridden the 500 in near-perfect conditions and also in years where it was constant rain, flooded roads and strong winds. Last year was the first time I used some turbo sessions to make-up the distance and TBH, it isn't any easier or less worthy than completing it outdoors.

crosstownk · 19-12-2021 11:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118341965#Comment_118341965

Same here. I'd actually like to do it but I like the festive season a bit too much to care enough.

secman · 20-12-2021 8:52am

I've sign up the last 5 years or so, managed to complete it in 2018 ? Or 2019 ?

It became a chore and there were unenjoyable spins for sure. Much more difficult to do it in Northern hemisphere for sure. Think about doing 500km from 23rd June to 30th June, warmer and 8 to10 more hours of daylight. The years i manage 350 kms are usually more enjoyable 😉

saccades · 20-12-2021 9:17am

The "chore" of cycling Vs interacting with the mother-in-law.

🚴‍♂️

Wishbone Ash · 24-12-2021 9:00am

I see 2 people (at the time of writing 8am) have completed it (in New Zealand).

McGrath5 · 24-12-2021 10:55am

Anyone going out today? I have 4 hours free later on but the weather (annoyingly) doesn't look great around Dublin.

dahat · 24-12-2021 10:57am

So I’ve made a plan to complete this is around my normal training. It will be a mixture of Zwift & road due to the type of workout I have to do.

Looking forward to the longer road spins albeit most likely solo.

NamelessPhil · 24-12-2021 12:02pm

I got the first 45km done this morning and only got rained on on the last 8km home in Dublin.

nilhg · 24-12-2021 1:47pm

101 kms in the bag, a bit grim for the last hour but easier to stay out when you're wet than to go out when you're dry.

nicksnikita · 24-12-2021 3:53pm

110km in North Mayo. Dry first hour, torrential rain thereafter. :-/

Opted for the double sock as opposed to the overshoe as the weather looked grand before setting off. Got pretty cold but once again the rain cape saved me. Best piece of kit I own.

saccades · 24-12-2021 4:17pm

100 sodden km.

Gentle pace but the excessive water meant bits rubbed that wouldn't normally.

dahat · 24-12-2021 8:38pm

A sweaty 52km done on Zwift, no more until Stephens day.

fat bloke · 24-12-2021 10:31pm

Great start. 11 K in the bag today. Intervals are no fun in the rain so I fecked off for home. Forecast is poxy for tomorrow too so already it's not looking good for a festive completion!

secman · 25-12-2021 12:24am

Weather is terrible, Bailed out, just going to enjoy when I get out and what i can do... no pressure.

Wishbone Ash · 25-12-2021 12:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118371459#Comment_118371459

There are not too many days when you have to pour the water out of your boots at the end of a ride. Tonight's commute from work was one of those days.

secman · 25-12-2021 12:58am

Weather gods not kind this year, Happy Christmas D to you and your family.

Wishbone Ash · 25-12-2021 1:25am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118371535#Comment_118371535

....and to you and yours.

NamelessPhil · 26-12-2021 1:50am

Nipped out for a quick 14km at 11pm last night. I'm only 20km behind the 40km per day needed to complete the 500. I'll be over at my folks on Stephen's Day so I'll extend the bike ride over and back.

at1withmyself · 26-12-2021 11:39am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118373469#Comment_118373469

Is it not 62.5 per day? I'm at the relatives so a big fat 0 for now but hopefully start tomorrow but won't get 500 at this point.

cletus · 26-12-2021 12:34pm

My maths tells me 62.5 as well, which is the reason I don't bother signing up for it.

Young kids at home means I don't bother trying to get out for either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, which puts me 125km behind the ball from the outset

secman · 26-12-2021 12:56pm

Em the daily kms would be 62.5 kms, you now need 70km + but knowing your background you're capable of throwing in a 200km to 250km on one of the days 😃

Weepsie · 26-12-2021 12:59pm

Booked for a PCR tomorrow so other than cycling to that and back, don't think I'll be doing anything beyond eating food and feeling miserable.

secman · 26-12-2021 1:02pm

Sorry to hear that, hopefully negative 🤞

NamelessPhil · 26-12-2021 1:11pm

The Festive 500 itself says "Ride 500km in eight days" 24th to 31st inclusive = 40km per day.

magicbastarder · 26-12-2021 1:41pm

Booked for a PCR tomorrow

one of these lads?

cletus · 26-12-2021 2:10pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118374130#Comment_118374130

24 - 40

25 - 40

26 - 40

27 - 40

28 - 40

29 - 40

30 - 40

31 - 40

That's a total of 320 😐

Edited to add: unless you're counting in miles, then 40 miles a day would be 64ish km a day...

saccades · 26-12-2021 2:43pm

Another 80km today (220km in) - could be the last. Grit got in where it shouldn't have done on the sodden day 1 and caused some damage. Missus saw the blood today and went mental at me.

cletus · 26-12-2021 2:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118374408#Comment_118374408

Hope you're all right. At least you can eat and drink until New Year's now with no qualms 😀

Morris Garren · 26-12-2021 4:23pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118374130#Comment_118374130

Are you an accountant? Dept of Finance should head hunt you 😀

fat bloke · 26-12-2021 4:39pm

Sure at 50km a day you'd need 10 days for 500...😁 😁

Anyway, festive maths aside I at least made a decent mileage deposit today of 104km. Forecast appears to be wet enough going forward but hey, 320km is well doable 😊

Weepsie · 26-12-2021 4:57pm

Waiting to do a PCR test tomorrow so I'm officially done at 25km

dahat · 26-12-2021 6:06pm

Day two nothing only face stuffing with grub.

Day three 147km at a proper clip & refuelling with Xmas dinner part two!!

Total to date 197km.

Out tomorrow for a decent spin depending on how the legs are.

nilhg · 26-12-2021 8:26pm

Sat out Xmas Day as usual

Had a funeral to attend this morning, so was out early to get in 81km, total 182 km, hoping not to be under any time constraints tomorrow so hopefully won't need full lights to start and get a nice spin in. My companions in this endevour are planning 70ish, hopefully I'll get in a few more and close the gap on them.

dahat · 27-12-2021 10:27am

Wet & miserable here today so an earlier than planned retreat to Zwift for this attempt at the F500.

magicbastarder · 27-12-2021 11:41am

i haven't been out on the bike in a week now. i'd have two hours this morning, but it's just dull and damp here with standing water on the roads so i'm going to do some gardening instead i reckon.

nilhg · 27-12-2021 8:11pm

138km today, for a total of 320, felt like hard work for a good bit of it so tomorrow will be an easier day, hopefully a bit of weather dodging will let me finish it outside in good time.

fat bloke · 27-12-2021 10:57pm

Good man. That's a fair chunk. I racked up another 100. Still not half way (217). But tomorrow not looking too bad.

Morris Garren · 27-12-2021 11:15pm

I'm on 182 so far-- 4 big efforts ahead, probably try 100km+ tomorrow as it might not be wet after all

07Lapierre · 27-12-2021 11:15pm

207 completed so far. Hope to get 100+k done tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday.

nicksnikita · 28-12-2021 4:32am

nilhg · 28-12-2021 2:26pm

81kms this morning for a total of 401km, the end is in sight now, we'll see how the legs feel in the morning.

fat bloke · 28-12-2021 5:20pm

Good man nicksnikita ;)

I went after the most benign 100k I could plot which turned out to be laps of the Blesso small lake and then an N81 run to Hollywood and back.

2 more spins to do it, though I suspect a roller session might be required to make up the total

Festive 500?

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