Rapha - The Festive 500

[Aushiker]

500 kilometres between Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve an appealing challenge to you? If yes check out the Rapha Festive 500 challenge at the Rapha blog.

Andrew

[humanbeing]

I entered last year and I'll probably do it again this year
When you see the mileage of some people in the Northern Hemisphere in the ice and snow it's a bit of an eye opener
Nevertheless a great target during the silly season.
Peter

[sb944]

I've been commuting for 4-5 months and doing mostly small but sprited rides to work, but thought this might finally be a time to do a lot of cycling given I don't work that whole time and am home. My biggest hurdle is my biggest ride so far has been 35km, so I'm on a steep learning curve for longer rides this week. My preparation this week has been 80km yesterday:
http://app.strava.com/activities/32856643 and http://app.strava.com/activities/32904693

And hopefully 80km tomorrow, weather and body permitting. Given that, this is a genuine test for me, but I really want to achieve this.

Here are my initial plans. I'm in Ryde, Sydney, but if riding north I'd fill in the gap of kms riding in the Lane Cove national park, if south, Sydney Olympic park, two places to quickly and easily add kms to a trip. Apart from that, I want to use the kms to do many rides I've never done, which might include:
Olympic Park to Cronulla and return - http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Homebush-to-olympic-park
Loop to the city, south to north or the other way around.
Bobbin Head trip
Would like to hear a good trip west.
Perhaps something towards northern beaches too.

Would love to see how others are going to approach this challenge, and perhaps some ride posts along the way.

[bigfriendlyvegan]

sb944: try heading out to Parramatta, going up old windsor road to the start of the M7, all the way down that to the M4, along the M4 to Parramatta again, back through SOP and you're home at Ryde. That should get you close to a century.

[Mugglechops]

I am in. And I will be trying to do the 500kms with the least amount of climbing possible

[ldrcycles]

I'd like to have a crack, but as i'm still working i basically only have boxing day and sunday the 30th. 500k in 2 days? . Worth a shot .

[gabrielle260]

I'm in too!
We will be at the Point Lonsdale caravan park for the week so all my rides will be around the Bellarine,
Andrew

[sb944]

sb944: try heading out to Parramatta, going up old windsor road to the start of the M7, all the way down that to the M4, along the M4 to Parramatta again, back through SOP and you're home at Ryde. That should get you close to a century.

I might try and do this the first day, then take a break on Christmas day. I'd be coming back on the M4 at the end of peak hour, is it OK driving on the M4 at that time?

Also, my 2nd attempt to "warm up" to the required kms left me a little more tired today. Sitll did 52.5km, and still plan to do 30 more after work, but not for the first time, I'm a little worried about trying to do over 70km rides day after day.

What are peoples thoughts about alternating between 85km rides and 55km rides to have one "bigger" day and one "smaller" day to rest a little more on, rather than roughly 70km every day?

[drnick79]

Organised with a mate to go for a cain around the local track on Monday morning for lotssssssssss of laps, with ear phones in of course with tunes pumping. Hoping to crack a bit over 100kms, biggest ride to date is 101km.

S

[grantw]

(AT) sb44 70km a day is doable but obviously it's not especially easy if you're not used to it.

I think varying the distance each day wouldn't hurt and perhaps breaking the rides up into a morning and evening session could also help. You'll want to be balancing your energy intake (especially when you are on the bike - keep eating!) and getting plenty of sleep. Also ride at a sustainable pace - which may end up being a couple of kph lower than what you would normally ride at. If you're not used to riding far and everyday you may also find you bum getting pretty sore so take care of it from the beginning. The idea is to still be in relatively good shape at the end.

I'm planning to ride a few longer rides including commuting to work on the 27th and 28th ( it's about 60km each way (but over the Illawarra escarpment )), crank out a 100 on Christmas eve and another on the weekend before NY and then grovel out the remaining kms on shorter rides as required. If the plan holds and my math is correct, I'll be having a couple of days of total rest, likely Boxing day and Saturday.

[zakka101]

Im in. can hopefully knock it out within the week. i didnt do it last year as im only new to cycling so am really keen to see what kinds of k's people log all around the world.
bring it on!

[skull]

I managed nearly 700km for last years.

This year I have been handicapped slightly due to the new baby but I should get it done.

Last year I actually got a good ride in Xmas day, but am pretty confident that won't be allowed this time around.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

[sb944]

(AT) sb44 70km a day is doable but obviously it's not especially easy if you're not used to it.

I think varying the distance each day wouldn't hurt and perhaps breaking the rides up into a morning and evening session could also help. You'll want to be balancing your energy intake (especially when you are on the bike - keep eating!) and getting plenty of sleep. Also ride at a sustainable pace - which may end up being a couple of kph lower than what you would normally ride at. If you're not used to riding far and everyday you may also find you bum getting pretty sore so take care of it from the beginning. The idea is to still be in relatively good shape at the end.

I'm planning to ride a few longer rides including commuting to work on the 27th and 28th ( it's about 60km each way (but over the Illawarra escarpment )), crank out a 100 on Christmas eve and another on the weekend before NY and then grovel out the remaining kms on shorter rides as required. If the plan holds and my math is correct, I'll be having a couple of days of total rest, likely Boxing day and Saturday.

I appreciate the advice, plenty to think about. I'll have a closer look to a possible game plan tonight if all goes well, these tips will help a bunch.

[wardie]

I'm in.

[Purt]

really keen to see what kinds of k's people log all around the world.
bring it on!

They'll be that one nut job who feels it's his duty to finish the challenge in one day.

Last year I actually got a good ride in Xmas day

Christmas day is probably the nicest riding day of the year. There's practically nobody on the road in the morning and those who are seem happy and patient. Quite a nice change. Lunch time is a different story though

[moreegolfer]

I joined the challenge this year but think I might fall short because of travel days with my young family. If I can 3 x 50km rides and one century then I'll be satisfied. If we had Christmas at home then I'd have it knocked over. I would go with the one longer day then one shorter day, alternating the efforts.

[Lukeyboy]

Sounds like a nice little challenge. I should be able to crack the 500km barrier over 4-5 days. I'll put on a few kgs on Christmas Day so I'll have to hit up Mt Nebo-Mt Glorious-Mt Nebo-Mt Cootha-Riverloop on Boxing Day to burn some of that off Hopefully I'll end up somewhere high in the 800-900km area....

[boyracer]

Doing a 270km ride on boxing day...then hanging bike up for a week of fishing/beer drinking! i'm out.

[toolonglegs]

Festive 500... no thanks, much like most of the cycling world 500 kms a week is not very festive in the middle of winter

[marinmomma]

I'm in, would like to get the target which might be a stretch, but will be happy to make it to somewhere over the 75% mark!
I'm working the 27/8th and 31st and unlike last year I won't be getting a big ride done on Christmas Day...it will be a quick spin around the river before family arrive for brunch.

[sambo3]

In in, but looking at the Perth forecast for next week its going to be a stinker all week.
3.30am starts most days me thinks. Back for breakfast then hide from the heat.
Good luck all with this.

cheers
Sambo

[singlespeedscott]

Even thinking about something like that at this time of year would be grounds for divorce in my household. 500km over the festive season with a young family does not make for a happy partner or children. A lot of you people must be single or ride guilt free.

[Lukeyboy]

3am rides tends to help but being young and single still has its advantages

[sb944]

Even thinking about something like that at this time of year would be grounds for divorce in my household. 500km over the festive season with a young family does not make for a happy partner or children. A lot of you people must be single or ride guilt free.

Christmas day is literally booked, dawn to night time, and we have a busy new years eve, but the family can't complain about 5:30am rides, and making it home and showered by 9am. That will get you 500km at 25km/h.

Yestterday was very windy, so cut it a little short and did 75km for the day, feeling a little off all day. Todays ride in to work was 50km, and feeling pretty good all over, even after a battle up Epping Rd when I should have been taking it easy to work. So I'm definitely going for this next week.

[singlespeedscott]

9am home time. My bloody kids are up at 0530 and already driving the missus spare.