Rapha Festive 500. Anyone doing it?

[Heltor Chasca]

My attempt to get it done in one go went up in smoke. Last week I did a 200 audax under hard conditions. This one was still in my legs. No power and a nagging headwind for the first 160k. Then some proper Flemish hills territory. By the time I arrived at the Zelzate service station I was 1h30 behind schedule and seriously knackerd. I spent far too much time there eating and warming up. That was really needed as halfway between Zelzate and Antwerp the energy drink in my thermobottles had turned to slush. My food was frozen solid. I slogged on to Antwerp, reaching the town 3 hours behind schedule. Time to call it a day because I have to work tomorrow. I decided us the southernly wind and cycle to Breda railway station. Ended there with 366k on Strava.

Noooooo! I’m sorry. Isn’t there anyway you can fit the rest in? It’s not much. Come on. We are cheering you on.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

My attempt to get it done in one go went up in smoke. Last week I did a 200 audax under hard conditions. This one was still in my legs. No power and a nagging headwind for the first 160k. Then some proper Flemish hills territory. By the time I arrived at the Zelzate service station I was 1h30 behind schedule and seriously knackerd. I spent far too much time there eating and warming up. That was really needed as halfway between Zelzate and Antwerp the energy drink in my thermobottles had turned to slush. My food was frozen solid. I slogged on to Antwerp, reaching the town 3 hours behind schedule. Time to call it a day because I have to work tomorrow. I decided us the southernly wind and cycle to Breda railway station. Ended there with 366k on Strava.

Still a fantastic ride

 

[StuAff]

My attempt to get it done in one go went up in smoke. Last week I did a 200 audax under hard conditions. This one was still in my legs. No power and a nagging headwind for the first 160k. Then some proper Flemish hills territory. By the time I arrived at the Zelzate service station I was 1h30 behind schedule and seriously knackerd. I spent far too much time there eating and warming up. That was really needed as halfway between Zelzate and Antwerp the energy drink in my thermobottles had turned to slush. My food was frozen solid. I slogged on to Antwerp, reaching the town 3 hours behind schedule. Time to call it a day because I have to work tomorrow. I decided us the southernly wind and cycle to Breda railway station. Ended there with 366k on Strava.

Chapeau! Epic effort. Not a defeat, just a smaller- slightly smaller- win.

 

[Ivo]

Especially quite a few lessons learned. This is not something you simply do when seeing that your workschedule gives you a bit of space for it. Especially not when you only start planning 3 weeks ahead.
The better option might be setting out on the 24th in the evening to a hotel upwind and cycling with a tailwind and a train back.

 

[Spartak]

Two rides so far..... 58 kms on Christmas Eve to Chepstow & 48 kms today inc. the local Boxing Day time trial on the U103 course.

 

[Ivo]

I've uploaded a few photo's of my ride:
https://fotoalbum.dds.nl/ivo_m/festive5002018/1
Strava details: https://www.strava.com/activities/2036850993

 

[13 rider]

332 km down after today's ride 168km to go

 

[Supersuperleeds]

472.99km (so tempted to go ride that 0.01 )

 

[Supersuperleeds]

525km

 

[AlanW]

94kms to do and three days remaining....sorted

 

[13 rider]

84km to go with 2 days to go should be ok

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Roughly 400km to go and two days left to fit that all into.

 

[13 rider]

Roughly 400km to go and two days left to fit that all into.

Still doable

 

[Heltor Chasca]

Still doable

I have a plan.

I have had youngest daughter (9) staying with me until today and she is with her mum for New Year, so I have 2 days free from tomorrow. She is too young to stay home alone with a box of matches and petrol. She also woke up with Turkey Pox (chicken) on Christmas Day so I haven’t been able to get out much.

To be honest I’m quite looking forward to a rest and some free time astride my bicycle.

 

[AlanW]

Completed this morning, just in time for a three hour track session this evening!