Anyone signed up to R*pha500 this year?

[redefined_cycles]

Anyone got any such plans. Anything exciting to complete it. Nice little way to get the final 500km of the year in

I'm thinking about it, but am using plan b.

[Johnallan]

Tempted, but I'd need at least one opportunity for a 'big' ride to make it happen. I've no intention of riding every day but if the stars align and I can get out for a 300 or 400km ride, the rest should just fall into place

[ton]

yes i have again. never completed it.

will get a good ride in on 24th and 26th then going on a mini tour in the pennines and southern dales so that should add a few miles. we will see.

[redefined_cycles]

So my plan A was to try and complete the Pint 2 of the 1000km audax by Wil Pimroy. Obviously I'd be doing it on my own as I don't plan to ever enter an audax - in fact if I can die without entering one, I'll have classed it a successful cycling career.

Anyway, so money might not allow and especially since the Pint2 of that Audax I mention is from Bristol (up to Oxford, Cambridge and back round via Northampton) and it might take some serious logistics and money to get it done.

The plan B is to just go out from home. Try to complete it in 4 days, though 5 seems alot easier. Tony, let me know if you want a ride-partner on that 26th. Working in Bristol 28th and 29th so I'll have to choose my days wisely.

[Johnallan]

I don't plan to ever enter an audax - in fact if I can die without entering one, I'll have classed it a successful cycling career.

Genuinely curious why you wouldn't want to ride an Audax event, but would want to ride the route?

[redefined_cycles]

Nothing sinister John. Just not something that's of interest to me. Did it sound offensive or would the Audax lot mind other people using their routes without actually doing an audax

Edit: I just read what I wrote again - it was partly a bit of a joke but I don't plan on entering still.

[ton]

good thing about audax is that you can choose most of the events and ride than as a permanent event at a time that suits you, rather than the date of the event.
in the 90's and early 2000's i rode dozens of audax events. and can honsetly say they are some of nicest and friendliest bike events ever.
and also the cheapest..............

[Johnallan]

Nothing sinister John. Just not something that's of interest to me. Did it sound offensive or would the Audax lot mind other people using their routes without actually doing an audax

Not offensive at all and I'd imagine most organisers would be flattered that people want to ride the routes they have devised.

It did sound like you felt quite strongly against entering any Audax events, so I wondered what preconceptions you may have about Audax that would dissuade you from entering? Particularly as someone from a minority group with very poor representation at these rides.

Happy to PM if you'd prefer to continue the discussion in private

[redefined_cycles]

Lol. Nah, it was a bit of a joke. Probably continued from when my audax mate Faruq said we'd be doing the event on the Audax dates this year (27th onwards) of which I told him I'm working and that joke-comment (the one above) I then made

I agree that they're really hospitable as I follow Watkins too.

[Johnallan]

Good to hear

I hope Faruq eventually persuades you to join in. Its strangely addictive

[redefined_cycles]

Good to hear

I hope Faruq eventually persuades you to join in. Its strangely addictive

I probably would've have this year John as it seems this winter ride is probably the easiest to enter for a newbie (in terms of admin, though I know the usual events aren't much harder, but still something to learn). But sadly I'm working on them 28th/29th so it was risky.

Who knows what the years might bring...

[Verena]

Wanted to give it a go.... then looked at the available days, and between the usual festive days commitments and not actually taking any days off as leave, unrealistic!

Have signed up though for a permanent 200km audax on Saturday 28th, the Cambrian 2b Abergavenny Brecon Builth Hay Monmouth Chepstow Abergavenny one.... company welcome if anyone from here fancies it...

[redefined_cycles]

I bet that'll be really scenic/enjoyable Hope it goes well Verena.

[Lazarus]

Nah I like to rest over xmas but just had a period of illness ( 1 ride in 2 weeks after 4 i the oresvious 2 weeks) so will get fit over the festive period ready for the new year.
Hopefully get a few big rides in ( day 1 of three in a row hurt though ) if legs and lungs ( bad cold ) cope ok

[Verena]

I bet that'll be really scenic/enjoyable Hope it goes well Verena.

Thank you Shaf. Feeling nervous and am sort of waiting for something to get in the way as is often the case... usually me and my silly brain - would be a real boost if I actually go do this...

Popped up on strava that I did the same exactly a year ago.

[redefined_cycles]

So, this is a bit embarrassing. I rode a 90 miler, then did a night shift and next day after sleep I managed another 15 miles. Another ride to my mums and back hot me to 136 miles.

Then I prepared the bike to come down to work (staying over at a Travelodge between shifts) and concentrated hard on not forgetting owt. Plan was to ride a few miles over the weekend in commutes and then a nice 100km gravelride on Monday.

But, today as I pulled the bike out for the boot, I realised the front skewer I concentrated so hard on keeping together with the bike. Well, I left it home!!!

Thankfully the lad I'm riding the gravel thing with on Monday (starting at Swindon and taking in some of the Ridgeway as well as the associated train-line path) has a spare front thru axle for me (100mm x 12mm with 1.5 thread pitch, hope it works). So I might be behind but I'll try!

[Verena]

I bet that'll be really scenic

Aha Shaf, so it's your fault then that I was riding in fog most of the day...

Seems like much the same all over the country though? Well done all going out there anyway...

My ride went well by the way, chuffed I've done it. Even enjoyed the dark hours, especially the getting dark parts when there was a bit colour to the sky. Maybe less so the very dense fog in the dark for the last bit ...

[Johnallan]

Any ideas of completing this ended yesterday for me.

I woke at 4am and set off shortly after with the intention of riding a hilly 300km loop around the dales. Basically Halifax, Keighley, Settle, K-Lonsdale, K-Stephen, Tan Hill, Leyburn, Burnsall, Keighley, Halifax.

Fairly mild start in the Calder Valley but heading over Cock Hill, visibility all but disappeared in thick fog. This continued all the way to Settle but by now the fog was a lighter shade of grey with added rain. 80km in by first light but by now I was fairly cold and wet, and wasn't particularly enjoying myself. My Exposure light had also started flickering over bumps which gave me the excuse needed to re-route and lop a big chunk off.

Heading east instead of north, I passed the through Airton and picked up the route again in Burnsall, then continued for home.

160km for the day but only 250ish total, and with no intention of chasing another 250km, that's the end of F500. I'll keep riding and running as usual of cause, just not towards that goal.

Good luck to everyone else

[redefined_cycles]

Sorry to hear that Verena and Allen. Yes, I forgot to say that the ride on Friday eve was cut short from an (almost) 100km to just 30km as the fog came in and visibility fell in areas to just beyond the front wheel. Fog and ice, I do try to avoid those two scenarios.

Hopefully get some decent pics tomorrow as Nadeem is gonna bring a spare front skewer (and my wife found the one I'd left at home!).