Rapha Festive 500 2015
Against all odds...
My Neanderthal cyclist account of my experience completing the festive 500. And what it taught me about winter riding.
My sister who is an enthusiastic cyclist got
me into the sport 18months ago. It was she
who spurred me to take part in this unique
challenge and the Festive 500 was the
perfect way to re-bond with my her. Cycling
offers a bridge for us to connect without
the need for small talk or awkward
conversation.
me into the sport 18months ago. It was she
who spurred me to take part in this unique
challenge and the Festive 500 was the
perfect way to re-bond with my her. Cycling
offers a bridge for us to connect without
the need for small talk or awkward
conversation.
It started off well with us doing some long
rides together but half way through she
backed down and went to visit her
boyfriend in Wiltshire. I was left alone with
the challenge only half way completed. A
lot of my friends would question my
thinking. I got questions like “why would
you want to crack on with something like
this on your own?” "Isn't that really
unsocial" "Don’t you get tired or bored?”.
rides together but half way through she
backed down and went to visit her
boyfriend in Wiltshire. I was left alone with
the challenge only half way completed. A
lot of my friends would question my
thinking. I got questions like “why would
you want to crack on with something like
this on your own?” "Isn't that really
unsocial" "Don’t you get tired or bored?”.
To fit in as many rides which served some
social purpose I would ride from Amersham
to Winnersh and back to visit my girlfriend.
I would enjoy these rides as I knew that
there would be a warming reward at the
end of my ride. I would arrive wet but
energized mid afternoon as her knight in
shiny lycra. I then reached into my large
Revelate saddle bag and gave her a
Christmas gift.
At times I did question myself going out on
these long rides by myself. I had a slight
knee inflammation which I thought might
stop me but I pushed on through it. One of
my final rides was the most testing I had
ever done. With 130km left to complete
and 2 days left. I was determined to meet
the challenge target of 500km with a day to
spare.
these long rides by myself. I had a slight
knee inflammation which I thought might
stop me but I pushed on through it. One of
my final rides was the most testing I had
ever done. With 130km left to complete
and 2 days left. I was determined to meet
the challenge target of 500km with a day to
spare.
I set off later than usual around 11am. My
ride was Amersham, Oxford, Amersham. I
had completed the same ride with my Sister
on Boxing day. I was confident that I could
manage it on my own.
It was a much colder winder day than the
previous Oxford ride. With a heavy
headwind battering me consistently all the
way through to Oxford, it was bleak and
dreary. My GPS had taken me a different
route through a lane which led me into the
middle of a muddy farmers field. Having a
cross bike with chunky 30c tyres I was
confident I could get through it. I was
wrong. I got lost and ended up pushing my
bike through un-even mud for another 2
miles.
previous Oxford ride. With a heavy
headwind battering me consistently all the
way through to Oxford, it was bleak and
dreary. My GPS had taken me a different
route through a lane which led me into the
middle of a muddy farmers field. Having a
cross bike with chunky 30c tyres I was
confident I could get through it. I was
wrong. I got lost and ended up pushing my
bike through un-even mud for another 2
miles.
I was running out of light but only 8 miles
from Oxford. I was down but not out, and
carried onwards. I wiped the worst of the
mud off my disc brakes and tyre clearance.
My front light had been on for a while and
the dreaded red warning light appeared on
my Cat-eye front light as I entered the
suburbs of Oxford.
from Oxford. I was down but not out, and
carried onwards. I wiped the worst of the
mud off my disc brakes and tyre clearance.
My front light had been on for a while and
the dreaded red warning light appeared on
my Cat-eye front light as I entered the
suburbs of Oxford.
I wanted to grab a coffee in the CBD and
perhaps a selfie but I had to bail on this
plan as I did not want to risk having no front
light for the rest of my ride. So I settled for
a peanut butter cliff bar and a sip of water
instead. So back to Amersham I rode. Facing
back into the headwind I headed down the
Phoenix Trail towards Princess Risborough .
The Phoenix Trail is a tranquil trail of
around 9 miles of car free bliss. On this
particular day also it was incredibly quiet,
with very few dog walkers.
The final push through Chilterns became a
dangerous one as my Front light had
completely run out of battery. I was around
6 miles away from home with 106km on my
Garmin. I had to make a decision to push on
and do the extended ride home in the dark,
or take the safer lit route and finish the
Festive 500 in the morning. I took the safe
option and completed the Festive 500 on a
casual ride the next morning. Mouse over
man.
Thanks for the enduring challenge Rapha, best one yet.
I learned many lessons from the Festive
500.
The first is that I should
not listen
peoples negativity. The second is that I
found strength in my inner cyclist. Through
the pain of being on my own crawling at
15km against a headwind it brought out the
true cyclist in me. I think this is
one of the
reasons why I love to cycle on my own
because I enter this zone. Through the
whole experience I also rediscovered my
bond with my older sister.
Next year I will know more about what to
expect. Although I could have seen more
friends this holiday, I found this was the
best way to spend my time this Christmas.
It
brought me closer to my family, increased
my confidence and self belief and improved
my cycling skills.
Thanks for the enduring challenge Rapha, best one yet.
