Rapha Festive 500 Challenge 2013

Limits Redefined!

6 Days. 516.6km. 20h54m32s.

'Everyday should be a Rapha 500 Day!' - Sean C.

*** Rapha Festive 500 Challenge is a Strava event which challenges riders to ride 500km in 8 days (X'mas Eve to New Year Eve). 

A great and wonderful thanks to my wife and family for supporting me through these few days. :-)

This is the 2nd craziest endurance event that I have ever take part in. :-)

Thanks to Charles for egging me to take on this challenge. :-)

Given the recent spate of events, it was never in my wildest dreams that I would be able to complete the challenge.

I fell sick in mid-November and went through 5 full courses of antibiotics in a month.

To be able to ride in December was a real bonus. In fact, riding seems to help me recover faster. O_o

Determined not to increase my 2013 punctures tally, I decided to use brand new tyres for the challenge.  

Having a few friends suggesting that I use 25cc tyres, I decide to give it a go. 23cc Front, 25cc Rear. :-)

Two of the eight mornings where I would not be able to ride due to work commitments makes the whole challenge a lot more interesting. 

Day 1 

Solo Ride in Seletar West Link. Terrible ride. That was when I realised that after 7 years of endurance events, I still have a lot to learn about nutrition.

Day 2

Got recalled back to office in the wee hours of the morning. But amazingly still got a chance to ride. ;-)

Great to have a cycling partner doing a long ride together. ;-)

Day 3

Did a Mandai Loop to join the JR 5am ride. 

Reached LH at 5:03am and there was not a single soul in sight!

Saw a pair of blinkers along Prata Hill and started chasing all the way to Mandai Shell. 

Broke away along Bukit Timah and did a pit stop at Sembawang Hill Hawker Center before doing another Seletar West Link. ;-)

Day 4

Chapter 0 Ride. A very comfortable paced ride which I enjoyed tremendously. :-)

After brekkie, SE and I decided to clock extra mileage and proceed to Changi Village for brekkie #2. \o_o/

Thanks, SE for the pull during the ride! I would not have survived otherwise. :p

Riding alone later was horrible... I was toasted. Feels like lying on a bench and go to sleep before continuing the ride home. :p

Day 5

Was so excited that I could not sleep well.

The body was so energised. The legs was tingling with excitment. Left home with blood shot eyes!

The ride to Mandai Shell was scary. My mind keep drifting. It was extremely hard to keep my concentration of the roads. I have to make a decision whether to call off the ride.

Surprisingly, I learn another new thing today. 

Holding water in the mouth while riding helps concentration. O_o

Did a enjoyable Round Island Ride with my cycling partner with 4 pit stops for food and/or drinks. :-p

#Festive500