Life In The Saddle

The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Today and tomorrow are yet to be said. The chances, the changes are all yours to make. The mould of your life is in your hands to break. (J.R.R. Tolkien) The Festive 500 starts again. They say that life begins at the end of your comfort zone; that seems apt with this yearly challenge in mind. This year, I'm attempting to complete just the 500 kilometres (rather than 500 miles that I undertook last year ). However, my target is to do it all on a cyclocross bike, with as much off-road riding as possible. This is the #Festive500CX . Festive 500 CX Ride 7 - Short but sweet, end of year finale 65 kilometres. 1,069 metres elevation. 2 hours 40 minutes. Fog over Military Road Lifted toward the end of the ride Sunshine to end the year Festive 500 CX Ride 6 - Festive commutes 78 kilometres. 683 metres elevation. 3 hours 10 minutes. A rest day in work. Book-ended with two great winter rides. Festive 500 ...

" Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that " M. Luther King Jr. For the fourth year running, it begins... The shortest day of winter is past, and in celebration I am going to ride my bicycle. Out of the darkness, and into the light. In preparation for a great 2016, it is time for the Festive 500 . The forecast promises another week of gale force winds and driving rain. No change on previous years there, then. My ride plans are not set in stone though, so I'll see how things pan out. The aim is simply to ride: with friends, with smiles and with a camera; to explore and take the road less travelled. This year, my hope is to make it an Imperial 500 (i.e. 805km rather than 500km). Let's see how it goes. I will document the adventurous week here on the blog... Final Challenge Summary Stats: 834 kilometres (518 miles) 32hrs 50mins 10,850 metres ascent Ride 8: 'NYE Century Ride' (in a Gale) - Heading out into the elements for ...