Rapha 500 2019

For the past few years I have managed to complete the 'Rapha 500.' This is a cycle challenge set by the cycling clothing company of the same name in which participants try to cycle 500km (about 300 miles in old money) from Christmas Eve to New Years Eve. Last year I found this very hard going to say the least and this year with some time off work I really didn't know if I wanted to do this, or could do it.

For me there were certain rules that had to be adhered to:

• Cycling would need to be at a time that did not interfere with the plans of my family
• All routes would need to be in and around London
• If it was snowing or frosty I would not cycle and if this meant the 500 was looking unlikely, so be it
• I would select whatever bicycle I wanted - Brompton, Surly, Condor
• Minimal stopping for photos as this had slowed things down fun previous years

Day 1 - 24/12/8 (61 miles) Surly Disc Trucker

For this I got up at stupid o'clock. Part of my ride (minimum of 9 miles) would be on the Grand Union Canal so I decided to take my Surly Disc Trucker with its new Schwalbe Marathon tyres. I make no secret of the fact that this is my favourite bicycle.

I cycled through to Hyde Park, into Central London and then east towards the Limehouse Cut, where at Abbey Mills Pumping Station I joined the Greenway. From there I eventually reached North Woolwich and went under the Woolwich Foot Tunnel. From here I cycled back home along south of the river Thames before crossing the river at Tower Bridge to continue on north of the river.

The route was just over 61 miles and as I had started early traffic was non-existent for first half and very light for the second. It was chosen as it was flat and I knew that I could cover the ground pretty quickly.

I really enjoyed this route and knew that I would return to it, weather permitting.

Day 2 - 25/12/18 (20 miles) Condor Fratello 

Christmas Day and as such the 20 miles I completed were all done when everyone was fast asleep. This involved me cycling 10 miles in the general direction of a certain location and then turning back and following the same route back. This I completed quite quickly on my Condor road bike. (I also have to confess that it was the first time in months that I had used the Condor).

Day 3 - 26/12/18 (61 miles) Surly Disc Trucker

Day 3 saw me return to the same route as day 1. This was very much a repeat but despite it not raining, it did look as if it must have been from the dampness on the road. Again I liked the route and getting up at a ridiculous time was actually quite therapeutic in many ways. It was as if London was mine with very few people around and having the city almost to myself was a treat. This route was to give off a very different vibe the following day however.

Day 4 - 27/12/18 ( 58 miles) Surly Disc Trucker

Day 4 was going to be the last time I could repeat this particular route as other commitments meant that it would be impossible to cycle it. This was a shame as I had got into a little routine, knew the route well, enjoyed it and liked the fact it clocked up lots of miles easily.  

All was fine until I reach the Greenway Near East Ham Nature Reserve. In the distance I could see lots of people on bicycles and as I got closer I could see that it was lots of teenagers on mountain bikes and hire bikes doing wheelies etc. My first thought was to wonder why they were up so early? I actually wonder whether they had been at this all night? As I got closer they took more and more of an interest in me and my bicycle with some cycling towards me and then with me. As I neared the others they tried to block my path with their bikes. Managing to avoid this I put the pedal down and despite a few following they soon lost interest and stopped pursuing. Not a very pleasant experience mainly as there were so many of them - possibly 15 or so.

Day 5 - 28/12/18 (40 miles) Orange Brompton S6L

Day 5 involved me starting near the Albert Memorial and doing lots and lots of laps of Hyde Park. When I got bored of that I decided to cycle the 6 miles or so to Richmond Park and then on to Bushey Park before returning to Hyde Park.

Day 6 - 29/12/18 (45 miles) Orange Brompton S6L

Day 6 involved me joining a group of other cyclists on a Christmas ride which took in some of the criminal goings on in London. Click Here This was great fun, although I very nearly didn't make the start of the ride as I had messed up my timings in trying to the 12:00 p.m. start! In all I cycled 45 miles.

Day 7 - 30/12/18 (25 miles) Condor Fratello

I had 25 miles left to go and when I set out I intended to cycle about 10 - 15 miles as my legs (and everything else) was starting to feel it from all the cycling. I ended cycling the 25 miles I needed (actually a little over this) and started and finished outside my front door. I had done it.


When I entered my house and saw that Mrs Orange and the Orangettes were up, I informed them that the Rapha 500 was done with a day to spare. I didn't expect ticker tape or party poppers but all I received was 'that's nice. How about you make us all a cup of tea?!'

The Rapha 500 is not easy. The biggest factor for me is time. I have been fortunate to have this time off from work and I know that if I were working during even some of these days, there would be no way I could fit it in or want to for that matter. Those that manage to fit this in with work commitments have my admiration.

This year I found that completing most of the miles on big wheels helped in terms of covering more miles with less stress and strain on the body. I suspect that if I had completed day 5 on big wheels I could have cycled further in the same time.

As I type this I have to say I am very pleased that I didn't need to cycle today and I am going to have a rest from cycling for the the next week or so!

I do enjoy the Rapha 500 and it is great that they put this challenge out there. Well worth giving it a go, assuming you can commit the time to it.

Have a happy 2019 on your cycling adventures!

As I write this in certain parts of the world 2019 has already begun. In fact I have received a few emails from Brompton and Surly riders in New Zealand wishing me happy travels for the new year - which for me in London is a few hours away.

I have slowed down the blog posts and could have written a great many more about what I have got up to during 2018, however time is always a big factor. I hope to increase the quantity in 2019 if time permits.

Thank you for continuing to return to read what I post or dip into my back catalogue (for want of a better expression). Despite the reduced number of posts from yours truly, you seem to read in the same - if not increasing - numbers. For that I thank you.

I do not have any significant plans for my cycling in 2019 other than to get on the road, enjoy the ride, take the odd photograph and have a few cups of tea / slices of cake on the way. I hope to do several night rides to the coast as part of a large group and in-between them, do my own version on a smaller scale.

Whatever 2019 brings for you I wish you a very happy and prosperous new year and thank you again for the emails and support you have given.

The Criminals of London Ride

Yesterday, to break up my efforts for the Rapha 500, I took part in an interesting ride that than the theme of the criminals of London. The meeting point was the tried and tested outside the National Theatre. Wheels were to roll at noon sharp but I had totally misjudged my timings and had to frantically cycle about six miles in very limited time to get there. I arrived fashionably late by a couple of minutes but luckily the pack had not left. Saying hello to a few familiar faces we set off.

Our ride leader was Bob and the first stop was the building of New Scotland Yard. There have been a number of locations for this but it is now the Curtis Street Building on the Victoria Embankment.

New Scotland Yard 

The next stop was near the former Libyan embassy where on 17th April 1984,  PC Yvonne Fletcher was fatally wounded by a shot fired from the embassy. A very sad day to say the least.

Former Libyan embassy

Next was a location where a Russian exile was alleged to have been poisoned with a radioactive substance, subsequently dying not long after.

Next was the former Iranian Embassy where in may 1980 dramatic scenes were played out and viewed by millions on television. After stalled negotiations The Special Air Service were given the all clear to storm the building.

Iranian embassy siege

The next location - 70 Gloucester Road was where John Haigh, commonly known as the acid bath murder, tried to dispose of his victims in drums of acid.

Acid bath location 

 Not too far away was the house owned by BBC presenter Jill Dando who was shot in the head as she entered her house on the morning of 26th April 1999.

Jill Dando's former home

The penultimate location was where Sidney Street once stood. In 1911 the Siege of Sidney Street involved a gunfight between two Latvian revolutionaries, the police and later the army. It was the first siege in Britain to be captured on camera and some of the footage included the then Home Secretary, Winston Churchill.

The Siege of Sidney Street

The final destination was Blackfriars Bridge where on 18th June 1982 Roberto Calvi, an Italian banker who had fled Italy was found having under Blackfriars bridge with his clothing stuffed with bricks.

Blackfriars 

As we cycled along I saw lots of locations where even more gruesome goings on took place that were not covered in this ride. London - like many major cities I suppose - has lots of dark secrets, if you look hard enough. 

This was a very enjoyable ride and it was great to see some old faces. I particularly enjoyed riding and chatting to Jenny - The Mile Monster and tried to enlist her in to some rides planned for next year. Many thanks to Bob for leading the ride.

2019 is not far away. In all I cycled 45 miles for this ride if you include cycling there, the actual ride and the ride back. This means that I only have about 25 miles to go for the Rapha 500 and I hope to get this done tomorrow. Watch out for my blog post on that!