Was Festive 500, now it's 8 Cols in 8 Days Challenge

i.bhamra

Only had a short go on Zwift, not for me for the same reasons as above. TrainerRoad is certainly effective but I find it hard to endure for more than an hour. The Sufferfest workouts (when synced with the footage) were great in TR before they stopped access.

ugo.santalucia

Yes, I wanted to go for Fulgaz, but it proved too much of a hassle to get connected. If they can't sort out these basics, they're not for me

ugo.santalucia

Do we want to ride independently or do we want to virtually meet up the climb at a time of the day? The latter is more fun, obviously, as it gets more competitive, but I'm happy either way

i.bhamra

Meet up would be cool, maybe pick a time and people can have the option join if they want/can but can still ride alone if not?

pblakeney

i.bhamra said:

Meet up would be cool, maybe pick a time and people can have the option join if they want/can but can still ride alone if not?

This is most likely as I fit my cycling in around other things in life.
Life's too fluid for schedules. 😉

ugo.santalucia

Yeah, something like a loose time, for those who want virtual company, but deffo not a dictat

ugo.santalucia

Here we go... 9,100 mt of climbing

December 24th Day 1 Mont Ventoux 1400 mt of climbing
https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/36341

December 25th Day 2 Ballon d'Alsace 800 mt of climbing
https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/34859

December 26th Day 3 Col du Tourmalet 1400 mt of climbing
https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/18936

December 27th Day 4 Col d'Aubisque 1200 mt of climbing
https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/55157

December 28th Day 5 Col du Galibier 1200 mt of climbing
https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/5920

December 29th Day 6 Col d'Izoard 1100 mt of climbing
https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/5317

December 30th Day 7 Col du Peyresourde 900 mt of climbing
https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/4597

December 31st Day 8 Alpe d'Huez 1100 mt of climbing
https://my.rouvy.com/virtual-routes/detail/2046

itboffin

ugo.santalucia said:

i.bhamra said:

OK, I'll give it a go, hopefully Rouvy is less mind numbing than TrainerRoad......

I don't know, I've only used Zwift a couple of times, which seems a bit of a videogame to me... the Tron bike, the graphics, the fact that you have to unlock activities by going up levels... just the same as an arcade.
Rouvy seems a remarkably simple and no fuss approach to indoor cycling. Real footage is nice, yesterday I spotted the exact place where I stopped for a wee 11 years ago...

I know right, i tried all the platforms and have settled on Rouvy for the same reason, the videos are mostly very good to excellent and i can re-live all the classic climbs i've ridden plus i've uploaded my own videos for a couple of local club rides.

Kept me sane and fit for the last two years and a godsend at the moment with this return to back to back storms.

pblakeney

Guess I'll be signing up for a Rouvy trial on the 20th then.... 😉
Ventoux is my least favourite out of that lot, probably best to do it first and get it out of the way. Never done the Ballon.

ugo.santalucia

pblakeney said:

Guess I'll be signing up for a Rouvy trial on the 20th then.... 😉
Ventoux is my least favourite out of that lot, probably best to do it first and get it out of the way. Never done the Ballon.

I put the Ballon to have an easy one on Christmas day, when people are busy... they were the first climbs ever to feature in the TdF, in the days when gears were a thing of the future

pblakeney

ugo.santalucia said:

pblakeney said:

Guess I'll be signing up for a Rouvy trial on the 20th then.... 😉
Ventoux is my least favourite out of that lot, probably best to do it first and get it out of the way. Never done the Ballon.

I put the Ballon to have an easy one on Christmas day, when people are busy... they were the first climbs ever to feature in the TdF, in the days when gears were a thing of the future

To be clear, as per every previous version of the 500, there is no way that I will be on my bike on the 25th. I usually do 5 x 100kms (ish) rides so will have to double up on the easier ones.

ugo.santalucia

pblakeney said:

ugo.santalucia said:

pblakeney said:

Guess I'll be signing up for a Rouvy trial on the 20th then.... 😉
Ventoux is my least favourite out of that lot, probably best to do it first and get it out of the way. Never done the Ballon.

I put the Ballon to have an easy one on Christmas day, when people are busy... they were the first climbs ever to feature in the TdF, in the days when gears were a thing of the future

To be clear, as per every previous version of the 500, there is no way that I will be on my bike on the 25th. I usually do 5 x 100kms (ish) rides so will have to double up on the easier ones.

You'll have to make up on Boxing day then... :-)

itboffin

I cant remember the last time i didnt ride on Christmas day

davidof

ugo.santalucia said:

Did the Col d'Aubisque yesterday... nice!

https://www.strava.com/activities/6351031334

It's covered in snow, avalanche risk 5/5 in the sector.

ugo.santalucia

Taking advantage of some fresh snow in Lombardy , I went up the Gavia this morning... first time that I find a virtual climb really hard... the last 2-3 km were a bit of a drag, with relentless gradients up to 18%... maybe I should adjust the B-screw and make use of my wife's 30 and 34T sprockets, currently fitted on the turbo... but instead I HTFU and only used the 27T.
Footage is beautiful though, especially above 2,000 mt when the road opens up to stunning views.

https://www.strava.com/activities/6357885925

daniel_b

Have none of you guys tried RGT?

Single app now, which should please plenty of people, and no gamification anywhere to be seen.

ugo.santalucia

daniel_b said:

Have none of you guys tried RGT?

Single app now, which should please plenty of people, and no gamification anywhere to be seen.

Fancy joining the challenge?

Ben6899

If I'm unpacked sufficiently to have floor space for the turbo, then I'll join in.

ugo.santalucia

I might skip the 26th and race up some mountain instead, very similar elevation.... I got hooked to the Pedalitaly Granfondo Race series after finishing 22nd out of 240 yesterday, in a virtual race up the Gran Sasso.
I don't think I've ever worked so hard on a bike... 3.8 Watt/kg for 82 minutes... brutal

itboffin

ugo.santalucia said:

I might skip the 26th and race up some mountain instead, very similar elevation.... I got hooked to the Pedalitaly Granfondo Race series after finishing 22nd out of 240 yesterday, in a virtual race up the Gran Sasso.
I don't think I've ever worked so hard on a bike... 3.8 Watt/kg for 82 minutes... brutal

Nice work

itboffin

First post covid ride today where I didn’t cough a lung and actually had some pace so fingers crossed I could still be up for this, outside 😱

keith57

ugo.santalucia said:

Since they opened the doors to indoor cycling and removed the woven roundel, I have lost interest in the challenge...

I was the same initially, I have 8 of the woven ones from 2012. But I still went out when they stopped, I seem to have got used to the struggles of getting to '500 km' in the time limit. Some years are hard, others less so, but it's always a nice tough challenge to get to the end whatever the weather. Now I think I would do it even if it wasn't on Strava!! Outside only for me. Even though I have a nice 'pain cave' with permanently setup Wattbike.

The Veloviewer wheel looks good too

pblakeney

I messed up. Signed up for a Rouvy trial and did a test ride.
Turns out the trial is only 2 weeks, not a month. Runs out on the 24th. 🤬

mrb123

pblakeney said:

I messed up. Signed up for a Rouvy trial and did a test ride.
Turns out the trial is only 2 weeks, not a month. Runs out on the 24th. 🤬

Can't you just sign up again in due course with a different email address?

pblakeney

mrb123 said:

pblakeney said:

I messed up. Signed up for a Rouvy trial and did a test ride.
Turns out the trial is only 2 weeks, not a month. Runs out on the 24th. 🤬

Can't you just sign up again in due course with a different email address?

Guess I could try. Best wait till the 20th first though. 😉
Oh! Jeez! That's only tomorrow. 😱 Where is the time going?

ugo.santalucia

In fairness, I did say it was 2 weeks..

pblakeney

ugo.santalucia said:

In fairness, I did say it was 2 weeks..

In fairness, I did say that I messed up. 😉🤬

i.bhamra

Just signed up for the free trial and had a quick go, all going well until my 7 yr old 1st gen kickr finally died. Looks like the ratchet ring in the hub has worn down to the point that it lets go of the pawls when any appreciable torque is applied.

Got a deal on a Saris H3, the box also includes a code for 30 days Rouvy subscription. Let's hope the Saris lasts (at least) as long as the Kickr did! Rouvy looks great by the way, looking forward to the challenge!

Any one one a first gen Kickr for spares/repair?! All works...apart from the freehub engagement!

ugo.santalucia

i.bhamra said:

Just signed up for the free trial and had a quick go, all going well until my 7 yr old 1st gen kickr finally died. Looks like the ratchet ring in the hub has worn down to the point that it lets go of the pawls when any appreciable torque is applied.

Got a deal on a Saris H3, the box also includes a code for 30 days Rouvy subscription. Let's hope the Saris lasts (at least) as long as the Kickr did! Rouvy looks great by the way, looking forward to the challenge!

Any one one a first gen Kickr for spares/repair?! All works...apart from the freehub engagement!

Yes, I am really enjoying Rouvy and the Italian racing scene especially... the right level for me... not stupidly PRO level, but challenging enough... 18th yesterday up the Col San Carlo... 50 minutes at nearly 270W... I never pulled out those numbers before... at the end I was shagged

https://www.strava.com/activities/6401383913

pblakeney

ugo.santalucia said:

i.bhamra said:

Just signed up for the free trial and had a quick go, all going well until my 7 yr old 1st gen kickr finally died. Looks like the ratchet ring in the hub has worn down to the point that it lets go of the pawls when any appreciable torque is applied.

Got a deal on a Saris H3, the box also includes a code for 30 days Rouvy subscription. Let's hope the Saris lasts (at least) as long as the Kickr did! Rouvy looks great by the way, looking forward to the challenge!

Any one one a first gen Kickr for spares/repair?! All works...apart from the freehub engagement!

Yes, I am really enjoying Rouvy and the Italian racing scene especially... the right level for me... not stupidly PRO level, but challenging enough... 18th yesterday up the Col San Carlo... 50 minutes at nearly 270W... I never pulled out those numbers before... at the end I was shagged

https://www.strava.com/activities/6401383913

I'd be wary of those figures. I had the distinct impression that the climb out of Nice was much easier than it should have been during my test ride. Try a known route.