2012 Rapha Festive 500 Complete - Minneapolis, MN

With about 3 hours to spare, I completed the 2012 Rapha Festive 500 challenge in the SW suburbs of Minneapolis, MN. Below are some of the photo/video/fact highlights of this year's cold and difficult challenge:

My final GPS track, atop frozen Round Lake. I didn't quite get the typeface correct.

  Here is a video summary of video & still photo highlights:

 Weather Stats:

• Temperature range of 0-23F (-18 to -5C), much colder with windchills
  
• 2 days had fresh snow at departure, with additional snowfall while riding
• Heavy ice on road shoulders for all but 2-3 of 12 rides.

Bike/Equipment Stats:

• 310 miles (500km) solo
• 195 miles (315km) on Studded tires (Schwalbe Marathon Winter 35c) (Salsa Casseroll)
• 60 miles (97km) on 28c tires (Salsa Casseroll)
• 55 miles (88km) on the Salsa Mukluk Fatbike, including frozen lake riding
• Schmidt hub generator pushing Supernova front/rear lights & accessory charger
• 12 total rides to complete the challenge!

Thank you to Rapha, Strava, and my family and friends in the cycling community for the challenge and the support!

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 12 - Fatbike Cleanup

At last, with 300 miles (485km) logged since December 24th, one final ride was all that stood between me and completion of this year's Rapha Festive 500 challenge. With 6 laps plus a little adventure on frozen Round Lake, my mission would be complete. As for the "Achievements" section of the Strava link below, 500km in 8 days is a respectable achievement!


One last adventure before I'm all done, however...

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 11 - Almost done!

Today's ride was BRUTAL, to say the least. Temperatures were 10F (-12C), with winchill around 0F (-18C). The wind chill was real, with a 10mph headwind from the west, challenging me all the way to my turnaround point in Waconia. I have ridden these roads quite a bit in the fair weather in preparation for the Tour de Tonka century, so at least it was familiar territory. As I turned around and headed east, my core warmed back up, and some feeling returned to my toes.

This distance (60 miles ~ 95km) is about my limit in this weather. I had about 65 miles to go to finish the 310 miles (500km) for the challenge, so I was close enough to finish with a fatbike ride in the evening. I deviated from my strategy of repeating smaller-distance loops, which works to stop back in at the house to refuel, and find liquid water. I have found that if I carry a couple insulated bottles wrapped inside the zip-off sleeve of a Chrome jacket, the water will stay liquid at these temperatures. Obviously, bottles of any sort in the cages will freeze quite quickly. Access to liquid water (in addition to incredibly numb toes) seems to be my limiting factor and greatest cause of unpleasant feelings this time of year.

Insulated bottle inside a jacket sleeve

The trusty Salsa Casseroll all ready to go

And the submission to Strava:


About 10 miles (15km) left! I'll get out the Fatbike for this one. 

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 10 - Fatbike

Just a mileage grab in the dark on the Fatbike. I rode this section on Ride 6, but on the Casseroll, which handles reasonably well in loose snow, but the Fatbike rides fantastic. Too dark for any video, but here's the Strava track:



 I have about 65 miles left to hit 310 (500km) by tomorrow night! 

Rapha Festive 500 Rides 8/9 - Loops + Fatbike

Tonight I had some fun on the fatbike. I took the girls ice skating (I watched) in the afternoon, and encountered a winter milestone: ice fishermen. Such a spectacle means that I am now able to ride my bike on the lake! If crazy humans can venture onto the ice, drill a hole, light a fire, and consume copious amounts of alcohol, I feel pretty safe riding my bike on the same surface.

Fresh snow on Round Lake



Yesterday's full moon in the sky

Just as I was leaving the driveway

I just might be able to finish this crazy 500km (310 mile) adventure.... (daytime ride below)





Today's daytime ride was the same as a few days ago--3 10-mile loops. The sun was really refreshing today, in spite of the 20F (-7C) temps. I'm developing quite the tolerance for foot numbness. As a side note, my daily commute to work (which will resume next Thursday), is 11 miles each way, or anywhere from 40-60 minutes. 40-60 minutes seems to be the time threshold for my feet to go numb, so shorter laps has been my approach to the Festive 500 this year.

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 6 - 72km

Today was a lot of difficult riding. Temps flirted with 20F (-7C) with 3-4" (7.5-10cm) of fresh snow overnight. On part of today's ride, I was plowing through 6"+ of snow; lots of exhausting work. I took time today to take photos and video of this craziness. My electronics (helmet cam, Garmin, still camera) are kind of on the fritz--probably due to extended exposure to COLD. Enjoy!





On the Stone Arch Bridge across the Mississippi. The river appears to be hibernating.

Approaching Target Field, where the Twins play better teams.

Approaching the Hiawatha bridge to the Greenway.

Crossing the unplowed Hiawatha bridge.

Saw a ghostbike today on the West River Parkway at Franklin. Ride safe, everyone.

Looking up to the Gold Medal Flour mill ruin.

 

The bike was covered in snow. Even the chainstays and BOTH sides of the seatstays.

Headed West toward Lake Calhoun on the Midtown Greenway.

My favorite overlay from today's ride. The path to the top of the park mound wasn't plowed at all, so it's a little choppy.

 

 

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 5 - 51km

Today's ride was in the mid-teens F (-10C) for the whole of the ride, with the temperature dropping and snow falling toward the end. I'll upload some snippets of video later.

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 3 - 31.5km

Not much going other than a loop in the cold.

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 4 - 43km

At least today is sunny. I had some time midday to grab some frigid miles; I'm hoping for additional pedaling this evening. Today's ride started at about 7F (-14C) and "warmed up" to 12F (-11C). After the first lap, I swapped wheelsets from the pair with the studded tires mounted to the traditional pair. Much lighter and, therefore, less work.

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 2 - 22.5 km Fatbike

Snuck in some miles this evening...this time on the Mukluk...at essentially 0 degrees F. I got in about 14 miles and looked like this at the end:

The bottle was more of an experiment to see how long it took to freeze. About 30 minutes and it was solid.

Exhaling moisture freezes a lot, apparently.

Fatbiking across an open ice rink at the local park.



Working hard to get to 500km! One pedal stroke at a time!

Rapha Festive 500 Ride 1 - 50km

Last year's Festive 500 by Rapha was indeed a challenge. I was living in Madison, WI, and the highest temperature was at freezing (quite warm, in hindsight). This year, I live in Minneapolis, and the temps are quite colder. I am still making an effort to pedal through the challenge this year, so we'll see how it goes!

Today's departure was greeted with +16F (-9C) temperatures and a light dusting of snow, with a wind chill of +2F (-17C). By the end of the 50k ride, temps were +15F (-9.5C), with less of a wind chill. Eek. My layering worked just right, but my feet were still really cold. I doubled up on merino wool socks with a new pair of Teva Chair 5 boots (rated at -25F), but even still...

Here are some pictures:

Around 7AM with 1/2" of fresh-fallen snow

Riding the Casseroll with Schwalbe Marathon Winter tires, Supernova/Schmidt light system, etc.

I'll be shooting for some Mukluk miles this evening if I can sneak away...

Rapha 500: The Vote

I am a finalist in the Rapha 500 Challenge! Click on the photo below to go the vote page on Facebook and click "like." Thank you for your support! 

Click through to Facebook and click "like." Thanks!

Rapha500 Video Summary

A brief compilation of helmet cam footage from the 2011 Rapha500. 

Tunes set by Xenia

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 6 #Rapha500 42km - COMPLETE!

Day 6 - 42km (26mi) #Rapha500 COMPLETE

147/2864 riders at completion. Many will surpass my 501km in the days to come, but not too bad. 

Today's ride was pretty smooth - just one loop around Lake Mendota. The forecast called for freezing rain overnight and into the morning, so I was nervous to have a miserable last ride. However, the rain phenomenon wrapped up its trouble-making activity sometime before 7AM when I started riding. 

Here are a few shots from the ride:

The sun peeking over the horizon as the Casseroll awaits. 

Beautiful morning

At the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union Terrace.

I don't know what else they're waiting for. The ice would for sure send me South. 

And the ride track:

This Rapha Festive 500 challenge has been quite the adventure. I would not have been able to complete the task without the loving support of my wife, who allows me to take family time to do these silly adventures. Thank you to all of you out there who offered encouragement and advice. Happy trails, everyone. 

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 5 #Rapha500 108km

Day 5 - 108km (67mi)


Today was interesting. Yesterday, as I wrote about, was grueling and emptied my mental and physical tanks. I thought about incorporating a rest day into the routine. Instead, my wife encouraged me to get some extra sleep, leave a little later than normal, and see how things go. Instead of leaving at 6:30AM, I left around 9AM, once the temperature had risen to a brisk 16F (-9C).

I felt well-rested, and my legs had a little bit of kick in them today that they lacked yesterday. My toe-warming strategy has evolved and improved, ultimately using hand warmers over my toes, stopping every 45min or so to rest the feet, and stopping by the house every lap to take off my shoes and warm up my feet before heading back out. Today, the strategy worked great.

The original plan was to ride two 25-mile laps, leaving 42 miles for tomorrow (the last day of the challenge). I was feeling pretty solid, so I added 17 miles by riding an 8.5 mile out-and-back at the end of my two laps. I was definitely tired, but I only have one lap around Lake Mendota left for tomorrow.

Here's the ride track:



And a picture from the out-and-back:

After I posted today's ride, I'm in 108th place (of 2,700 or so)

Not too bad, considering the cold. 40km to go!

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 4 #Rapha500 89km

Day 4 - 89km - 55mi


No pictures today. Today was a grunt. I can usually manage fairly well with moderate climbing, OR wind, but not both. Today I faced both. Steady winds from 15-20mph from the W/NW buffeted my attempts to ride respectably for the first half of today's ride. I had to work to grind out each mile. I earned each mile. An average speed of 15 isn't all that great, but I know how hard I worked to maintain that pace.

Also, my clothes weren't quite done drying this morning by the time I started riding. I started off chilled and never quite warmed up. Between the strong winds and lack of sunshine, today was a gray day. The good news? I have 92 miles to go (148km) in four days. I can do this.

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 3 #Rapha500 129km

Day 3 - 80mi (129km)


Today's adventure was a 2-loop route far west of Madison through Middleton. The wind was forecast to be S-SW up to 15mph, so I figured a route with East/West bias would be best. For the most part this was the case. On the 2nd loop, along the climbs on Airport Road, I was hit in the face with the bulk of the headwind. Ugh. This grunt work paid dividends as I turned East through Ashton approaching the North side of Lake Mendota.

Today's weather was much more agreeable. The starting air temperature at 6:30 was in the low 20's, reaching the mid 30's by midday. I even saw a couple other cyclists out today. 263/500 kilometers down, 237 to go (147mi).




A couple shots from the ride:

Today's sunrise. 

I've ridden to this intersection on a different route. Like an old friend. 

Barn-based nativity.

The freezing/thawing shore of Lake Mendota.

I should be able to finish up the 500km on Thursday--Six days of riding total.

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 2 #Rapha500 81km

Day 2 - 50mi (81km)


Today's ride was a much more positive than yesterday. I know this loop by heart, meaning no surprises. With service stations opposite the lake of my starting point, and riding through the isthmus, if something were to go wrong, I wouldn't be out of luck for long.

I started around 6:30AM today, when the temperature was around 20F (-7C). I added an upper-body layer, so I was wearing a short-sleeved Bontrager base layer, Salsa wool short-sleeved jersey, Ibex wool arm warmers, Ibex wool full zip Shak long-sleeved sweater, and a Bontrager rain/wind jacket. The wind jacket caused sweat troubles. I shed the jacket halfway through my first lap and wore a vest for the 2nd lap. Much better setup.

For the lower body, I have Ibex Arrivee wool bib shorts, Ibex wool leg warmers, Ibex Breakaway overpants, and a pair of Rainmates for windstoppage. For the head I use the Ibex Zepher beanie and neck gaiter. For the hands, Ibex Tuck gloves.

Turns out I'm quite the Ibex and Merino wool advocate. Love the stuff.


Sunrise over Lake Mendota

From a potty break on lap 2. 

I want this house. In the summer. 

The sun just creeping up on lap 1. Trek Bicycle president John Burke lives not far from here. 

A view from the Bikestache. 

Here's the map of today's riding:



See you Monday. Merry Christmas.

Rapha Festive 500 - Day 1 #Rapha500 53km

Day 1 - 33 mi (53km):

Change of plan. The temperature this morning when I left at 5AM was 12 degrees. A full 10 degrees colder than expected. I embarked nonetheless. Things felt manageable for the first 30 minutes or so, until my toes were extremely numb. I use 3mm neoprene booties over full leather shoes, but even with thick merino wool socks underneath I was numb. Ice block numb.

I pulled off at a McDonald's at about mile 20 in an attempt to warm up. I was thirsty, but all 5 water bottles were ice blocks. Even the bottles in my handlebar bag were solid. Lovely. I was sorta hungry, but the food was frozen, too. Hmm. I grabbed an Autotrader magazine and lined my shoe covers with several layers of its pages, vintage Tour de France style. No go.

I did get to watch the sun rise, however:

The camera was frozen, and would struggle to function. Can't blame it. My neck gaiter was frozen solid.

My feet got worse, and my arches and heels started to go numb. At about mile 33 (53km), I called in the SAG wagon (the Mrs.). I nursed my ice block feet to a service station, which was not easy to find along the farmroad-laden countryside. I'll be recalculating the remainder of my 500k attempt.

**UPDATE**
Attempt recalculated. I'll be riding smaller 22 mile (35km) loops around Lake Mendota. That and I'll spread the riding out in a realistic manner. Plan B on the 24hour ride is to ride during spring break.

The new route. 

The new itinerary:

12/23 - 33 (Complete)
12/24 - 44
12/26 - 66
12/27 - 44
12/28 - 44
12/29 - 44
12/30 - 35