The Rapha #Festive500 is a simple challenge. Bike 500 kilometres between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. And this year, virtual rides were allowed, though I chose the more traditional (and chilly) outside approach.

Further, the Rapha Clubhouse in Boulder (#rccbdr) had additional challenges, unique to the area:

• Complete the Festive 500
• Ride all eight days from December 24 to 31
• Ride 100 kilometers or more in one day
• Catch a sunrise or sunset on a ride
• Ride to either Carter Lake or past DIA
• Climb 5000 feet or more in one ride
• Ride at least 20 kilometers of gravel/dirt in one ride
• Climb NCAR two times in one ride

And this morning around 7:30am I completed all eight challenges with a total of 314 miles and over 16K of elevation gain. And since I am a bit of an overachiever, I did both sunrise and sunset rides as well as going to both Carter Lake and beyond Denver International Airport (DIA).

All and all, it was a fairly fun challenge. Got to explore areas of Boulder that I had not quite gotten to yet. The roads were incredibly quiet most days. And, it got me outside even when it was below freezing, snowing, and windy. Gravel in snow on a road bike? A hoot and a half!

Also, having completed 250 miles in the first four days, it actually seems realistic that I could have done 500 miles total if I had not had work and the weather had stayed unseasonably pleasant. Maybe a goal for early next summer.

See ya next year, @rapha_n_america and @rapha.