CINQUECENTO CHILOMETRI. RAPHA FESTIVE 500

Rapha Festive 500 is nothing when compared to my latest challenge. (As cyclists do not make New Year’s resolutions, they challenge each other!) It’s the 21st day of January. This means that for 21 days I still have had my kitchen clean: no dirty dishes, no bread crumbs, no coffee spilt on the cooker. I am a woman of success!

Day 1.

165 km, 1900 m ascent.

It isn’t cold. It’s extremely boring. I’ve got 21 Czech crowns. One crown less than I need to buy a Cola. “I’ll give you a discount. It’s Christmas!”

This year I’m on time for Christmas Eve supper.

Because I’m alone, sitting on a sofa, wearing a t-shirt and reading Christmas wishes on my phone.

I’m afraid. I’m actually frightened to death. I’m not able to predict what demons come to people in sole t-shirts staying alone on Christmas.

The demons haven’t come, yet.

Tired but calm, I lean against the armchair. Christmas Eve is to be spent with the dear ones. That’s why I spend it alone. This is my way of being honest.

Day 2.

123 km. 1300 m ascent.

It’s sunny but cold. I can sleep till ten, leave home at noon and be back at night.

What a perfect plan!

Day 3.

59 km. 600 m ascent.

I can sleep till nine, but I shouldn’t. I have only five days for my Festive 500 and 500:5=100!!! Uuuuuu, this may hurt.

Day 4, 5 and 6.

The office. Time passes. Coffees, papers, emails. Sunny afternoons turn into navy blue evenings. I leave the office and plunge into black, freezing night.

Awkwardness of no bike days. I am only a weak woman. Challenges are for men!

Day 7.

103 km. 1025 m ascent.

Frost.

Sweet lemon tea. I sip it from a tiny mug I hold in my gloved trembling fingers. My comfort food… or drink, I should say. I know the taste from years ago when my father poured the steamy drink to our mugs. Three little kids on a ski slope, with red and happy faces. Winter didn’t feel so nasty then. And it does not now with my blue thermoflask put in my bottle cage.

Day 8. The last.

76 km. 630 m ascent

It rains. Constantly. I need 50 kilometres to finish the challenge.  

After half an hour I’m thoroughly wet and dirty. Why am I trying to be so fast on a cyclo-cross bike as I am on a road bike. I always end up exhausted.

Having had a hot dog at a petrol station, I begin to be hungry again. Anyway, this Christmas I’m not going to put on weight.

I meet Alex at a car wash. He just approaches me and uses the rest of my water to wash his bike. He wears a hat I knitted years ago… We talk and then go home. Separately.

I’ve just cleaned the kitchen. Still successful!

Can I have another challenge, please?