The RAPHA500 challenge is to ride 500km in between December 24 and December 31. You get a digital badge, a 20% discount on their webstore and, with a lot of hustle, a physical woven patch. But nothing beats the challenge itself.

I don’t remember where I have first read about it but I know my first attempt was in 2020. And it was a shitshow. I did 80k on the 25th then tried to squeeze the rest of the challenge into 29th by a round trip to Brasov. I left without any foot warmers, wearing some running clothes and some hot tea in my thermos. I didn’t even make it to Targoviste (roughly 50km in).

Then came 2021. A whole different approach. Got myself some foot warmers, improved my glove-game (I use a two-pair combo of gloves), some thicker socks. And got it done.

2022 and 2023 were off the table and hadn’t given it much thought. Then in 2024 it made a comeback and it started haunting me once again. And did it on the trainer. It’s a real soul-sucking feat I thought I’d never have to do again.

Then I did it again in 2025. And most likely I’ll do it again for as long I can afford the time and effort.

I really love this challenge as it keeps the pedal to the metal until the very last day of the year. No yearly round-up by December 23. No MY YEAR IN SPORTS by mid December. None of that.

In no particular order, below are a few photos from RAPHA500.