Author Topic: Borders of Belgium 1000 2016 (Read 61485 times)

Liamo · « **Reply #25 on:** 12 February, 2016, 08:51:26 am »

Just entered the looked after option. Rohnny advised yesterday he still had a few beds available.

Cycling Daddy · « **Reply #26 on:** 12 February, 2016, 10:34:57 pm »

I am not sure about whether I will cycle over or not.

Deano · « **Reply #27 on:** 01 March, 2016, 09:48:03 pm »

I haven't entered yet - but is anyone travelling from the north and looking at the Hull Ferry? I'm looking to share costs, PM if interested.

Dom T · « **Reply #28 on:** 07 March, 2016, 06:12:27 pm »

I have put my name down for it too. I heard from Rohnny, he only has a couple of beds left. So anyone thinking that they need to go down the "looked after" option had better get their skates on.

Rohnny · « **Reply #29 on:** 08 March, 2016, 04:12:31 pm »

15 British riders have entered the Borders of Belgium at this moment, almost as much as Belgians. I really must learn how to make a good porridge

Clemo · « **Reply #30 on:** 08 March, 2016, 05:13:12 pm »

I like the sound of this,

Laid Back Rich · « **Reply #31 on:** 26 March, 2016, 12:07:03 am »

This looks quite marvellous. I have entered

I will probably get a train to Dover on Wed 31/8, then ride 150k from Calais (or less from Dunkirk) to the start.
Then ride back to Bruges (50k or so) on Sunday 4/9, stop overnight for beer and chips, ride/train home on Monday 5/9.

Cycling Daddy · « **Reply #32 on:** 27 March, 2016, 09:31:24 am »

Quote from: Laid Back Rich on 26 March, 2016, 12:07:03 am

This looks quite marvellous. I have entered
I will probably get a train to Dover on Wed 31/8, then ride 150k from Calais (or less from Dunkirk) to the start.
Then ride back to Bruges (50k or so) on Sunday 4/9, stop overnight for beer and chips, ride/train home on Monday 5/9.

An alternative would be the Harwich to Hook: not sure if this is the preferable ride the other end?

mmmmartin · « **Reply #33 on:** 27 March, 2016, 11:16:00 am »

155k from the Hoek to the start, into the prevailing wind.
140k from Dunkirk to the start, with the prevailing wind.

Aunt Maud · « **Reply #34 on:** 27 March, 2016, 11:23:23 am »

Quote from: Bairdy on 01 February, 2016, 07:56:13 pm

Quote from: Aunt Maud on 30 January, 2016, 06:09:09 pm
Might go, seems like a bargain @ €10, I'll have to ride to the start and back though. Good job it starts in the north.

Dut,du,du...Dut,du,du...Cruising the streets.

Aunt Maud taking the Wendy House option?

Yup, but first I might have to reacquaint myself with my bike and I will EOtL.

Ivo · « **Reply #35 on:** 27 March, 2016, 11:47:06 am »

Quote from: mmmmartin on 27 March, 2016, 11:16:00 am

155k from the Hoek to the start, into the prevailing wind.
140k from Dunkirk to the start, with the prevailing wind.

Both options can be done by train as well. For Dunkirk it's best to cycle to the first Belgian railwaystation at De Panne.

Rohnny · « **Reply #36 on:** 28 March, 2016, 03:47:12 pm »

Just 1 entry available for the "look after" option.
http://bordersofbelgium2016en.weebly.com/registration-page.html

I will have more details about possible accommodations before and after the event in the next couple of days.
There will be the possibility to leave a bag at a secure place at the start/finish during the event.

fussballclub · « **Reply #37 on:** 28 March, 2016, 05:05:25 pm »

Bairdy I am in. Bring the music!

Rohnny · « **Reply #38 on:** 28 March, 2016, 05:06:48 pm »

the last "look after" offer is gone!

That leaves just the "back to basics" option.
No accommodation, no dinner, just ride!

L CC · « **Reply #39 on:** 24 April, 2016, 08:26:27 pm »

Quote from: fussballclub on 28 March, 2016, 05:05:25 pm

Bring the music!

Do you like disco?

Veloman · « **Reply #40 on:** 24 April, 2016, 08:41:16 pm »

Errr, I thought Bairdy was more AC/DC rather than disco.

Are you riding?

D.A.L.E. · « **Reply #41 on:** 17 June, 2016, 09:18:06 pm »

Deano mentioned this the other night and it's been eating away at me ever since...

D.A.L.E. · « **Reply #42 on:** 28 June, 2016, 10:35:23 am »

Yup, that's me entered. What have I done...

mattc · « **Reply #43 on:** 08 July, 2016, 09:38:39 am »

tentative strong interest here. Looking at train fares yada yada ...

I've just heard that the start is 1400h (2pm). That's ... unusual!

So I guess 5pm finish. Which is nice in some ways, as it means a relaxed evening, eat/drink/shower/craic/bed in some proportions according to fatigue level. No travelling to bother with.

EDIT: With such a late start, I could get there by train from Oxfordshire on the day! But that seems a bit stressful, and I note it's just outside Ghent:
So I reckon staying in/nr Ghent* the night before, and doing some grockle-ing/carbo-loading in the morning looks like a nice plan. It would be lovely to share a litre and chips with fellow randonneurs, if things work out.

Maybe a siesta too ...

If anyone has space in a car to rent, let me know; otherwise train looks by far the best value/ least stress/ affordable route.

* I hostelled there on the way back from HCH2013; but I had heatstroke, and didn't enjoy my stay at all. So hopefully September will be better.

Deano · « **Reply #44 on:** 08 July, 2016, 10:47:46 am »

Aye, it looks as though we'll be riding through the first night. There's a sleep control at 560 km and another at 840 km, which breaks it up into a long day and a half, then a 280 km day and a short last day.

D.A.L.E. · « **Reply #45 on:** 20 July, 2016, 08:27:48 am »

If anyone who has entered and taken up the deluxe accommodation/bag drop option is thinking of dropping out, can I call dibs on your place? I don't mind slumming it, but it would make my life a thousand times easier!

mattc · « **Reply #46 on:** 01 August, 2016, 07:40:54 pm »

Right, I'm in - looks like a Matt-n-Manotea road trip. Last ferry from Dover on Wednesday night, cheap-as-frites hotel somewhere near Dunkirk. Then leisurely drive to the start after a lie-in.

(did try to get on Eurostar, but it was such a saga getting bike res'ns that I was despairing; so f*ck 'em.)

Plan to book a bed somewhere around the 560km control, probably catnapping/bivvying through nights 1&3.

Usual mix of excitement and nerves has commenced. I've done a load of 1000+ events, but never after missing apr/June thru injury, so this is a step back into the unknown. Starts a month today ... Gulp.

(Has anyone got copy of the old routesheet - sorry "road book". ? )

Rohnny · « **Reply #47 on:** 02 August, 2016, 04:23:28 pm »

I'm working on the route sheet and hope to complete it by the end of the week. It will contain the following:
- Overal distance in km
- Distance in meter turn by turn
- Left, right and straight ahead are arrows signs and in different colours, so no language issues

- Name of street
- Info column (can be name of the town or a danger remark like rail road crossing)

Didn't get any complaints in 2014.
I will post again when the route sheet is online.

I wonder if there are riders doing the BOB without a GPS device.
In 2012 there were 2 riders without but in 2014 every rider had a GPS device.

Rohnny

roffa · « **Reply #48 on:** 06 August, 2016, 09:47:20 pm »

What a beautiful route! I've cycled parts of it. Really nice! I suppose I can enter the unsupported event, even at this late a date?

Rohnny · « **Reply #49 on:** 08 August, 2016, 08:21:59 am »

Quote from: roffa on 06 August, 2016, 09:47:20 pm

What a beautiful route! I've cycled parts of it. Really nice! I suppose I can enter the unsupported event, even at this late a date?

Yes! The Belgian rules state that any BRM up to 1000K is open for entry untill the start. Just the "extra's" (like accommodations, food or bagdrops) are optional and in most cases must be booked before the start.

In case of the BOB 2016 the full option is sold out. We accept bookings for bagdrops untill sunday 14/8.

Rohnny