Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: chocjohn9 on 09 October, 2019, 02:17:47 pm

Title: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: chocjohn9 on 09 October, 2019, 02:17:47 pm
The new calendar for Belgian rides has just been released -

* No need to pre-warn, simply appear at the start 30 mins before the off. The exception is 10th April which is a "team" event.
* 200K=€5, 300k=€6, 400k=€7 
* GPS files and paper routes are released about 2 weeks before the day. Check www.randonneurs.be
* 27th June is Groot-Bijgaarden, Brussels-Paris-Brussels. 1st July Herentals goes from there (North East of Brussels) to Champagne and back and 3rd September is "Borders of Belgium" which follows the circumference around the entire country   :)
* Eurostar offers a good service - pity that they have put the prices up, so book early. Oostende, Assebroek (Bruges) and Oudenburg are very near the sea, if you are ferrying it.
* I look forward to seeing ALL of you soon.... in Tervuren, which I run!

Happy to answer (easy) questions.......

07/12/19     Tervuren    200 km
      
04/01/20    Wachtebeke   200 km
      
18/01/20   Assebroek   200 km
      
22/02/20   Herentals   200 km
      
29/02/20   La Louvière   200 km
      
07/03/20   Anderlecht   200 km
      
14/03/20   Auvelais   200 km
      
21/03/20   Oostende   200 km
21/03/20   Villance   200 km
      
29/03/20   Leuven   200 km
      
04/04/20   Tournai   200 km
      
10/04/20   Oudenburg   Flèche belge
      
18/04/20   Sint-Truiden   200 km
19/04/20   Gent                 200 km
      
25/04/20   Anderlecht   300 km
      
01/05/20   Leuven   200 km
01/05/20   Oostende   300 km
      
09/05/20   Lier   200 km
09/05/20   Oudenburg   400 km
      
16/05/20   Tournai   300 km
      
21/05/20   Oosteeklo   200 km
21/05/20   Villance   600 km
22/05/20   Tournai   400 km
23/05/20   Herentals   300 km
      
30/05/20   Anderlecht   400km
      
01/06/20   Vlamertinge   200 km
      
06/06/20   Leuven   400 km
06/06/20   Oostende   600 km
      
13/06/20   Lier   300 km
14/06/20   Malmedy   200 km
      
20/06/20   Oudenburg   600 km
      
27/06/20   Groot-Bijgaarden   600 km
      
01/07/20   Herentals   1200 km
      
11/07/20   Tervuren   200 km
      
18/07/20   Oostende   400 km
      
21/07/20   Oostende   200 km
21/07/20   Leuven   300 km
      
01/08/20   Herentals   600 km
      
08/08/20   Malmedy   200 km
      
15/08/20   Oostende   200 km
      
22/08/20   Herentals   400 km
      
29/08/20   La Louvière   200 km
      
03/09/20   Wachtebeke   1000 km
      
12/09/20   Auvelais   200 km
      
19/09/20   Herentals & Ternat   200 km
      
03/10/20   Anderlecht   200 km
      
10/10/20   Assebroek   200 km
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: bludger on 09 October, 2019, 03:07:21 pm
You know time allowing I think I'm going to get the ferry over again! Hopefully not arriving at Dunkirk at 2am this time :D

Audax in Belgium is a blast. Just make sure you fill your bags with food and drink before the shops close.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Pip on 09 October, 2019, 04:45:30 pm
Great stuff chocjohn9, thank you.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: paulworthington53 on 09 October, 2019, 08:09:13 pm
I'm in! Booked ferry for the Groot-Bijgaarden 600. Looking forward to it. Civilised crossing times too!
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: slugbait on 09 October, 2019, 08:19:48 pm
[...]

The exception is 10th April which is a "team" event.

[...]

It's an Easter Arrrow, I presume. I may get a team together for that event, but we usually start from my home town (Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands) which is at least 420km from Oudenburg if you follow the most direct route. So, we probably have to consider an alternative starting location as well.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: quixoticgeek on 09 October, 2019, 09:51:10 pm
[...]

The exception is 10th April which is a "team" event.

[...]

It's an Easter Arrrow, I presume. I may get a team together for that event, but we usually start from my home town (Groningen in the northeast of the Netherlands) which is at least 420km from Oudenburg if you follow the most direct route. So, we probably have to consider an alternative starting location as well.

More importantly you'd most likely be slogging into a headwind the whole way...

Quote
* I look forward to seeing ALL of you soon.... in Tervuren, which I run!
Quote

I'm thinking of doing the December 200. What is the start time for this? What is the start location? I can't seem to find it on the website beyond Tervuren.

J
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: chocjohn9 on 13 October, 2019, 05:38:43 pm
Start times tend to be -
200k at 8am
300k at 6am
400k at 4am.
Check the website though because this is only a guide.

Tervuren is 10k east from the the centre of Brussels, just off "the ring", the circular motorway around brussels.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Ivo on 13 October, 2019, 05:52:57 pm
My work schedule for the start of december isn't out yet so I don't know if I can join the Tervuren event.

Holidays have been requested and received for the Flèche.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Pedal Castro on 14 October, 2019, 03:25:09 pm
The 200 on 11/11/19 looks very inviting, shame the info links aren't working.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: farfetched on 14 October, 2019, 07:19:46 pm
The 11/11 is a public holiday in Belgium and France. Last year this event was a ride to Ypres taking in various ww1 battle sites and cemeteries as it coincided with 100 years since the end of ww1, it might be a repeat of that.  Usually the info links do get activated a little closer to the event date. I can't go as it falls on a Monday this year and I can't get the time off.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: chocjohn9 on 14 October, 2019, 07:32:41 pm
Full details of each ride are released about 2 weeks prior to the date of the BRM. (This is so that a full route check can take place)
Rough details are produced well in advance...... bear with us during the calendar change over.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Pedal Castro on 28 October, 2019, 07:21:47 am
The 11/11 is a public holiday in Belgium and France. Last year this event was a ride to Ypres taking in various ww1 battle sites and cemeteries as it coincided with 100 years since the end of ww1, it might be a repeat of that.  Usually the info links do get activated a little closer to the event date. I can't go as it falls on a Monday this year and I can't get the time off.
Info now up, not a battlefield tour but looks a lovely route. I'll probably camp on the coast 11km from the start. Also need to remember to hit the St Sixtus beer hotline this coming Wednesday, at least the new online system will be a bit easier...

Edit: 2 crates of Westvleteren 12 ordered to be picked up on the Tuesday after. ;D
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Pedal Castro on 13 November, 2019, 07:19:41 am
Well that was fun (type 2), cold, windy and wet, with hail for added drama on the seafront section! Also, my rear brakes started making an unwelcome noise at around 130km due to one pad wearing away so I rode on using front brake only and therefore taking every junction very easily as I didn't have a lot of stopping power, could have been rather tricky had it not been pan flat.

On the plus side I did manage to ride the first 50km into the wind in a fast group, the organiser had a Paris Brest pastry waiting for me at control 1  :thumbsup: , France up to The Netherlands was in theory a tailwind but wetter and therefore colder so more stops. At control 3 cafe I took off my so called waterproof socks and wrung them out, psychologically it was good to replace them with dry socks even though they pretty much were wet through within seconds of putting my sodden winter boots back on.

I did have a nice chat with the president of the Belgium Randoneurs on the run in to the arrivee.

All in all, a great day, tough enough to be worthy of riding on Remembrance Day, when the going got tough I was reminded of the sacrifice others had made and actually my day is rather easy.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Ivo on 16 November, 2019, 10:41:41 am
My work schedule for the first full week of december is out and I have the weekend off. So I'll start in Tervuren. Now the decision where I stay before/after the event, in Brussels or Leuven ;).
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: chocjohn9 on 17 November, 2019, 09:01:04 pm
I route checked it yesterday and so full details can be found at
www.randonneurs.be

see you there Ivo!
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: quixoticgeek on 17 November, 2019, 09:13:55 pm
My work schedule for the first full week of december is out and I have the weekend off. So I'll start in Tervuren. Now the decision where I stay before/after the event, in Brussels or Leuven ;).

I considered this event, but kinda decided against due to the cost of a hotel for 2 nights. I was about to ask you about the idea of sharing a room, but now I've looked at the route, and the 2200+m of climbing. I'm too fat for such shenanigans...

Good luck!

J
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Ivo on 17 November, 2019, 11:29:12 pm
My work schedule for the first full week of december is out and I have the weekend off. So I'll start in Tervuren. Now the decision where I stay before/after the event, in Brussels or Leuven ;).

I considered this event, but kinda decided against due to the cost of a hotel for 2 nights. I was about to ask you about the idea of sharing a room, but now I've looked at the route, and the 2200+m of climbing. I'm too fat for such shenanigans...

Good luck!

J

There's a hostel in the € 25,- per night/per bed pricerange 5km from the start.
It'll be tough, I'm still quite unfit after PBP but I'll be my only chance for a BRM 200 in december so I'll give it a go.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Ivo on 18 November, 2019, 08:51:50 am
Since openrunner is notoriously unreliable when it comes to denivellation I've let gpsies recalculate it. They state about 2350m of climbing.
The detailed altitude profile on gpsies is a lot more detailled. It certainly shows me that the final 30km wil break your legs.
Starting to doubt considering my current lack of fitness.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: markcc on 20 November, 2019, 09:07:22 pm
I'm going to do my best to get to the Tevuren ride, although it seems to be an awkward place to get to by public transport.  Just to make sure though, it starts at 8am and you can sign up on the day?
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: quixoticgeek on 20 November, 2019, 09:47:09 pm
I'm going to do my best to get to the Tevuren ride, although it seems to be an awkward place to get to by public transport.  Just to make sure though, it starts at 8am and you can sign up on the day?

Yep, same for all Belgian brevets.

J
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: slugbait on 21 November, 2019, 06:37:52 am
The Malmedy brevet in June is starting to look interesting (http://www.randonneurs.be/page/31-malmedy-200): 3000 meters of climbing in 200 km. Given the place names mentioned in the route description, it seems like we get to do some classic climbs from Liege-Bastogne-Liege.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: markcc on 21 November, 2019, 10:36:51 am


Yep, same for all Belgian brevets.

J

Thank you!  It will be my first BE brevet.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: S2L on 21 November, 2019, 10:57:04 am


Yep, same for all Belgian brevets.

J

Thank you!  It will be my first BE brevet.

It will com with fries and mayo then...  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: chocjohn9 on 21 November, 2019, 01:01:37 pm
Fries and mayo are extra, but....... "Free - Sun, no wind, coffee and pastry at the start. "   :)

Ivo - the last 30k does have a few steep climbs, but they are short.  :)

Turn up on the day, from 7h30, fill in a sheet of paper and receive your brevet card. It's true, public transport isn't great, especially at that time in the morning. Tervuren is about 10k from the centre of Brussels. You can not take your bike on the tram. Markcc - where are you coming from? 
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: markcc on 21 November, 2019, 05:40:16 pm
Tervuren is about 10k from the centre of Brussels. You can not take your bike on the tram. Markcc - where are you coming from?

Likely from Gent, so will take the train to Brussel Zuid and ride out to Tervuren from there. 

Looking forward to it!!
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Salvatore on 21 November, 2019, 06:54:07 pm

01/07/20   Herentals   1200 km


I'm glad to see this is still running - probably the easiest 1200 I've ridden, and the most enjoyable.

And pre-registration is required for this event (a bargain at 160 euros given that includes 3 nights in hotels).

All you need to know about previous editions in this thread (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=34801.msg651783#msg651783).
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 21 November, 2019, 08:41:53 pm
Unfortunately PBP Audax finishes the same day as the Herentals 1200 starts, so Herentals will stay on my bucket list for a while longer.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: DavV on 12 January, 2020, 10:19:07 pm
I was thinking of riding the Lier 200k on 9 May. This would be my first Belgian 200. I have the route sheet, but does anyone has a GPX of last year’s ride which would give me a better idea of what to expect? I’d much appreciate any help.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: farfetched on 12 January, 2020, 11:27:37 pm
I have a copy so if you send me a pm I can mail it to you. (No guarantees they won't change it though)
It's not a difficult route, mostly flat and it takes you through 3 provinces of eastern flanders as the name would suggest. Three Cafe stops/controls and you are never really far from a town or village for supplies. It's on my list too but it clashes with a Dutch 200km event in Nijmegen that weekend.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: bludger on 12 January, 2020, 11:42:42 pm
ooh what's the Nijmegen event? I've been twice, it's one of my favourite places. Did my Nijmegen-Bonn ride with no sleep on an eventful summer's day, true type 3 fun!
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: quixoticgeek on 13 January, 2020, 03:11:11 am
ooh what's the Nijmegen event? I've been twice, it's one of my favourite places. Did my Nijmegen-Bonn ride with no sleep on an eventful summer's day, true type 3 fun!

Nijmegen? Try the Dutch thread?

J
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: thisisgrace on 14 January, 2020, 05:19:43 pm
I've just come across Borders of Belgium (https://bordersofbelgium2020.weebly.com/) which begins on 3rd September. Registration opens on Friday. I'm quite tempted. €104 entry, two nights in a B&B, two evening meals and two bag drops seems very reasonable. Shouldn't cost the earth to get there either.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 14 January, 2020, 06:15:55 pm
I've just come across Borders of Belgium (https://bordersofbelgium2020.weebly.com/) which begins on 3rd September. Registration opens on Friday. I'm quite tempted. €104 entry, two nights in a B&B, two evening meals and two bag drops seems very reasonable. Shouldn't cost the earth to get there either.
It's a great ride.
Beware Belgium is not flat the middle 600 packs on as much climbing as the Bryan Chapman and with steeper gradients

There will be few shops open through the night, stock up on food and water at Roubaix or even before.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Zed43 on 14 January, 2020, 08:20:11 pm
Agree that it is a great ride. Though the road surface may be worse than what you're used to in the UK...

It may be nice to sleep a bit in the formula-1 hotel in Roubaix. And bring warmish clothes and gloves, in 2018 it was just above freezing and foggy in the early morning; I dreaded every little hill as getting down was sooo cold...

Steeper than BC, really? (could be, but I don't remember it as such) It did give me 7.5AAA points.

Well organised and very friendly volunteers at those two controls; definitely recommended!
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 14 January, 2020, 11:38:40 pm
Agree that it is a great ride. Though the road surface may be worse than what you're used to in the UK...

It may be nice to sleep a bit in the formula-1 hotel in Roubaix. And bring warmish clothes and gloves, in 2018 it was just above freezing and foggy in the early morning; I dreaded every little hill as getting down was sooo cold...

Steeper than BC, really? (could be, but I don't remember it as such) It did give me 7.5AAA points.

Well organised and very friendly volunteers at those two controls; definitely recommended!
You probably couldn't see how steep those Ardennes river valleys were in the freezing fog. Nothing like that on BCM except for kings. Or maybe it just felt steeper as I was carrying all my own stuff.

Sleeping in the f1 may be a good bet, allows for the petrol station after Roubaix to be open when you get there. But j really enjoyed a long stay at the expensive hotel opposite the hostel at the first overnight stop.
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: farfetched on 19 January, 2020, 08:12:04 pm
To keep my RRtY going I decided to ride the Bruges event yesterday,  while the route didn't look all that challenging in practice it was. From 60 to 150km it was quite lumpy, nothing more than 40 or 50m but it never stopped. Luckily the weather was great, not too much wind either, not really a winter brevet but I'm not complaining! 
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: bludger on 19 January, 2020, 10:20:29 pm
It may be nice to sleep a bit in the formula-1 hotel in Roubaix. And bring warmish clothes and gloves, in 2018 it was just above freezing and foggy in the early morning; I dreaded every little hill as getting down was sooo cold...
maybe if one asks politely, one may be permitted to use the historic velodrome showers!
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Ivo on 29 January, 2020, 07:18:48 am
I've started pondering over routes for the Oudenburg Flèche. Yesterday evening I was checking the SNCF website once again and discovered that there's currently a good connection from Lille to Rouen (TER, 3 hours, TER takes bikes). Provided that there's the usual wind from the south/southwest that should provide an easy ride to Oudenburg.
My idea is to take this connection on thursday late afternoon, stay in a Formula 1 or hostel in Rouen and start out from there on friday.
Anyone interested in this idea?
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: siegfried on 03 February, 2020, 09:17:06 pm
I've started pondering over routes for the Oudenburg Flèche. Yesterday evening I was checking the SNCF website once again and discovered that there's currently a good connection from Lille to Rouen (TER, 3 hours, TER takes bikes). Provided that there's the usual wind from the south/southwest that should provide an easy ride to Oudenburg.
My idea is to take this connection on thursday late afternoon, stay in a Formula 1 or hostel in Rouen and start out from there on friday.
Anyone interested in this idea?
Hi Ivo,
What kind of route are you thinking of? I might be persuaded to do (mostly) coastal route. 
This is 398km (straight to Dieppe, Eurovelo 4 to Nieuwpoort, canal to Oudenburg. The  Eurovelo section can be cut short in many places.   
(https://i.ibb.co/t3vqjjV/fleche-oudenburg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XVK700c)
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: Ivo on 03 February, 2020, 09:21:22 pm
I've started pondering over routes for the Oudenburg Flèche. Yesterday evening I was checking the SNCF website once again and discovered that there's currently a good connection from Lille to Rouen (TER, 3 hours, TER takes bikes). Provided that there's the usual wind from the south/southwest that should provide an easy ride to Oudenburg.
My idea is to take this connection on thursday late afternoon, stay in a Formula 1 or hostel in Rouen and start out from there on friday.
Anyone interested in this idea?
Hi Ivo,
What kind of route are you thinking of? I might be persuaded to do (mostly) coastal route. 
This is 398km (straight to Dieppe, Eurovelo 4 to Nieuwpoort, canal to Oudenburg. The  Eurovelo section can be cut short in many places.   
(https://i.ibb.co/t3vqjjV/fleche-oudenburg.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XVK700c)

I have 2 planned routes:

 https://www.openrunner.com/r/10956180
and
 https://www.openrunner.com/r/10956188

I've squeezed a few km off the first one so both are now 361km.

Version B desinged on staying at the Boulogne Sud Formula 1 or or Premier Classe hotel the night before
Title: Re: Belgian brevets in 2020
Post by: chocjohn9 on 05 April, 2020, 10:03:24 am
Belgian update

As per everywhere, the next few audax rides in Belgium are cancelled. The next one to run is supposed to be a 300k....  :(
However, it has been decided to re-jig the calendar and when we can ride, do a few 200s, to get us back into the swing of it all.
I will re-post when the new version appears.