Author Topic: Bryan Chapman Memorial 600 - 18th May 2013 (Read 110288 times)

marcusjb · « **on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:07:38 pm »

Thought it about time this ride got a thread.

Booked in for this one. If there is one ride I must do this year, more than any other, it is the BCM.

As probably the most 'famous' Audax ride, I feel it is one I must ride, at least once.

Last year, despite being booked in, hotels booked etc., a friend decided that getting married that day was a good idea - so I spent the day doing wedding things instead.

This year, there is nothing to stop me I really do hope!

So, anyone else got the BCM booked into their diaries yet?

Salvatore · « **Reply #1 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:23:33 pm »

Entry's in the post.

Redlight · « **Reply #2 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:24:10 pm »

I had it pencilled in, having had to cancel last year because of work pressure. But have now discovered that it's my wife's business school reunion that weekend, so I have childcare duties.

Which leaves me having to decide which other 600 to do instead......

simonp · « **Reply #3 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:29:26 pm »

The obvious choice:

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-474/

Bairdy · « **Reply #4 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:37:08 pm »

In May 2010 (before I'd even heard of Audax) I was driving home to Bristol from my Uncles place in Dolgellau after a weekend of hill walking.
I decided to take the scenic route and found an awful lot of battered looking cyclists in various ragged states strung out over quite some distance spanning the last hour or two to Chepstow. I was intrigued, it wasn't a sportive, some had sandals on!

Saddle bags?

BCM has been the big one I've wanted to do since I started riding Audax events.
Last May I hadn't ridden further than 200km and I wasn't ready.
I posted my entry last week.

Bunker22 · « **Reply #5 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:40:06 pm »

Quote from: Salvatore on 07 January, 2013, 06:23:33 pm

Entry's in the post.

Mine too. I am more nervous about this one than LEL for some reason. (Maybe because its sooner?)

marcusjb · « **Reply #6 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:42:45 pm »

Quote from: simonp on 07 January, 2013, 06:29:26 pm

The obvious choice:

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-474/

I rode it as my alternative to the BCM last year. A fine ride, but very challenging.

simonp · « **Reply #7 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:45:14 pm »

Quote from: marcusjb on 07 January, 2013, 06:42:45 pm

Quote from: simonp on 07 January, 2013, 06:29:26 pm
The obvious choice:

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/13-474/

I rode it as my alternative to the BCM last year. A fine ride, but very challenging.

Yes, it's much harder than the BCM despite having a similar amount of climbing.

shyumu · « **Reply #8 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:46:17 pm »

Quote from: Salvatore on 07 January, 2013, 06:23:33 pm

Entry's in the post.

+1

This event is my motivation for weight loss. 8.25AAA - cool.

Henry · « **Reply #9 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:46:33 pm »

Yes sir, will be my first time too, so muchly looking forward. Entered in my first season last year, but had a bad knee after the Brevet Cymru so couldn't ride. Unfinished business.....

Bairdy · « **Reply #10 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:51:02 pm »

Quote from: bunker22 on 07 January, 2013, 06:40:06 pm

Quote from: Salvatore on 07 January, 2013, 06:23:33 pm
Entry's in the post.

Mine too. I am more nervous about this one than LEL for some reason. (Maybe because its sooner?)

Me too, but even more nervous about Brevet Cymru which is two weeks before BCM.
I'm going to be on Valium by the time I get to Loughton in July.

Reg.T · « **Reply #11 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:52:22 pm »

K&SW for me too last year, as I couldn't make the BCM weekend, and it was a great ride. Not entirely flat though.

This year's BCM entry printed and going in the post tomorrow. K&SW entry already done online.

simonp · « **Reply #12 on:** 07 January, 2013, 06:58:11 pm »

The Brevet Cymru is also a fantastic ride.

Doo · « **Reply #13 on:** 07 January, 2013, 07:08:41 pm »

This was my first ever 600! Woo hoo! This has been my only ever completed 600 (and completed with broken gears!)! Awesome ride, but I aint gonna do it again!

kond · « **Reply #14 on:** 07 January, 2013, 07:26:39 pm »

My entry is in the post for what will be my first 600 and was going to be a warm up for LEL but may now become the main event and a mighty fine one I think it should be as well having read a few reports.....

No chance of it raining is there? In Wales?

BlackSheep · « **Reply #15 on:** 07 January, 2013, 07:34:58 pm »

Quote from: kond on 07 January, 2013, 07:26:39 pm

My entry is in the post for what will be my first 600 .....

T'was my first 600 in 2001, come to think of it, this ride was only my third AUK event at randonneur pace. Just take it stage-by-stage, you'll be fine.

Quote from: kond on 07 January, 2013, 07:26:39 pm

No chance of it raining is there? In Wales?

No chance, this was probably the driest 600 in 2012

Hillbilly · « **Reply #16 on:** 07 January, 2013, 07:44:46 pm »

I think I've entered. At least a cheque stub says "BCM" and I have a vague recollection of grimmacing at shelling out £25 when I scribbled the figure out. Then again, all these entries merge into one after a while and I might be deluding myself. Either I will get a route sheet through the post in 5 or so months, or I will be enjoying my subscription to "Big Cocks Monthly" (magazine of choice for poulterers who like to keep up to date with rooster news) by then.

I am planning to finish in daylight on Sunday.

Bunker22 · « **Reply #17 on:** 07 January, 2013, 07:58:48 pm »

Quote from: Bairdy on 07 January, 2013, 06:51:02 pm

Me too, but even more nervous about Brevet Cymru which is two weeks before BCM...

I hadn't thought to be worried about Brevet Cymru, but I am now. Thanks

BlackSheep · « **Reply #18 on:** 07 January, 2013, 08:00:26 pm »

Quote from: Hillbilly on 07 January, 2013, 07:44:46 pm

............................. and I have a vague recollection of grimmacing at shelling out £25 when I scribbled the figure out.

I could be wrong, ~~but I think the new entry fee is all inclusive, so no need to shell-out anything at 6 of the 8 controls~~ - from looking at the AUK event page , I was. And would have been the entry fee if I was doing it this year. The field has been steadily growing over the last few years, and up until now it hasn't been possible to accurately set an "all inclusive" price.

Quote from: Hillbilly on 07 January, 2013, 07:44:46 pm

I am planning to finish in daylight on Sunday.

You'll be one of the many then, only a few finish in the dark

Chuffy · « **Reply #19 on:** 07 January, 2013, 08:01:29 pm »

Entry going in the post tomorrow (pleasepleasepleasedon'tbetoolate) and looking forward to this one very much.

If anyone does the K&SW Baggy & I will be running the Penzance control as I ~~wanted an excuse not to ride it again~~ felt I should repay Ian's bountiful generosity with small lanes, never ending hills and amusing diversions.

marcusjb · « **Reply #20 on:** 07 January, 2013, 08:05:33 pm »

Quote from: Reg.T on 07 January, 2013, 06:52:22 pm

This year's BCM entry printed and going in the post tomorrow. K&SW entry already done online.

Cor. You're not doing the brimstone as well are you? I guess do that and the pendle 600 and that is a real hard rider's hyper series?

Reg.T · « **Reply #21 on:** 07 January, 2013, 08:10:15 pm »

Quote from: marcusjb on 07 January, 2013, 08:05:33 pm

Quote from: Reg.T on 07 January, 2013, 06:52:22 pm
This year's BCM entry printed and going in the post tomorrow. K&SW entry already done online.

Cor. You're not doing the brimstone as well are you? I guess do that and the pendle 600 and that is a real hard rider's hyper series?

Not the Brimstone, unfortunately.

Pendle though

And LEL to round off the Hyper (if all goes to plan, of course)

Hot Flatus · « **Reply #22 on:** 07 January, 2013, 08:12:42 pm »

Quote from: Bairdy on 07 January, 2013, 06:51:02 pm

Mine too. I am more nervous about this one than LEL for some reason. (Maybe because its sooner?)

Quote

me too, but even more nervous about Brevet Cymru which is two weeks before BCM.
I'm going to be on Valium by the time I get to Loughton in July.

Don't be too nervous, it's not a very hard ride. There are people on here who have done it umpteenth times. I'm a mere beginner on 5 times, but there is a reason it has loyal repeat business.

Personally, I avoid any of that nonsense of dragging through the night and turning it into some godawful ordeal. No cocking about on the first day, with the aim of being in bed by midnight. The second day takes care of itself, leisurely breakfast, off by 8am and back in Chepstow at about 5pm.

I do have to make a bit of an effort on some of the earlier rides in the season, like doing a fairly swift couple of 300s, and a 400, plus about 4 or 5 200s, but this seems to set me up nicely for having enough easy speed to do the BCM comfortably.

MattH · « **Reply #23 on:** 07 January, 2013, 08:17:33 pm »

I'm in again for this year (or at least the entry form went off last week, and I booked the Travelodge during a sale back in November), having failed to drag my virus-riddled body to it last year. I've only done it three times before, so a comparative novice. It is one of my favourite rides.

Bairdy · « **Reply #24 on:** 07 January, 2013, 08:30:27 pm »

Quote from: Evilchuffy on 07 January, 2013, 08:01:29 pm

Entry going in the post tomorrow (pleasepleasepleasedon'tbetoolate) and looking forward to this one very much.

If anyone does the K&SW Baggy & I will be running the Penzance control as I ~~wanted an excuse not to ride it again~~ felt I should repay Ian's bountiful generosity with small lanes, never ending hills and amusing diversions.

I can't add K&SW to this years madness. Maybe next year.