Bryan Chapman Memorial (Classic) it says in the book and Classic it is. Pleased to add that to my very small list of audax events I have ridden and to complete my SR this year. Also well aware that BCM must be something special if folk travel from Aderdeen to ride it!
Main memories will be of the incredible work of Mark and all his helpers. The way Mrs R ran the Menai control when Mark was doing the necessary ‘stuff’ regarding Bikey Mike was outstanding. While everyone of the helpers were heroes in my eyes, and I am reluctant to highlight any, Kings YH food/service was so elating and to be served breakfast by an audax legend (Jim) at Aberhafesp was something I will remember for a long while (but then it could have been because I was hungry!).
The ride? Well the scenery was very familiar to me as I have tramped around the hills many times and also driven the roads many times getting to those hills. I knew what the hills were like but they just don’t seem as hard in the car!
Highlights: service at the controls and finishing
Lowlights: hearing of Mike’s mishap and killing a rabbit on the descent to Dinas-Mawddwy (which could had ended very differently!)
Finally, a massive thanks to Mark for organising this event and the weather which was amazingly good. I think we all should all volunteer to be at a control at 0400 in the morning to serve tired smelly riders with a smile to get some idea of what it is like and if I might feel a little tired this morning, I bet it is nothing compared to Mark (and his helpers) as quite a few riders will have had more sleep than he got over the weekend and I reckon it’s just as tiring worrying about all us riders!
Glad I did it and I can wait, a very long time, before I even consider doing it again!
