Route check done! Any questions fire away.
Entries are now open.
Big Gert Brevet - Populaire - 10days - from 10:00 Sat 21 Aug -
www.gwraudax.co.uk/bgb1600bpBristol Glasgow Bristol - Randonneur - 7days - from 05:00 Sun 22nd Aug -
www.gwraudax.co.uk/bgb1600As the randonneur pace event is being validated by LRM it benefits from extra time based on the additional rate of climb above 11m/km; 5% for every metre. It comes in at ~15.4m/km so benefits from 20% extra time; or a minimum speed of 10kph. This equates to 240km per 24hr period.
The populaire is an average of 163km/day; get the AAA points AND the distance if doing the fixed wheel challenge.
A bit about the route check:
No doubt about it, it was hard, exactly as intended.
I did it on a SWB steel racer with 25mm Conti Gatorskins; I've done some cracking events on this bike but having ridden 37mm slicks for the past 3yrs it wouldn't be my choice for longer events nowadays, let alone those with a bit of off road. So why did I use it? As the organiser I wanted to demonstrate that it is possible on any road bike. It isn't what you ride but how you ride it!
I set out with the advantage of knowing (mainly) what to expect so paced my self accordingly, my physical fitness wasn't at its best but my mental fitness (some may call it stubbornness) was at its peak; having got to Scotland I knew I'd finish in time excluding any major mechanical or medical. The lockdown layers and lack of distance cycling to date had tested me the first few days so I took the decision to go full value doing about 200km on each of the final 3 days.
The off road sections will take you to some remote locations, as well as some of the road sections; and offer some of the most amazing views. Some walking was required whilst off road; fatter tyres at a lower pressure would have been a vast benefit.
Overall I completed it with 3hrs to spare but as I've said I rode to the time.
Post check a few minor changes have been made resulting in the final gratuitous byway climb that was actually a stream bed being removed, hence it is slightly easier on the last day through the Cotswolds.