Bryan Chapman Memorial 600 (16-MAY-2009)

[border-rider]

Just be aware that the BCM600 perm is not the same as the calendar event.  It's the old (pre 2001) route.

We did the 2004 route (ish) as a DIY perm.

[Tewdric]

I'm toying with hammering up to menai by 7pm ish then back to Portmadog for 10ish where Travelodg shower and bed beckons till about 6am.  Maybe leave food in tvldge on way up.

I'm potentially interested in a DIY during the week, maybe the 1st/2nd of June. It's easily possible to get a reasonable night's sleep on this ride, and I can't for the devil think of a good reason not to on a perm.

[GruB]

Report 2 from Chris N:

Head wind now, and showery.  Heading north soon, so should get quicker again.  Riding alone at the mo, but feeling good.  1/4 of my way round.

[Panoramix]

Keep on the reports, Armachair audax is better than armchair footie!

Here in Bristol it is Windy and gusty, with the odd shower I would say 25knots gusting 30+ southerly.

[rogerzilla]

Armchair LEL is going to be FUN 

[GruB]

Keep on the reports, Armachair audax is better than armchair footie!

Here in Bristol it is Windy and gusty, with the odd shower I would say 25knots gusting 30+ southerly.

My HR goes up each time I read that last report (above).  So armchair audax can even help with the training 

[MSeries]

Armchair LEL is going to be FUN 

We should encourage people to use Twitter, I shall be using it anyway. Perhaps someone can pull a page together to link in peoples Twitter feeds. Bit like what Greenbank did for PBP using the official on line feed

[Andydauddwr]

I packed at 160km.  Epic fail!

Main reason was a breach of Pember's law - I wasn't enjoying it, so stopped...

The wind was helpful until about Rhayader, but after that was gusting all over the place, posing handling probs at times.  Contact points are bad too, which is off for so early in the ride.  Got pretty wet and cold by then end and the prospect of a hot shower and dry clothes at home swayed it.  I've got two BCMs under my belt, so nothing to prove to myself really.  It's not been a great audaxing year for me so far and I really felt the lack of miles in my legs out there today.

Best of luck to all of those still out there.  The southerly was a lot more Westerly towards the end, which will make Kings - Barmouth Bridge a bit nasty.  I doubt crossing the pass will be too clever either if the gusting is similar up that way.

AC

[GruB]

Sorry to hear that mate.  2 under your belt is more than me 

[Chris S]

Does the route go near Capel Curig? 60mph gusts there just now... 

[Jasmine]

It might get interesting once they reach Harlech.  It's really quite windy up in north Wales, and the direction isn't exactly consistent.  Pen y pass may be a challenge.

[Panoramix]

Keep on the reports, Armachair audax is better than armchair footie!

Here in Bristol it is Windy and gusty, with the odd shower I would say 25knots gusting 30+ southerly.

My HR goes up each time I read that last report (above).  So armchair audax can even help with the training 

Don't say this in front of Mrs P as she may unilaterally alter my LEL training 

[Hot Flatus]

I packed at 160km.  Epic fail!

Main reason was a breach of Pember's law - I wasn't enjoying it, so stopped...

Sorry to hear that Andy. If it is anything like the weather outside now in Gloucestershire I know I made the right choice for me not to ride.  There will be some perverts enjoying it though 

[Martin]

Does the route go near Capel Curig? 60mph gusts there just now... 

yes Pen y Pass is the valley south of the Capel one

It's grim enough trying to ride south from Gatwick

[Weirdy Biker]

Hopefully the gusts will be beginning to die down for them now.  Many of them should be past Kings by now and thinking about the Snowdonia range.

[Jaded]

Well, I did a 100km starting from North Bristol going NE then back. It was very, very gusty and I'm glad I took the Tricross with cross tyres.

However, having ridden in Lewis with windy, it wasn't so bad. 

[Hot Flatus]

However, having ridden in Lewis with windy, it wasn't so bad. 

How is Lewis?  He seemed a little upset with you last time I saw him.

[vistaed]

Attempt 1 at the BCM - fail! 

I decided to pack up just past Machynlleth, and rode back to the station before I went to far North. Legs just not right today, no power on the hills and after a very wet and windy top end to the Elan valley I had a taste of what the return 300km is going to be like... I just could not face it on the fixed! Now back home in Brum, but with a tent still in Chepstow. Tonight's plan, beer, pizza, film - tomorrows plan, ride to Chepstow to recover tent.

I will be back next year but with different ratio and less stuff in the saddle bag!

[toekneep]

I am in awe of any of you guys for even attempting this ride. Knowing some of the terrain it is truly impressive stuff. In conditions such as you are experiencing this weekend I'm not surprised at anyone that packs. Well done for getting as far as you did and good luck next time.

[Chris S]

Attempt 1 at the BCM - fail! 

Better luck weather next time...

I'd have DNS'd if I had entered - on the back of that forecast. Anyone who went through with it is rufty-tufty and no mistake.

[Andydauddwr]

Bad luck vistaed.

I need to pick my car up from the Bulwark centre tomorrow before the locals make a bonfire of it.  Options are to ride or get the bus (5 hours and an early start).  Not sure what to do really, if the wind stays southerly, it should be a cross wind for most of the ride, but if it's bouncing around the valleys then who knows...

Think I'll sleep on it and decide in the morning.

AC

[rogerzilla]

I can understand PBP.   I can almost understand LEL.  I can't understand the BCM at all.  Must be a masochistic thing.

[Chris S]

I can understand PBP.   I can almost understand LEL.  I can't understand the BCM at all.  Must be a masochistic thing.

Look on it as self harm for mid-lifers.

[simonp]

I can understand PBP.   I can almost understand LEL.  I can't understand the BCM at all.  Must be a masochistic thing.

Last year's BCM had benign weather.  It was fine.  Whereas the Border Raid 600 in July had the worst weather I've yet experienced on an Audax.

[vistaed]

I can understand PBP.   I can almost understand LEL.  I can't understand the BCM at all.  Must be a masochistic thing.

Look on it as self harm for mid-lifers.

I'm not that old yet!

Having now looked at tomorrows forecast, I'm really thinking of taking my wife up on her offer to pick the tent up on her way back from Cornwall instead of cycling to Chepstow from Brum head on in to heavy rain and strong winds. I'll stay here and make that chocolate cake I had planned for Monday.