The Bryan Chapman Memorial 600

I was only 85km in, when I was ready to call a friend.  I couldn't call my other half, because she would have said: "I have no sympathy!" (the 'no' said in a Jeremy Paxman way).  Neither could I call my mum, who knows I'm doing this to go to Paris in August.  She would have said: "Come home, we can go to Paris any day of the year!".

I had to talk to somebody who would understand and know what I needed to hear.  So I called my alter ego.  Here is the conversation:

swarm_catcher: Hi?
Els: Hi, it's me, I'm on the BCM

swarm_catcher: And you're calling me because it is tough going?
Els: Yes [sob]

swarm_catcher: But it's going?
Els: Yes [sniff]

swarm_catcher: Well tough it out!
Els: But I'm only 85km in and struggling.  Howard is probably in Kings YH already.

swarm_catcher: Who is Howard?
Els: He is Lance Armstrong

swarm_catcher: And does that help you?
Els: No [wail]

swarm_catcher: Think of Eddy Merckx instead.
Els: [sniff]

swarm_catcher: Call me back when you get to 200
Els: OK

swarm_catcher: Just don't call while you are driving
Els: But I'm ...

swarm_catcher: tduuuuuuuuuu

Then, hurrahhh!!!!  A serious mechanical problem happened.  My pedals stopped turning dead in their tracks.   Quick, feet out before I fall over! This is it, I would have to give up, and what an excuse! Perfect.  Before I examined the damage, and in seconds, I had plans A, B and C on what to do next.  I would walk 500 miles and pluck up courage to knock on somebody's door.

The cleaning cloth for my glasses, which I must have dropped whilst getting something out of a back pocket, got entangled in the rear dérailleur.  With a single reverse turn of the pedals, out came the cloth.  Sigh of no relief.

Soon after, Mr Sunshine Gary arrived.  He had a story to tell that got me stunned for the next 50km.  His bike had just 'snapped in half', stopped at a garage, got it welded, carried on.  Certainly an advert for steel bikes and a guy called Gary.  He cheered me up no end, not just the story, but his lively, bubbly, sunny character lifted my spirits.

Mr Sunshine Gary (coincidence Liam called him Sunshine Gary also?)

It was also great to chat with Barry, who caught up with me next.  I waited for Larry and Harry .... maybe I was the red lantern.  At least at every control, I would still see a few people.

I had a song on repeat in my head.  Lyrics from Coldplay.  'Nobody said it was easy'.  'Oh, take me back to start'.

As I saw Chillmoister at the halfway Menai control I blurted out: 'I'm packing'!   With hindsight, if I really was going to give up, maybe I wouldn't shout it out so loud.  I would quietly say: "My ride is over, see you at the finish".  Wise words of 'get inside and eat' did the trick.  As you eat and weigh up the options, you realise that the logistics of getting back to Chepstow, and the implications of not completing BCM are almost harder to deal with than carrying on, especially given the state you are in.

If my brain wasn't mush at Menai, it certainly was back at Kings YH.  When asked what breakfast I would like, I looked for the easy option.  One word, no utensils: toast.  I was pleased the volunteer didn't ask which spread I wanted. I wouldn't have been able to make a decision.  Not even honey came to mind.

My bag drop bag had been carefully organised (learning from Greenbank!).  I had a black bag for things I would need at night, and a white bag for things I would need for the second day.  Even that got scrambled.  I must have been looking for something I couldn't find.  Comfort probably.

If you are getting tired of reading about this self-inflicted misery, forgive me.  I need to document this so that I never do this ride again.  In fact, why don't I cancel my Audax membership right now? Join Liam in the knitting club.

The best thing about this ride were the people.  I hardly have any pictures to share. Fortunately, others did get some fantastic shots to show off Wales.  Links are at the end.

I don't remember any scenery myself.  The last day, the last 200km, was dominated by calculations.  How far to go, how much time left?  Keep it going, you've got to make it now.  No point conserving energy anymore.  Go for it! Don't forget it is 619km, don't forget the last 19, call it 20.  Recalculate.  Go go go.

There is a lot of shifting up and down gears to do on the last leg.  Relentless up and own.  This was causing a new type of hallucination.  Shift up, 'edit', up again, 'amend', shift down, 'cancel'.  Shift up, 'open chapter', up again, 'turn page', shift down, 'close'.  Shift up, 'person walks in', up again, 'another walks in', shift down, 'all walk out'.  It was bizarre, I kept asking questions: 'what am I editing', 'why am I reading', 'what am I reading', 'who are these people'.  Like in a dream, the answers never came.

People on fixed gear are unreal!  Simonp and Manotea (there may have been others), I admire you.

I asked for a receipt at the last Weobley control shop.  Force of audax habit and being on autopilot.  'Do you need a stamp', said the lovely person a the till. 'Yes! Yes! I do.  Let me get my card!!'

I was thankful for John Spooner's company in the last stretch.  We knew it was touch and go all the way.  Thirty minutes spare sounds plenty, but  a difficult puncture could still set you back by that much.  It was great to see more people come in before 10PM.  Jason could hardly stand, stumbling against the wall.  Well done everybody.  There are a few people who finished around the same time as John and I, and I wish I had been more with it to take note: Maidenhead Phil, Panoramix, JJ, Redlight?  Hope to be able to say hi another time.

After returning to the B&B on Sunday evening, I found this in my room:

"Congratulations on your epic journey."

I ate all of it, although falling asleep many times as I was doing so.   My stay at Afon Gwy was wonderful.  I was very well looked after.

Many thanks to Mike the organiser, all the helpers and all the riders.  Reading through the yacf thread, you can sense the mutual respect people are giving each other.  It doesn't matter whether you abandoned, finished out of time, or finished in a good time ... you were there.

Thanks for all the tweets of support.

I did find Howard's tweet very endearing for somebody who finished 12 hours earlier than me: "That was tough."

Photos are on the slideshow till the next ride, or here: Clicky.

Links to other albums are below:
Mr Bunbury
TheSloth
Zigzag

A few more thoughts:

• Meeting Gary and Barry for the first time
• Really wanted to get to know more people, but didn't have capacity
• I was not ready for a tough first 100, they normally come at the end
• Iddu, please believe me, not doing the BCM again
• Except I had a desire to maybe, use a bed in Kings YH, and still haven't
• Asking Iddu what the weather was going to do on Sunday: "It's going to be BCM weather."
• My bike sounding like a chifchaf after the rain
• Lost 1kg over the weekend
• I have qualified for PBP, it is no formality! At least not if you do it the BCM way.
• Without the weight loss over the last 5 months and 'speed' training, maybe I would not have made it.
• StevieB on yacf: "* I could tell by Ele’s light pattern coming from behind she was not just wobbling a little but all over the road… so I woke her up and she promptly took the opportunity to get some sleep – sitting on a wall, and a few km further on - leaning on a gate! Not sure what surprised me more – her ability to sleep in any position or her ability to wake up after a couple of minutes!!"

The Bryan Chapman Memorial 600

This was a holiday, not a randonnee....

On the first day, I thought I was on a cycling tour. The countryside and weather reminded me of my excellent Land's End to John O'Groats trip in September 2005. I really would like to do another tour like that.

I was in a relaxed mood. I had encouraged myself to take it easy on the first day. Every 'Araf' sign was a reminder to slow down, gear down, take it easy. This time last year, at Weobley (80km to go), I had approached John Spooner, saying 'I don't think I'm going to make it'. To which he replied, with that lowering of arms and palms up signal: 'Just enjoy it'. Probably the best reply he could have given, and something that has stayed with me. I was absolutely going to enjoy this BCM.

All along, while taking it easy, I was ahead on last year's times. Of course, the weather played a big part in that. But other contributors were having lost weight and having done an 8 week interval training program. World class triathlete Jenny Rose put me onto this. Its amazing how eight, 1 hour sessions can make such a difference. I finished within the 40hour time limit and felt good all way around. Hoorraahh!!

It wasn't all plain sailing though and I should correct my opening line to: "A holiday by day and a randonee by night".

Here is a quote from Flatus: "had a nice night ride in parts to reach Kings at 11.45pm". Excuse me, but arriving back at Kings before midnight is not a night ride, right?!

Here is Flatus again: "Heard the rain pissing down and felt very sorry for the poor buggers still out in it." Well, thank you, that would have been me.

As I was cycling through Beddgelert in the night, in the rain, I was recalling the fireworks we saw last year. I was really tired by then, and only had worded thoughts in my head: fireworks at Beddgelert, fireworks, Beddgelert,... I wondered how you pronounce Beddgelert in Welsh. Beddgelert, Bedd gelert, Bedd ge lert, Bedd ... BED!

A quote by Nonsteeler: "I felt really sorry for all those who didn't get a bed". There are beds in the youth hostel? Its OK though, really. Don't feel guilty. I ride my ride and I know what resources will be available to me. I don't compare, I don't think they got a bed and I didn't, or I need a bed more than they do. The first couple of paragraphs of Fidgetbuzz's YACF entry did make me laugh.

I had my powernaps as planned on the second day (no more than 5 mins at the time even though I set 10 minute alarms). The sound of a nice bike whizzing past you while having a bit of shuteye on a bench, I find absolutely wonderful. At one of the later controls, blacksheep advised me to get cracking, no one can afford any time off the bike now! Right you are sir. I was feeling tip top, still, so no problem cracking on. What a difference from last year! I feel I have finally mastered long distance cycling.

There is a lot of climbing on the BCM. I had made a note of blacksheep's remark of 'Leaving Newtown for Weobley you will find the longest single climb of the ride'. Indeed I found this the most draining climb of all.

All the climbing comes with lovely views and descents. I had quite a few old CDs (ref LEL) - love it. At one stage, we were going so fast, I thought my tyres were going to catch fire. Richforrest is now famous for having reached top speed of 92kph!

The views on this ride are fantastic. I had a wonderful moment, looking across Barmouth Sands with Snowdonia in view. Another rider had stopped to take pictures. We were both looking for unnecessary confirmation that the view was extraordinary. You can only answer by repeating 'isn't this simply stunning?'!

When I got home, I was disappointed that my other half didn't show any interest in what I'd been up to. 'Nice to have you back', is all she said. 'What, is that all, are you not going to ask any questions?' Then came her wakening reply: 'Why on earth would I ask questions about the self-inflicted torture you put on yourself!'. 'But it was like a holiday', I said. And that set her off: 'did you get rain' - yes, 'did you get very tired' - yes, 'did you get little sleep' - yes, 'did you kip on a bench' - yes, 'did you get punctures' - NO! 'No, that's because I pumped up your tyres at 97psi, no more no less'.

I was able to relive the first day, because on the Monday, I drove back to Menai and Beaumaris to re-acquaint with a family friend. 'Simply stunning' came back into my mind. The family friend is somebody with an interesting story: Karel Lek. Then on the Tuesday I drove back the 'fast' way to London. What a long journey, I needed all my long distance tricks to get through that one. I stopped at every other service station for food and a kip. I was exhausted. And I had a craving for music. Weird. I really wanted Beethoven's 7th symphony. I was going to sing with it, I was going to air conduct, I was going to cry and let my Tuesday Blues loose. It didn't happen. The radio got close by playing the 6th, however Schubert's string quintet did a good job instead.

Many thanks to organisers 'the blacksheep family' and the riders. The smallest comments, banter, signals, gestures, ... can make an incredible difference to the experience. It was fantastic.

Have a look at the photos on the slideshow, or here until the next ride.

Some better materials:

Simon's photos

Damon's fantastic video

So, I finally feel I have mastered long distance cycling. This probably signals the end of my cycling blogging also. There are just a few more events I want to capture:

• Brussels - Paris - Brussels 600km, next month June
• FNRttC - Newhaven - Dieppe, extended to Rumbeke, in July
• And of course the grand finale PBP 2011

A few more thoughts

• Seeing the Faccombe 3/4 more en route than ever before, still in a hare and tortoise way though
• Meeting simonp
• Not linking up with Mal Volio and Deano
• Me telling the Faccombe 3/4 that I found this BCM more of an achievement than LEL.
• Me getting angry at a borrowed camera. I would press the on button through my gloves. Nothing happens. Press it again, it opens and closes again. Good Hamlet sigar advert moments (Hamlet).

The Bryan Chapman Memorial 600

When I explain what Audax is to people who show the slightest bit of interest (!), I always say its about unsupported long distance cycling. The long distance cycling is of course true, but the 'unsupported' is really something I need to find another word for.

The support for and on the BCM was amazing. From friends and family, work colleagues, the organiser, the volunteers at the controls, the cyclists, the check in lady at the Travelodge ...

She was the start of a good weekend, she was so friendly, welcoming and helpul. She wanted to help Pete out with storing his kitbag till Sunday, but her boss wouldn't have it. It would be a health and safety risk. I would have thought that the BCM would be much more of a health and safety risk to us, than the bag would be to anybody. Still she let all of us take our bike into the room.

And Pete gave out good signals too: "You'll love the BCM" he said, "Its a wonderful ride".

After checking in, Bez, Pete, the Faccombe Four and I went for a meal at the Boar's Head in Aust, joined by several more BCMers.

Bez and I cycled over the Severn Bridge to the start the next day. It wasn't too windy and we took it really easy. I was nervous at the start, anxious. Good though, to see familiar faces from other Audaxes. I was wanting to take photos of extremes, like Hummer's ultra lightweight setup as if he was going out for a 30 miler; to the bike with full double panniers. But I was too focussed on being ready for the start. I knew that if I didn't take photos then, I would never have the opportunity again!

If you can spot me, you can see how focussed I am on the start!

I really enjoyed all the way to Menai Bridge. Going over the suspension bridge was a highlight for me (halfway point and interesting bridge). After that, it wasn't a ride of many highlights, but a matter of survival. The night ride back to Kings YH took far too long, leaving me with 30 mins for a quick sleep and skip breakfast. Charlotte, Greenbank and I discussed tactics here, not knowing if its better to invest time in sleep and go in time deficit, or to just keep going. I decided to do the next 'short' section and have another kip there. But again, I was too slow and felt I had no time to sleep, so carried on. I wasn't feeling too bad, I didn't get too cold compared with others (only once where my hands were freezing, that was when I caught up with the Faccombe Free by then!), didn't feel hungry at any stage and didn't run out of water.

It was at Kings Youth Hostel that the first magical moment happened, although I didn't fully realise this till I finished. I had already chatted with RichForrest when he was contemplating spending the rest of the day/night/day helping out at the YH. When I did arrive at the hostel in the early hours of Sunday morning, he made me the best, strongest coffee ever and him being around was just so good for me. Now skip to the finish or even the following day where my mum was so delighted to tell me that RichForrest's comment on my blog, saying he saw me leave the YH, meant the world to her! Waiting two days for a worrying mum is quite something, then to get such a message out of the blue ... Silverbackcyclist ... thank you so much - you are a star!

The controls were fabulous. The volunteers would know exactly what you need and want: have a chair (oh thanks!), would you like some hot soup (oh yes please!), or rice pudding (oh yes! both!), cup a tea?
Another magical moment was on the last leg. I had a quick kip of 1o mins on the grass verge, because I couldn't go anymore. I was falling asleep on the bike and was seeing double. Then an angel appeared. He tapped me on the arm and said he was going to make sure I'd make it to the end. I put my whole trust in him - no point fighting this! This was with 80km to go, which is a long way for not wanting to go on anymore! That would be about 4 hours worth of your body and mind saying stop. Thankfully, an Audax is "unsupported", because if a broom wagon had come along with someone saying 'hop in', I would have (would I?).

It didn't rain the whole way, but that is how I remember it. At first, it would shower and you'd dry off again, but towards the end, the rain was continuous. The hailstorms also were painful. Everything became wet, even my brevet card, which I normally treasure and keep dry. All the stamps probably washed into one, I don't know, I didn't look anymore, just handed it in.
Which brings me to another magical moment! From the finish control, I had to cycle back across the Severn Bridge to the Travelodge. Not far, but I didn't want to. Sorry I don't know his name, but a fellow cyclist (and budding beekeeper!) offered a lift in a van that would have enough space for the bike. Oh yes please!

Other moments: the fireworks at Beddgelert, the Honeypot Cafe where I wanted to buy one of their T-shirts (Blacksheep offered his instead), hearing cuckoos and owls again, the hallucinations not being too bad, learning about "Death Shimmy" (but sorry it happened to LEE, who then packed), the crossing of Barmouth Bridge, hearing John 'two punctures before the start' Spooner shouting "wake up" as I was shaking my head in dozy disbelief of what was going on...
Here are a few quotes from the YACF forum which made me realise what has been achieved by all participants - well done everybody!:

• Out of the 80 or so that started about 30 packed and went home at some point in the ride due to the bad weather (RichForrest).
• He said there are still about 20 still out there, and that he'd not want to still be riding - it's raining, windy and very cold (Fidgetbuzz).
• I am wondering if this is the hardest ride I have done to date (Bianchi Boy).
• That decides it; never doing this ride again (Martin).
• Just starting the ride in those conditions merit a medal (Jethro).
• First rider back was about 3 hours slower than last year (teethgrinder).
• Youtube clip (geraldc) - don't know why this made me laugh so much!

All the people who made a difference: the Faccombe Four, Greenbank, Scotlington, John Spooner, Pete, Mel, Mercury, Bez, organiser Mark Rigby, RichForrest, Charlotte, Pompey Phil, all the volunteers, Paul and budding beekeeper ... thank you! .. and Hummers, how can I forget Hummers!
My recovery was really strange. I now know about the Tuesday Blues, which I got badly, but its as if my body was in three parts. Apart from sore feet, my physical body was OK. My brain wasn't switching on again for a long time although my emotions were on overdrive. And the weirdest was very sore top stomach muscles and pain inside to the core.

What have I learned? I [sort of] enjoyed the first 520km. In the penultimate stage, I could really push it, eventhough I was tired. My disappointment was my complete collapse in the last 80km. And I think it must be due to lack of sleep and lack of food. I wasn't hungry at any stage and tried to eat deliberately, but it was probably too little.

I need to find out my own sleep strategy, whether to invest in sleep despite going in time deficit. And I need to find a way of eating better. I think I do OK with food, but my calorie intake was probably far too low.

Would I do it again? Certainly. I'd like to do the ride over five days. I would wait for the best 5 day weather forecast and then set off and visit some friends in Anglesey while I'm there.
Have a look at the photos - on the slideshow till the next ride or click here.