A half-Bryan

Still very useful information Dave, 6 years on. I completed the Brevet Cymru 400km ride a week ago and from about Tregaron onwards all I was looking for were railway signs, and if I'd seen any I don't think I could trust myself not to be tempted. As it was that feeling never left even until I reached Llandovery, my mind was whizzing through imaginary timetabling scenarios that would get me back to Chepstow and end all the hurt. The thing that saved me were the other riders on the course, a couple nursed me back as I walked up a steep ramp with a gel, and then I found someone to ride with through the night. Another told me at Tregaron to aim for New Quay and then there was only one way back. 

I've entered the BCM. I already know I'll be relying on the encouragement and generosity of spirit and comaradeship of others to make it through - rather it's the only way I'll make it.

I completed BCM last year, perhaps because I always intended to stop for the night at penrhyndeudraeth at 350km and not at kings, I figured on 5 hours sleep, and got more like 7 due to a fast saturday.

Having planned to stop there it was always in my head to get up early and squeeze into kings before control closed.

reckon you could have easily finished inside 36hours had you done this, start at 5:30, 250km in about 12 hours is not so severe, and the day would be spent passing slower riders who had less sleep which is a confidence boost, the body rewards success with endorphines making it easier to keep going. Probably at cost of more pain afterwards, but the job is done then.

Maybe its also because I routinelky train my stomach by feeding it a mix of junk and decent food, so it doesn't go into shock when I jam the calories in on these rides.

Top photo shows menai bridge way before sunset, proving you had plenty of time in hand. I think its as much a mental game as physical.

What Vosprung said. 

Top marks for being audacious and landing yourself right in the poo and at least trying to find your own way back out of it. 

Love the Audax God bit, been there, suffered horribly because of it too. BCM is a tough ride to recover on. And totally with you on the run of bad decisions front. I did the same on PBP in 2015, not really relising I actually had enough time left, then aced (slowly!) LEL having learnt very similar lessons. There is no doubt you are fit enough but it's as much about gastric fortitude than anthing else. And there is always a bad bit on a long Audax!

You should look up Flatlands later in the year. The clue is in the name. An 'easy' 600 the main difficulty is finding somewhere to rest your head and the likely headwind. Doesn't have the cachet of BCM but a good intro.

Then, of course, you have to try PBP. No you *need* to because you are a cyclist and a journalist

PS When I feel like I have suffered on a ride reading this always makes me feel better: https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2017/09/12/lel-2017-part-2/ 

Great photos and an entertaining read. The problem with publishing a blog is you open yourself up to lots of 'helpful' criticism from internet pundits! But thanks for doing so anyway

I suppose there's a point at which most mortals can no longer go at a decent pace in order to get round. Thats why I'd never audax. For me, 300km done quickly would be preferable to 600km of soft-peddaling-arse-numbing hell, but each to his own!!

(In fact, 300km at any pace is beyond me at the moment )

Thanks for the write up Dave, shame about the DNF. I've only done one 600km and I still consider it my toughest biking challenge. I have a few medals from triathlon and other bike rides but the Super Randonneur is the one that means the most to me.

The thought of the distance ahead is usually enough to stop me going off too fast but I always found eating and resting difficult to get right. I get fed up with sweet/stodgy stuff and long for proper food. One of the best things I've found is flavoured milk drinks, because they're easily digested I suppose.

I also took the 'luxury' option and booked myself into a travel inn at about 350 km - I could only use the room for about 2.5 hrs due to time constraints, but it was the best £60 I ever spent as I don't think I could have carried on much further. That hot shower and brief lie down was enough to see me through the second half.

Anyway, you've got some good experience for the next attempt and you'll feel elated when you complete it  - just think of it like the Riccione Gran Fondo but do it in slow motion 

Sorry that you didn't complete the ride, but at least you got a very entertaining write up out of it!

Great that you enjoyed some of the most brilliant roads & views in the UK (my home turf) in beautiful weather but sorry to hear that you didn't get to finish. Well done to those who did.

Shame, you were looking so good at King's YHA,
(I was the volunteer asking about the bamboo bike)   

We've all done it though, whatever our level of ability, and funnily enough the worst thing you can so is train!  That just gives you confidence to go just a little beyond the comfort zone.  Come into an event 'undercooked' so your legs tell you to back off after 20km, and you might find it all goes much better !

Sorry to hear about the DNF. I assume that due to your gastric issues you had that you were running on empty which affects mental performance as well as physical. Then the poor decisions start. I have to say, the lie in at the pub was probably the best thing you did, followed by the breakfast. Pushing on may have had serious affects on you. Lesson learned I hope.

I felt a bit dubious on the first bit of the ride back to Menai which I left just after 9pm.  I was ill last week and this year my mileage hasn't been great.  I was feeling sleepy and finding it difficult to hold the wheel of anyone that passed me

Anyway, I stopped for a coffee on one of pubs on the route

After this I chatted to people as I rode, took caffeine tablets and ate chocolate 

The long A470 climb is actually a good thing at that stage of the ride.  It gives you an aim and keeps you warm

I got back at Kings before 2am

One of the rules of long distance riding is that everyone will have a bad patch at some point.  And part of the nature of the bad patch is negative emotions and not considering the facts.  Don't beat yourself up with making mistakes, everyone does

And why wouldn't an ex Bog Snorkelling Champion naturally be an Adaux God swatting heroic century's away like they were flys! It was probably the stroopwaffels what did you in. 

Big lolz!

Sorry to read your attempt came to an abrupt end and you could no longer stomach eating/drinking or keeping anything down.  Was this purely a lack of 'pacing' or do you unwittingly suffer from GID - gastro intestinal distress.  When your stomach decides it's had enough it is pretty much game over for most people, unless you know how to limit the effects or have a plan B.