Next weekend I’m facing one of the biggest challenges of my audaxing career and I’m scared.
The Bryan Chapman is one of the best known audaxes. It’s a famously tough 600km across Wales and back, with around 8000m of climbing. It’s a proper bucket list ride for many audaxers. I entered it in 2012 and got as far as Dolgellau before a broken spoke finished my ride and I haven’t been back since. I’m not riding it this year either but the new organiser, Will Pomeroy, is putting on a version comprising back to back 300s.
Because it’s split into separate events it means you can finish the first 300 and have more time to rest before tackling the second 300. On the full 600km version most riders will only get a few hours rest at the half way point. With luck, I should have around 8hrs.
Why am I scared? Because it’s going to be very, very hard. I still climb like a sack of spuds and getting going at 6am on Day 2 is going to be truly ghastly, no matter how much sleep I’ve managed to get. But it’s probably the best thing I could do to prepare for LEL.
I’ve already decided against riding the Exe Buzzard 600km, partly because it’s too close to LEL and also because 600s scare me. I’ve only ridden one, the notoriously tough Kernow & South West 600 (where the photo at the top of this blog comes from) and it was hideous. The Buzzard is much easier (and Andy is riding it, so Team Less Cargo would be reunited) but the consequences of failing, or just plain suffering, could easily knock my confidence and I’d rather not take the risk. Anglesey and Back is harder and much less suited to my abilities, but the possibility of extra sleep appeals and there’s something about it being two distinct rides that makes it feel manageable. The climbing is different as well. The Kernow also has 8000m of climbing, but it’s all nasty, short, jagged stuff, like riding along the blade of a saw. The Bryan has fewer climbs, but they’re longer, which gives a rider like me more chance to get into a steady rhythm and chug upwards. I suppose if I struggle or fail on the A&B, it’ll feel less of a shock than blowing up on an ‘easy’ 600 across the Home Counties.
I’m prepared. I know my gear, my food and my bike and I think I know myself, so it ought to be fine. We’ll see next weekend.
Well Chuffed Cycling 
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