Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - no BMB in 2008?

A little birdie told me there is no BMB next year. Is this true? This kind of upsets my grand plan to try this 1200Km event as the pinnacle of my attempt to try long distance riding. I'm thinking that the Rocky Mountain 1200 might make a good substitute and is only a little earlier.

@#$%! It's true (http://thedailyrandonneur.wordpress.com/2007/09/11/news-no-bmb-in-2008/).

Jennifer has had the BMB for sale since 2006, but has had no offers. I can't imagine an event like that would be a particularly hot item to buy! I also think it is really sad that an event like the BMB is held for purposes of profit. Perhaps Jennifer should consider giving it to a local club to run. :)

As for other 1200K events in 2008, I have heard that the Great Southern Randonnee is a "go". :D

Jennifer has had the BMB for sale since 2006, but has had no offers. I can't imagine an event like that would be a particularly hot item to buy! I also think it is really sad that an event like the BMB is held for purposes of profit. Perhaps Jennifer should consider giving it to a local club to run. :) really? this is the first time that I've heard that BMB was 'for sale'. from what I've heard, it's not a matter of whether a local club can be given the rights to run the ride, but more a shortage of people willing to take on the responsibility of organizing a 1200k. Most of the New England brevets are run as fairly shoestring affairs with only one or two volunteers to man controles during the entire course with, perhaps, a few family members pitching in from time to time.

really? this is the first time that I've heard that BMB was 'for sale'. from what I've heard, it's not a matter of whether a local club can be given the rights to run the ride, but more a shortage of people willing to take on the responsibility of organizing a 1200k. Most of the New England brevets are run as fairly shoestring affairs with only one or two volunteers to man controles during the entire course with, perhaps, a few family members pitching in from time to time.

I've been told by several people, including one who definitely should know, that the BMB is for sale. Besides getting it pretty much from the "horse's mouth" so to speak, it was common talk among various US riders at the PBP.

The BMB is not associated with any clubs, which makes it unique among the North American and Australian 1200Ks (and possibly 1200Ks in other parts of the world too). The Cascade is put on by SIR, I believe. The RM1200 is put on by the BC Randonneurs. The Gold Rush was put on by the Davis club. The Great Southern Randonnee is put on by Audax Australia generally, but I believe by a Victoria or South Australia club more specifically. But the BMB is sort of out there on it's own ... owned by Jennifer.

When she decided she didn't want to run it anymore, it wasn't as if someone else in the club could step up and take over, as would happen with any of the other rides.

All this was a bit of a surprise to me too ... I initially thought BMB was run by a Boston area club, but discovered it is not.

What would stop a local randonneur club from organizing a 1200K from Boston to Montreal and back? The roads are open to the public and the route could be modified a bit so it wasn't a 100% copy.

What would stop a local randonneur club from organizing a 1200K from Boston to Montreal and back? The roads are open to the public and the route could be modified a bit so it wasn't a 100% copy. Probably the same thing that keeps most randoneering clubs together -- personal connections and goodwill. Jennifer Wise, both as one of the founding members of RUSA and as one of the local fixtures in the New England randoneering scene, has earned a lot of local respect. Along with Johnny Bertrand, she's done a lot to get randoneering going in the States, and has been especially key in building the New England club.

As I said, I was kind of surprised to hear that the interruption of BMB was due to the fact that it's in search of a buyer. What I heard was that none of the local organizers had the resources to take it on, and I interpreted that as staff/volunteers, instead of money. There's a bit of chatter going on in the New England Randoneering list about alternatives to BMB, but none of it has really caught traction.

Probably the same thing that keeps most randoneering clubs together -- personal connections and goodwill. Jennifer Wise, both as one of the founding members of RUSA and as one of the local fixtures in the New England randoneering scene, has earned a lot of local respect. Along with Johnny Bertrand, she's done a lot to get randoneering going in the States, and has been especially key in building the New England club.

As I said, I was kind of surprised to hear that the interruption of BMB was due to the fact that it's in search of a buyer. What I heard was that none of the local organizers had the resources to take it on, and I interpreted that as staff/volunteers, instead of money. There's a bit of chatter going on in the New England Randoneering list about alternatives to BMB, but none of it has really caught traction.

I've been looking for a 1200k goal for next year. Was hoping BMB would still be here so I wouldn't have to travel far and wide to ride. :(

I've thought about a Burlington to Maine coast ride and back... but wouldn't be able to pull it off next year. (and I'd have to deal with the logistics of RUSA on top of the ride logistics.)

I am considering one of the West Coast rides... going to wait for the final RUSA calendar so I can align qualifiers and travel and training.

I've been looking for a 1200k goal for next year. Was hoping BMB would still be here so I wouldn't have to travel far and wide to ride. :(

I've thought about a Burlington to Maine coast ride and back... but wouldn't be able to pull it off next year. (and I'd have to deal with the logistics of RUSA on top of the ride logistics.)

I am considering one of the West Coast rides... going to wait for the final RUSA calendar so I can align qualifiers and travel and training.

And if you wanted it to be sanctioned, you'd also have to deal with the logistics of the BRM who are the overall organizing body for 1200Ks, I believe.
http://www.lesrandonneursmondiaux.org/ (the site is not very well developed just now)

I think the ACP just handles the shorter brevets, and the PBP, but may have something to do with the 1200Ks as well.

Probably the same thing that keeps most randoneering clubs together -- personal connections and goodwill. Jennifer Wise, both as one of the founding members of RUSA and as one of the local fixtures in the New England randoneering scene, has earned a lot of local respect. Along with Johnny Bertrand, she's done a lot to get randoneering going in the States, and has been especially key in building the New England club.


If the rumour is true about her wanting to sell BMB, I would think she has undone all the good she contributed.

I've been looking for a 1200k goal for next year. Was hoping BMB would still be here so I wouldn't have to travel far and wide to ride. :(

I've thought about a Burlington to Maine coast ride and back... but wouldn't be able to pull it off next year. (and I'd have to deal with the logistics of RUSA on top of the ride logistics.)

I am considering one of the West Coast rides... going to wait for the final RUSA calendar so I can align qualifiers and travel and training.

If the Rocky Mountain 1200 (http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/rocky/rm1200.html) is a go for 2008 that might be a nice option. I can vouch for the fact that this ride takes your through some spectacular parts of Western Canada.

I recall reading that they didn't have an organizer yet, but that may have been resolved by now.

Yep, that's the ride I'm thinking of working towards instead of the BMB. Never been to Canada, so that would be nice. I've had thoughts of moving there if things continue the way they are here in the US.