Conference noted::bicycle

     The following article (copied without permission) comes from "Quick

     Releases" in BICYCLING (March 1992).



     North America's version of the Paris-Brest-Paris randonnee will be

     held August 20-23, according to event director Hauke Kite-Powell.

     Like the French classic, BMB requires riders to cover 1,200 kilometers

     (740 miles) in 90 hours or less.  The scenic, hilly route begins in

     Wellesley near Boston, cuts through southern New Hampshire, travels

     the length of Vermont, and reaches the Montreal suburb of St.  Lambert

     before turning back.  There are no qualifying standards, but

     Kite-Powell recommends completing the annual brevet series of 200,

     300, 400, and 600 kilometers.  (For a national schedule, contact

     International Randonneurs, 727 N.  Salina St., Syracuse, NY 13208;

     (315)471-2101.) The entry fee for BMB is $210 prior to June 15 ($250

     thereafter), which covers meals at checkpoints, bag drops, technical

     support, and some accommodations.  Private support is unnecessary and

     will be discouraged to reduce traffic.  In '90, BMB's third year, 100

     riders participated.  For more information, send a SASE to:







     Hauke Kite-Powell

     135 Langley Rd.

     Newton, MA 02159

    
    Jeff Vogel sent me Hauke's write-up on BMB (2 pages) plus
    application form for BMB and the brevets.  It basically 
    recapitulates Scott's extract from Bicycling magazine.
    
        Boston BMB'92 brevets:
    
    	200km -  2 May       $5
        300km -  9 May      $10
    	400km - 23 May      $15
        600km - 6 & 7 June  $25
    
    Route should be similar to 1990's.               -john

    	Ah, so that's why you won't be riding BMB. I was over
    	at Ed Fisher's last night, returning the gear we 
    	borrowed for RAAM. The lightbar worked great.
    
    	He mentioned supporting BMB (which I had forgotten about).
    
    	Hope the weather improves, which won't be difficult.
    
    	Scott

    
    Yes, and don't think I didn't cogitate about how I should just
    go ahead and do BMB anyway.  Ed will have to start a BMB'92 note
    if he has any interesting tales to report.
    
    What is this, all us veteran gonzo bikers doing staff-work for
    rides instead of riding them?? :-)
    
    -john

    	"doing staff-work"
    
    	That's what I wondered. I asked Ed if he was riding. He said
    	"No, I'm supporting it."
    
    	I might take a little trip over to one or two of the check-
    	points if Ed puts their locations in the notes file.
    
    	He told me last night, but I wasn't listening well had didn't
    	have pen and paper to write them down.
    
    	Scott

    
    Scott, the closest checkpoints to you are Barre, Mass. (unofficial
    outbound, official inbound) and Putney, Vermont.  
    
    However, the BMB route goes basically out US Rte. 20 to Mass. Rte. 62
    through Hudson, Princeton, etc.
    
    ciao,
    -john

    Putney is an outbound checkpoint, only.  On Rt 5 near a
    common. Open Thursday 9am to 4pm, I think.
    
    On the return the checkpoint is at a motel in Brattleboro.
    Offhand I don't remember the name but it's on rt 5 north of
    9.  Open Friday evening (for the speed demons), closes
    Sunday AM, around 7 or 8.  Most traffic is Saturday
    daytime to Sunday dawn or so.
    
    The Barre checkpoint is sort of in the center of town where
    all of the roads join.  Opens Friday Night closes Sunday
    early afternoon.  Most likely traffic is Saturday
    afternoon to Sunday noon.
    
    ed

Gee, and I thought that I couldn't do BMB this year because it conflicted with
my (recently finished) tour through the Adirondacks to Ottawa, GEAR and return.
Well, too late now, I did participate in the brevits and I don't have enough
battery life for my headlight.

    
    Dear Moderator,
    
    Bowing to the vox populi, I was moving .0 to some safe place
    and moving in another note in its place, to start off an
    Official BMB'92 Note.  But I don't have privilege, or it's
    not feasible.
    
    Could you move in a base note (.0) and name the note "BMB'92"
    for me?
    
    Thanks.
    -john (just trying to be a nice guy!)

RE: .0    


	Depends on what you're looking for.  For road bikes there's stuff
	like:

	> Marymoor Park to Gas Works Park via the Burke-Gillman/Sammamish
	  River Trail - Easy to moderate, 15-20 miles.
	> Around Lake Washington - Moderate, 45-50 miles.  The trouble with
	  this one is navigating since it's along city streets.
	> Gas Works Park to Flaming Geyser Park and back.  Follows the Green
	  River.  Some bike trails, some back roads, a few main roads - Easy
	  to moderate, 95 miles.
	> Marymoor Park to Skynomish to Fall City to Marymoor.  Mostly back
	  roads, some trail, a few main roads.  Moderate 90-100 miles.
	> Bellevue to Snowqualime Pass and back.  Majority of the ride follows
	  or is on I-90.  Moderate to difficult, 110-120 miles.

	For mountian bikes.

	> Tiger Mountian.  Logging roads and some trails.  Moderate terrain
	  some autos.
	> John Wayne trail.  Parallels I-90 with some good access points
	  from about North Bend to Snowqualime Pass.  Use to be the old 
	  railroad grade so cycling is easy.  Difficulties are the gorges
	  you have to traverse.  Has one long, dark, and WET tunnel.
	> Stevens Pass to the hot springs, whose name escapes me right now.
	  Moderate trail.
	> Most ski areas support MBs.

	Stores:

	R&E
	5627 University Way NE
	Seattle

	Remond Cycle
	16205 Redmond Way
	Redmond

	Gregs Green Lake Cycle
	145 106th Ave NE
	Bellevue

	The city of Seattle has good bike maps of the city and surrounding
	area.  Last time I checked they were free. The bike shops also
	carry maps for a couple of bucks.  You might also check at the
	downtown REI.  They usually have lots of info and knowledgable
	people.

Paul

    
    Thanks Paul!  That's a lot of good info.  How can I leave my
    bike at home now?!  "You know you're out west when you're biking
    on the Interstate."  The pass route sounds fun.
    
    I'll print this off.  John Bingham also sent some good info.
    
    Thanks.
    -john

    re:.5  The Motel 6 in Brattleboro is the checkpoint.  Closes
    Sunday am at 8:30.
    
    On th eway up the Putney checkpoint is open till 8:30.  There
    is a 10 am start, this group is allowed till 8:30 to get to Putney.
    The 4 am starters will be long gone by then (or DQ'd).
    
    ed

    	Well, this is getting complicated.
    
    	Anyway, there's already a BMB '92 note (2174).
    
    	So, am I adding to the clutter (don't answer)?
    
    	Scott

    	Perhaps the moderator in his kindness and wisdom could move all
    	of these replies to topic # 2174 ?

    
    Fine with me!