Numerous BBB members took part in ‘Sweet Caroline’, the first major club event of the year, which attracted also a lot of regular randonneur riders. All participants were welcomed at the starting point with free coffee and croissants.
Another long-distance chapter for the club
This was already the fourth BRM organised by the Brussels Big Brackets since 2023, which says quite a lot about how firmly long-distance riding has found its place within the club.
Ready for take off
The ride started from la Clef du Cimetière, a bar well known to randonneurs in Brussels, as it is the usual starting point for all BRMs organised by our friends from Aurore Cyclo. In other words, a very fitting place to send 150-plus riders off for a proper brevet day.
As for the weather, we were happily spared the rain.
We had 153 registered riders, including roughly one third from the Big Brackets. For a BRM, that is a remarkably high number and far from usual, which made the turnout all the more impressive. It meant a strong club presence throughout the event, but not just that: our BRM also attracted a wide range of other randonneurs, including riders coming from Germany, as well as both the current president of randonneurs.be and the former president.
As for the weather, we were happily spared the rain. What we did get, however, was a steady, energy-sapping wind that stayed with the riders all day and made the route more demanding than it may have looked on paper.
The first controls went very smoothly. The Koffiehuis in Zemst gave riders a warm welcome and had clearly prepared for our arrival. In Aarschot, the control was a free one, so riders spread themselves across different cafés and shops in town, as brevet riders usually do.
There was only one real hiccup at Control 3 in Delhaize Kampenhout. Due to a lack of communication (and, it must be said, a certain lack of goodwill) the store eventually refused to stamp or sign brevet cards. This should not cause any issue for card validation, however. The BBB will simply make sure to communicate even better with third parties next time 😉
All in all, it was another strong day for the club’s long-distance scene: a very solid BBB turnout, a great mix of riders, a demanding but enjoyable day on the bike, and one more successful BRM added to the story.
Gabriel Perez.