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{"PageID":703,"ThemeCode":null,"BlogInfo":{"Breadcrumbs":[{"Name":"News and Announcements","URL":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements"}],"ID":393,"SpaceID":11,"Name":"News and Announcements","Description":null,"Author":{"ID":448,"Name":"James Weedon","CompanyName":null,"HasEmail":true},"CreationTime":"04/07/2023 15:15","Tags":[],"URL":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements","IsWatching":false,"CanWatch":false,"CanPostBlogEntry":false},"EntryInfo":{"Breadcrumbs":[{"Name":"News and Announcements","URL":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements"},{"Name":"The Bryan Chapman Memorial Audax","URL":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements/The+Bryan+Chapman+Memorial+Audax"}],"ID":703,"Name":"The Bryan Chapman Memorial Audax","Abstract":"600 KM across Wales within 40 hours...","ImageUrl":"https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/Myself_pre_BCM_with_bike.jpg","ThumbnailImageUrl":"https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/Machynlleth_Mountain_Pass_control_thumb.jpg","Author":{"ID":1012,"MembershipNumber":null,"Username":null,"Forename":"Alessandro","Surname":"Stapleton","Name":"Alessandro Stapleton","Handle":"Alessandro","CompanyName":null,"FamilyGroupName":null,"Branch":{"ID":0,"Name":null,"Description":null,"Icon":null,"Colour":null,"Depth":0,"Indent":0,"CanBeSelected":false,"Sections":null,"Label":"","LabelLarge":""},"IsLoggedInUser":false,"ImageUrl":"https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Mugshots/77alcn9wc21v.jpeg"},"IsDraft":false,"PublicationDate":"Thursday, 28 May 2026","CreationTime":"28/05/2026 13:43","CommentCount":0,"Tags":[],"URL":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements/The+Bryan+Chapman+Memorial+Audax","CanAdmin":false},"Content":"\u003ch3\u003e600 KM across Wales within 40 hours...\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bryan Chapman Memorial is one of the most popular and famous events on the Audax UK calendar. It’s a 600 km traverse of Wales with 8,300 metres of climbing so not one for the faint hearted. For years it sat on my bucket list, and with my 2026 season aligning perfectly with this event for my Paris–Brest–Paris pre-qualification plans, this became my A-event. If anything, for me this event seemed harder than PBP on paper. Other TeamMK riders have completed this event before me, the last being David Forbes in 2019. Now it was my turn.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/route.png\u0022 data-image=\u0022route.png\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe route takes you from Chepstow to Menai Bridge and back. There are four major climbs on the route profile, Machynlleth Mountain Pass and Pen-y-Pass on day 1 and Dolfor Hill (which was a surprise to me), and finally the fake Gospel Pass (Hay to Craswell) as Gospel Pass was closed due to a landslide. This final climb has the hardest double digit ramp lasting almost a km in length. (\u003ca href=\u0022https://strava.app.link/c1q8kEFWl3b\u0022\u003ehttps://strava.app.link/c1q8kE...\u003c/a\u003e) This is three times the length of the ramp on Church Road in Bow Brickhill (of which I did an all time PB ahead of this Audax so was confident in being able to take on these ramps). \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn these longer Audaxes I usually set some objectives outside of the controls timings:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eget to Menai Bridge before nightfall\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003esleep 4 hours at Aberdyfi with departure at 6am\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003earrive back at Chepstow for 8pm on Sunday\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe below brevet card outlines the controls through the route. These had relative times due to there being 2 waves, one starting at 5am and 1 starting as 6 am. I was starting at 6 am on Saturday, meaning that I needed to complete the Audax by 10pm on Sunday.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/BCM_brevet_card.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022BCM_brevet_card.jpg\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSetup wise, I had the trusty bike and packed for every eventuality. The bike weight was 14.5kg with empty bottles. Gearing was 52-39 x 11-29. Maybe I needed easier gearing for the tough route. More of that later. Below is a picture of me before the start all ready to go.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDay 1\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStarting any audax you tend to be in a large group as you depart at the same time. It’s important to not set out too hard chasing wheels of those faster than you otherwise you are going to suffer for the rest of the event. First control at Bronllys I averaged a good 25kph. The weather was good and I was making better progress than anticipated. I kept the stop brief and proceeded to the next control, with the aim to have lunch at YHA Kings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Clywedog reservoir before the Machynlleth Mountain Pass:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/Clywedog_reservoir_before_the_Machynlleth_Mountain_Pass.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022Clywedog_reservoir_before_the_Machynlleth_Mountain_Pass.jpg\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first challenging climb was the Machynlleth Mountain Pass where seemingly every Caterham in existence was also taking on the climb, here the weather also turned with a few scattered showers. Getting over the top we arrived at one of the most iconic manned Audax controls. You can also see the manned control on streetview.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/Machynlleth_Mountain_Pass_control.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022Machynlleth_Mountain_Pass_control.jpg\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom there we descend into YHA Kings Hostel in Dolgellau for lunch. This is another iconic stop in the Bryan Chapman Audax history as it was used traditionally as the sleep stop after the Menai bridge loop. After this control, I set off towards the picturesque Barmouth bay crossing (picture below), however the weather was now persistent rain and a standard Welsh weather experience. It was around this time that I was at my lowest point of the ride and also where I lost 150 km worth of recording data.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/Barmouth_bay_crossing.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022Barmouth_bay_crossing.jpg\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou experience everything in these audaxes; the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. One thing is certain - just keep moving as these feelings will pass.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the Barmouth Bay crossing, I slowly but surely proceeded up the Pen-y-Pass to another control where I stopped briefly before a fast descent into Bangor which has the bridge into Menai Bridge (picture below)..\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy arrival at Menai Bridge shortly after nightfall marked the halfway point of the Audax. 300 km from Chepstow, equalling my longest ride of the year to date. Bryan Chapman used to ride all this way to meet his mechanic who had moved here from Bristol.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/Menai_bridge.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022Menai_bridge.jpg\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter the Menai Bridge control (and some delicious hot food!), I was ready to leave again and make the 100km to Aberdyfi for the sleep stop. Both to and from Menai Bridge we passed Snowdon, on the way back, we passed along an easier route. Scattered on the mountain there were several head torches of trail runners doing the ultra trail of Snowdonia, where trail runners ran distances up to 100 Miles. I arrived at Aberdyfi shortly before 3 am. Again, there was food on offer (a curry) - always good to eat when you stop.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/Aberdyfi_control.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022Aberdyfi_control.jpg\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDay 2\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy alarm was set at 6 am; I quickly had a bite to eat before rolling out. Some people liken Audaxes to eating contests, but usually any low feeling can be attributed to a lack of food or drink. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe plan for the day was to finish by 8pm so as not to finish too late. During the day, the going was slow but steady. I was feeling the pressure to finish so there was not really much time for photos. My legs had departed, so I was on cruise mode. Any hard hill (above 7% gradient imo) was challenging. Not sure if it was a case of starting too quick, going too hard on the Machynlleth Mountain Pass or simply carrying too much weight on the bike, having too hard gearing or all of the above. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter leaving Newtown where I had stopped for food, I reached Dolfor Hill which at the time I did not realise was so long. Once I arrived at the peak, there was a long descent into Knighton which was the first control of the day. This long descent was making me feel a little tired on the bike, reminiscent of my experience of the descent into Brest from Carhaix in the PBP… Coffee at Knighton was required. I was determined to keep going. \u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe section between Hay-on-Wye and Monmouth will stick out as one of the most challenging sections of road I have ever ridden on any Audax (starting at around 525Km of the route). For starters there was the climb up to Craswell instead of the Gospel pass due to a landslide, which was harder and had many kilometres of gradients above the aforementioned 7% and was endless. Even after the climb, there were many short double digit ramps before arriving in Monmouth.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce I arrived in Monmouth, I was more relaxed as there was enough time to complete the Audax within the time limit even going at a leisurely pace. There was a nice sunset on this run into Chepstow. I completed the Audax in 39 hours and 17 minutes (finish at 9:17 pm on Sunday).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\u0022https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/Sunset_before_Chepstow.jpg\u0022 data-image=\u0022Sunset_before_Chepstow.jpg\u0022\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI am very happy to have completed it along with 107 other riders. The fastest rider completed the route in 25 Hours 20 minutes which is incredible. I have secured a slot on the second wave of registrations of the 2027 edition of Paris Brest Paris.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe organisation and the volunteers did a magnificent job and I would love to participate in future audaxes organised by this team. Would I do this one again? We’ll see.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you would like to know more or join us on one of our Audax rides, please join the TeamMK Whatsapp Community and select the Audax Group - See: \u003ca href=\u0022https://teammk.club/WhatsApp\u0022\u003ehttps://teammk.club/WhatsApp\u003c/a\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e","HasCommentsThread":true,"SeoTags":{"OpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"og:title","Name":"The Bryan Chapman Memorial Audax"},{"ID":"og:type","Name":"website"},{"ID":"og:url","Name":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements/The+Bryan+Chapman+Memorial+Audax"},{"ID":"og:description","Name":"600 KM across Wales within 40 hours..."},{"ID":"og:image","Name":"https://www.teammk.com/Client/Images/Cms/audax/2026/BC600/Myself_pre_BCM_with_bike.jpg"}],"NonOpenGraphTags":[{"ID":"description","Name":"600 KM across Wales within 40 hours..."}]},"PageURL":"https://www.teammk.com/Cms/Spaces/PB/News+and+Announcements/The+Bryan+Chapman+Memorial+Audax","Comments":[],"UpdatedComments":[],"LastViewTime":null,"CanEdit":false,"CanPublish":false,"CanComment":false,"CanReadComments":true,"CanModerateComments":false}
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