BRM 200 Veenhuizen: Gravel (with more than a little mud and sand)

I woke at 0500 to the sound of heavy rain on my tent, great start! I checked the radar and fortunately it was the only rain forecast for the next few hours and it was ending in five minutes.

Teeth brushed, bags packed, bread bags on my feet to dry my shoes from the day before, and on the road to the start, an easy 36km. For the first half it was, but then the heavens opened for the second time. So not only were my shoes wet, but the rain was getting inside the bags and my socks were also wet.

I was one of the first to arrive at the start so no queue for the one toilet for 60 or so riders. Picked up my brevet card, drank a very good coffee and greeted familiar and not so familiar faces arriving. I was so busy chatting I didn't realise it was only a couple of minutes to the start so I rushed outside to my bike. I opened navigation on my computer and I had forgotten to transfer the routes 🤦. Quick with the phone while trying to follow the riders and I uploaded the first checkpoint.

Onto the route. There wasn't that much gravel, lots of sand mud and cobbled paths through the forest, my 2.25 inch tyres were a blessing. With a tailwind and riding in a loose group of 15 or so I could hold 31km/h on the less bumpy parts. The cadence wasn't sustainable though, so I ended up on my own for the rest of the ride quite quickly. I got to the first checkpoint averaging 24km/h thanks to the flying start with the group and rode a little of the course to the tap to fill my bidons. Of course the tap didn't work so I checked where the next tap on the route was and fortunately it was only another 14km. The rest of the ride went smoothly, water where I expected it but only having one gear took a toll on my knees. Also this was the first time I attempted a 200 with almost 100% energy gels and drink. This worked until around the eight hour mark where I made the mistake of opening a bag of sweets. One led to eating most of the bag and then the inevitable discomfort.

I rolled into the finish in 10:16, sat down with a big plate of pasta and a 0.0 Texels beer and chatted with the guys who were hanging around. Overall I was happy with the MTB, singlespeed was of course not ideal but it's good to challenge yourself occasionally! Then just 36km back to the tent, have a hot shower and straight to bed for nine hours of some of the best sleep I've ever had while camping.

Now I'm on the train home after 44km to the closest station that trains are running from because of all the engineering works in the north this weekend. Knees are sore but I reckon I could do it all over again if necessary!