Cycling UK Forum

I know this exists and have decided I will have ago at it. It is a way of ensuring I explore the whole U.K. I will start with Hampshire and Wiltshire, the counties I live in. Even if I don't finish, I've decided I'll have a crack at it. Can anyone tell me where I can get the info. from, what the cost is, etc.

{Tongue firmly in cheek}
You live in Hamshire and Wiltshire!
That explains your name, they say you're never alone with schizophrenia!

Try this:

http://www.ctc-competitions.org.uk/bcq/

although it would be a lot better if you could down load the county cards.

Thanks for your help. I've downloaded and printed the application form. Is there any time limit on this quest? Or do I have a life? This is just so I don't spend £15.15 and find I can only do a few counties because of a one year limit.
I'm not schizoprenic even though it feels like it sometimes. I just have a term time address and a holiday address, which happen to be intwo different counties. I can and do quite easily hop across the border. Since I'm in Southampton for the first 7 weeks, I plan to do Hampshire first, then Wiltshire when I'm home for christmas.

Crazydave wrote:Thanks for your help. I've downloaded and printed the application form. Is there any time limit on this quest? Or do I have a life? This is just so I don't spend £15.15 and find I can only do a few counties because of a one year limit.

You have a lifetime and it's just as well it'll take that long. It's a very small group who’ve finished. The more you do the harder they get and be warned it's addictive. It can be good motivation for getting the miles in, zig zagging to collect a couple when you'd normally ride a more direct route. And you'll learn all sorts of stuff!
Have fun.

Am doing it with my son, do not anticipate finishing before he is fed up with it etc. But it gives us somewhere to aim for on dull uninspiring winter days rather than just cycling for the sake of it.

If visiting a new area it gives us the basis for developing some rides rather than just loking at a map and wondering where to aim for.

Recently completed all 3 destinations on Wirral via on circular route and really enjoyed it as it forced me to use roads I would not normally use and find corners I had not explored before. Only downside was getting into Liverpool for the Liver building, a not very inspiring destination, though I guess for tourists from out of the area it would be interesting, but it is a busy city centre location.
Back in the summer we "ticked off" 3 on the isle of Wight, again making an enjoyable circuit for a day out.

I have been taking a camera with me so i can photo son in the destination area. This can be invaluable as have found some of the "answers" inaccesible due to a variety of reasons. Regretfully one of these was a day when I forgot the camera, and picked up a leaflet from a nearby hotel as proof we had been there.

We have just completed our first sheet, but have odd answers ticked off on other county cards around the country.

Thanks for your help on this one. I have just sent an order for the whole U.K. I thought Why not?
I do have one more question though. Do I have to cycle from home to everywhere, such as the clues in the Highlands are a long way from home and I would end up on round trips of several weeks if I want oto cycle the whole way?

Crazydave wrote:Do I have to cycle from home to everywhere . . .

Oh definately, . . . . and we have spies out checking up on you, so no cheating

How do you cycle to the islands?

Mick F wrote:How do you cycle to the islands?

By taking the primary riding position in the lane which applies to your exit.

And then . . . .

. . . Oh.

Pedal Boat?

>;o)

Gazza

Crazydave wrote:Thanks for your help on this one. I have just sent an order for the whole U.K. I thought Why not?
I do have one more question though. Do I have to cycle from home to everywhere, such as the clues in the Highlands are a long way from home and I would end up on round trips of several weeks if I want oto cycle the whole way?

From this website;
"Needless to say, you are expected to arrive at each location on your bike, but you can drive or take the train to the general area of course!"
I've done a few where I've taken the train somewhere and collected them on the way home.

Mick F wrote:How do you cycle to the islands?

Either by water:





Or by air:



There are very few things a cycle cannot do!

Agreed

It took me 20 years to finish! Having a son meant often using trains to get us to far-flung areas. To make the end special, my final checkpoint was the most northerly one at Sullom Voe in Shetland - on Midsummer Eve.

However, Alan and Mavis Wallace did the lot in 6 years, all of it from their front doorstep. I've seen their route maps - incredible!

I'm now well into the French version - the Brevet Cyclotouriste National, where you get your card stamped at one of 6 specified places (town, village, col) in each department, rather than answer a question.

Good luck!

There's nothing quite like collapsing into a nice bar in some pretty French town, having ridden miles and miles, and after slaking your thirst, approach the counter to ask, 'Avez vous un tampon?' The answer is invariably yes, so you present not just one brevet card (French equivalent of a County Card) for the BCN (Brevet de Cyclotourisme National) but also one for the BPF (Brevet des Provinces Francaises) and le patron duly stamps them both. Yes, a tampon is a stamp! And every conceivable business in France has one. So there's no need to go scratching around in churchyards finding the answers to questions like has to be done in the UK!

The competitions work in much the same way as the BCQ. France is divided up into counties, or rather 'departements' and each one has six places where you can obtain a stamp. The BPF requires you to obtain a stamp in each place; the BCN requires just one per departement. (Maybe we should introduce a similar scheme in the UK - it's been on my back burner to organise for years.) Brevet cards are available by mail order from the FFCT but it's easier to pick up a quantity at a Semaine Federale. And at the SF in Perigeuex they were giving away wall maps.

Rules and Regs for the above schemes are, of course, available from CTC - send us an email.

But beware, these competitions are equally as addictive as tackling the BCQ! You'll never rest until you've finished!



Mark