“True or false — 2006 will be the last BMB?”

by John McClellan

Jennifer Wise and Pierce Gafgen have organized the last 11 Boston-Montreal-Boston 1200 km randonnées. When Wise indicated that 2006 would be their last year running the event, many riders feared the worst — no more BMB.

Jennifer Wise with the certificate presented by the RUSA Board & volunteers. The certificate expressed their gratitude for her superb leadership of BMB from 1993 - 2006. Photo by Merry Vander Linden

While that changed the feelings of many riders about this year's event, Wise claims that she “approached BMB 2006 no differently than any previous BMB. ‘It was business as usual.’ I tried not to think about it as the last BMB I ever organized, but rather on making it the best BMB that I ever organized.”

Reflecting on the history and traditions of the event, Wise notes that “BMB was the first 1200 km randonnée in North America, designed to mirror PBP and by using the same qualification standard, to prepare riders for the PBP experience.”

Expanding on the 2006 BMB, Wise continues, “It was an opportunity to fulfill promises, honor some participants and give out BMB hats to everyone, since people have been asking for hats for years. BMB is a great bike ride, but a bike ride is not a great bike ride without riders. It's the riders that make BMB a great event.”

Those who have ridden it know that BMB is much more than an American interpretation of the famous French ride. Wise's passion for the event is evident: “BMB is such a gem of an event. BMB is an intimate gathering of unique individuals. It has gained the respect of randonneurs worldwide. In terms of attendance, BMB is second only to PBP in 1200 km popularity.”

Pierce Gafgen looking amazingly fresh at Rouses Point late in the afternoon on the second day of BMB. Photo by John Lee Ellis

Before they got their hats, the participants received a challenging and humorous BMB trivia quiz in the entry package. For most entrants, the most satisfying part of the quiz was the final question: True or false ” 2006 will be the last BMB? False!

As the driving force behind this epic event for such a long time, it is not surprising that Wise has a vision for BMB: “It is my wish that BMB continues on long into the future, so randonneurs who have never done it can do for the first time, and those who have done it can come back and do it again. I hope that BMB will sustain its popularity and continue to mimic PBP, as closely as possible.”

Wise does not know who will continue BMB's legacy, and the recruitment criteria are hard to define. Wise explains, “Charlie Lamb (BMB founder) told me I would know I found the right person…when I found that person. He told me that's how he felt when he gave BMB to me... all those years ago.”

Wise poured an enormous amount of energy into the event, and she believes that a team approach might be helpful, “BMB would be best handled by group of people who will continue its legacy, but who divide the labor.”

Whether an individual or a team, whoever takes on the challenge of running BMB should not be misled by Wise's petite stature: that person has enormous shoes to fill!