150 riders from the USA, Canada, Sweden, France, Finland, and the Netherlands took part in the Quad Centuries, 1000k plus 200k brevet, or BMB this year. The Quads are four days of riding the hilliest section of the BMB route. The first day goes from Boston to Brattleboro, the second goes to Middlebury, the third back in Brattleboro, and then back to Boston. Riders needing a 1000k followed the BMB route to the turn-around in Huntingdon and back to Brattleboro - and rode another 200k to back to the finish. Riders who declared they were trying to qualify for RAAM, and finished within the time cutoffs, qualified for RAAM. This year three qualified: Saunders Whittlesey, 48:09, a new course record; John Jurczynski, 60:56, and Patrick Autissier, 64:37. Men age 18-49 must finish in <65 hours; men age 50-59 must finish <70 hours.

The BMB brochure says the terrain is extremely difficult with over 30,000' of climbing. It also states that riders will encounter a 12% climb into Middlebury. This is all true but there is much more. All four of the passes - Andover, Mt Terrible, Killington, and Middlebury Gap - are steeper on the return. The last few years have had a surprise in Canada, Covey Hill. The first time I rode this new route in 2001 on the way to Huntingdon I saw a mountain to the clouds with a swath cut through the trees reaching the sky. I looked at this wall with anxiety for fifteen miles before I reached the base. This is more than a hill - it is three miles to the top with an average grade of 15%.

Crista Borras finished BMB this year with tandem partner with Chuck Wood. Her observations, "Overall BMB is great - it is a truly epic ride. It rivaled PBP for scenic beauty, and Jennifer's orchestration and the volunteer support were magnificent. I do believe it is a more difficult ride than PBP (our altimeter indicated over 35,000 feet of climbing)."

Add in the weather and there is a fun mix. I have never ridden BMB without rain somewhere. Come to think of it I have never gone over the islands of Lake Champlain without strong headwinds. And, if you ride into the night it gets cold in the Vermont Mountains. Patrick Autissier, who qualified for RAAM said, "A golden rule says that it does rain at the BMB. Actually, we had pouring rain the whole third day, for me from Middlebury until the end. At this point, the brevet became much more mental than physical. I couldn't tell the number of times I wanted to drop off, find any excuses to stop that torture."

The start of this year's BMB was warm and dry. We were led from the parking lot by a pace van through Newton. After a few miles we were rolling through towns on the way to the first checkpoint, Bullard Farm at mile 78. The sun was out and it was beautiful riding through the country and over Mt. Pisgah in New Hampshire just before Brattleboro, the second checkpoint at mile 116.

Brattleboro had the first warm food and most riders got there by noon. On the roads to Ludlow we had many short and steep climbs, rough pavement, and road construction to cope with before arriving at Andover pass. Then we headed for Mt. Terrible. I am convinced that this is the hardest climb and not Middlebury Gap. At the other side was the third checkpoint, Ludlow at mile171. The descent was very fast and much anticipated after the long climb in the hot sun. Many riders reached speeds of close to 60 mph!

Fueled with mac and cheese, homemade chicken soup, salad, and brownies we headed for Middlebury. In Pittsfield the rain started but it was warm so I didn't mind the soaking - I had a change of dry clothes in Middlebury. Riding through the small town I was cheered by three young girls standing on their porch. "Go BMB'ers!" By the time I started the ascent up Middlebury Gap the rain had stopped, the sun once again was shining, and it was warm for the descent. It was going to be a warm, dry night after leaving Middlebury, the fourth checkpoint. Middlebury, 237 miles from the start, was the goal for many of the riders to stop for sleep. Those who chose to not sleep there went on 30 miles to Williston, if they had motel reservations. Others including myself kept riding and reached Rouses Point, checkpoint five at mile 325.

From Rouses Point we crossed the border into Canada and turn west to Huntingdon. Once over the rollers and Covey Hill we arrived at checkpoint six, 375 miles. After welcome food and Canadian hospitality it was back to the US. We were heading for home so every mile was subtracted from the finish unlike moments before when we were going further from the end.

Back at Rouses Point, mile 425, we got ready for the long journey back to Middlebury. This leg seemed to go on forever. It is roughly ninety miles and I don't ever remember heading south without a headwind. Sandy Whittlesey would later comment, "Coming back from Quebec, the headwinds picked up and were brutally discouraging (like 15 mph) all day."

I was planning my first sleep stop at Middlebury, mile 510, and arrived in the warm night at around 10 p.m. There was talk of rain starting before daylight. I showered, ate, and got ready to sleep. I had a wake-up call for 2 a.m. but it started raining at midnight so I left with two other riders heading for Ludlow. The overnight temperature dropped to 49š F. The descent from Middlebury Gap was painfully slow in the darkness and heavy rain; I think I climbed to the top faster! Jim Solanick crashed on the descent while John D'Elia and I waited for him below. When Jim made it down the mountain we decided that it made sense to sleep there, on the dry store porch, until daylight. This would be our three hours of sleep, not at Ludlow as planned. We awoke to find three others sleeping with us. When they saw us huddled and dry the temptation was too great for them to continue on in the cold wet night. John McClellan, Bryce Walsh, and Rick Eischen joined us and we treated ourselves to fresh coffee and muffins before leaving in the heavy rain.

It was still raining in Ludlow, mile 576, so just a quick stop to keep warm. By the time I got to Chester, VT the sky opened up as if I was riding under a waterfall. The Brattleboro, checkpoint was a welcome sight with only 116 miles remaining.

From Brattleboro it is thirty-seven miles to Bullard Farm. Leaving there for Boston, Melinda Lyon said, "Now don't do anything stupid!" As if what we had been doing for the last two days was not stupid! I was now dry and riding without a jacket. The last eighty miles seem endless with the finish so close. Fortunately, it was warm and dry.

Sunday was a warm, sunny day for the riders still coming in. The post ride meal started at 3 p.m. Tired but exhilarated randonneurs sat, ate, and recalled this epic weekend. Sitting comfortably in chairs with bikes perched out of reach, all of the struggles with nature and self evolve into fond memories.

Perhaps it is best summed up by BMB's new record holder Sandy Whittlesey, "Cycling in Vermont in late summer is nirvana, from the rolling Putney hills, to the big 'Gaps,' to the open stretches of Lake Champlain. The whole tapestry of green has its way of soothing you through some really challenging terrain."

Complete results: Boston-Montreal-Boston website

Top 20 Randonnée Finishers

Rider	Time
Saunders Whittlesey, 34, Deerfield, MA, USA	48:09, Course Record RAAM Qualified
George Hanna, London, UK	57:31
Dale Perzanowski, 45, Waterbury, VT, USA	57:31
Jan Christiansen, 37, Stockholm, Sweden	57:31
Ernest Landry, 51, Leominster, MA, USA	57:31
Ted Lapinski, Northfield, MA, USA	58:46
John Jurczynski, 47, Holderness, NH, USA	60:56, RQ'd
Ken Bonner, 61, Victoria, BC, Canada	61:09
Richard Leon, 43, Montigny le Bretonneux, France	62:56
John Flanigan, 46, Denver, CO, USA	62:56
Keith Krombel, 50, Alexandria, VA, USA	63:26
Gregory Somerville, 49, Buford, GA, USA	64:30
David Strong, 34, Larkspur, CA, USA	64:30
Patrick Autissier, 41, Belmont, MA, USA	64:37 RQ'd
Chet Buell, 40, Raleigh, NC, USA	64:37
John McClellan, 42, Groton, MA, USA	69:21
Doyce Johnson, 49, Grovetown, GA, USA	66:24
Bryce Walsh, 33, Chicago, IL, USA	69:21
Daniel Stahlmann, 26, Minneapolis, MN, USA	69:43
Russ Loomis, 52, Williamsburg, MA, USA	70:09

Can Am Challenge 2004
The following riders completed both the Rocky Mountain 1200 K in British Columbia, Canada, and then the Boston-Montreal-Boston 1200 K.

Ken Bonner, 61, Victoria, BC, Canada

Kevin Kaiser, 35, Evans, GA, USA

Grant McCleod, 57, Indian Head, SK, Canada

Scott Ohlwiler, 43, Dayton, OH, USA

Jukka Salonen, 42, Tampere, Finland

David Strong, 34, Larkspur, CA, USA

Bob Waddell, 49, Grove City, OH, USA