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" Bien remis de ce magnifique week-end ? Vivement le prochain rendez-vous dans le Tyrol. Pour ceux que cela intéresse, de revoir les deux circuits de ce WE, je t’envoie les traces GPS :

Encore merci pour ce superbe week-end. J’ai hâte de revoir les photos de ces bons moments sur le site."

" Per ricordare il bellissimo meeting nelle Fiandre ho inviato una sintesi delle foto che ho fatto, anche con alcuni scorci e curiosità che ho colto lungo il percorso. Purtroppo però non sono state recapitate dal server che me le ha restituite. Quale indirizzo mail mi consigli di utilizzare per trovare una casella con molto spazio? Ti faccio ancora tanti complimenti per l'ottima organizzazione e per lo spirito di amicizia che hai saputo trasmettere al gruppo. Grazie anche per il sole a cui noi italiani siamo molto affezionati.

Saluti anche a Marc (instancabile guida del gruppo fast) e a tutti quelli che hanno collaborato con te per la buona riuscita dell'evento.

" Je crois que j'ai attrapé le virus !
J'ai passé une formidable journée mardi à rouler tranquillement (entre les BIGs !) et à parler toutes les langues que je connais.
C'était une formidable organisation dont il faut féliciter Marc !
A peine rentré j'ai déjà commencé à sonder ma femme sur un petit séjour en Bavière en Juillet 2009 ! "

" Again a Super Meeting! I fully agree with your wording. The weather was superb the organisation by Marc Desender perfect. I had the same warm feeling when meeting BIG members that I had not yet met and with members that I met before as in Trento last year. It was nice also to share the experience with my wife who now understands why I am so keen to join a BIG Rendezvous. Eventhough she is not as fanatic about BIGs and the challenge she has enjoyed the weekend very much. As others I am already looking forward to the Rendezvous in Bayern.

Last but not least I want to thank all BIG members who joined the Rendezvous and who made the effort to come. It's the members, the cycling, the BIGs and sharing this over the weekend with each other that have turned it again into a memorable Rendezvous. A BIG thank you to you all!

" On a toujours tendance à dire que le dernier meeting a été le meilleur. Il faut avouer qu'on a du mal à penser le contraire quand le Dieu Soleil a daigné offrir ses rayons les deux seules fois depuis le 1er janvier justement le week-end de notre rendez-vous. La loi de la vexation à l'envers. Du plaisir , encore du plaisir.

Pour ma part, à titre personnel, je m'étais inscrit pour accompagner les deux jours le groupe le plus lent. C'est une autre manière de rouler, mais c'est un magnifique temps de parole, d'amitié et d'échange sur les expériences passées, les projets à venir, le paysage qui passe car "à allure plus faible, débit de paroles plus fort.".

J'ai ainsi pu partager les circuits de notre invité anglais Kevin Speed, si éminemment sympathique et contrairement à son nom, s'il clame haut et fort être lent, chacun dit de lui, bagages sur vélo en appoint, qu'il est drôlement costaud. Tellement gai de dialoguer avec tous ces jeunes post-adolescents néerlandais pour lesquels je fus tellement étonné qu'ils semblassent tant s'amuser. Partager également la route de nos trois dames du week-end Tineke, Patricia et Dominique qui nous firent l'honneur de voir sur le terrain ce qui fait tant vibrer leurs conjoints. Retrouver de si vieux compagnons de route occupant le haut du classement comme Alain (accompagné de son fils Gilles) et son frère Dominique, retrouver mon compagnon des premières heures, moi n°2 des inscrits et lui, numéro 3, José. Retrouver Bernard Laviéville, président des Monts de France, venu nous rendre visite en train au Mont Saint-Aubert. Partager avec Wim une allure touristique qui n'est pas toujours la nôtre, lui qui est le seul à avoir assisté aux trois rendez-vous de St-Ursanne, Trento et Flanders en ma compagnie. D'avoir découvert Wouter (trop vite), notre webmaster, et François, notre promoteur français. D'avoir revu Christian, nore trésorier, si discret, mais si gentil, si simple et régulier cyclotouriste; ou Marnix, notre cartographe. D'avoir reçu un si gentil cadeau (bonne la bouteille!) de nos cyclogrimpeurs italiens de Modena et d'avoir à nouveau partagé les roues des "venga" cyclosportifs catalans de l'EC Andreu, menés par le grand Claudi.

A titre de président, je me réjouis que rien de grave ne soit venu entraver la bonne marche de ce qui est toujours un risque lorsqu'autant de cylos se retrouvent sur des chemins en labyrinthe comme les routes du Tour des Flandres et des Monts de Flandre. Heureux que tout le monde aît franchi le Koppenberg . Heureux d'avoir vu 7 nationalités (français, belges, italiens, espagnols, hollandais, anglais et lettons) et près de 50 membres se découvrir. Et d'avoir pu partager sur le terrain quelques moments avec mon pote secrétaire Helmuth, lui avec qui je partage toute l'année les rênes du challenge.

J'ai aussi peur, comme à chaque fois que ça fonctionne bien, que ça aille moins bien la fois suivante, pourtant comme tout le monde, j'ai déjà envie d'y être car c'est la fin d'une aventure qui annonce toujours le début d'une autre. Et si ça fonctionne bien ces dernières années, on le doit à un homme de classe, efficace et incontournable, fantastique cycliste sportif et brillant manager de nos rendez-vous : merci à toi, Marc le Vélo.

This was my first participation of a BIG meeting. I planned to this join the meeting with two cycling friends of mine, but they couldn’t make it. So, I went by myself and must say that I never felt alone or lonely during this weekend. The atmosphere was very friendly and enthusiastic, and we were all there because we suffer the same ‘sickness’: cycling. We all are cycling in our own way and I’ve great respect for all those who conquered all those climbs.

With great respect I listened to the stories of Kevin, Tineke, Marc and may others.

It was really good to see all those climbers ‘live’ which I only know from the website: Claudio, Luigi, Xavier, Marc, Stan, Tineke, Wim, Kevin,.Stan, Helmuth, Patricia, Gilles and so on.

Sharing a room with an Englishman (Kevin Speed) a Frenchman (Christian Le Corre), a Belgium (Bernard Frogneux)) was a very funny experience, ‘funny’ because we were talking in 3 different languages, even using feet and legs (there was even a ‘Good night’ in German to be heard!’) and in some way we could understand each other.

Two great days of cycling in an international group and with a superb organisation and ‘pathfinders’ work of Marc Desender made it for me an experience not to be forgotten. Thanks to all of you and I hope to see you in future.

As for the meeting last weekend, I just wanted to give THANKS to everybody for the fantastic enviroment (also for the weather, who was the responsable?). It was such a pleasure to ride with all of them, talking about cycling history, about climbs, about future rides...

Everything was PERFECT, since the stages to the dinner, the final wine, and specially all the people we met.

Finally, let me say from all the members of my club, thanks specially to Marc Desender (strong rider and incredible guide, not only about cycling, but also about history, explaining to us the battle of Kemmelberg), and also to you Daniel, for imagining this dream come true a lot of years ago. If anything is bad in all of this, is the money and the family. I'm already thinking about going to Sion next summer!

Last but not least, let me tell all the people assisting to the meeting that in the Brussels airport we saw many riders coming from Liege Bastogne Liege, and we took some pictures with Valverde, Bettini, Flecha, etc. They are on the gallery!

Best regards and thanks again!

Claudi Montefusco

Just one week after our great weekend I can conclude some facts. It was a weekend with lots of great people, two days with beautiful landscapes and a perfect organization by Marc. I have to say this weekend was one of my best sport experiences of my life. Also great to see the performances of people as Tinneke and Kevin. Hopefully more and more people will participate in the next BIG-meeting in Germany.

Merci Dan pour le site et pour tous ces commentaires.

Je crois que j'avais un public très intéressé comme guide ce qui explique certainement le succès du séjour en Flandre .

A toutes et à tous beaucoup de plaisir à réaliser le défi qui n'a que 3 lettres : BIG !

I was really amazed about this event, about the sunny day and about the cool B.I.G's spirit.

To be honest, I was so excited that one week later I went to climb the Alpe d'Huez... :-)

Thanks for organizing it, it was really great.

Juris

It was a very pleasant weekend. I met with you all for the first time after much correspondence for 6 years. It was good to meet up with familiar names and had no idea that you would be such a friendly bunch. It was good to be able to spend time with you Dan for cycling and an late afternoon drink in Oudenaarde - I didn't really want to visit the museum! Thank you especially for making sure I was not lost on the routes by waiting and riding together. That goes also for Marc, Helmuth and family and also Dominique.

My thanks also to Wim Van Els and Tineke who I shared a meal with on Sunday evening in Kemmel and we shared many experiences, as also with you Dan.

It was good to meet you all. It was interesting sharing with the Spanish contingent also and heartened by their enthusiasm - it makes me look forward even more to my forthcoming Spanish cycle tour next month.

Homeward bound: I stayed at De Lork again Sunday night then cycled back through Nieuwkerke and Armentieres visiting British war cemetries before arriving in Lille and Eurostar to London St Pancras then London Euston to Crewe and local train home - at 20.00

The climbs are not long but the cobbles certainly make up for the lack of height making them worthy of BIG's - especially the Koppenberg and Kemmelberg.

I went out again Sunday evening to revisit Kemmelberg, Rodeberg and Mont Noir - too busy with people and cars at the fun-fair lining the road.