Brevet anyone?

I signed up for this 400 km ride sponsored by Audax Kanagawa, a "Brevet" of the type used to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris (next scheduled for 2011). The sign up (via Sports Entry) is easy, but requires Japanese language skills or assistance.

Start is 9AM on Saturday Sept 19, at Zama in Kanagawa Prefecture, with an 8:15AM pre-ride briefing. Finish is ... no later than Noon the next day, but hopefully much earlier! The route includes some territory we know well (Yanagisawa Pass), but also some new territory for me, going around the West/South side of Mt. Fuji. It looks like there may be some special gear requirements (reflective vest, lights) given that one will be riding well into the night so I'll need to read the Audax rules carefully ... Deadline for sign up is Sept 12 -- this week. 2500 yen for non-members (for that price, I expect only minimal support -- mostly just checkpoints).

Michael tells me that TCC bulletin board is discussing a similar Brevet in Chiba for October. Follow-up Note: The TCC discussion of autumn Brevets in Chiba is here -- and includes helpful information about carrying food, some of the more unusual rules (double tail-light requirement, headlamp on helmet requirement -- for 400km+ Brevet and useful to read a map at night), need for accurate odometer to follow cue sheet, etc.