BCETS Introduction

Started in 2004, BBC's Bombay’s Challenge Event Training Series (BCETS) is a 15 week early season training ride preparing riders for hilly endurance events such as The Horribly Hilly Hundreds in June, Ride Across Wisconsin, IRONMAN Wisconsin and Dairyland Dare. It is also excellent training to just improve your climbing skills, endurance and overall fitness. The rides are designed to have significant climbing, both gradient and length of climb (climbs can be a few miles in length). This challenging program will help you to reach your peak fitness in mid June.

A $70 fee is due when you register for the BCETS program. We have kept this fee as low as possible for several years while increasing its value. The fee includes:

• An orientation social with food and refreshments
• 15 training rides from March to June with ride leaders to help and encourage you towards your fitness goals
• A supported century ride with fueling and hydration stops
• The first ride includes a stop at the Oregon Firefly cafe where BBC will buy your coffee and a bakery item
• The final ride includes a celebration, all you can eat picnic with refreshments
  
• An indoor hill climbing seminar with food and refreshments
• Nutrition seminar with food and refreshments
• Paid guest speakers
• RWGPS Club level benefits
  
• 50% discount on DexaFit VO2 max testing and 3D body composition scan
• 20% discount on SBR indoor cycling classes

The Training Series and Routes

• Outdoor training rides are every Saturday morning from early March and ending in early June just before the Horribly Hilly Hundreds
• The routes follow many of the hills and roads of the Horribly Hilly Hundreds on the gorgeous and very hilly terrain in and around Blue Mounds and Mt Horeb. Select here to view the BCETS RWGPS routes
• Ride distance and elevation increase through the 15 week series, beginning with two relatively easy rides and quickly progressing to very hilly and challenging. Rides range from 30 to 70 miles with a 100 mi ride towards the end of the program. Hills are the challenging feature of the series with rides ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 ft of climbing and occasional gradients exceeding 15%
  
• We ride in groups to accommodate different abilities and to minimize our footprint on country roads. Each group is led by a ride leader
• We take rider safety seriously, all riders must follow the BBC Rider Safety Responsibilities

Ride With GPS Club - BCETS
 

To join, select here (The BCETS RWGPS Club is separate from the BBC RWGPS Club)

• If you already have a RWGPS account, select Sign in to your account and enter your RWGPS personal account email and password
• If you don't have an account, select the Sign up button and enter your name, email address etc.

Custom Design BCETS Jersey
For BCETS 2024, we designed the first BCETS custom jersey. The design reflects BCETS rides on the beautiful rural and hilly roads of western Wisconsin. For sizing and ordering, select here

Zwift Club - BCETS
If weather cancels a ride, we will substitute a Zwift hilly ride with optional Discord. If you're new to Zwift or need a refresher, select here. 
To join the BCETS Zwift Club, select here (This is separate from the BBC Zwift Club)

• The Zwift ride will be at 10am on the same Saturday as the cancelled ride
• The ride will be posted on the Zwift Companion app on the morning of the cancelled ride. Select CLUB, BCETS then  + 

Zwift Club - BBC

BBC has 3 Zwift rides per week from the last week in Nov to Mid Mar - Wednesday at 6pm, Saturday and Sundays at 9am. Consider this as an addition to your winter season training and is a great way to be ready for BCETS in March. Select here for more information. 

Discord
The Discord server name is BCETS-Riders and the address is https://discord.gg/CwnQ4dTp5b. There are several text channels where we have fun sharing cycling thoughts and humor and of course discussing BCETS related topics with other riders, ride leaders and the BCETS committee. The voice channel is used for a Zwift ride when a BCETS ride has been cancelled for unsafe weather conditions. For help getting started and using Discord, select here

Jan 27: Orientation Meeting

This is a social event beginning at 6pm with food and beverages at the Fitchburg Community Center, Stoner Prairie Dining Room.

Topics include the BCETS ride and event schedule, cold weather gear, nutrition and training basics. It's a great opportunity to get answers to your questions/concerns and to meet fellow participants

Feb 28: First Ride
Le grand départ!  Socialize with the other BCETS riders, ride leaders and the committee while enjoying coffee and a bakery item of your choice, paid for by BBC. Select here for details and route.

Mar 4: Seminar

Apr 2: Indoor Hill Climbing Seminar

Apr 4: On-road Hill Climbing Clinic

May 23: Supported Century Ride

The ride goes through the beautiful rural scenery around Columbus, WI with supported food/drink rest stops

Jun 6: Final Ride and Celebration Picnic

We'll have plenty of food and drinks to help you celebrate your completion of the BCETS training series!

Discount Programs for Current Season BCETS Riders

DexaFit Fitness Testing, Madison
Two types of DexaFit fitness tests are available to registered BCETS riders. These will give you important insights into where and how you can improve your fitness and physical health. Select here for more information.

• VO2 Max Test (BCETS price $90, normally $175

  This test measures your VO2 Max value and your Max HR. The test protocol is similar to doing an FTP test and is performed on a stationary bike or treadmill

• Dexa Body Composition Scan (BCETS price $75, normally $150)
  This test measures muscle mass, body fat distribution, including visceral fat (fat around your organs) and bone density. The test is performed using a very low dosage x-ray scan on an open horizontal table

• Class package costs/options and equipment requirements here
• Class dates, availability and signup here. Use discount code SBRBCETS when ordering

Testimonials

In 2025, Brenda Limpert and Tim Tautges were voted "most improved". Checkout their amazing story here

I joined BCETS without knowing much about it. As a newer cyclist, I was looking for a way to grow my skills, build some muscle, and get some early season rides in. My partner's mom, a long time BCETS rider, immediately recommended the program. I love the community that BCETS provides, and the early season practice lead to a great summer!

BCETS has become more than just a cycling group for me – it's a community that has enriched my life in countless ways. The shared laughter, the collective push up challenging hills, and the post-ride beer/coffee chats have become integral parts of my routine. I'm grateful to be part of a group that not only shares a love for cycling but also understands the true essence of community and friendship.

I plan on signing up for BCETS again. It is not as scary to me as it used to be. I used to avoid hilly rides. Now I can handle them. Being with a group of other riders definitely helps me to get outside on my bike very early in the season. Doing BCETS makes the rest of the bike season rides more fun when you start with a solid base of training. BCETS helped me to do the Horribly Hilly Hundreds and the Dairyland Dare for the first time in 2023. I’ll be out there again looking forward to seeing friends I’ve made and meeting new ones.

I heard about BCETS through the cycling grapevine. I'd always been intrigued, but hadn't ever signed up as I enjoyed a break from cycling in the winter. In 2023 I'd decided to attempt Ride the Rockies in Colorado. I thought BCETS would be a great motivator to ride more in the late winter/early spring and the hills would help me with the long climbs I anticipated facing in Colorado. It worked! I rode much more in late winter/early spring. I enjoyed the camaraderie of my fellow BCETS participants. On Saturdays when I'd have most likely rolled over in bed to hit the snooze button in past years, now because of my BCETS commitment, I arose and gathered my cycling gear for yet another ride up Blue Mounds! The ride in Colorado was splendid. BCETS really prepared me physically for the ride, but also prepared me for how to dress for the ride in Colorado. I was surprised how similar March weather in Wisconsin is to June weather in the Rocky Mountains! I had so much fun last year that I'm back for another year of BCETS in 2024.

I first learned of BCETS from a friend who couldn't say more about how hard and rewarding it was to be part of the group. I decided to sign up the following spring to level-up in training and take on new & challenging rides. The routes are not only challenging (and they are), they are some of the most scenic routes in Wisconsin. Period. Along with weekly training rides, BCETS vets share nutrition tips, climbing techniques and strategy through clinics and social events which is a great way to get to know folks...and what they look like without a bike helmet on! The wrap-around support is great, and camaraderie through the long winter months, a welcome chance to form new friendships.