Paris Brest Paris

[mimitabby]

It was monday morning, and I was reeling from jet lag when this coworker (who i didn't actually know) came up to me and asked who the guys were in the photo i have near my desk.
In a short time I realized that another bike nut works in my building. He and his wife did the PBP, the oldest organized ride in the world. It's a hard ride too.

If you want something interesting to read, here's their story:

http://pieper.criminale.com/pbp_2003_01.htm

[kelownagirl]

Interesting - I skmmed it but want to read it more closely when I have time. Sounds like they went through a lot of challenges to get there!

This past summer, I met a guy wearing a PBP tshirt. He was from Florida (do you know him Nanci? and was touring around North America with his recumbent bike (driving and riding). Must be nice....

[8bit]

Is anybody here planning on doing it in 2007? I'm set on going, but I haven't decided if I want to qualify and go on my single bike or with the tandem and partner. It's going to be a blast, either way.

[mimitabby]

wow, good luck on that one!

[jobob]

How does that work - do you have to qualify using the type of bike you will ride in PBP? That is, would you have to do the full brevet series using the tandem (and presumably, the same partner) if you intend to ride PBP with it?

Just idle curiousity on my part, since I only plan to do some 200K brevets and mayybeee a 300K this year.

[maillotpois]

..... since I only plan to do some 200K brevets and mayybeee a 300K this year.

Now there's the spirit! Think big and you can do it! 300 is not much more than 200, really!! (Assuming you can stand the company.... )

[jobob]

I shall bear that in mind.

[Veronica]

And hey, once you do 300, 400 is a piece of cake.

V.

[jobob]

OK now you're just being silly !!!!

400K gets into the realm of sleep deprivation. Not sure how I would deal with that.

[Veronica]

It's really not that bad. Of course my longest ride has been 17 hours, so that's not really sleep deprived. For all I know, it could be awful.

V.

[jobob]

Poor 8bit, is anyone going to answer her question ?

Please excuse us 8bit, we tend to drift ....

[maillotpois]

You could probably do 400k okay without too much effect of sleep deprivation. Just keep the coffee coming.

I found that getting very tired led me to feel extremely cold - that was hard to get over even after it warmed up. So I'm thinking maybe bringing even another layer for the "wee hours" when it is bone chillingly cold. And keeping the layer in a plastic bag to ensure it is dry is essential.

You get stupid, too. I had a plastic bag to keep my extra shorts dry. I just took them out for some reason and left them out, in the rain. Duh. You just have to try to ensure your stupidity is limited to inconveniences like that and doesn't become life threatening.

Boy, I'm not doing a very good job selling this, am I?

[Veronica]

[QUOTE=maillotpois;157175

Boy, I'm not doing a very good job selling this, am I?[/QUOTE]

No.

I thought hard about PBP. Decided I like one day events thank you. Maybe next year I'll give one of the other 1200 Ks a go. I was getting freaked by the talk of long lines, peeing in the field, sleeping on the side of the road...I like my creature comforts.

V.

[maillotpois]

Sleeping on the side of the road does nothing for me either. The one time I tried it, I couldn't even relax or stop shivering.

I am hoping that if I do the 600k, there's a better provision in this one (Santa Rosa's) for sleep. It seems like there is. I want to sleep around mile 300, and I think there's a motel on the route and it is better set up for this. SF's encouraged you to stay in Ft. Bragg and I knew that would be a huge mistake. Staying in Cloverdale is the way to go for that one. When it gets closer, I will look at the route and make the final decision. Right now, I am aiming for the full series with SR.

[maillotpois]

Poor 8bit, is anyone going to answer her question ?

Please excuse us 8bit, we tend to drift ....

Fine!!

Is anybody here planning on doing it in 2007? I'm set on going, but I haven't decided if I want to qualify and go on my single bike or with the tandem and partner. It's going to be a blast, either way.

NO. Have fun!