ah, Dea, bless you, m'dear !

warning... thread drift ahead...
I've been reading with awe and fascination people's accounts of Paris-Brest-Paris (aka PBP), that incredible superhuman effort that otherwise normal(?) people undertake every 4 years, the most recent one which was held this past summer. It's a ride that begins on the outskirts of Paris, goes to the coastal town of Brest, and back again. That's 1200 kilometers/ 750 miles, and riders must complete it in under 90 hours!
Along with numb hands, stiff necks, horrible saddle sores and other assorted maladies associated with spending entirely way too much time on a bicycle, participants must contend with sleep depravation. One common part of the training leading up to this event involves going without caffeine for about 3 months prior, so that coffee/espresso stops during the ride are that much more effective.
Having to go without my French Roast for 3 months is what has convinced me that ultra-distance randonneuring is simply not for moi (yeah, right )


- Jo.