Paris-Brest-Paris 2027 - Anyone??

[Greg S]

Here is my first pass looking at the the PBP. I used my planned weight (about 200lbs) and bike weight.

Nice analysis Max. One suggestion if you’ve not already done it: I see you have elevation (climbing) for each stage which is great. If you have the data it might be useful to have a look at your performance on similar rides & grades and use that to calculate/verify your predicted speed.

I have a formula in a spreadsheet that I’ve used for years that given a distance and total elevation as input will calculate average speed. After a long brevet I compare what I actually did against my predicted speed and tweak the formula as necessary for future events. This has proven to be very useful on days 2-3-4-5. I try to do this analysis within a week or two of finishing so I can apply any subjective information that might affect it like headwinds, feeling ill, poor sleep, etc., and use that to filter anomalies.

When I first started doing this and hadn’t done the analysis my predicted speeds for the later stages were pure fantasy ;-)

 

[Y.P. 'Max']

My plan is just to enjoy the ride and get the most out of it. In 2023, I still had three hours left before the cutoff, and if it weren't for that dark rain cloud behind me, I would’ve just sat in a cafe with a coffee and a croissant. Cycling is a hobby, not a job—it doesn't all have to be perfectly calculated in a spreadsheet!

Noted.

 

[Y.P. 'Max']

Nice analysis Max. One suggestion if you’ve not already done it: I see you have elevation (climbing) for each stage which is great. If you have the data it might be useful to have a look at your performance on similar rides & grades and use that to calculate/verify your predicted speed.

I have a formula in a spreadsheet that I’ve used for years that given a distance and total elevation as input will calculate average speed. After a long brevet I compare what I actually did against my predicted speed and tweak the formula as necessary for future events. This has proven to be very useful on days 2-3-4-5. I try to do this analysis within a week or two of finishing so I can apply any subjective information that might affect it like headwinds, feeling ill, poor sleep, etc., and use that to filter anomalies.

When I first started doing this and hadn’t done the analysis my predicted speeds for the later stages were pure fantasy ;-)

Thanks! I do plan to bounce my ride's distance * elevation in the coming months off of the targets in the spreadsheet and calibrate my training and the sheet over time. I don't have a lot of experience with riding distance at pace, but I do have a couple of years experiance walking with a pack, and with some running, and planning the events has always been helpful for me in the past. I want to look at the wind impacts, too. This summer I rode around Iceland on my S40 with 4 panniers and got punched in the face for 10 days straight with almost constant head winds. For PBP I'm planning on riding my V20c and packing much much lighter for what I hope will be better aero.

 

[ccf]

What’s the recommendation for tires? I’ve been riding Conti 5000 tubeless for the past four years, and the only time I got a puncture that wouldn’t seal was when I didn’t have enough sealant in the tire. But I’m wondering if something tougher is better. Also, should I carry a spare tire?

 

[Greg S]

What’s the recommendation for tires? I’ve been riding Conti 5000 tubeless for the past four years, and the only time I got a puncture that wouldn’t seal was when I didn’t have enough sealant in the tire. But I’m wondering if something tougher is better. Also, should I carry a spare tire?

Tubeless should be fine. I found the roads to generally be very good so I'd not worry about having a tougher tire or a spare.

Of course you should have the sealant topped up in the tires (no need to go crazy) and the ability to plug small holes. Other than that you should be good to go.

 

[Mathew Fy]

the only time I got a puncture that wouldn’t seal was when I didn’t have enough sealant in the tire

That reminds me. I should add a 60 ml bottle to my kit.

Stan's Original Tubeless Sealant, 60ml, 12 Pack

The first tubeless sealant in the world, formulated by our founder Stan in 2001 and still the number one choice of riders today. Recommended for all-around use, compatible with all tubeless road, gravel, and mountain bike tires.

stans.com

 

[OttoMatique]

The date for the 2027 PBP is Aug 22-26, 2027
Here is their link. https://www.paris-brest-paris.org/en/
I have been talking with Cliff F and he said "he has it on his list"
I do too! (I just have not told the boss yet - but as long as she can go and be a tourist for a week - I don't think she will mind a bit)

Let's make this the year Cruzibike really shows up big for this event!
If we are really on the ball and have enough people - we could probably rent a nice large house for our home base before and after.

In my limited experience with international events: the worst part is just getting there and back. The rest is just fun riding your Cruzbike.
The longer the event - the more FUN you have!

Let's do it - who else is interested?

 

[OttoMatique]

The date for the 2027 PBP is Aug 22-26, 2027
Here is their link. https://www.paris-brest-paris.org/en/
I have been talking with Cliff F and he said "he has it on his list"
I do too! (I just have not told the boss yet - but as long as she can go and be a tourist for a week - I don't think she will mind a bit)

Let's make this the year Cruzibike really shows up big for this event!
If we are really on the ball and have enough people - we could probably rent a nice large house for our home base before and after.

In my limited experience with international events: the worst part is just getting there and back. The rest is just fun riding your Cruzbike.
The longer the event - the more FUN you have!

Let's do it - who else is interested?

I am planning to attend the '27 PBP. I have already scheduled some qualification brevets.

 

[Frito Bandito]

I am not going to be doing PBP, but the way I set up my V20 was for multiday rides, so since this page seems like a great page to share ideas I'll include what I think I would use.

I would start with 700x28 Conti GP5000 tubeless tires with a spare tubed GP5000 just so I wouldnt have to worry too much about removing and installing a tubeless tire during the ride.
A Lezyne Tubeless plug kit.
Spare tube with removable core
Spare removable core
Glue free patches
Regular patches/glue
40ml of sealant
2 strong tire levers
Spare tubeless 80mm valve
CO2 cartridge with nozzle
Micro pump

The mounted set of tubeless should get me through the ride, but if 1 of them fails catastrophically then I have a tubed spare tire. For a puncture I would try to plug it with the plug kit so I wouldn't have to remove and reinstall a tubeless tire on my wheel during the ride. If the plug kit didn't work then I would go with the tubed GP5000. If I later got a flat on the tubed GP5000 then I would use a glue free patch.

 

[Boreen bimbler]

I am not going to be doing PBP, but the way I set up my V20 was for multiday rides, so since this page seems like a great page to share ideas I'll include what I think I would use.

I would start with 700x28 Conti GP5000 tubeless tires with a spare tubed GP5000 just so I wouldnt have to worry too much about removing and installing a tubeless tire during the ride.
A Lezyne Tubeless plug kit.
Spare tube with removable core
Spare removable core
Glue free patches
Regular patches/glue
40ml of sealant
2 strong tire levers
Spare tubeless 80mm valve
CO2 cartridge with nozzle
Micro pump

The mounted set of tubeless should get me through the ride, but if 1 of them fails catastrophically then I have a tubed spare tire. For a puncture I would try to plug it with the plug kit so I wouldn't have to remove and reinstall a tubeless tire on my wheel during the ride. If the plug kit didn't work then I would go with the tubed GP5000. If I later got a flat on the tubed GP5000 then I would use a glue free patch.

Sadly my health stops me doing rides like this any more but if I still could.....The way I'd set up is-
Fattest tyres I could fit,
A spare tyre,
2 spare tubes,
Puncture kit,
A micro pump,
And tools/tyre levers.
I much prefer the simplicity and ease especially if you've been riding for 50hrs and get a problem. But others swear by tubeless so each to their own. I just think if you do have major problems when you are very very tired it just might end your ride. 10 min changing a tube could be far less hassle. I have hallucinated and fallen asleep while riding bikes and also had to give up on big rides. My 1st double Everesting attempt @15,000m for instance due to tech problems, so I'd also use 2 GPS units if you want it recorded. I personally wouldn't want to give up on a big ride over struggling to get a tyre off the rim.
Good luck to anyone planning to go. Hope you get an "enjoyable" (lol) ride. Everyone I know who has done it and even the ones who DNF loved the experience.

 

[Frito Bandito]

@Boreen bimbler Luckily, getting the TL tires off the rims has not been so difficult. I have broken tire levers trying to get them on, and have even had to use 4 hands more than once. So my thought process is that if I get a puncture or a tear the sealant doesn't seal then I can get the tire off and put on the tubed GP5000 and roll with that. Those go on easily, but the micropump I have takes far too mamy pumps to get the tire up to 80psi or so. Lately I have been getting about 6000km out of each set of tires, and Stans sealant seems to turn to water at about 5000km for me.

 

[Greg S]

Yeah, usually the issue with tubeless tires is getting them on the first time. Once they've been mounted it's generally fairly easy to get them back on. The other potential issue with tubeless is getting the bead to seat with whatever you have (pump, co2, etc) on the side of the road.

I carry one of these and it had no difficulty achieving a pressure that would seat the bead (28mm Conti GP5000) when I had a tire with a .75" slash in it. I also have a pump in case the cycplus doesn't work or I get multiple flats and the battery goes dead but I've never had to use it.

 

[Frito Bandito]

That mini electric pump is pretty snazzy. I have been thinking of getting one because the Lezyne mini pump I have been carrying around takes so many pumps that I have to bring an extra spare gel pack to take while inflating the tire. I am not even going to write about the time I pushed the CO2 nozzle onto the Presta valve without twisting it open and blew the O-ring out of the nozzle and onto the valve after fixing a flat. Luckily I had a spare CO2 cartridge but I had a bit of time to sit and reflect on the side of the bike path while the frost melted enough to disassemble the damn thing.

 

[Boreen bimbler]

I only ever carry a micro pump. It does take a while to inflate the tube but for the amount of times I've had to use it even when I was doing big rides daily I never bothered carrying anything else. I'm such a minimalist. I have CO2, it's been in the shed since the day I got it, about 8 years ago.
I'll leave this thread for proper PBP stuff now.

 

[Dan V.]

I am planning to attend the '27 PBP. I have already scheduled some qualification brevets.

I, too, am planning on attending PBP '27 on my S40. I'm scheduled for the Coullee Challenge in '26.
My ultimate goal is to Charly Miller PBP. I'd love to see if there are others with that same thought and form a Cruz Convoy.

 

[IyhelM]

Most convoy plans end up in the ditch as it is rather difficult to stay on the same pace, pauses and naps included, in such a long ride, especially if you have never ridden together before.
I don’t mean to presume your level of fitness but it feels a bit presumptuous to aim for a Charly Miller before you’ve even ridden your first 200 - and I write this with the humility of one who knows he will never ride PBP, let alone in less than 60h!
Note also that a significant number of riders who CM it have a dedicated supporting team and often bend the spirit of the ride - and generate hazards for other riders.

I’m not saying it’s a bad idea to aim high, just remember to enjoy the ride safely! Simply finishing PBP is an impressive achievement.

 

[Karl42]

With Paris-Brest-Paris 2027 casting its shadow, most of the brevets here in Germany were sold out instantly after registration opened, because people want to do their qualifying rides.

I'm glad to see so much interest in this among the Cruzbike riders. While I will do two complete brevet series this year and therefore get my qualifying rides in for the PBP registration, I'm not sure yet if this kind of mass event is really my thing. But if there is a group of Cruzbikers getting together for this, at least for the start, I might be persuaded. After the start, pacing yourself at your own speed is critical, as others have pointed out, so riding the whole thing together is not something I would try. But it would still be fun to share the experience.
With that, I started a new thread for sharing ride reports of 2026: https://forum.cruzbike.com/threads/ride-reports-2026-brevets-and-other-long-distance-tours.16572/
Maybe we'll see some reports of the PBP2027 aspirants?

 

[Dan V.]

Most convoy plans end up in the ditch as it is rather difficult to stay on the same pace, pauses and naps included, in such a long ride, especially if you have never ridden together before.
I don’t mean to presume your level of fitness but it feels a bit presumptuous to aim for a Charly Miller before you’ve even ridden your first 200 - and I write this with the humility of one who knows he will never ride PBP, let alone in less than 60h!
Note also that a significant number of riders who CM it have a dedicated supporting team and often bend the spirit of the ride - and generate hazards for other riders.

I’m not saying it’s a bad idea to aim high, just remember to enjoy the ride safely! Simply finishing PBP is an impressive achievement.

Whilst not the expected response, I thank you for pointing out some challenges. Now, anyone up for figuring out a way to overcome them? In the future, I'd ask that if you're going to thrash someone's goal, keep it to your own. Thank you

 

[IyhelM]

I fail to see how recommending to take it step by step with simple concern for safety is trashing someone’s goal but, hey, you do you.
I’ll be on the finish line as a volunteer to cheer all participants and I do hope to see you and as many CBers as possible there, whatever your time!

 

[Dan V.]

You can reach me directly if you'd like to discuss.
viganodan@gmail.com
Thank you for your volunteerism.