Paris-Brest-Paris 2027 - Anyone??

[rdl03]

Definitely on my "aspire to list". There's a lot of rides I need to do successfully between now and then to decide to go. At least an SR series, and ideally a local 1200k.

Curious - how many of you are long time Randonneurs?

 

[rdl03]

Thanks for starting this thread Larry.

A friend of mine did the qualifying rides for PBP 2019 but wasn’t able to register because the event is oversubscribed. So I’m going to do a grand randonee this year to get priority registration. Current thinking is Endless Flat hosted by Northern Virginia Randonneurs in October.

As for riding together, I’ve heard it isn’t a good idea for the reasons posted. If some of us are together for some of the ride, that’s great, but if not it’s OK. We can synch up at the end and trade stories.

We would be in the "special bikes" category. I don't know that there is a limit on the number of riders in that group.

 

[Greg S]

Curious - how many of you are long time Randonneurs?

Not sure whether it qualifies as “long time” (I have a friend who did PBP in 1979) but 13 years for me and 12 grand randonnees including PBP and LEL. I rode 10K miles/year for 30 years before my first brevet. Longer rides (centuries) but didn’t get into randonneuring until riding friends got me into it.

 

[Greg S]

We would be in the "special bikes" category. I don't know that there is a limit on the number of riders in that group.

Although there is a limit in each starting wave there is also an overall limit driven by how many riders the organization can support. I suspect (but don’t know) that if the “specials” registration got large enough they’d split it into multiple waves as well.

It has historically been the case that registrations are open until the overall number reaches whatever the predefined max is for the event although there have been instances where registrations close then reopen.

 

[rdl03]

Not sure whether it qualifies as “long time” (I have a friend who did PBP in 1979) but 13 years for me and 12 grand randonnees including PBP and LEL. I rode 10K miles/year for 30 years before my first brevet. Longer rides (centuries) but didn’t get into randonneuring until riding friends got me into it.

That certainly qualifies - by an order of magnitude - in my world. I have yet to finish a ride longer than 600km, and it would take a pretty busy year for me to reach Mondial this year. I started in 2011 - did 4 200kms - Nov, Dec,Jan,Feb, and then ran as far away as I could until I retired in 2014.

 

[Boreen bimbler]

I started audaxing/randoneuring around 12 years ago as training for my Everestings. Got pretty keen and did a lot for around 7/8 years but had to stop due to the fibromyalgia. Hence the cruzbike.
I always loved the non competitiveness of it. PBP sounds like a great thing that I sadly didn't get to experience. Large events with lots of people arn't really my thing but I'd have made an exception for that.

 

[IyhelM]

Rode my first brevet in 2021, barely 3 months after starting my recumbent journey - a 200k, with a 50 pounds trike
Loved the atmosphere, did a couple of 200s each year since then, did a 300 last year (did not like it), turned to Arrows ; now member of the Audax Club Parisien, might ride a 400 in May, and maybe a 600 next year but will draw the line there - I enjoy my nights long and in a bed.
So if you see me next year on Paris - Brest - Paris, it will be behind the counter

 

[ccf]

Finished a 400k on Saturday. My club's RBA says "Ever since the ACP began the pre-qualifying structure, anyone that did at least a 400km the year prior to PBP (2010, 2014, 2018, 2022) and then completed all four qualifiers the year of PBP was able to complete registration and secure a spot." So I guess I'm in, if I want to be in. But when I got to 175 mi, I definitely was questioning things. And 400k is just the first day of PBP.

 

[Jan]

I pre-qualified with a 600 km BRM in France (not far from the P-B-P route), so I should have a decent choice of starting wave. Which one would you recommend? The Sunday afternoon waves allow 90 hours but mean riding straight into the first night. The Monday morning waves seem more practical to me. Any thoughts? I'm aiming to finish in about three days (72 hours). I don't think the Charly Miller target is very realistic on a recumbent, given the 11,000 m of climbing. I also doubt that riding in a pack is practical, but I would potentially be interested in sharing accommodation. And I would definitely like to take a group selfie with the other Cruzbikers! It would be great to meet Larry Oz, Damien, Beano et al. in person

 

[Karl42]

I just finished a 600 km Brevet last weekend, and did several 200, 300 and 400 km Brevets before. I have not seriously considered PBP27 yet, but I guess this gives me the option to register.

 

[IyhelM]

[…] I don't think the Charly Miller target is very realistic on a recumbent, […]

You mean the lack of pain makes us less motivated to finish the ride as fast as possible?
At the end of the (fifth) day I reckon your fitness and brevet experience is more important than the type of bike you ride. I’d have to check details but I’m sure I know 2 or 3 French recumbent riders who have CMed it - but all of them are cycling machines, one of them is on two days from completing the North Cape - Tarifa in 4th position…

 

[Jan]

You mean the lack of pain makes us less motivated to finish the ride as fast as possible?
At the end of the (fifth) day I reckon your fitness and brevet experience is more important than the type of bike you ride. I’d have to check details but I’m sure I know 2 or 3 French recumbent riders who have CMed it - but all of them are cycling machines, one of them is on two days from completing the North Cape - Tarifa in 4th position…

Ha ha, yes indeed. After 600 km, I had no saddle sores or neck pain at all. What a joy! And the views are much better, too. On a road bike, you're mostly looking at your front tyre; on a recumbent, you get to enjoy the whole landscape. The hills were tough, though, especially in the heat. You're right that some recumbents manage to finish P-B-P very fast. The 2019 was even won by a recumbent (a velomobile). I guess I'll have to train a bit harder than I did for my 600

 

[Beano]

I pre-qualified with a 600 km BRM in France (not far from the P-B-P route), so I should have a decent choice of starting wave. Which one would you recommend? The Sunday afternoon waves allow 90 hours but mean riding straight into the first night. The Monday morning waves seem more practical to me. Any thoughts? I'm aiming to finish in about three days (72 hours). I don't think the Charly Miller target is very realistic on a recumbent, given the 11,000 m of climbing. I also doubt that riding in a pack is practical, but I would potentially be interested in sharing accommodation. And I would definitely like to take a group selfie with the other Cruzbikers! It would be great to meet Larry Oz, Damien, Beano et al. in person

The Monday morning start for sure is more practical because you can treat the ride as three long day rides maximizing riding time during the day. And when I done it back in 2015 it was only in the last 200km did I catch up with the main '90 hour bulge'. Up to this point there were very few if very small queues for food and a bed in a dorm. Which if you start in the main 90 hour group the queues are long.