Paris Brest Paris (1200 k) August 21-25, 2011
Paris Brest Paris (PBP) was originally a professional race organized in 1891 and was then ridden every 10 years. At that time it went from Paris, west through Brittany, to Brest and back. The route has changed some over the years. While no longer a race (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) it is still organized and offered every four years by the French cycling club, Audax Club Parisien (ACP). It is the oldest cycling event still held.
- Lee with Martine Schwarz, a ride host, in front of her 300 year old stone cottage in Plaisir
- The PBP start Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines
In 2007, for my first PBP I rode the 90 hour group. I did it mostly out of curiosity and besides, I knew that Lauren, then my girlfriend, and I would have a great time in France regardless. It turned out to be one of the wettest and coldest editions in PBP history. Those of you who know me know how well I handle cold weather; about as well as a tropical orchid does in a snow storm. It was quite a ride. But even in foul weather it felt like I was riding from one French postcard into another as we rode through picturesque medieval villages towards Brest along the Brittany countryside. I was amazed at the fan/spectator support , especially for such a rainy edition. Many times I wondered aloud why, as we rolled through a village at 02:00, were these people out cheering and offering support in the middle of the night, in the pouring rain. I finished at almost 89 hours. Still, finishing it back then felt anticlimactic. It was an item on a tick list that I would never, ever, tick again. Ever.
That notion only lasted for a few weeks. After I recovered I knew that I would be back for the next one. I joined the DBC Race Team that fall and have spent the past 3 seasons racing. Our longest road race was less than 75 miles but racing required a lot more intensity. It took some work to switch legs from ultra endurance to racing. Earlier this year I left the race scene to switch back to ultra riding. I had less than a year to do get it done.
- Exhausted brevet riders in Villaines
This time around I was very curious about doing it in the 80 hr group. I asked several riders about their 80 hour experience. Fellow DBCer, Rich Boettner, not only sent me his training log but also very detailed notes of his rides. His description of the 80 hour group start could have been enough to scare me off but also served as water to the seed that was already planted. Curiosity trumped sensibility. Signing up for the 80 hour group also committed me to finishing at least 9 hours faster than my previous ride.
We had great weather in the few days before the start of this year’s edition. Then the night before my start a huge storm blew in, reminding me too much of 2007. The following day it cleared up and was actually very hot at the start. It was reported to be in the 90s but rain was expected again in a day or so. Unpredictability, it seems, is a hallmark of weather in Brittany. I made it to the first wave of the 80 hr group that started at 16:10. Everything that Rich told me about this group was true. The front pack is basically a giant and dangerous race ride. That story and more in the next issue.
Lee’s video of the 80 hr start:
More info on PBP:
http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/pbp2011/index2.php?lang=en&cat=presentation&page=historique_pbp
Tons of Photos compiled here:
