PBP anyone?

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Discussion

sherbertdip

Original Poster:

1,097 posts

118 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Despite not riding for a year I've decided to try for Paris Brest Paris this year.

I pick up my new machine in early March.

First things are completing the qualifying audaxes, starting with a 200km ride in April, 300, 400 and 600km rides by mid June, in the process i will be losing weight (maybe) and getting some fitness back - definite requirement!

Anybody else planning on doing it?

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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I'm very keen but the dates don't work for me this year (too many selfish friends getting married during the all the best dates). I'll have to wait for the next one but I'm eyeing up LEL in 2017.

Will you be running a blog/thread for your training and the event?

stripy7

806 posts

186 months

Saturday 24th January 2015
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Yes, did the 1st 200 k last weekend, have to wait for a 300km ride now.

sherbertdip

Original Poster:

1,097 posts

118 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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Gruffy said:
I'm very keen but the dates don't work for me this year (too many selfish friends getting married during the all the best dates). I'll have to wait for the next one but I'm eyeing up LEL in 2017.

Will you be running a blog/thread for your training and the event?
If i'm honest i wouldn't know how to do a blog, not sure a thread would be of much interest to anyone, I'm not really a structured kind of training person, i just increase mileage and intensity as much as i can.

I'm also thinking about LEL in 2017, but i also feel like i should help out as i did it in 2013, i finished that ok, I know it's not competitive, but all brevets/audaxes i've been on have had an element of competition. LEL I finished in under 76 hours, not bad for 1420km, over half of it i was battling a mad Polish guy and chasing a Russian, but 5hrs sleeping over 3 nights certainly took it's toll.

sherbertdip

Original Poster:

1,097 posts

118 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
quotequote all
stripy7 said:
Yes, did the 1st 200 k last weekend, have to wait for a 300km ride now.
Ah good start this early in the season smile any problems?

This evening i've confirmed my rides.

200 early April, I couldn't then find a suitable 300, so i'll be doing (hopefully) two 400's in May and a 600 in June, then it's just a question of keeping the fitness until August.

bert11

286 posts

177 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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Its a maybe for me this one. Managed a 600km last year so can pre-register a few days earlier, but the biggest hurdle will be getting another 600 done this year!

Gruffy

7,212 posts

258 months

Sunday 25th January 2015
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A thread would be interesting to me. Maybe maintain this one with reports of your qualifying rides, lessons learned and then a report on your PBP itself. I've not yet dipped a toe in the Audax world so I'd find your experiences quite interesting.

stripy7

806 posts

186 months

Monday 26th January 2015
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sherbertdip said:
Ah good start this early in the season smile any problems?

This evening i've confirmed my rides.

200 early April, I couldn't then find a suitable 300, so i'll be doing (hopefully) two 400's in May and a 600 in June, then it's just a question of keeping the fitness until August.
It was bitterly cold! Also my lights were woefully inadequate as in completely crap, a dynamo looks like a good investment. Think I will also shove some wider tyres on to maximise comfort.
I'm doing another 200 Km this Sunday from Portsmouth, dependant on the Weather (wont risk it if any ice on the roads), then end of March for the 300 Km, which I believe will be the real test as I've tended to blow up at this point previously. What 600 are you doing? Ive opted for the Windsor one on 30 May. I'm doing a L2P in 24 hrs early July so want to avoid anything long in June unless I need to.

sherbertdip

Original Poster:

1,097 posts

118 months

Monday 26th January 2015
quotequote all
I'm doing "A pair of Kirtons" from Poynton nr Stockport in Cheshire. I did that in 2013 in lovely weather, it's not too bad for me as it passes near home at the 400Km mark so I can get some real grub and a comfy bed for a few hours. Although the drag up the Penines isn't pleasant for me.

I must admit I find 400's the hardest as there isn't really time for any real rest, so it just becomes a long slog!

Thankfully because I ride a recumbent I don't have any real problems with saddle soreness or hand/wrist fatigue or what really used to knacker me - neck pain, hence why I went to "The Dark Side"!

Some say recumbents are cheating, mine more so being a velomobile, but then they've possibly never tried to haul a 60lb machine up hills with no energy left.

I will keep this thread alive as I progress, with the highes and lows eek

sherbertdip

Original Poster:

1,097 posts

118 months

Friday 20th February 2015
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Well, I collected my new machine on Monday from the Netherlands, first ride was on Tuesday, it has potential to be fast once i get fit and lighter, there were a few teething problems, the main one being the chain bouncing and skipping in gears 7-10, which meant i could only coast over 32 mph, but a promising 22mph average over 25 miles.

If i could work out how to post a photo I would let you all have a larf at what i ride.

stripy7

806 posts

186 months

Wednesday 6th May 2015
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sherbertdip said:
Well, I collected my new machine on Monday from the Netherlands, first ride was on Tuesday, it has potential to be fast once i get fit and lighter, there were a few teething problems, the main one being the chain bouncing and skipping in gears 7-10, which meant i could only coast over 32 mph, but a promising 22mph average over 25 miles.

If i could work out how to post a photo I would let you all have a larf at what i ride.
Ti? How are you getting on? I "just" have a 600 to go.

stripy7

806 posts

186 months

Friday 28th August 2015
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Well I did it- 1200Km in 87hrs. I'll have to wait another 4 years before the next event to better my time. Its an epic adventure and thoroughly recommended. Some serious cyclists competing with support cars. Worldwide participation with riders from Korea, Japan, Russia and 60 other countries, that and crowds out even at 3am made it feel very special.