Paris - Brest - Paris
Discussion
Beginning to get interested in audax and in particular the Paris - Brest - Paris event - I have seen the official website, but wonder if anyone here has completed the event. If so, I would be interested to hear of your experiences.
It seems achievable to me with a structured training schedule to obtain the necessary brevets; for me 2011 is too soon but 2013 is a realistic target.
Does anyone know of any books - in English or French - about the event?
It seems achievable to me with a structured training schedule to obtain the necessary brevets; for me 2011 is too soon but 2013 is a realistic target.
Does anyone know of any books - in English or French - about the event?
I rode it in 2003 0n 68" fixedwheel 
: 
I would reccomend riding an SR [Super Randonneur] series the year before to really get used to long distances on the bike, you learn what you can and cannot eat whilst riding, over 400km I find I am craving some foods I never touch
you learn how much kit to carry and what you need for yourself.
I found it was the tough rides that teach you what you can push yourself through that you really learn from.
Don't forget 80% of it is mental toughness/stubbornness and believing you can do it, once you can ride 400km you just have to accustom yourself to comfort on the bike.
Train hard ride easy, put the miles in, I got through on the bare minimum in 2003 and suffered with an inflammed Achilles on the way back to Paris.
The terrain is rolling nothing really hilly but very little flat so train on hills to be prepared.
Plenty of food at controls but long queues so some people eat at small cafes outside and just get their Brevet card stamped at the controls.
The public support is phenomenal, families set up little tables with food and drink on either free or for a donation, people man busy junctions and shout encouragement all the way.
It has to be done just for the experience.
A good training book is The Long Distance Cyclists Handbook by Simon Doughty
My PBP 2003 photos on flickr
For training myself I improved in 2005 for LEL , on top of my usual commute to work, Audax SR series rides and Club rides at weekends from April onwards I started Midweek forty mile rides after work once a week, upped this to twice a week in May and in June added a few fast 100 mile rides on a Saturday after work.
I felt much better for it and this enabled me to be just a bit faster and get more sleep time.
: I would reccomend riding an SR [Super Randonneur] series the year before to really get used to long distances on the bike, you learn what you can and cannot eat whilst riding, over 400km I find I am craving some foods I never touch
you learn how much kit to carry and what you need for yourself.I found it was the tough rides that teach you what you can push yourself through that you really learn from.
Don't forget 80% of it is mental toughness/stubbornness and believing you can do it, once you can ride 400km you just have to accustom yourself to comfort on the bike.
Train hard ride easy, put the miles in, I got through on the bare minimum in 2003 and suffered with an inflammed Achilles on the way back to Paris.
The terrain is rolling nothing really hilly but very little flat so train on hills to be prepared.
Plenty of food at controls but long queues so some people eat at small cafes outside and just get their Brevet card stamped at the controls.
The public support is phenomenal, families set up little tables with food and drink on either free or for a donation, people man busy junctions and shout encouragement all the way.
It has to be done just for the experience.
A good training book is The Long Distance Cyclists Handbook by Simon Doughty
My PBP 2003 photos on flickr
For training myself I improved in 2005 for LEL , on top of my usual commute to work, Audax SR series rides and Club rides at weekends from April onwards I started Midweek forty mile rides after work once a week, upped this to twice a week in May and in June added a few fast 100 mile rides on a Saturday after work.
I felt much better for it and this enabled me to be just a bit faster and get more sleep time.
Edited by fixedwheelnut on Saturday 30th October 00:04
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