PBP anyone?

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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?

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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.

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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 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.

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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

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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.