PBP 2015 / Paris - Brest - Paris Audax

Paul said 175 starters. I hope they're all finishers too.

There are no BRM 600s before 10th May (the end of the window that the 200 must be done in) but there have been in previous years and so some people have qualified for PBP with 4 x 600km BRM rides.

This year you could qualify with 1x400 (before 10th May) and then 3 x 600s (one on the 23/24th May weekend just before the 300km ride deadline, another on one of the two weekends after that before the 300km deadline, and then a final one before the 28th June).

Anyone picking one of the 600s on the 13th June is in for some fun. 9500m climbing or 10150m climbing for the Pendle 600. Oof.

(A climbing figure alone doesn't tell the full story, I find the K&SW600 with 8200m climbing much harder than the BCM600 with 8300m climbing. Welsh hills aren't as steep as Devon/Cornwall. But 9500m is a lot and 10150m is rather bonkers.)

I was kind of hoping to do it normally, ie. 2, 3, 4, 6 but really I'm not that bothered by 2 and 3 - I was using the 3Down route last year for solo training rides anyway. I'm more interested on how I'll go on the 400 and 600 rides given that most of my experience at those distances is on a TT bike up and down A roads, rather than variable terrain, conditions, etc. on lanes and the like.

As I said in the other thread, the Wye Wednesday is fully rideable for me or I could go the other extreme and turn it into a bit of a tour by exploring some new scenery - doing the Delightful Dales ride or similar: http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/15-460/
The cost goes up though as I'd need train and B&B fares. Probably need to change my gearing from a straight TT block too!

I'm more interested on how I'll go on the 400 and 600 rides given that most of my experience at those distances is on a TT bike up and down A roads, rather than variable terrain, conditions, etc. on lanes and the like.

The two major things that people struggle with on 400s and 600s are:-

• night riding (which I assume you won't given your 24h experience)
  
• sleep deprivation (which shouldn't a problem for you since you'll be fast enough to have a good rest on a 600 and probably finish before midnight on 400 with a 6am start)
  
  

The latter will come in to play on PBP itself if you want to go for a fast time.

The other thing for me is kit. Racing, I have a team. Audax I will be solo and the most I've done solo is probably 350k and that was realtively quickly so not much need for stopping and starting or resupply, etc. Basically, I want to carry the least amount of stuff but still be able to carry on given any of the common issues - clothing is probably my biggest problem. I never seem to have the right kit on! :)

Steve Abraham's doing it, just wear what he wears and take what he takes...how hard can it be..?? htfu!

If I do qualify and enter it, let's see who does it faster. Kit is specific to speed goal. HurryTFU.

Right, how are we all feeling? Are we going to enter? Assuming the 600 is OK I think that I probably will....

So who is in?

I'll be in Maurepas near the start I believe? I maybe part of a back up/support team....

If anyone needs anything PM closer to the time Bon chance.

Qualifiers done. I'm going to enter but still not sure of the likelihood of 'racing' it. Probably go over solo and just see what happens.

Translation: I'll get lost and end up in Spain. Send help. But not too quickly, just when I'm nearly out of beer money.

or beer money, presumably?

I said beer money. Are you trying to mess with me? I'm glycogen depleted. Leave me be.

I meant instead of help.

or maybe they are the same thing. They are for me

I get you now. Much better idea! Told you I was glycodep :)

4 days! really? :-)

Right, on a serious note, the bloke I chatted to during the 600 was using a dyno hub to power his lights and electronics. Should I do the same thing for PBP?

I own an Exposure Six Pack which might last the two nights (1200k)?
http://www.ultimatesportsengineering.com/exposure-lights/cycle-lights/six-pack-mk4

If I went full battery mode I'd need probably 2 x GPS, 2 x extended Garmin batteries, 1 front light and maybe an extender battery for it, rear lights could just be AA or AAA types.

I'm getting a new set of wheels built anyway so slipping a dyno in would cost me the front hub and the phone adapters but how much would it slow me down? Would it actually power all my shit?

I didn't have this thread subscribed to and you didn't replyto.

Could I recharge the Six Pack using the dynamo or is it better to use specific dynamo lights?

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt.asp
http://www.cycletourer.co.uk/cycletouring/electrogadgets.shtml
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=58777

I can barely use computers.

which is a pity considering my job.

I'm interested to the answer to your dynamo question though. I am also concerned that if I have a dynamo, even if it is fabulous I will spend all my pedalling time thinking "this would be easier without a dynamo"

I took this over to the dynamo thread. If the chart is to be believed, they only add ~2W with no current draw and maybe 8-10W at 25-30kph with lights on. I wouldn't notice that. I'm just wondering if it's better to have this as a kind of fit and forget solution or to stick with the external batteries hanging off everything I do now.

Much as I love dynohub setups I used two B&M Ixon IQ lights mounted on a space bar hanging down from the stem. 4 AA batteries each and 8 spare AA batteries in the bag (not heavy if you splash out on Energizer Lithiums) got me through easily. Every control (and lots of shops along the way) sold AA batteries and you wouldn't have to wait long to find someone going past who could give you some.

Just visible here: http://www.greenbank.org/audax/pbp_02.jpg (bike had bullhorns rather than drops).

A lot of the time I could get away with running just one in the low power mode. Both on full power gives an impressive amount of light, great for descending (although my spin-fu was weak after the first day). During the 3rd night I came across an Italian who'd smashed up his only front light so I loaned him one of mine and gave him my address to post it back (luckily I met up with him at the finish and he was able to hand it back there and then). One light was easily enough but I had the second one more as a backup.

The bike inspection requires backup lights, so even with a dynohub setup you'll need some form of backup front light (both lights need to be a bit better than a generic blinking white LED one).

On the gripping hand, I'd probably go back to dynohub if I was doing it this year as I'd want something that can also charge a storage battery during the day so I've always got something to charge 'phone and GPS too.

I've got a spare SON wheel (built into a Mavic Open Pro) and a B&M IQ Fly light somewhere too.

I'm a dynohub user - however, I don't tend to do much charging of shit from them (even though I have a Luxos-U). A battery pack that'll charge a Garmin 5 times or more, weighs nothing and costs less than 20 quid these days.

The Luxos is great - but only if you are moving at constant speed (reasonably high). Pain in the arse when climbing etc. I'd not worry too much about killing a £20 battery pack connecting it up to the Luxos, but the constant on/off of the charging when you slow down won't do wonders for a Garmin's life (and they are more than 20 quid).

Anyway - I'm also putting together some stuff on what I am carrying for this PBP - less than last time, possibly still more than many, but hopefully enough to keep my skinny little body warm enough.

https://marcusjb.wordpress.com/2015/05/23/paris-brest-paris-2015-my-packing-list-part-1-clothing/

"bike inspection"

What other bike rules do I need to be aware of - is there a list of dos/don'ts?