PBP 2015 / Paris - Brest - Paris Audax

"I would look at my cyclometer and shake my head as the digits flashed 50 km/h"

Yeah, that sounds like a totally sensible way to begin a two day ride. Haven't these guys ever heard of negative splits?

No. I'm basing this on a solo 43 hour 950km back to Ireland last month with a 3 hour sleep on the ferry. I imagine riding in a pack makes a substantial difference but I may be underestimating the amount of climbing.

I'll be tucked in behind a tandem and try not to get carried away and exhausted in the first 300km.

negative splits? not according to the support crew for Anco de Jong PBP (this guy) who did this a couple of times (his fastest was 2007 44hr50m). I spoke with them last year as I was planning to do PBP. They said it's a full on race with 40++ kph speeds, right from the start (for some people).

That might be how most people ride it and I guess being in a bunch makes the difference with everyone wanting to shell the weaker riders out as soon as possible as well as hang on to the faster guys.

I'll be a good 45min back from them before I even start plus I won't have the luxury of a support team this time so my stop time will be greater, making it tricky to get in contention with the headbangers at the front - even if I did catch them up, I'd lose them again at the first control.

I'm more interested in testing myself over two days without sleep and seeing what happens. This will give me an idea of whether or not I want to bother with TransAm as a race.

What time are you starting?- I've opted for a full value Sunday Night start, but reckon I will get the red mist on the start line.

" I keep hearing about people outside their houses offering food and water."

Hopefully a nice warm bed too.

16:45 I think. What's a full value start?

enjoy it whichever way you want to ride it. you'll probably experience some interesting hallucinations. good luck!

"Full value" is Audax speak for taking all allocated time to complete= 90hr completion.

Yeahbut.. Isn't the Sunday night start the 80h group?

Unless... goes to check documents

Aha... 90h goes off just after the 80h group.

They'll be plenty of people in each of the 80h starts who'll be wanting to go quickly. Not sure if some of the others that you may know from the 24 will be doing it (Toby Hopper and the like, he certainly did rode in 2011 although a dodgy knee blew his chances of a quick time).

Just watch out for the first 20km or so out of Paris, some amazingly bad riding going on.

Yeah, but there's quick over 1230k and there's doing 50kph for the first three hours and then falling to bits for the next two days.

I'll be riding like I've spent the last four years riding around the country on a TT bike - ready for anything! :)

Just remember, the tandems set off after the Vedettes. Sure, there will be fast tandems later in the game I am sure, but if you can hold onto the pace in the Vedettes, it may be a while before tandem wheels become available.

See you all in Paris!

Good luck all (especially those cycling to/from Paris).

I'll be watching your progress from the beach in the Wall of Corn.

Can I put in a quick word for the utterly excellent @t_w who rather fantastically made me a wheel. A lovely HED Belgium rim on a SonDelux disk. Bumped into my riding partner on the way home who is very keen that we ride for at least 30 hours before a kip. I am not sure I understand the attraction, but hey ho.

Updated Garmin routes from wilkyboy on yacf: http://www.camaudax.uk/rides/pbp2015/

Stem yesterday.

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Get yourself a torque wrench Superman :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wOKnul5ylA

Good luck to you all.

Finally eliminated a rattle in my levers that was doing my nut in after 4 weeks of trying. Bring it on France!!

I have a regular click somewhere which is nice. I need to remove some stuff or repack my toptube bag because having it rub on my knee for 1200k is likely to result in a bike toss (not the good kind).

Good luck everyone doing this. Will be vicariously enjoying the ride from my computer screen.