PBP 2015 / Paris - Brest - Paris Audax

Inevitably the talk in the LEL thread has already asked who's up for Paris Brest Paris.

It seems now is as good a time as any to get the thread started on it.

Who fancies heading over to the French capital in two years time to tool around the countryside for 90 hours, munching on tarte au flan, drinking good coffee and spending longer contemplating sleeping in a hedge than is strictly necessary?

Sound like a nice little run, I'm in.

You have to qualify for PBP don't you? I am probably too disorganised for that. It sounds fun though, I might do an unofficial version.

If Serk does it, I'll do it...

You have to qualify for PBP don't you? I am probably too disorganised for that. It sounds fun though, I might do an unofficial version.

You need to do a 200, 300, 400 and 600 in the same year as the PBP I believe.

You need to do a 200, 300, 400 and 600 in the same year as the PBP I believe.

The thought of that scares me so much...

And, assuming it's the same as 2011, it looks like there are windows for riding them as well. But hey, if you bash out a Brevet Randonneur Mondiaux , you can register early.

Or we could all do a nice flat 100km round Essex and eat one of these at the end at the end.

Yep, that's the minimum (and what I did in 2011).

Also, if it's anything like 2011 then the longer a BRM validated ride you do in 2014 the earlier you get to pre-register. (Pre-registration wasn't required in 2011 as you could still get a place without an earlier ride, but it's always a good idea otherwise you might lose out.)

A 400km ride in 2014 isn't a bad idea (and you'll find out how much you like riding at night - unless you're irritatingly fast).

I'm 50:50 about PBP2015 at the moment.

I'm in.. hopefully my Achilles will have healed by then :-)

I'm in.

I reckon that given the current state of cycling here and abroad, PBP2015 is likely to be even more popular than last time and places may actually run tight if the capacity isn't raised. A Super Randonneur series next year wouldn't be a bad idea for those interested. The benefits being twofold in that you get earlier pre-registration privileges and the UK gets a greater allocation of places.

The qualification windows in the year of the ride are pretty gene rous so not really a worry. Besides, you enter before qualifying anyway.

Tricity - I'm sure you could easily muster four rides and some training next year. PBP would be completely worth it.

Just done LEL and inevitable PBP looks appealing, will probably depend largely on whether I can find time to qualify...

Just done LEL and inevitable PBP looks appealing, will probably depend largely on whether I can find time to qualify...

Qualification can be as little as 3 Saturdays or Sundays plus one weekend.

Might be keen, but it's a loooong way away.

bit confused by Greenbank's recommended 2010 ride schedule.

I'm hoping to do the Perth-Albany-Perth next year in Western Australia. Really epic countryside, and a great time of year to see it.

D'Oh. 400km (or longer) in 2014 obv.

Mea fuckwit.

My girlfriend is interested! Hasn't done a 200km before but would love to get into audax so PBP in 2015 gives loads of time for her to prepare :)

I don't like the sound of long queues at controls for food/bag drops etc after the amazingly slick organisation of LEL, but the prospect of ~6000 riders and loads of support from spectators on the other hand sounds incredible.

Whatever the case, PBP sounds like a rite of passage in audax so count me in!

It's simple - don't have a bag drop, I never see the point actually if you carried enough to last you a while.

Yeah bag drops would be the first to go, but...

...don't stop for a stamp? Or for food?

Guess it depends - a bag drop allows you to carry magic potions and/or stuff you can't get from service stations, etc in France. If you treat it like a race, stopping every 100-200k to refill food and drink will get annoying.

There are no bag drops on PBP.

You can get them a few other ways:-

• join Willesden CC and they do a group bag drop at a couple of the controls
  
• go as part of a Baxter's coach tour
  
• get friend/partner/etc to support you at a few predefined places with your stuff
  
  

No bag drop meant I just carried the same stuff as I did on LEL'09 but with 3 days worth of changes of clothes. Only added 1kg or so to my luggage, which is nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Willesden CC you say.. hmm.. :)

No! Must not. Audax is for sandal-wearers. You can't navigate out of your own house. Must not consider. Must not.

Well it does get you out of doing the same laps for 24 hours...

You can get them a few other ways:-

• join Willesden CC and they do a group bag drop at a couple of the controls
  
  

Don't they use this fast rider they have who carries a bit of baggage?

Well it does get you out of doing the same laps for 24 hours...

I like laps - it means I (almost) can't get lost on them.