Paris-Brest-Paris 2015: Some Notes

I knew this would be my last PBP; that influenced how I mentally approached the event.  Most of the qualifiers I had finished with not too much time in the bank, so it was foreseeable that if push came to shove, time would very probably be too scarce.

The start/finish had a new location (though still within St. Quentin-en-Yvelines), the new national velodrome.

The National Velodrome at St. Quentin-en-Yvelines

This worked out quite well for packet pickup.

Packet pickup inside the velodrome

The new venue also provided the necessary space (including outside) for handling the large number of returning riders.

Directions for returning riders

The mix of countries’ participation this time included a huge increase in riders from Japan, Korea, China, India, Thailand and Taiwan.  These riders often had very colorful jerseys and in spite of their suffering (including from what was, to them, cold temperatures), always looked impeccable.

Drew Buck, the Brit famous for always showing up in some period piece (with matching very old bicycle) was on a Raleigh from the 1930s. This time he was not to finish, however.

There were several people on elliptigos.

There were at least six enclosed bikes (i.e. the ones that look like small cars).

This year the organizers had taken the start to a new level, sending riders out in 15 minute pre-selected waves.  Here I am, about to depart:

Random French groupie offers me advice.

(photo courtesy of Eileen Kirkpatrick)

The weather was ideal for most riders.  Not too much sun, never hot, a bit chilly only on one night (Tuesday), no rain until Thursday morning.

There was a rider with one arm and a rider with one leg plus prosthesis.  On the climb over the big hill, a bit before reaching Brest, the man with one arm was right behind me.  At the crest he did not hesitate: he descended like a bullet!  I do NOT want to think about how hard it is to control a bike using only ONE hand.  Nor do I want to think about how sore that one hand must get.  I used TWO hands and the left one was so sore I would often merely set the side of the hand on the handlebar.

Brest was the first control where I encountered a significant line at the cafeteria.  The next control, Carhaix, was completely out of food.  The next food stop (not technically a control), St. Nicolas, was also completely out of food.

Oh, did I mention that I had purchased a ticket to eat BEFORE the start, and … .ah … they were OUT of food when I arrived, nearly an hour before the end of the serving time window.

There were no lines at the three dormitories I slept in.  I also took maybe 6 to 8 total naps at the side of the road.

On two different occasions I saw fixed gear riders taking their feet out of the pedals and putting them on top of the fork crown for a descent!  One, a woman, greatly impressed me when she put her feet back onto the pedals at a fairly high speed!  I will NOT be trying THIS at home.

Very few riders had fenders.  They would have had no problems until Thursday morning; from then on it rained fairly hard.

Almost everyone wears a helmet now (NOT required!!).

As the ride wears on, it becomes more common to encounter slower riders, who are weaving.  The occasional nice person, when passing, pauses to chat a bit, to help the person wake up some.  The occasional nasty person, when passing, says something snide.  There is SOME comradery in the sport, but it’s not universal.

The turnaround point, Brest, is as welcome a sight as always.

Riders cross a car free bridge into Brest.

I ran out of mental stamina after Carhaix (on the return).  This was disappointing, but an inescapable reality.

Things fall apart for me at around 700 km.

I limped on to Loudeac (the next control) where I joined about 10 other riders catching a SNCF bus to St. Brieuc to begin the return to St. Quentin-en-Yvelines.  With a bit of time to kill at Saint-Brieuc, several of us visited a pub across the street from the train station.

Martin (from London) at pub in Saint-Brieuc

For a day or two after the end of the ride, there were cyclists, generally near hotels, packing up.

Removable handlebars do not have to go inside of

tight bike box. (packing by Andy Speier)

So ends my 20 year affiliation with Paris-Brest-Paris, incl. four completions (the final one on fixed gear) and two DNFs.  It's been a wonderful experience but now I am ready to step aside and let the youngsters take over.

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