My main goal is to enjoy the ride as much as possible. After all, it's not a race. And I've been training and preparing for a few years... it's time to reap the rewards. I'm not great at sleeping on demand, so I'll must likely continue as far as I can until I feel sleepy. Hopefully that will happen at some sleeping-designated spot, but if not, then I'll just push on and have a nap in the bushes or park bench. Unless it's raining... then I'll try to stay in a sheltered place for the night and hope to catch a bit of sleep even when I don't feel like sleeping. The PBP will also be very different from all the randonnees I've done before. I've mainly been riding either solo or in a very small group and the checkpoints have been close to non-existant (definitely without long queues). We'll see how this all will affect the outcome. Hopefully it'll mean the event will be much more fun :)
That is a great philosophy to have going into the PBP. It sounds like you have prepared well for the event so you will have the energy reserves and experience to be able to adapt to changing circumstances. Ride far if conditions are favourable and you are not tired. Also rest early and then push hard when circumstances allow. All the very best for your PBP and hope you have lots of fun!
Thank You Regan. 745 pm Sunday departure. I’ll ride as far as my partner and I can before we need sleep. I would love to get to Brest but with all the mandatory controls ie stops I may not make the sort of times I’m used to riding. Maybe sleep in Carhaix on the outbound.
Very thought-provoking discussion Regan, thank you. So much to consider! The prevailing winds seem to be from the West, so that might affect us on the way TO Brest, but a tailwind sure would be nice on the return leg. I think I'm going to start off with the race-to-Brest approach, and see how it goes. I'd be happy if I could reach Brest in under 36 hours. This surprised me: it is possible to ride for great distances and many hours, then not be able to sleep. Maybe the mind is too excited to fall asleep. Good luck to all those to accept the challenge of Paris-Brest-Paris 1200k. Ride safely.
Thank you Joe for all your advice and support during our preparation for our very first PBP. We have certainly learned so much from you over the past year from our collaboration and discussion on a wide range of topics including strategies for PBP. I have no doubt you will be successful with your attempt to reach Brest in 36 hours. However I remember from our earlier conversation that you had the experience of having to sleep at 300km and still complete successfully. You are a very strong rider with a depth of experience and endurance and will be able to adapt to conditions on the way. All the very best for this year’s PBP my friend
I'm starting at 19H30. I'm hoping to do about 300 - 350 km before stopping for the first time, but I may stop sooner and sleep a couple of hours before it gets too light. Longer than 600km is the unknown for me so I'm going to be cautious ! The weather forecast is hot and there'll probably be a tailwind going to Brest (and consequently a head wind coming back) so maybe riding as much as possible during the night on the way back could be a useful strategy as the wind usually drops a bit in the night. Have a good ride !
Thanks for the advice on the headwind on the return leg and taking initiative to ride at night. Gives me more motivation to try to get to Brest as early as possible. Good luck with your first segment and hope you have a successful PBP
Unfortunately I suffered from the heat and couldn't manage to eat enough, I only got as far as Carhaix on the way back@@reganarendse6157 . I learnt a lot though ! I exchanged a few words with Germaine coming out of Loudéac on Monday evening. I hope she is ok. Well done for your really excellent ride.
The very best of good luck to you both, 12 months ago I was hopeful of being there but injuries (and slothfulness) intervened. I will be following your triumphal progress on the PBP site, I don't expect I will get much sleep over the 4 days and if you hear cheering in the middle of the night and no-one is about that will be me, from 16,000kms away. The race out/tour back has been made somewhat required this year as the Brest 90h closing has been shortened by almost 2 hours, 42h06m in 2019 to 40h19m, similar for 80h down to 36h11m. Have a good ride and a deserved rest and I will look forward to the "lessons learned" video and one day might meet you on a ride somewhere and thank you in person for the videos and inspiration, bill.
Thanks for the encouragement, support and advice. I’m sorry to hear about the injuries that prevented your participation in this year’s PBP. I hope you will recover soon and get back on the Randonneur track soon. I have two other friends who won’t join either due to illness and injury. That makes me appreciate the opportunity to be here even more. I will post a link on Strava so you can follow us. Still trying to work out how to use Soot Track. All the best and also hope to meet you in person soon
@@reganarendse6157 The PBP site has a "live tracking" link under the Randonnee heading which will gives rider's arrival time at each checkpoint, that is enough. At this stage you should be just resting and fuelling and don't waste time during the ride with anything other than pedalling, eating and sleeping, 80hrs is tight. have a great ride.
Great video Regan. I really regret not scouting out the course when I was in France last year. Best wishes for your strategy, yet stay flexible. The weather is always a wild card. I'm going with your 2nd option. 481k to St Nicolas, 385k to Tinteniac, 231k to Mortagne, then a fun last day of 122k to Rambouillet. Hope to see Germaine along the way as we have the same start group. Bonne route!
Thanks so much Elly. Most of the strategies I have outlined in this video are based on our discussions with you and Regular Joe on the last day of the Florida Brevet week. You two are who I refer to in the video when I say more experienced Randonneurs. Thanks for your advice and I wish you all the best for your strategy for the 2023 PBP
I'm taking a sleep mask and ear plugs so I can sleep in the day if I need to. I'd like to stay awake until Brest but that plan may not survive the second night.
That is good planning. Optimize your ride so that you can sleep any place at any time. This will give you the best chance to recover and ride most efficiently. I think we have a similar strategy to get as far down the course as possible before sleeping. Hopefully we can convert the remaining distance into a diurnal pattern with sleeping at night from the second night onwards and riding through the days. All the best with your PBP 🙏🏻
I've enjoyed your videos, Regan (specifically, I had a chuckle at the one where you tested sleep deprivation by trying to ride 600km+ on zwift overnight). I'm in the camp of trying to make the best time I can out to Brest - then sleep as needed on the return with 30min cat naps. As a first timer - navigating the controls and getting food/water quickly is a worry.
Thanks Jeff. Those overnight Zwift rides were brutal but the only way to test my sleep deprivation tolerance. I have done three of those Zwift overnights with slight variations to incorporate various combinations of IRL and virtual rides. With all three I slept between the 300 and 400km marks. They were a harsh reality check. I’m going to load up with some caffeine this time and see how far I can go. I think your strategy of Race to Brest and then sleep for short intervals on the way back is what I would like to do too. But this remains to be seen. I am also concerned about losing time at the controls. Hopefully by starting early and staying ahead of the bulge will free up the controls at least until the return journey when it will be inevitable running into the bulge. I &heard there may be lots of private individuals along the route selling food and drinks which may help to reduce dependency on the checkpoints. How these are not regulated and available variable. So stock up with supplies when you are able wherever you can. All the best with your PBP!
You too - looks like we're both in the A wave - so might see you at the start. I rode both my 600's as thru rides and never had sleep issues - and I really like riding at night. Your concerns about controls and nutrition are ones I have as well - someone told me to pack enough calories to get you most of the way to Brest - so you don't need the time suck of a cafeteria line when you are in a good group.@@reganarendse6157
My main goal is to enjoy the ride as much as possible. After all, it's not a race. And I've been training and preparing for a few years... it's time to reap the rewards.
I'm not great at sleeping on demand, so I'll must likely continue as far as I can until I feel sleepy. Hopefully that will happen at some sleeping-designated spot, but if not, then I'll just push on and have a nap in the bushes or park bench. Unless it's raining... then I'll try to stay in a sheltered place for the night and hope to catch a bit of sleep even when I don't feel like sleeping.
The PBP will also be very different from all the randonnees I've done before. I've mainly been riding either solo or in a very small group and the checkpoints have been close to non-existant (definitely without long queues). We'll see how this all will affect the outcome. Hopefully it'll mean the event will be much more fun :)
That is a great philosophy to have going into the PBP. It sounds like you have prepared well for the event so you will have the energy reserves and experience to be able to adapt to changing circumstances. Ride far if conditions are favourable and you are not tired. Also rest early and then push hard when circumstances allow. All the very best for your PBP and hope you have lots of fun!
Thank You Regan. 745 pm Sunday departure. I’ll ride as far as my partner and I can before we need sleep. I would love to get to Brest but with all the mandatory controls ie stops I may not make the sort of times I’m used to riding. Maybe sleep in Carhaix on the outbound.
Thanks George for the advice. It seems we have similar strategies. That is reassuring. Carhaix-Plouguer sounds like a good plan. All the best to you
Very thought-provoking discussion Regan, thank you. So much to consider! The prevailing winds seem to be from the West, so that might affect us on the way TO Brest, but a tailwind sure would be nice on the return leg. I think I'm going to start off with the race-to-Brest approach, and see how it goes. I'd be happy if I could reach Brest in under 36 hours. This surprised me: it is possible to ride for great distances and many hours, then not be able to sleep. Maybe the mind is too excited to fall asleep. Good luck to all those to accept the challenge of Paris-Brest-Paris 1200k. Ride safely.
Thank you Joe for all your advice and support during our preparation for our very first PBP. We have certainly learned so much from you over the past year from our collaboration and discussion on a wide range of topics including strategies for PBP. I have no doubt you will be successful with your attempt to reach Brest in 36 hours. However I remember from our earlier conversation that you had the experience of having to sleep at 300km and still complete successfully. You are a very strong rider with a depth of experience and endurance and will be able to adapt to conditions on the way. All the very best for this year’s PBP my friend
I'm starting at 19H30. I'm hoping to do about 300 - 350 km before stopping for the first time, but I may stop sooner and sleep a couple of hours before it gets too light. Longer than 600km is the unknown for me so I'm going to be cautious ! The weather forecast is hot and there'll probably be a tailwind going to Brest (and consequently a head wind coming back) so maybe riding as much as possible during the night on the way back could be a useful strategy as the wind usually drops a bit in the night. Have a good ride !
Thanks for the advice on the headwind on the return leg and taking initiative to ride at night. Gives me more motivation to try to get to Brest as early as possible. Good luck with your first segment and hope you have a successful PBP
Unfortunately I suffered from the heat and couldn't manage to eat enough, I only got as far as Carhaix on the way back@@reganarendse6157 . I learnt a lot though ! I exchanged a few words with Germaine coming out of Loudéac on Monday evening. I hope she is ok. Well done for your really excellent ride.
The very best of good luck to you both, 12 months ago I was hopeful of being there but injuries (and slothfulness) intervened. I will be following your triumphal progress on the PBP site, I don't expect I will get much sleep over the 4 days and if you hear cheering in the middle of the night and no-one is about that will be me, from 16,000kms away. The race out/tour back has been made somewhat required this year as the Brest 90h closing has been shortened by almost 2 hours, 42h06m in 2019 to 40h19m, similar for 80h down to 36h11m. Have a good ride and a deserved rest and I will look forward to the "lessons learned" video and one day might meet you on a ride somewhere and thank you in person for the videos and inspiration, bill.
Thanks for the encouragement, support and advice. I’m sorry to hear about the injuries that prevented your participation in this year’s PBP. I hope you will recover soon and get back on the Randonneur track soon. I have two other friends who won’t join either due to illness and injury. That makes me appreciate the opportunity to be here even more. I will post a link on Strava so you can follow us. Still trying to work out how to use Soot Track. All the best and also hope to meet you in person soon
@@reganarendse6157 The PBP site has a "live tracking" link under the Randonnee heading which will gives rider's arrival time at each checkpoint, that is enough. At this stage you should be just resting and fuelling and don't waste time during the ride with anything other than pedalling, eating and sleeping, 80hrs is tight. have a great ride.
Great video Regan. I really regret not scouting out the course when I was in France last year. Best wishes for your strategy, yet stay flexible. The weather is always a wild card. I'm going with your 2nd option. 481k to St Nicolas, 385k to Tinteniac, 231k to Mortagne, then a fun last day of 122k to Rambouillet. Hope to see Germaine along the way as we have the same start group. Bonne route!
Thanks so much Elly. Most of the strategies I have outlined in this video are based on our discussions with you and Regular Joe on the last day of the Florida Brevet week. You two are who I refer to in the video when I say more experienced Randonneurs. Thanks for your advice and I wish you all the best for your strategy for the 2023 PBP
I'm taking a sleep mask and ear plugs so I can sleep in the day if I need to. I'd like to stay awake until Brest but that plan may not survive the second night.
That is good planning. Optimize your ride so that you can sleep any place at any time. This will give you the best chance to recover and ride most efficiently.
I think we have a similar strategy to get as far down the course as possible before sleeping. Hopefully we can convert the remaining distance into a diurnal pattern with sleeping at night from the second night onwards and riding through the days. All the best with your PBP 🙏🏻
@@reganarendse6157 Thanks Regan. All the best for your ride too.
I've enjoyed your videos, Regan (specifically, I had a chuckle at the one where you tested sleep deprivation by trying to ride 600km+ on zwift overnight). I'm in the camp of trying to make the best time I can out to Brest - then sleep as needed on the return with 30min cat naps. As a first timer - navigating the controls and getting food/water quickly is a worry.
Thanks Jeff. Those overnight Zwift rides were brutal but the only way to test my sleep deprivation tolerance. I have done three of those Zwift overnights with slight variations to incorporate various combinations of IRL and virtual rides. With all three I slept between the 300 and 400km marks. They were a harsh reality check.
I’m going to load up with some caffeine this time and see how far I can go.
I think your strategy of Race to Brest and then sleep for short intervals on the way back is what I would like to do too. But this remains to be seen.
I am also concerned about losing time at the controls. Hopefully by starting early and staying ahead of the bulge will free up the controls at least until the return journey when it will be inevitable running into the bulge. I &heard there may be lots of private individuals along the route selling food and drinks which may help to reduce dependency on the checkpoints. How these are not regulated and available variable. So stock up with supplies when you are able wherever you can. All the best with your PBP!
You too - looks like we're both in the A wave - so might see you at the start. I rode both my 600's as thru rides and never had sleep issues - and I really like riding at night. Your concerns about controls and nutrition are ones I have as well - someone told me to pack enough calories to get you most of the way to Brest - so you don't need the time suck of a cafeteria line when you are in a good group.@@reganarendse6157