Black Creek Postcards

The Black Creek Grocery is the turnaround point on my "Showdown at Black Creek" permanent.

The mystery? A box of Black Creek postcards arrived by FedEx today. They are very cool, but I didn't order em. To the anonymous person who did, may you enjoy a year of dry roads and tailwinds....

Jennifer Wise Talks PBP

A terrific interview with RUSA #1. Tip of the hat to Mr. Peacock and his interviewer.

PBP Info from the Official Brochure

RUSA board member Mark Thomas posted this info, scanned from the 80-page PBP brochure, on the SIR listserv. A tip of the hat to him for the very latest info about PBP 11.


New in 2011

In 2011, veterans of the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur will discover many new features that should make their ride even more pleasant.

Bike Check and Brevet Card Collection

As in previous editions, the bike check will make sure that your bike is in accordance with the rules and enable you to fix last-minute problems. After the bike check, you will pick up your brevet card as well as the various ordered items Uersey, reflective vest, meals, etc.).

In 2011 we will accomodate those who start at 5:00 a.m. by setting up bike check and brevet card collection for them alone on Sunday morning. This way, they can avoid spending two nights there before the start. All other riders will have their bike check on the day before, Saturday, August 20.

Pre-ride Party

The Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur is a great opportunity to celebrate and to have a good time all together. That's why we invite you to meet on Saturday evening for a party which will end with fireworks around the 'gymnase des Oroits de I'Homme'.

Charity

Since 1991, the Audax Club Parisien donates a part of the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneur revenues to charity. This year we chose to help the 'Institut Curie' to fund cancer research. We invite you to join us with your own contribution. You will find several links to the 'Institut Curie' on our website.

Earlier Starting Times

The first riders will start Sunday, August 21 at 4:00 p.m. The last ones are expected to leave around 8:00 p.m. This should enable you to ride further before your first overnight stop on Monday evening. We hope that this will avoid further overcrowding at the Loudeac control.

Free Starting Times

In addition to the traditional group starts, we will offer free starting times on Sunday evening from 09h00 to 10h00 p.m. and on Monday morning from 5:30 to 8:00 a.m.

No crowds, no stress, you will simply validate your brevet card and cross the starting line, and the randonnee begins. But beware, we can only allow small groups of less than 20 people to start at once, and if there is too much demand we might have to impose restrictions. Of course, you will immediately be riding in the flow of traffic and we urge you to be vigilant from the very beginning.

Simplified Registration

In 2011, the registration process is simplified. We only offer online registration on the PBP website (www.paris-brest-paris.org)with integrated payment. You don't have to send any documents by mail.

Rider Tracking

No more long lines at the controls to validate both brevet card and magnetic badge! We will still use the brevet card to document that you went through the various controls, but your passage will be automatically recorded with a magnetic chip that you carry across a mat on the floor. At the end of your ride, you can keep the chip as memory.

Sleeping Option at Saint Nicolas du Pelem

Starting earlier than in previous editions, you may ride further than Loudeac for your first sleep stop ... if you consider sleeping at all! But the need to sleep can show up all of a sudden. Saint-Nicolas-du-Pelem should allow you to tackle this stage without worries. Located midway between Loudeac and Carhaix, it will offer you an ideal sleeping opportunity if you hesitate to ride all the way to the next control. In addition to many sleeping mats, you will find: showers - restrooms - cold and hot snacks (breakfast) - and a bike mechanic.

Arrival at Brest City Centre

Previous PBP finishers will tell you how strange it is to look forward to Brest for many hours and finally see only a few corners of the city. In 2011, we will make you discover a little more of Brest's assets by inviting you to ride along the port and in the city centre. We would like your arrival in Brest to become one of the greatest memories of your randonnee.

PBP 2011 'High Visibility' Reflective Vest

Since 2007, French law has changed and all riders must wear a high visibility vest during hours of darkness or other low-light conditions. Long before it became compulsory in France, the ACP mandated the wearing of a reflective sash when riding at night. In 2011 , all reflective vests must comply with the safety norm no. EN471. At registration, you can purchase a reflective vest, to ensure that you comply with French traffic law. This vest will be marked with the PBP Randonneur 2011 logo.

A Closer Look at PBP Registration Deadlines

RUSA Board member Mark Thomas has taken a look at the PBP pre-registration and registration filing deadlines. There's lots of good information for PBP hopefuls.

Some highlights:

April 3	Begin preregistration period for riders completing a 1000km+ in 2010
April 17	Begin preregistration period for riders completing a 600km in 2010
May 1	Begin preregistration period for riders completing a 400km in 2010
May 15	Begin preregistration period for riders completing a 300km in 2010
May 29	Begin preregistration period for riders completing a 200km in 2010
June 11	Registration opens for preregistered riders (and others if places are available)
June 19	Deadline for preregistered riders to register
June 20	Places reserved for preregistered riders who have not registered are released
July 17	Registration deadline
June 20	Places reserved for preregistered riders who have not registered are released and open registration begins
July 17	Final registration deadline

Check out the complete write-up on RUSA's Announcements Page.

Karl Edwards & the Pedersen Poster Project

My buddy Karl Edwards is one of the best illustrators out there. He's also a cyclist and vintage bike collector, which is how we met.

Sometimes Karl's cycling interests and work life intersect, as in his latest project, a poster for Pedersen bikes, those crazy looking vintage machines that have found new life and are now being reproduced in the Czech Republic.

You're looking at the finished product above, but for a glimpse into Karl's creative process, check out his Workbook page. You'll see early sketches and an idea or two that didn't make the cut.

While you're admiring the illustration, check out the details. Karl is a real stickler, and you'll see he has even included a dynamo hub and light.

Thanks for his permission to post the illustration.

Interview with PBP Official

Thanks to Damon Peacock for this video of Jean-Gualbert Faburel, the interim President of ACP. He was interviewed by Heather Swift about PBP. The interview took place on January 15 at a meeting in Paris. Damon says there are three more segments to come.

Mini Drome

Tip of the hat to John W on Facebook for this fun video.

NC DOT Bike / Ped Survey

Our state DOT wants to hear from you about bike / ped issues in your community. Please participate in the online survey.

RUSA on Facebook

RUSA recently launched a Facebook page. If you have a Facebook account, you'll find RUSA's page here. Head on over and friend 'em today. The latest announcements include the Showers Pass jacket promotion and the new PBP '11 window stickers available from the RUSA store.

Window Stickers

Want one? Order yours here. They're only $1!

Product Review | Planet Bike Blaze

The Planet Bike Blaze One Watt light ... but where is the off switch?

Product: Planet Bike Blaze One-Watt Light with "Superflash."

Price: $45

Where purchased: REI

Use: Back-up Light for overnight brevets; urban commuting

I had high hopes for this light. Lightweight, bright, portable, a long run time on 2 AAs. I bought it last summer before I headed off to California for the Santa Cruz 1000K. I mounted the bracket on my handlebars and stowed the light as a back-up in my handlebar bag. If I used it at all during the ride, it was simply to rummage through the front bag at night. It saw no use as primary light; my Schmidt Edelux performed flawlessly.

Since then, I've used the light as a commuter light. It's easy to swap the mount on and off various bikes. It's not as bright as the Edelux, but it doesn't have to be to light the city streets. The one or two times I've used it in the countryside without the Schmidt  it has been adequate. However, I don't want adequate in a bike light; I want strong to very strong.

On Tony G's latest 200K, held on 1.1.11, the light got its biggest test to date. We were socked in by a heavy fog all day and we rode through moderate rain during the afternoon. I used the Blaze in flash mode during the day to increase my visibility for oncoming cars, and I switched it to a steady bright mode as darkness descended. The light wasn't very good on the wet roads, but frankly neither is my Edelux.

All good so far. Safely back to the ride finish, I put the bike in the back of my car for the two-hour drive home. About halfway there, I noticed the Blaze was still ablazing. When I attempted to turn it off, no luck. I cycled through the three modes (low, high, flash) and back to off. The beam remained on with the brightness of a standlight.

Is the light supposed to do that? Maybe that's how it acts when the batteries begin to run low, although all three modes still seemed to be plenty bright. Maybe it was the rain, although it did not appear any moisture had penetrated the light's seal. Maybe it was the extended use in flash mode.

Whatever the cause, I took it back yesterday to REI and swapped it out for a new one. I've read a few other complaints online about this light, usually involving the mount or the soft push button on top. Those have not been an issue for me. But a battery light that will burn up your batteries between rides is a real problem.