Talking PBP With Chris & Annette

Tar Heel randonneurs Chris and Annette, who live in Western North Carolina, are in fine form this season as the gear up for PBP 11. They successfully completed PBP 07, and RTP caught up with them last week for any tips they might have for PBP 11 hopefuls. Their responses follow:

You guys did your first PBP in 07, meaning you rode in rain and more rain. Now you're going back for more. What gives?

I have ridden bikes for all kinds of reasons for fifty years. The experience at PBP was the pinnacle. The desire to return again is to see what happens if the sun comes out.

Best experience you guys took away from PBP 07?

The French people throughout the countryside. In Brittany (second night), in a farming hamlet, in the rain, at 3 a.m., hearing clapping at the side of the town square...that was unbelievable.

You can give a newcomer one bit of advice about Paris Brest Paris. What is it?

Do not ever doubt yourself. That will get you through.

Anything you wish you'd carried with you in 2007?
More real food at the depart. Excitement burns energy. I was in a deficit too soon.

How did you train in 07? Will you do anything differently this time?

We rode a lot. Also raced track that summer. Speed is good, especially for saving energy. Need to get back on the track this June and July.

Did you make any rookie mistakes in 07?
I was in a food deficit the first night.  I remember seeing Jimmy Williams sitting at the depart, waiting, waiting, eating a gigantic Croque Monsieur (baguette with ham and cheese).  I needed one of those and another in my saddle bag.


Do you have time or other goals in mind for this year's event?
The thing I like about randonneuring compared to racing is that all you have to do is cover the prescribed route in the allowed time. Still, speed equals sleep...I would like to get a bit more sleep this time. In 2007 we slept 5 hours out of 87. That was blotto.

Several North Carolina riders happened to reach Dingé at the same time on the return leg. You were there as well. Describe that experience, please.

We departed before Cap'n Ende's attack. The memory of Dingé was the joy of seeing a slew of familiar faces: Branson, Glenn, JD, Mike and John. The bad part was that we burned a half hour trying to get some food from a bakery that then announced they were complete for the day.  That clock never stops.

If people ask you why you do such long bike rides, what do you tell them?
I like to quote Geof Simons from the Raleigh 600K ride of 2010: it is on the really long rides that cycling gets interesting.


Annette runs a fast paceline. Does she enjoy punishing us on these long rides or does she feel bad about it afterwards?
Annette is a benevolent taskmaster, and retired world class road racer. Speed, efficiency, and consistency will get you to the end and off your bike faster.

Opening Days

Traditionally, the spring 200k brevet out of Morrisville would mark the kick-off to North Carolina's randonneuring season. There we'd be, shivering in the pre-dawn coolness, a little nervous about the first long ride of the year, but excited to be back on our well worn brevet course, reconnecting with the many friends we'd shared so many miles and memories with. If Al's 200K happened to coincide with a PBP year,  the stakes would seem a bit higher, and each successive brevet in the full series would carry great import. We'd live in constant anticipation of the big ride in June, the 600K, the last hurdle to qualifying for Paris. We'd breathe a deep sigh of contentment once we signed that final brevet card. We were in! Call the airlines, book the hotel, Paris, ici nous arrivons.

Those PBP-qualifying jitters are now gone. North Carolina's brevet season is a perpetual plant, running year-round, with a host of events offered by NC RBA Tony Goodnight and an ever growing lists of permanents.  Several of us have already completed a full series, riding Tony's winter events, mostly in eastern North Carolina.

Also gone is the long wait to officially register. PBP's quota system and a new preregistration have changed all that.  On the day that I rode what would normally be the first event of the year, I was also able to pre-register for PBP 11. Within minutes of signing on to the PBP website, I had a reserved spot and had received e-mails from France and from Mark Thomas, RUSA's brevet coordinator. I'm in.

I was among the many American riders who signed up moments after the ticket window opened. RUSA has a allotment of 719 slots of the total field of 6,000 riders.  As of this writing (11 a.m. Eastern time) 80 U.S. riders had preregistered. It looks like there will be plenty of slots available for riders who rode shorter distances in 2010. I've talked to several local riders who simply don't want to spend the money it takes to go to France. Instead, they'll travel to one of several alternative 1200Ks being held this year in the U.S., including events in Texas, Colorado and Alaska.

Yesterday's ride was more of a training ride than a qualifier. I was delighted to fall back on one tradition -- riding with friends Wes and JoeRay as we pushed a rich pace. I was wary of the forecast -- west winds building to 30 mph in the afternoon. Al's 200K is an out-and-back that primarily heads west to Siler City before retracing its steps. If we could get to the turnaround before the winds really kicked up, we'd avoid most of the painful headwinds and have a nice push home. And that strategy paid off with a much faster return trip. I rode with Joe and Wes and Chris B, a racer from North Raleigh who eventually rode away from us. Annette joined us in Snow Camp (after waiting a full 15 seconds for her own Chris). Annette was in exceptional form and played the taskmaster on the final 45 miles, cajoling us to look sharp! no loafing! No amount of cajoling could save me from the leg cramps that hit 10 miles from the end. I fell off the back and loafed it home at an easy pace.  

Thanks to Al and all for another great day on the bikes.

Up next: a mountainous fleche ride and another 300K.

 A few shots from yesterday:

Annette's Chris -- see ya at the finish line...

Peace, Love & Ian...

Joe Ray / HDR double exposure

Tim arrives...

Tim, Wes

PBP Preregistration Begins on Sunday!

Yep...the time is here.... Riders who went long in 2010, notching a 1000K or longer, will be able to begin the preregistration process on Sunday, according to the PBP website, the day after Al's 200K.

Those who did shorter distances in 2010 will have to wait longer for preregistration. But those riders should be fine.  USA's entry quota for PBP 2011 is currently set at 719. That's a lot of openings...




The preregistration timetable is as follows:

ACP/RM Longest Event in 2010		Pre-Reg. Opens On...
1000 KM or RM1200+		3-Apr-11
600 KM		17-Apr-11
400 KM		1-May-11
300 KM		15-May-11
200 KM		29-May-11

Preregistration will reserve a place for PBP 2011, subject to availability. During the preregistration period, available places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you have not converted your preregistration into a definite registration until June 19, 2011 at midnight (French time), you will lose your reserved place. You can still apply for registration, but without priority.


The preregistration can only be made through the Internet with mention of rider affiliation, rider license number and homologation number of the longest BRM ridden (nonexhaustive list).


You will receive a confirmation email with your application number as soon as your preregistration form is validated by the organization.

A secure payment option will be presented at the end of your preregistration and / or registration. No payment by wire transfer, check or cash will be accepted.The preregistration fee is €30, non refundable and deducted from the final registration fee, estimated to be €100 +/- €15.


3-29 Edit: Clarifying info from Mark Thomas on the SIR list:

The instruction page for PBP pre-registration can be found at http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/pbp2011/index2.php?lang=en&cat=inscription&page=comment_sinscrire1 and includes the pre-registration schedule.
 The instructions indicate that riders will need rider affiliation, rider license number and homologation number of longest 2010 brevet, but I'm fairly certain that for riders' whose affiliation is "Foreign" (i.e., non-France), the rider license number is inapplicable.
 RUSA members can find the homologation numbers of any 2010 US ACP (200, 300, 400, 600, 1000) or RM (1200 or longer) events by results search on RUSA website. Homologation numbers for non-US RM events can be found at http://www.lesrandonneursmondiaux.org/homologations2011.html. For non-US ACP events, riders will probably need to consult the event organizers.
 Bengt from Sweden posted today that you will indicate your choice of start time at pre-registration but that it can be changed with the final registration in June.
 You'll need a credit card for the pre-registration deposit and your certificate number. I think that the registration is supposed to open on 4/3 at midnight, which would be the previous afternoon here. No need to rush, however, because it's not possible for the US quota to fill up this weekend. We just didn't have that many 1000/1200 riders.

NC Rando Reflective Vests

Branson is taking the lead on potentially customizing reflective vests for NC Randonneurs. These would look great at PBP '11 and lots of other brevets.

Thanks to the generosity of Mark Thomas with assist by San Francisco RBA Rob Hawks, we will have customized PBP vest samples at the start of Al's 200K next Saturday. These vests are the same make as those offered by PBP, but with customized graphics. I'm gauging interest in placing an order of customized versions for NC Randonneurs. Here are some photos of Mark's sample vests in the 4 colors offered. They look sharp!

Three advantages of a customized vest for PBP:

• 1- It satisfies the new PBP standard for reflective wear (the Sam Browne belt does not)
• 2- You can break it in now and be used to how it feels by PBP
• 3- It tells the world you're a NC Randonneur

If there's enough interest for an order after Saturday's exhibition, we'll work out details of cost and timeline. Come early to the start of Al's 200K next Saturday and check them out!

A few pix, courtesy of Mark:

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.

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