So ... who here is hoping/planning to go to the Paris-Brest-Paris?


Have you given any thought to your bicycle inspection time?

So ... who here is hoping/planning to go to the Paris-Brest-Paris?


Have you given any thought to your bicycle inspection time?

I picked 1700, but really didn't have a preference. Is there a preferred time? Have I screwed up already, without even leaving my home country? :eek: :D

No ... there's no preferred time. Whatever works for you. I was just curious to see who would be around when.

The whole start/finish/bike inspection area is a big party most of the day. There's all kinds of stuff going on. Last time a group of us arrived an hour or two early and stayed around for a couple hours.

I've included a few photos (courtesy of Rowan) of the start/finish/bike inspection area.

And one (my photo, I'm in it) of the inside of the check-in area, where you pick up your packages etc.

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Hehehe... just signed up over the internet... I took the 90 hours start and bike checking at 11 am. I'm so looking forward to it...

I'm going. I've already paid for my trip thru Claus at Des Peres Travel, but I'm still in the process of filling out my application. My 400K and 600K validation numbers are pending/ haven't been given yet by RUSA. Also, I still need to get a passport photo taken. I should get that done today and get the application in the mail pretty soon.

I just finished my 600k last Sunday, so I'll see you all in Paris!

I am still undecided about whether to go with the 84 or 90h start. I've heard that riding with the 90h riders can make for a crowded experience, but I don't think I can finish in 84.

The New England folks are planning on picking a common time to sign up for bike inspection so that we can find each other once we all get in. That time is still TBD.

I have everything ready to roll but my 600K number ... and that should come through any moment. I'm checking my email every 2 seconds for it.

claire ... I put down 11 am for my check-in time too!! :)

spokenword ... I chose the 90 hour start last time. Here, have a glance over my PBP ride report and see how crowded it was!! http://www.machka.net/pbp/pbp.htm Scroll down to the paragraph that starts: "My idea of 500 people starting together was completely different from what happened. ............ "

how do you pronounce brest? is it prounounced like "breast", like a chicken breast?

Finished the 600K this past weekend, so I'm Paris-bound. Yea!

I have a hotel room at the start/finish, but I still need to arrange for air travel. Let a message for Claus, so hopefully I can swing something with Des Peres....

Hmmmm.... The Ohio Randonneurs are all picking the 11am bike inspection with the idea of going to lunch together. It seems like everyone else had the same idea, too! As the time draws closer, we'll have to plan on a BF get-together and PBP group photo!

Machka has entered the building ......... or the PBP! :D I've just registered online. Apparently my registration should be confirmed in a week or so.

Incidentally ... the online registration is cool! You enter your country and all the clubs in your country come up and you pick yours. You enter your homologation number, and your name, the date you did the ride, etc. come up. Then there's a line to click which shows all the qualifying brevets you've ridden. I rode a 200K on Vancouver Island and then a full SR series with the Alberta Randonneurs. All 5 rides were on that list.

I still have to mail my stuff in, but I should have that in the mail in the next day or two.



I'm hoping to book my flights by the end of the week ... and I believe the plan is to camp.

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At the same time .... Machka has also managed to register for her fall semester for her third year in University ... with a lot more difficulty than was necessary. So I'm almost all set up for August AND September. :D

I mailed off my registration application today. Now I'm committed.

I mailed off my registration application today. Now I'm committed.

Congratulations!! :)

What's your bicycle check-in time?

Congratulations!! :)

What's your bicycle check-in time?
I think it is 10AM, the same time as most of the Seattle Randonneurs.
I'm doing the 90 hour start. Of course, I haven't heard back yet, and don't know if my*application was even accepted. I swear that the application process was harder than the 400K. I hope I didn't screw it up.

I think it is 10AM, the same time as most of the Seattle Randonneurs.
I'm doing the 90 hour start. Of course, I haven't heard back yet, and don't know if my*application was even accepted. I swear that the application process was harder than the 400K. I hope I didn't screw it up.

Did you apply online? I found that quite quick and easy. Or did you have to send something in to RUSA?

Did you apply online? I found that quite quick and easy. Or did you have to send something in to RUSA?
I sent the application in to RUSA. All USA PBP applicants were supposed to apply thru RUSA. We were told that we couldn't apply online.

I sent the application in to RUSA. All USA PBP applicants were supposed to apply thru RUSA. We were told that we couldn't apply online.

Really???

It took me all of about 30 seconds to apply online, and I've since been in email contact with Claude Lepertel. I had to send in my paper application too, but the most challenging part of that was getting my medical form signed.

But maybe RUSA has some sort of deal with the ACP.

So last night, I booked my flights!!

Is anyone here planning to camp? Or are you all taking hotel rooms?

Really???

It took me all of about 30 seconds to apply online, and I've since been in email contact with Claude Lepertel. I had to send in my paper application too, but the most challenging part of that was getting my medical form signed.

But maybe RUSA has some sort of deal with the ACP.
I think that part of it might be that since there are so many clubs in the US, ACP wants RUSA to do the pre-verification of all of the club codes and ride stats. From what we were told at the PBP briefing session that the Boston club held (where various RUSA officers like Jennifer Wise were present), that RUSA sort of does a final check of all applications to make sure that there aren't any paperwork errors before the lot of them are sent to the ACP.

We're certainly not getting a deal on registration, as the fee to register through RUSA is US$160, which is a little more expensive than the 108 Euro fee that the ACP is charging.

oh, and fwiw, I think the New England Randonneurs are picking 4pm as their bike inspection time. We started hearing about how all of these other clubs were selecting midday inspections and figured that we'll just show up a little later.

So last night, I booked my flights!!

Is anyone here planning to camp? Or are you all taking hotel rooms?
Booked my flights, too!

I'm considering camping. It sounds simpler, but I'm also going to be flying in a couple of days early and might want to spend a day or so in Paris ... but, gosh, hotel rooms are $$$. I've got a friend in Paris who's offered me to let me stay in his flat after PBP is done (he's got houseguests in the days before the ride) but I still need to sort out where I'll be staying beforehand.

Camping sounds like it would also be a great way to meet other riders and get immersed in the community. The main concern I have about camping is where to stow my gear during the ride. I doubt that I can hold on to the campsite during the weekend, nor would I want to leave all of that gear just lying around without anyone to look after it ... and I don't know if there are any nearby storage places in St. Quentin en Yvelines. I'd consider bringing the tent on the bike and treating it like a tour, but given that I don't plan on actually using the tent during PBP, it'll just be dead weight.

information about the campsite here, in case anyone is interested (http://www.campeole.co.uk/lieu_hebergement.asp?lihe_id=34&them_id=18).

I've got number 2086... The online process is really cool, I registered online last monday, sent the paperwork on wednesday and got the plate number and all the documentation on friday!!
But I'm jealous of my friend who rides a recumbent and got 7007. I mean, 7-007... How cool is that...

I think that part of it might be that since there are so many clubs in the US, ACP wants RUSA to do the pre-verification of all of the club codes and ride stats. From what we were told at the PBP briefing session that the Boston club held (where various RUSA officers like Jennifer Wise were present), that RUSA sort of does a final check of all applications to make sure that there aren't any paperwork errors before the lot of them are sent to the ACP.

We're certainly not getting a deal on registration, as the fee to register through RUSA is US$160, which is a little more expensive than the 108 Euro fee that the ACP is charging.

oh, and fwiw, I think the New England Randonneurs are picking 4pm as their bike inspection time. We started hearing about how all of these other clubs were selecting midday inspections and figured that we'll just show up a little later.

Having an extra set of eyeballs (RUSA) check my app is worth the extra money to me. Btw, just this morning I got an email from the PBP folks. It appears to be a confirmation of my entry, but I thought RUSA was going to send them in all together?

My wife and I are staying in a hotel in Versaille. Since we are using frequent flyer miles for our tickets, this is the single biggest expense.

My Status has been upgraded to: "Complete, awaiting processing"!! They got all my paperwork, and I should have my frame number shortly. :) :)


BTW - I believe last time everyone just left all their gear in the campground. I had a couple good friends camping there, and numerous other people I sort of knew, and I don't recall hearing about any difficulties ... aside from the fact that it absolutely POURED the night before the PBP.

I did it ! Just completed my online registration. Bike check 11.15, going with the 80 hour group. Still have to figure out how to get there from Norway and where to stay and what equipment to bring but I am on my way. Said to my wife that I had to get to 50 before i dared do something like this !

I got my frame number!!! 4379! :D

Now if my Outlook Express was actually working (it died in a computer crash last night) , I could open the rest of the information in the email.


So claire and I are in ... anyone else?

I got my frame number!!! 4379! :D

Now if my Outlook Express was actually working (it died in a computer crash last night) , I could open the rest of the information in the email.


So claire and I are in ... anyone else?

I am 7049. Nice to meet you, 4379. :D Will they be mailing anything to us? Somebody said they would, but I got the impression that everything was picked up at check-in.

4875 checking in!

...the paperwork I was emailed sort of implied that we'd be picking stuff up there, but we did have to send those self-addressed labels.

My inspection time is 9:45am, btw.

Dan

4875 checking in!

...the paperwork I was emailed sort of implied that we'd be picking stuff up there, but we did have to send those self-addressed labels.

My inspection time is 9:45am, btw.

Dan

Yes, you'll pick stuff up there ... but do print out all the documents you received by email. Those labels are for the package you'll be sent after the PBP ... you'll get a souvenir booklet and your brevet card, etc. Hopefully I can figure out a way to ressurrect my Outlook Express so I can see what time my inspection is at.

finally got my frame number this morning -- it's 3392 and 4:00pm is my official inspection time, but I'll likely be meandering about beforehand.

I just got another email from the PBP folks. This time there are a bunch of documents attached, and it clearly says that my frame number is 7367.

Btw, where is link where people can keep track of your progress? I took a look on the PBP website but didn't find anything obvious.

Btw, where is link where people can keep track of your progress? I took a look on the PBP website but didn't find anything obvious.
from what I've read (http://groups.google.com/group/randon/browse_thread/thread/2e6c1f9dc5f77561/3623076402b2973c?lnk=gst&rnum=3#3623076402b2973c) you should be able to follow a rider's progress on www.parisbrestparis.tv, but the tracking tools aren't online yet.

Also according to the official site (http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=635) you can get updates on a frame number sent to your phone via SMS, though I'm not sure if this is only valid for SMS exchanged between European/GSM phones.

For those who want to track riders, that part of the PBP website is up.

I've got it, and some general info about the PBP on my website. Click my website in my signature line, or here: http://www.machka.net/pbp2007/2007_PBP.htm

bump

bump

why?

looks like spam to me.

an interesting thread anyway - can't wait for pbp '11!

In case anybody feels like spending a perfectly good weekend looking at photos -- the official PBP photo gallery is online (http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=680). It appears to be a collection of photos trawled from various online galleries like Flickr and photobucket; and browsing through it feels like going through old high school yearbooks. The photos at bike registration, alone, are a pretty neat catalog of randonneuring bikes in various flavors.