Other 1200s besides PBP and BMB

[nine]

Hi. first post, sorry if it's been discussed but I didn't find a comprehensive list on here. A lot of the posts have inspired me and I'm aiming for pbp in 2011, but 4 years is a long time. What are some other rides to consider that would have a similar festive international vibe that seems to make the pbp so special?

[spokenword]

For 1200k's I have only done the PBP, and from my research, Paris is relatively unique in that it's the only 1200 that draws such a large and diverse crowd. Several of the other 'Supers' (London-Edinburgh-London, Boston-Montreal-Boston, etc.) will draw riders from different countries, but the participation rates might be in the range of 50 or 400. Not 5000.

As far as festiveness -- Paris-Brest-Paris is also unique in that many of the participating towns have a very active spectator population with little mini-PBP-parties going on in the villages along the route. The event's multigenerational history combined with Breton cycling pride are a special combination. A few residents in New Hampshire and Vermont might know about that 'crazy ride where a bunch of folks ride to Canada and back' but they don't line the streets to cheer you on.

PBP is special because there are no other rides like it.

However, with that said, if you want festive, there's always the travelling cycling circus of RAGBRAI (http://www.ragbrai.org/). It's not a 'brevet' and you don't have to deal with the glories of sleep deprivation or climbing 30,000 feet, but there are a lot of towns in Iowa that make a big deal of catering to the touring masses on that ride.

As far as other 1200s -- there's a starter list (http://www.rusa.org/1200kms.html) on the RUSA website that includes:

BMB (on hiatus)
Cascade 1200 (Washington State, annual except on PBP years, June '08)
Gold Rush (California)
Great Southern (Australia, Oct '08)
Last Chance (Colorado, every four years)
London-Edinburgh-London (1400K United Kingodm, every four years, July '09)
Madrid-Gijon-Madrid (Spain, ???)
Perth-Albany-Perth (Australia, ???)
Rocky Mountain 1200 (British Columbia/Alberta, Canada, every four years, ??? '08)
Sofia-Varna-Sofia (Bulgaria, ???)

others to add that are not on the RUSA site (taken from the Wikipedia entry on brevet (cycling) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevet_(cycling)))

VanIsle 1200 (British Columbia)
Koln-Hamburg-Berlin-Koln (1500k Germany)
Scandinavia 1200 (Denmark, Norway, Sweden)

also rumours are flying about that the Ontario folks are planning a 2400k for next year, which sounds crazy awesome.

[sch]

For a variation on the same theme:
http://www.ultracycling.com/events/races.php
is a list of events in a somewhat more competitive
side of the madness of the ubercycling world.
The ultramarathoners are not particular about
who rides and membership in the UMC is a nominal
part of the expense. If the bug strikes this is
another way to scratch the itch.

[Bacciagalupe]

FWIW, the 5 Boro Bike Tour (in NYC) is very short (50 miles) and crowded, but also ridiculously festive, with lots of people from all over.

Also check into some of the multi-day tours. IIRC there are a couple of long AIDS rides, e.g. Boston-NYC, SF-LA.

[Machka]

Check my "Links" page on my website for some ideas. Also check the BC Randonneurs Links page ... they've got quite a few there. If you're not sure how to get to the BC Randonneurs Links page, you can access it through my "Links" page. :)

[LWaB]

The Great Southern Randonnee is in late October next year in Oz, probably less than 50 riders though. PAP won't be held for another 2-3 years. Other Australian 1200s are likely to be smaller events.

[Machka]

The Great Southern Randonnee is in late October next year in Oz, probably less than 50 riders though. PAP won't be held for another 2-3 years. Other Australian 1200s are likely to be smaller events.

Rumor has it there might be a 1200K somewhere in the Melbourne area around Easter.

And if anyone is interested in doing the Great Southern, I've got a write-up about it on my website. I enjoyed that ride, but a word of caution ... bring warm clothes. Contrary to everything I was told about Australia, Australia is NOT hot ... at least not along the Great Ocean Road in October!!

[LWaB]

There is no rumour about the Easter 1200 in Victoria, it is on the website calendar, together with some small ones in NSW.

[LWaB]

Perth-Albany-Perth (Australia, ???)

It will probably be held 4 years after the last PAP, so 2010.

[vik]

The BC Rando site (http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/) notes that the Rocky Mountain 1200 (http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/rocky/rm1200.html) is on for July 23-27 2008.

[thebulls]

Hi. first post, sorry if it's been discussed but I didn't find a comprehensive list on here. A lot of the posts have inspired me and I'm aiming for pbp in 2011, but 4 years is a long time. What are some other rides to consider that would have a similar festive international vibe that seems to make the pbp so special?

Since you're from the East Coast, and since BMB won't be run next year, you might take a look for my post about the Shenandoah 1200K that will take place next year in early June. There will be a festive atmosphere among the riders, but I can pretty much guarantee that there won't be any villagers standing alonside the road cheering you on. No idea what international participation will be like.

[rustycool7]

Don't worry, I can promise a lot of dogs to cheer you on your way.