La Tortue

I've heard 2007 PBP participants say to experience PBP simply stand under a cold shower and tear up $100 bills. I guess this has a smidgin of truth to it. PBP is not for everyone and there is a great deal of risk involved. I'll take that risk.

unterhausen

Sizun was really neat. That structure you see in the video seems to be a tribute to the arc de Triomphe.The town had a tent with a huge amount of bottle water for the riders. The cafe across the street was really great too, I saw them cook a steak for a rider so fast I didn't have time to finish my coffee.

I think my main mistake on PBP was going there without any experience with rides longer than 600k. Now that I know what I'm doing, it would be a lot easier. That, and carry a sufficient quantity of chamois cream. Still not sure what to do about food, I'm somewhat reliant on convenience stores, and that's something that is lacking. Although Sizun had a nice grocery on the town square that was a suitable substitute.

La Tortue

Some miss the concept that PBP is more than just the ride. The research is a major part of the ride and there is tons of data out there. Be smart about how you prepare and give yourself the best shot at making it. And once you have done that, let go of the pressure and embrace the process. It’s all about the journey. .be

ILClyde

Interesting discussion everyone. PBP 2015 is remotely on my radar but, in line with what Machka said, for me it starts next spring. I've done some centuries, but I'm dipping my toe in a 200K next year for the first time, hope to like it, and at least try a 300K next year. (Actually started the process a little bit this winter already as I begin my "weight training" -- my weight, not the steel kind!)

A couple questions:
- Are the different time limits for PBP simply a matter of choice or is there some strategic planning behind them?
- The comments about the chaos (for lack of a better term) surrounding PBP, and it not being for everyone, were interesting. Anyone ever do L-E-L? I have to admit, 500 people (in a country that shares my language) vs. 5000 (in a land where I can communicate with no one) does hold some appeal for me.

lhbernhardt

I rode PBP last year on my fixed gear bike. Basically, I think, there are two (maybe three) strategies for riding this event:

1. Ride it as a fast tour. This is what I did. You start in the 84-hour group on Monday morning at 5 am (the last group to leave SQY). The idea is to average 25 kmh (15 mph) for the next 16 hours (you'll be riding in darkness for about the first 1.5 hours and the last couple of hours that day). If you can get to a 400+ km checkpoint that day, you will be easily inside the time limit for a reasonable starrt the next morning (5 am again). If you only get to 350 km or so, that means you will need to leave that controle at about 3 am to make the closing limit. So the idea is to do three relatively fast 400-km days. Following this strategy, I was able to finish inside 65 hours. But the main thing about this strategy is that you have to be comfortable riding 30 kmh or more on the flat sections so that you can ride comfortably on the climbs. But the climbs on PBP are easy (except for the steep climb up thru the Forest of Rambouillet at km 1200!).

2. Ride it for a personal best time. For this you need to start in the 80-hour group, on Sunday afternoon. This means you will be riding thru the first night. You then go as far as you can in daylight, and when night falls, you have a choice: keep going, or sleep for the night. If you sleep, you can pretty well get up anytime you want in the morning as you will have built up a really big time cushion. If you're going for a pb, it helps to have drop bags or helpers on the road. If you're riding it competitively, hoping to finish with the top guys in 40+ hours, you pretty well need helpers at each controle to grab your bike and replace the bottles while you dash in to get your card stamped, then fill your jersey pockets with food as you roll off out of the controle.

3. The third option is for slower riders. You leave with the 90 hour group on Sunday evening. You ride thru the night, then take advantage of the daylight hours, then sleep the next night. The first night of riding just builds up your time cushion. You then ride during daylight hours, finishing Wednesday or Thursday.

Using strategy #1, I had no problems getting food at the controles, or beds in the dorms. So if you want to adopt this strategy, preparation consists of getting yourself trained to average 25 kmh on your brevets. This means you should be capable of a 16-hour 400 km brevet, or 600 km in 24 hours. Give or take a couple of hours based on how hilly the ride is.

Also, when you finish your 200 km brevet, ask yourself, "could I ride this course again right now?" Same with all the others, except that for 600, you could ask, "could I ride this again after sleeping five hours?"

Luis

unterhausen

At PBP, you choose your start group. If you want to go fast, the 80 hour group is the place to start, and they start first. If you think starting in daylight will help you, you have to start with the 84 hour group. I loved the 90 hour start, I'm comfortable in large packs of riders. If you aren't, then there is the free start group which also starts in the morning.

I don't mind riding in the rain if the temperature is above 60F or so. I think France in late August will feature temperatures in that range. Obviously, it's better if it doesn't rain, but I took my fenders and rain gear and the rain I experienced was not bad at all.

I'm thinking about riding LEL. I think the toughest part of PBP is that you have to go to Europe to ride it, so that is not ameliorated by riding LEL. PBP has translators at every controle, not speaking French is not much of a problem. My main concern with speaking French was being able to make change. At the start of the ride, I could do that, at the end, not so much

this is a really good idea, but I swear that even on 200k I'm wiped out at the end. I think I felt better at the end of the first 400k of the 1200k I did this year than I do after the average 200k I ride. Not sure why that is. I keep thinking I should ride back to back 200k's like a lot of randos do, but I'm never really up for that the next day. maybe if I lived in an area with more opportunities I would feel differently.

La Tortue

Being on a recumbent and starting with the special bikes I never saw those huge groups people speak about. In fact even at the start the special bikes had spread out within the first two miles. It seems the regular bikes could simply sit at the back of their start group and avoid big packs completely if that was their desire? The lack of pacelines was one of the few disappointments for me at PBP. I never saw any large packs with the exception of maybe the lead group on their return and it was only about 40 riders. I also never saw the epic "endless line" of red tail lights to the horizon I had heard about so many times.

Mark W

I didn't see any of the large pace lines this time either. They have been sort of fun on past PBP's but I have seen several crashes, too. This last time the start seemed much calmer. I found and rode with several groups of friends, as well as riding with several individual riders from other countries.

Fast, close groups in the dark are interesting, but not a relaxing way to ride for me. This last PBP was much calmer, at least for me.

Mark W

Bacciagalupe

So, what's a good budget for an American doing PBP?

Machka 

$7000.

That's about what it cost me in 2003 ... but that did include a new bicycle.

Bacciagalupe

Heh. OK, so not including a new bike?

unterhausen

entry plus food on the ride is ~$500. Hotels and food aren't particularly cheap, but figure you need a minimum of 3 nights. Airfare. I doubt you have to spend over $3k.

Machka 

A flight into Heathrow + ferry + train can be had for less than a flight into Paris ... that's something to consider. Both times I entered France that way, rather than a direct flight to Paris, and have saved myself approx. $500 each time.

And don't forget bicycle and travel insurance.

Would you also count the cost of doing the qualifiers?

LWaB

Shouldn't count the cost of the qualifiers if you'd be riding them anyway. Ditto with travel insurance.

La Tortue

That is exactly where some long range planning can make a difference. The price can be very from high to not so much. Price of airline tickets is the largest fee. Some folks beat that with awards mileage. A little planning regarding the cost of shipping your bike can make a big difference. My oversized recumbent cost zero where the most I heard of someone paying both ways was $700! The hotel fees is next. There are plenty of cheap hotels in the area, unfortunately I went with Des Perez and spent 3 times what I had to Another way to reduce the cost is arrive just before the event (not recommended). Many home owners open up their spare rooms for riders at lower than hotel rates. You can find them on the official PBP web site. Food is up to you. Plenty of expensive restaurants or you can go to the supermarket for food. Surprisingly I spent way more on the actual ride than expected. Just under $300? Basically cokes and potatoes. I'm not sure how that happened but I was shocked when I finished. Despite the tales of no stores along the route they are plentiful. You can even go to Mac Donalds I believe in Brest? I stopped at a couple of Super markets for fruits and ice cream while passing up many others. Next time I will eat at fewer controls (high cost) and get my food at super markets. They are plentiful and literally on the route. Taking a wild guess I would say one could do the ride bare bones at $2200 and high end and comfortable $8000.

Machka 

Camping is a less expensive choice as well, although I think the campground closest to the start/finish area may have a limit on tents now, so it would be a good idea to check if this is an option for you. There is at least one more campground a little further away.

Rowan

What?

LWaB

I travel abroad every year, so travel insurance is a fixed cost, whether it is PBP year or not. It would not be reasonable to load the insurance cost onto my 'PBP bill'. Simple really.

sherbornpeddler

LaTortue, Thanks for your good information. How'd you get a recumbent shipped for zero?
Also thinking about budgeting, how many days in advance do you recommend in the vacinity of the ride compared to in France within several hours travel?

Rowan

We're not talking about you, specifically.

We're talking about the ordinary guy who is about to embark on his first or second PBP and doesn't travel much overseas.

Travel insurance for a once-only trip to France to do PBP would be a cost that has to be incorporated into the expense of doing the event.

Machka 

You'll want to spend one day visiting Versailles and at least one day visiting Paris and one day exploring the start/finish area ... so at least 3 days in the general start/finish area of the ride.

LWaB

For someone who doesn't frequently travel overseas, you are correct and overseas travel insurance would be a PBP-related cost. As I noted in my first post, if you would normally ride the qualifiers or travel anyway, those costs shouldn't be 'billed' to PBP, talking generically of course.

unterhausen

I wasn't aware that you could buy travel insurance for a year. What company do you buy it from and how much does it cost? Nowadays with the airlines taking an adversarial attitude towards their customers, it seems like it would be a good idea.

Machka 

Travel insurance usually covers you for injury or illness when you are in another province/state or especially another country.

I purchase travel insurance every time I travel. Most of the time I haven't had to make use of it, but when I travelled to Australia in 2009, I did. I developed DVT on my flight to Australia, and ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks. If I did not have travel insurance, I would have had to pay a fortune for the ultrasounds, Dr, and hospital stay. As it was, I paid a minimal fee for the travel insurance when I purchased it, and the insurers covered everything. I think that incident alone paid for all the travel insurance I've ever purchased.

You purchase travel insurance for any period of time ... a few weeks, several months, or longer. You just pay more as the amount of time you want coverage increases. Rowan and I are covered for the 7.5 month round-the-world trip we are currently on.


As for the company, I've frequently opted to go with my local automobile association (CAA), but have also used the insurance offered by my local bank. There are other options as well, but those might be a starting point for your research.

Rowan

I've used Travel Insurance Direct in Australia since I started overseas travel in 2003. I haven't had to claim yet, but the premiums have been the best I could find.

Its website says this about annual coverage:

Travel as often as you like within 12 month period as long as each trip is no longer than 38 days for holiday and 90 days for business

The premium for two people aged 57 and 45 for a year is $390. We couldn't take advantage of that on our present trip because of the continuous period of cover required, and we couldn't take the risk of having a "break day" to separate out each 38 days.

As you probably know, there is a need to check that bicycle use is not among the exclusions on any policy. And there may be an interpretation by some underwriters that an event such as PBP might be considered a race, although it isn't.

There is a Travel Insurance Direct web-listing in the US, but it defaults to World Nomads, and the premiums appear to be much higher for 12 months of coverage (and an age limit of 66) for Australians travelling to Europe.

But it might be worth investigation from your US perspective.