spokenword

to this end, folks who have fenders on their bike might want to consider picking up a Spanninga taillight, which is bolted into one's rear fender.

ronsmithjunior

The two Cateye LD-500s that are hard mounted on my bike have zip ties holding them on, and the Cateye LD-1000 on the back of my helmet isn't at risk at being bounced off. Works for me. I may change the LD-1000 for something lighter.

Machka 

How much walking have you done lately? If you're like me, probably not too much, you've been focussing on cycling long distances instead.

Well, get on your feet!!

Even though I was warned about this before the 2003 PBP, I figured I was walking enough to prepare myself. I was wrong. I started the PBP with burning shins.

You see, what happens is this. You arrive in St. Quentin and establish yourself in the hotel or campground or wherever and set up your bicycle, but you are fairly close to the other hotels, restaurants, train station, etc., so you just walk over rather than bothering with cycling. It's easy to cover several kms in the day or two before the PBP just around St. Quentin.

But Paris is right next door ... calling you to come and visit!! So you hop the train (without your bicycle of course, because bringing the bicycle on the train can be a bit of a hassle), and you proceed to walk around Paris. Many kms later you drag your poor aching feet and shins back to your hotel or tent.

Once you start the PBP, there's even more walking. At the controls, you park your bicycle in one section and hike over to have your card swiped, and then hike over to the food tent and if you've got to do anything else, it's a hike over there too.

This past weekend I did a 8 km hike, and realized that I really do need to incorporate more walking into my training.

spokenword

Did you or anyone you know ride your bike from SQY to Paris or vice versa? Any tips about a route to use?

also, my most important question ... jersey swapping! Is there an unofficial spot or area where all the swappers congregate? Does this usually occur at bike inspection? At the start? At the finish?

LWaB

Usually at the finish, complete with authentic PBP sweat.

Gratefulrider

Yes- the sweat and smell adds to the "worth" of the jersey. I brought an extra jersey to the inspection/ bicycle expo they had and was able to trade one there. At the finish right after I handed in my control card someone wanted the one I was wearing so we swapped right there on the spot. My inspection time is 2pm(14:00hrs) and I wear a l/xl if anyone is interested in swapping....BTW-the expo next to the inspection was pretty fun-they had some reproductions of high wheelers set up on rollers and some awesome Indian food vendors -kinda cool.

Dave

Machka 

I know people have discussed cycling from the airport out to SQY, but I don't recall hearing about anyone cycling into Paris. Most people just take the train.

Machka 

And another tip ...

Pack your carry-on bags, and your checked luggage, very carefully ... look up the new regulations for the airline you are travelling with ASAP ... all the baggage regulations changed in January 2007, and I believe they may have been modified again just recently since the "activity" in the UK.

https://www.ibike.org/encouragement/travel/bagregs.htm

You will very likely be charged for your bicycle (whereas in 2003 you would not have been charged) ... and those of you who ride larger bicycles might have some sizing issues.

Machka 

I'll bump this for the 2015 PBP ... some of the tips may apply.