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| Start/Finish |
I knew from reading multiple trip reviews of Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) that the fan fare was amazing and the the reviews didn't disappoint.
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| Start/Finish |
It was an amazing feeling having all these people cheering for you, doesn't happen too often to a full time bicycle commuter.
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| Start/Finish |
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| 17:30 start group |
I showed up 2 hours early and the pre-ride meal I paid for was gone.... Thankfully there was a lady selling chocolat croissants at the start. I pounded about three of them.
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| Corral |
Waiting in my letter code corral. Here I still didn't know what to expect for the next 3 days, I'm just going with the flow.
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| 1930 start |
I'm happy to be here at the start line. After all the planning, training, and logistics I'm finally here. Now I can do what I came here to do, ride my bicycle 1235km in under 90 hours.
On my way to Brest. There were "fans" cheering at every major intersection. Cars would honk and wave with all their fingers, which is new to me. The locals like this bicycle event as much as the riders.
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| Nice shot of my badge number. Should've done a better job of mounting. |
We passed through many small villages such as this. Absolutely beautiful ride. And unlike the states, no matter the restaurant or cafe there was a 100% guarantee the coffee and espresso would be great.
Every little town seemed to have a large church at the center.
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| Back out to the country side |
Only a few times away from towns early in the morning I didn't see another rider, all other times you were riding with someone
My wife said she felt sorry that I didn't get to see everything in Paris she saw. I told her I felt sorry she didn't get to see everything that I saw. I really enjoyed these small towns.
Proof I made it to Brest. A little before Brest I noticed an uncomfortable feeling in my left knee that only got worse. My seatpost dropped at some point during the ride and I didn't notice until my knee was screaming at me. I think when the seat tube was knocked out of round during the flight it didn't clamp completely on my seatpost allowing it to drop. My knee hurt so bad at some points I started to wonder if I'd finish. In fact its three weeks after PBP and I'm still not on a bike (Dr. orders) because of a strained MCL. Hopefully next week I'll get back on the bike.
There were many signs along the way stating "bravo" and "courage"
Some controls were like finishing a mountain stage on Le tour.
Pictures pretty much stopped here, it was grind mode to the finish after this control. The next stop was Loudeac, which I took a little nap, then it was fight for the next 30+ hours back to the velodrome.
I didn't have a life altering ride or feel like I've changed after this experience. However, it was a terrific experience I just felt, well, tired when I finished. Tired and proud that I did finish.
I did have a strange occurrence on the ride though. After riding 30+ hours on the last stage headed to the velodrome I began to hallucinate. It was the strangest thing. I felt that I've ridden those roads leaving Dreux before. Not only that, the people around me that were riding, I felt I've ridden with all of them before and to this day it feels the same. It was like a dream, I didn't know their name but I knew all of them, I felt like we were all together. It was the most bazaar thing.
When I got back to the hotel I slept for 20 hours straight which was another new experience for me.
To sum up totals I rode 770ish miles in 87 hours. I was fully prepared for the ride physically and mentally. Other than my knee giving me issues the ride was enjoyable, enjoyable because of all the work I put into it.
Pictures pretty much stopped here, it was grind mode to the finish after this control. The next stop was Loudeac, which I took a little nap, then it was fight for the next 30+ hours back to the velodrome.
I didn't have a life altering ride or feel like I've changed after this experience. However, it was a terrific experience I just felt, well, tired when I finished. Tired and proud that I did finish.
I did have a strange occurrence on the ride though. After riding 30+ hours on the last stage headed to the velodrome I began to hallucinate. It was the strangest thing. I felt that I've ridden those roads leaving Dreux before. Not only that, the people around me that were riding, I felt I've ridden with all of them before and to this day it feels the same. It was like a dream, I didn't know their name but I knew all of them, I felt like we were all together. It was the most bazaar thing.
When I got back to the hotel I slept for 20 hours straight which was another new experience for me.
To sum up totals I rode 770ish miles in 87 hours. I was fully prepared for the ride physically and mentally. Other than my knee giving me issues the ride was enjoyable, enjoyable because of all the work I put into it.
