1. It is much hillier than people seem to remember but there is nothing to frighten an adopted flatlander like me. Why stress about hilly qualifiers when there is the best part of three months to move from endurance training to speed.
2. Sleeping is better than faffing.
3. Cat napping works wonders.
4. I would have preferred to use up my 5 hour time buffer at Mortagne or Dreux not at Loudeac outbound
5. There should be plenty of time if you watch the faffing.
6. Riding in company works. There will always be a point when some well chosen words from someone you have ridden with before will be useful ( even if you don't think so at the time !).
7. There is lot's of fun and food outside of the controls but the controls can be efficient too.
8 Big dormitories aren't necessarily any more conducive to sleep than a cafeteria floor - Loudeac was like a farting, snoring and shuffling symphony.
9. I wished I had a dynohub. It's one less thing to worry about.
10. Showering and tooth brushing kit is a must.
11. You don't need that much by way of clothes particularly if your top half is merino based. Marcus j-b's list was pretty spot on (although the arm screen thing still doesn't quite add up for me).
12. Talking of Marcus. His cheerful hellos to fellow YACFers and sundry others is the way to go. It was amazing how many riders didn't acknowledge the support at the roadside or make any effort at civility generally. It's a holiday and it's supposed to be (type 2) fun.
13. Camper vans should be for vedettes only. Unless I can have one too.
14. Don't faff. Plan each stop. Have a maximum time for each stop, even hedge stops.
15. It is rural France. People speak French. It makes sense to brush up and make an effort to do likewise.
16. Make sure the weather is the same as 2015.
17. Don't wear the brevet card holder full of change around your neck. Don't wear a cap under your helmet at the same time as well. You will end up with a very sore neck and will look odd as you ride up the hill to Mortagne one handed stretching your head back.
18. The faffage thing.