Post by: Von Broad on 19 August, 2019, 05:11:29 pm
I know he's a quality rider, but out to Brest is 21hrs, now on the way back, and with zero rest from what I can see - bloke's a monster! :)
yanto's cracking on nicely too.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 19 August, 2019, 05:13:05 pm
What's his frame number?
J
Post by: Von Broad on 19 August, 2019, 05:16:38 pm
What's his frame number?
J
Rimas Grigenas
A026
Post by: Jurek on 19 August, 2019, 05:19:06 pm
Post by: αdαmsκι on 19 August, 2019, 05:35:58 pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1Rz5_khplC/?igshid=1szoa6tx4x8v0
Post by: CrazyEnglishTriathlete on 20 August, 2019, 02:10:51 pm
Post by: Greenbank on 20 August, 2019, 02:14:18 pm
4h25m total time spent not moving.
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 20 August, 2019, 02:21:05 pm
Rider F027 & F028 ...
I've been tracking them , but something seems amiss
They're both strong riders & already got another 1200km under their belts this season already - tracking seems to have lost em' - unless I'm doing something wrong here? ? ?
Post by: Redlight on 20 August, 2019, 02:54:16 pm
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 20 August, 2019, 03:19:24 pm
For sure Julian & Steve are vastly experienced & source of inspiration to me at least..
It's tricky following the tracker sometimes - I remember when I did last LEL , I had people ringing me en-route asking if I was ok as I'd apparently gone missing - But I was happily riding around having the time of my life completely oblivious to the mild panic back home.
Sadly the only mobile telephone No. I have for Julian was a temporary phone he used when we were down in Australia together in October..... I'm sure some other VC167 riders will be able to contact him .
Fingers-crossed..
T.H
Post by: Greenbank on 20 August, 2019, 03:20:28 pm
UK fastest is 48:51. Zizag rode PBP in 49:36 last time, and checked into Mortagne-au-Perche 44:04
Dreux at 47:16 and 44km to go (if you trust the tracker distances). If he's doing ~30kph on the road then he might scrape in under 49h. Amazing.
Post by: Redlight on 20 August, 2019, 03:54:31 pm
Post by: Redlight on 20 August, 2019, 03:55:56 pm
Post by: Greenbank on 20 August, 2019, 04:00:07 pm
UK fastest is 48:51. Zizag rode PBP in 49:36 last time, and checked into Mortagne-au-Perche 44:04
Dreux at 47:16 and 44km to go (if you trust the tracker distances). If he's doing ~30kph on the road then he might scrape in under 49h. Amazing.
zigzag finished at 48:53:09 according to the tracker.
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 20 August, 2019, 05:05:21 pm
There's some really accomplished & capable riders on that DNF list - a real shame.
Hope nothing really serious occurred . law of averages get us all eventually perhaps
I've heard nothing concrete regards Julian & Steve yet though
Fingers still crossed.
T.H
Post by: Redlight on 20 August, 2019, 05:18:08 pm
On the bright side, there are lots of YACF-ers that are steaming along merrily - LWaB, HK, Rob, Tomsk, Wilkyboy, JiberJaber, Redfalo, SimonP, to name but a few.
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 20 August, 2019, 05:23:49 pm
I don't do twitter-face malarkey. so thanks for this update..
Other YACF-ers I'm tracking who are riding well = Deano - JackLaws, thisisgrace
Also I've keen interest on Shaun from Stoke ( Hargraves) who's naturally flying along on his fixie.
If you hear anything about Julian & Steve please let me know..
Thanks
T.H
Post by: Von Broad on 20 August, 2019, 07:30:27 pm
UK fastest is 48:51. Zizag rode PBP in 49:36 last time, and checked into Mortagne-au-Perche 44:04Looks like zigzag missed out on the UK record by 2 mins, but was 43 mins quicker than 4 years ago.
He should extremely pleased with that.
Well done to you good sir.
Magnificent effort.
Post by: Von Broad on 20 August, 2019, 07:45:11 pm
Post by: Nuncio on 20 August, 2019, 09:35:34 pm
Quote
Toby Hopper a terminé Paris-Brest-Paris 2019! Time 52:42:19
Post by: dod on 20 August, 2019, 09:40:44 pm
I've been following wilkyboy. Looking at the tracker gives you numbers and much curiosity, but he had quite a slow first leg out to Villaines [14.32km] by his standards - and it got me wondering. Mechanicals? Who knows, he'll tell his own story when he returns. But he's currently at Carhaix on the return leg but is riding at an overall average of 14.62km. That's looks like a bit of a challenge for him now. Much teeth gritting will ensue. Dig in Nick!!
He's on a new bike (Peugeot P10 with fixed gear) and may not have fully recovered from injuries after a fall a few weeks ago, so hopefully he is taking it steady and will get there in the end.
I'm wondering what has happened to PhilW - his tracker only shows Rambouillet.
Post by: αdαmsκι on 20 August, 2019, 09:47:10 pm
I'm wondering what has happened to PhilW - his tracker only shows Rambouillet.
Quit before Villeneuve la jahl
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 August, 2019, 09:49:01 pm
Post by: Greenbank on 20 August, 2019, 09:49:59 pm
What is Deanos number?
K125
Post by: Gattopardo on 20 August, 2019, 09:51:30 pm
Am still near the start finish if anyone needs help/crash space etc.
Post by: Redlight on 20 August, 2019, 10:24:34 pm
If you hear anything about Julian & Steve please let me know..
I've now had it confirmed that Julian and Steve have packed.
Post by: jsabine on 21 August, 2019, 02:19:34 am
LWaB and HK (separately) seem to be doing OK
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 21 August, 2019, 04:46:50 am
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 21 August, 2019, 07:06:13 am
Thanks Redlight -
tis' not good news , hopefully a mechanical & not an injury issue ? ?
Seems there's some slow / touch & go average speeds still out en-route this year.
T.H
Post by: Drone on 21 August, 2019, 07:21:58 am
Post by: S2L on 21 August, 2019, 07:22:32 am
I'm wondering what has happened to PhilW - his tracker only shows Rambouillet.
Quit before Villeneuve la jahl
some pretty strong riders packed up... people who do a DIY 600 every month or so...
Post by: S2L on 21 August, 2019, 07:30:30 am
Post by: JBB on 21 August, 2019, 08:08:23 am
Post by: JBB on 21 August, 2019, 08:09:18 am
I've packed at base camp near St Nicolas du Pelem. As ever it was a combination of things. A brutal stage between Loudeac and St Nicolas ate up my reserves although the headwinds before had slowed everyone. Add in the gears playing up, double vision and the prospect of more headwinds made continuing an unappealing prospect. Still a great experience and I was able to help my friend Claire through a bad patch and I think she's going to make it.
My husband is suggesting I wear half the shirt....
Post by: jsabine on 21 August, 2019, 08:11:17 am
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 21 August, 2019, 08:42:24 am
The fastest female finisher was only a couple of hours behind the first male finishers, sometime in the ‘90s and mid-40 hours. Can’t remember the details offhand.
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 21 August, 2019, 09:38:11 am
Julian had a tendon problem that was just getting worse.
LWaB - Thanks for the info on Julian D - much appreciated.
As for female riders - I'm also still tracking female friends Sally T from Oz & Grace L.S from Derbyshire - they're both good strong riders that have left me trailing many a mile .
T.H
Post by: HTFB on 21 August, 2019, 10:15:08 am
Post by: TigaSefi on 21 August, 2019, 10:34:06 am
Post by: Nuncio on 21 August, 2019, 10:36:46 am
Quote
Paul Dytham a passé l'étape VILLAINES-LA-JUHEL. Time 64:03:34,
Post by: Martin on 21 August, 2019, 10:55:00 am
Post by: Von Broad on 21 August, 2019, 11:12:10 am
Commiserations to all the DNF's, especially JBB who I think is a Neophyte
Likewise.
It doesn't take much - the odd mechanical, bit of bad weather, nagging physical issue - to find yourself without a chair when the music stops.
Here's YouTuber good guy Eric Norris from Sacramento giving his version of why he packed [his forth PBP].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s03OY-fWDJE
Post by: Ian H on 21 August, 2019, 11:39:35 am
Post by: Nuncio on 21 August, 2019, 12:52:58 pm
Post by: T42 on 21 August, 2019, 01:48:30 pm
In 2015 I HD'd or OT'd or whatever it's called, but only because at Mortagne the organizers were talking about taxis back to Paris and maybe a lorry for the bikes.
Post by: Pete Mas on 21 August, 2019, 02:19:14 pm
Update on KIngston Wheelers riders:- Jasmijn M and Javier G both finished in an amazing 59.5 hrs or so. Laidback Rich is nearly home, having reached penultimate control at Dreux 44k to finish. Sarah P is on the way to Dreux and Tilapaw on the way to Villaines. Denise G had food poisoning problems but has reached Loudeac on the way back but running too slow I think. David W is at Mortagne-An-Perche.
Post by: Martin on 21 August, 2019, 02:21:03 pm
I finished because there was no way I was going back 4 years later (I'd already decided I would only do it once). As someone said at the time, "pain is temporary, quitting is permanent" if that helps anyone :)
missing a family holiday if i didn't get back to Paris in 90hrs was also a factor...
Anyway this isn't intended to put a downer on the ride it's in the lap of the gods how any one's ride pans out. Just saying that even in what was considered a bad weather year and with major problems I still finished. So anyone else could too.
It's a life changing ride, loved every minute apart from the last 200k
Post by: Fidgetbuzz on 21 August, 2019, 02:28:14 pm
Post by: Fidgetbuzz on 21 August, 2019, 02:30:27 pm
Post by: TigaSefi on 21 August, 2019, 04:42:38 pm
Post by: Martin on 21 August, 2019, 05:00:56 pm
Post by: rob on 21 August, 2019, 05:51:29 pm
I know that Wilky had major gut problem early .. seemed to have recovered a bit by Brest .. but nothing since Loudeac homebound .. called it a day maybe .. would have been up against it all the way home .. even if fit .. gut and the off 6 weeks ago were maybe too much
I rode with him from the start to just before Mortagne and he was going well. We lost each other after that, though.
Post by: Greenbank on 21 August, 2019, 05:54:24 pm
The tracker shows a Mr Sabine OTP as having finished in 68 hrs ???
Aye well, I can add this one to my ever extending palmares de DNF. Ho hum.
I guess he rode back and was picked up by the timing mats along the way. I guess the dumb tracking system assumes that anyone coming back to Rambouillet is a finisher, regardless of how many controls in the middle have been missed out.
Post by: quixoticgeek on 21 August, 2019, 06:00:59 pm
I guess he rode back and was picked up by the timing mats along the way. I guess the dumb tracking system assumes that anyone coming back to Rambouillet is a finisher, regardless of how many controls in the middle have been missed out.
To be fair, if the timing at intermediate controls has't worked, then if it didn't do this,it would not register you as finished. Better the false positive, than the false negative.
J
Post by: TigaSefi on 21 August, 2019, 06:33:40 pm
Post by: Greenbank on 21 August, 2019, 07:02:28 pm
I guess he rode back and was picked up by the timing mats along the way. I guess the dumb tracking system assumes that anyone coming back to Rambouillet is a finisher, regardless of how many controls in the middle have been missed out.
To be fair, if the timing at intermediate controls has't worked, then if it didn't do this,it would not register you as finished. Better the false positive, than the false negative.
True, but it's still just tracking info. Homologation will be completely separate and based on a manual review of the Brevet Card and the electronic control timings.
In 2011 I kept in touch with everyone I cared to know whether I'd finished or not. I didn't care what the tracker said (and at one point it didn't list me as visiting one of the controls). Actually, now I remember I got one text from someone warning me of this, which took time for me to deal with (in a tired state) to tell them that it was nothing to worry about and that I had visited that control.
Post by: Redlight on 21 August, 2019, 08:44:09 pm
I know that Wilky had major gut problem early .. seemed to have recovered a bit by Brest .. but nothing since Loudeac homebound .. called it a day maybe .. would have been up against it all the way home .. even if fit .. gut and the off 6 weeks ago were maybe too much
I rode with him from the start to just before Mortagne and he was going well. We lost each other after that, though.
Packed at Loudeac, apparently. Doing better than Mel Kirkland, though, who apparently hasn't started!
Adamski is lost to the tracking system too...
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 21 August, 2019, 08:55:12 pm
Post by: Martin on 21 August, 2019, 08:59:52 pm
I guess he rode back and was picked up by the timing mats along the way. I guess the dumb tracking system assumes that anyone coming back to Rambouillet is a finisher, regardless of how many controls in the middle have been missed out.
To be fair, if the timing at intermediate controls has't worked, then if it didn't do this,it would not register you as finished. Better the false positive, than the false negative.
True, but it's still just tracking info. Homologation will be completely separate and based on a manual review of the Brevet Card and the electronic control timings.
is it done by transponder now? was a swipe card in 2007; anyway do riders not have to surrender their thingy when they abandon as in other events?
Post by: Greenbank on 21 August, 2019, 09:22:14 pm
2011 it was a chip that was attached to the shoe, with the timing mats placed right before the control desks so it was impossible not to walk on them if you got your card stamped.
Post by: Greenbank on 21 August, 2019, 09:23:47 pm
Post by: Nuncio on 21 August, 2019, 09:31:41 pm
Post by: Nuncio on 21 August, 2019, 09:55:35 pm
Post by: αdαmsκι on 21 August, 2019, 10:13:05 pm
And Simon P.
I had noticed Simon was cutting it a bit fine but in the end he had 1 hour 20 mins in hand
Post by: Von Broad on 21 August, 2019, 10:29:06 pm
And Simon P.
I had noticed Simon was cutting it a bit fine but in the end he had 1 hour 20 mins in hand
I was looking at Simon's tracker earlier on, and, unless I'm missing something obvious, it 'would seem' he had little extended sleep, judging by the quite consistent average speed he was sustaining.
Post by: StuAff on 21 August, 2019, 11:06:50 pm
Post by: simonp on 22 August, 2019, 04:38:43 am
And Simon P.
I had noticed Simon was cutting it a bit fine but in the end he had 1 hour 20 mins in hand
I was looking at Simon's tracker earlier on, and, unless I'm missing something obvious, it 'would seem' he had little extended sleep, judging by the quite consistent average speed he was sustaining.
The issue I struggled with right from the start was staying in groups. I’m too slow uphill. So effectively it might as well have been a solo ride. I managed 15h to Fougeres overnight but the wind was brutal during the day. I thus took 35h to Brest. Not a bad 600k but with 36h limit no sleep time. Add gut issues and double vision.
Post by: jsabine on 22 August, 2019, 05:48:24 am
I guess he rode back and was picked up by the timing mats along the way. I guess the dumb tracking system assumes that anyone coming back to Rambouillet is a finisher, regardless of how many controls in the middle have been missed out.
To be fair, if the timing at intermediate controls has't worked, then if it didn't do this,it would not register you as finished. Better the false positive, than the false negative.
True, but it's still just tracking info. Homologation will be completely separate and based on a manual review of the Brevet Card and the electronic control timings.
is it done by transponder now? was a swipe card in 2007; anyway do riders not have to surrender their thingy when they abandon as in other events?
Transponder on the frame plaque, and timing gates to ride through on the entrance to each control (well, exit from Villaines outward).
Instructions said it absolutely must be vertical to be read, so when I took it off and put it in my bag I made sure it wasn't. It didn't get read at any of the controls on my way back from Quedillac, just at the arrivee.
And I've got a distinct lack of stamps in my brevet card ...
Post by: StuAff on 22 August, 2019, 09:21:18 am
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 22 August, 2019, 09:41:53 am
Post by: TigaSefi on 22 August, 2019, 09:46:11 am
Post by: Wobbly on 22 August, 2019, 10:23:09 am
And I've got a distinct lack of stamps in my brevet card ...
As someone who wasn't there, I'm puzzled why you lack stamps.
Surely the brevet card is the definitive record that you went through each control in case of failure of the transponder.
Post by: Redlight on 22 August, 2019, 10:49:08 am
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 22 August, 2019, 11:03:41 am
Phenomenal result - I'm delighted for every AUK successful finisher, but none more so than this bunch..
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 22 August, 2019, 11:05:44 am
Well done to all - by way of my Twitter followings it seems to have been a particularly tough year.
Post by: Wobbly on 22 August, 2019, 11:10:28 am
John was riding back, having packed. I guess there was no point him getting stamps, even if they had been willing to give them.
Ah, I'd missed the fact that he'd packed
Post by: Martin on 22 August, 2019, 12:31:56 pm
I guess he rode back and was picked up by the timing mats along the way. I guess the dumb tracking system assumes that anyone coming back to Rambouillet is a finisher, regardless of how many controls in the middle have been missed out.
To be fair, if the timing at intermediate controls has't worked, then if it didn't do this,it would not register you as finished. Better the false positive, than the false negative.
True, but it's still just tracking info. Homologation will be completely separate and based on a manual review of the Brevet Card and the electronic control timings.
is it done by transponder now? was a swipe card in 2007; anyway do riders not have to surrender their thingy when they abandon as in other events?
Transponder on the frame plaque, and timing gates to ride through on the entrance to each control (well, exit from Villaines outward).
OK thanks; I've done a ride with that system before but some sadist decided to impose a minimum speed of 18kph and there was a broom wagon which took the plaque off me on the last climb in the Pyrenees (I still finished as it was an AAA DIY)
Post by: Feanor on 22 August, 2019, 12:42:38 pm
Happy with that, as I took a couple of decent sleep stops.
It was consistent with my plan, which was Make It Up As You Go Along.
600k to Brest, 4 hrs sleep, 300k to Fougeres, 5 hrs sleep, 300k home.
Surprisingly cold in the wee small hours, but my Audax Ecosse training came into its own and the Spare Jersey was deployed.
Post by: Kim on 22 August, 2019, 12:45:30 pm
Transponder on the frame plaque, and timing gates to ride through on the entrance to each control (well, exit from Villaines outward).
Instructions said it absolutely must be vertical to be read, so when I took it off and put it in my bag I made sure it wasn't. It didn't get read at any of the controls on my way back from Quedillac, just at the arrivee.
Yep, those things are surprisingly sensitive to polarisation. And, less surprisingly, are comprehensively nobbled by proximity to a conductive surface (including carbon fibre).
Post by: drgannet on 22 August, 2019, 03:14:09 pm
It looks like he is matched by 2 of his compatriots, Dominique Lamouller and Alain Collongues. Henri Bourei, who also started his 12th PBP, did not make it back past Fougeres (although the tracker could be wrong).
Post by: quixoticgeek on 22 August, 2019, 03:21:12 pm
Not on yacf I think, But one rider I was watching, Eleanor Jaskowska. She finished today, becoming what is believed to be only the 3rd woman to complete PBP on fixed.
Also of ACB, Thisisgrace OTP, completed her attempt in just over 80 hours this morning.
J
Post by: damerell on 22 August, 2019, 03:22:01 pm
Duncan and j4 are still on the road, last seen at Fougères.They packed at 1090 km, alas, a heroic failure. Too sleepy to continue safely. :-(
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 22 August, 2019, 03:32:48 pm
Anyone on here any info on another YACF poster - "JohnJackson" - Rider No. C057 ?
Thanks T.
Post by: Phil W on 22 August, 2019, 03:43:18 pm
I'm wondering what has happened to PhilW - his tracker only shows Rambouillet.
Got gut problems on Friday (on ride down) before I even started, being low on energy the whole time. Struggled through Saturday bike check resting head on handlebars. Started on the Sunday but distinct lack of energy. Joined the back of my start group thinking they'd be speeches before the start arch before we set off, like the wait in 2015. But no the group had gone, and it was me and 4 other stragglers, one punctured before leaving cobbles of sheepfold, and another punctured within 5km. so it ended up as a group of three of us, hardly the great assist for the first leg I was hoping for. I was struggling, even when drafting, making friends with Imodium, and all dignity gone in bib tights. The next two groups started overtaking all too soon, and too weak to get on back of groups. I was alternately shivering and sweating as it turned dark, I needed to abandon at the first food stop (Montagne Au Perche). I alternated between the toilets and sleeping till first light at which point I set off back for Rambouillet.
If I posted a picture of a box of imodium, that'd be the short summary of my PBP.
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 22 August, 2019, 03:59:50 pm
Post by: JonBuoy on 22 August, 2019, 04:07:12 pm
Chapeau "thisisgrace" !
Anyone on here any info on another YACF poster - "JohnJackson" - Rider No. C057 ?
Thanks T.
From John Jackson on FaceBook:
Quote
Twisted my knee . We could not get a TGV until the next day. Two of us hired a car. We arrived with a group Indian riders. I think the lady was very stressed
Post by: Terry2wheelz on 22 August, 2019, 04:38:08 pm
Feedback on J.J much appreciated - I don't do twitter-face malarkey, so thank-you.
T.
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 22 August, 2019, 05:47:47 pm
Transponder on the frame plaque, and timing gates to ride through on the entrance to each control (well, exit from Villaines outward).
Instructions said it absolutely must be vertical to be read, so when I took it off and put it in my bag I made sure it wasn't. It didn't get read at any of the controls on my way back from Quedillac, just at the arrivee.
Yep, those things are surprisingly sensitive to polarisation. And, less surprisingly, are comprehensively nobbled by proximity to a conductive surface (including carbon fibre).
This was probably my issue, the transponder was right next to the seat tube with seatpost inside. Still registered in some places.
Post by: Martyn Wheeler on 22 August, 2019, 06:21:33 pm
John W and me (LFCC), possibly others (sorry if I missed your name/club).
We rode together(ish) from Fougeres and consumed varying quantities of beer/cider at Rambouillet before dispersing into the French darkness.
Their company was brilliant (certainly helped keep me going) and I look forward to seeing them again on future events.
Martyn
Sent from my LLD-L31 using Tapatalk
Post by: JonBuoy on 22 August, 2019, 06:47:55 pm
Post by: Deano on 22 August, 2019, 06:51:42 pm
I'm glad I remembered about the cobbles at the bottom of the hill in Rambouillet, mind.
Post by: marcusjb on 22 August, 2019, 06:59:18 pm
Post by: Deano on 22 August, 2019, 07:02:38 pm
Post by: Martyn Wheeler on 22 August, 2019, 07:08:06 pm
Thanks for the company Martyn (and others). I still reckon that my on-the-fly risk assessment of you trying to teach the International Zombie Squad how to ride through and off on the run in from Dreux was spot onWith hindsight you are probably right John (as always) - and you are right that it probably didn't do much for speed either, but it was entertaining ;-).
Sent from my LLD-L31 using Tapatalk
Post by: marcusjb on 22 August, 2019, 07:45:31 pm
I didn't see him, but Clarkson got in just fine. He must have missed the tracker.
Good news. Obviously a super solid rider so seeing him with 6-7 hours to finish from dreux, I was worried some ill fate had befallen him.
Post by: Chris S on 22 August, 2019, 07:59:18 pm
I didn't see him, but Clarkson got in just fine. He must have missed the tracker.
Good news. Obviously a super solid rider so seeing him with 6-7 hours to finish from dreux, I was worried some ill fate had befallen him.
IME, it takes a lot to stop Clarkson. Even ill-health that would have most of us scurrying to our burrows, was just a blip for a season or two for him (from a cycling point of view at least). He's something else! :D
Post by: Paul D on 22 August, 2019, 08:11:12 pm
Post by: Ben T on 22 August, 2019, 08:15:11 pm
I didn't see him, but Clarkson got in just fine. He must have missed the tracker.
Wasn't that clear imho which was the actual chip reading mat at arrivee. There were a few it could have been. You know that "victory lap" round the cobbled courtyard, well I now think it was at the middle of that.
Quite easily done to just go straight to the bike park and into the control if the marshal was distracted.
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 22 August, 2019, 09:21:45 pm
I didn't see him, but Clarkson got in just fine. He must have missed the tracker.
Wasn't that clear imho which was the actual chip reading mat at arrivee. There were a few it could have been. You know that "victory lap" round the cobbled courtyard, well I now think it was at the middle of that.
Quite easily done to just go straight to the bike park and into the control if the marshal was distracted.
As opposed to the speedhump to slow people down before the cobbles? It would certainly make more sense if the finish arch and finish mat where in the same place.
Post by: Kim on 22 August, 2019, 09:36:21 pm
Post by: Redlight on 22 August, 2019, 10:01:21 pm
Wasn't that clear imho which was the actual chip reading mat at arrivee. There were a few it could have been. You know that "victory lap" round the cobbled courtyard, well I now think it was at the middle of that.
Quite easily done to just go straight to the bike park and into the control if the marshal was distracted.
As opposed to the speedhump to slow people down before the cobbles? It would certainly make more sense if the finish arch and finish mat where in the same place.
[/quote]
There seem to have been many criticisms of the finish, from the confusing arrival point to the poor surfaces and the glut of camper vans on the run-in. Similarly, I've seen plenty of grumbles about the approach to the Brest control, although none about the control itself this time. As I wrote after 2015 (https://robmcivor.wordpress.com/2018/02/05/4th-time-around-looking-back-at-paris-brest-paris-2015/ (https://robmcivor.wordpress.com/2018/02/05/4th-time-around-looking-back-at-paris-brest-paris-2015/)), there is a sense that the P and the B are something of a let down, even though almost everything in-between is great.
Post by: Martin on 22 August, 2019, 11:01:33 pm
If jsabine's description of the transponders built into the frame badges (ie. disposable passive RFID tags) applies, then the reading device was probably a set of horizontally mounted aerials, aimed across the path at bike height, rather than a mat of the type used with active transponders.
that fits more with the one I used; it was just some bits of copper fixed in a star-ish pattern behind the number plaque; before that there was a proper piece of electrickery that you had to detach and return to get your €10 back
Post by: Wobbly on 22 August, 2019, 11:11:53 pm
...there is a sense that the P and the B are something of a let down, even though almost everything in-between is great.
Well put.
Post by: jsabine on 22 August, 2019, 11:41:45 pm
If jsabine's description of the transponders built into the frame badges (ie. disposable passive RFID tags) applies, then the reading device was probably a set of horizontally mounted aerials, aimed across the path at bike height, rather than a mat of the type used with active transponders.
Yes, white aerial on each side, about the size of a dinner tray, round about top tube height.
On the surface, the transponder is just a strip of overprinted white plastic, 4in x 1in (ok, ok, 101.8mm x 25.4mm - I really have just put verniers on it) and about 0.6mm thick. I haven't peeled it off to look behind.
As for declared DNFs, I wonder if it's planned behaviour to not record (or at least not publish) intermediate scan times, but to still publish the Rambouillet time. I rode from Quedillac most of the way to Villaines with an older French guy who hadn't removed his plaque - like me, he's credited with a time at Rambouillet but not from any other control on his way back.
Post by: Kim on 23 August, 2019, 12:05:48 am
If jsabine's description of the transponders built into the frame badges (ie. disposable passive RFID tags) applies, then the reading device was probably a set of horizontally mounted aerials, aimed across the path at bike height, rather than a mat of the type used with active transponders.
Yes, white aerial on each side, about the size of a dinner tray, round about top tube height.
On the surface, the transponder is just a strip of overprinted white plastic, 4in x 1in (ok, ok, 101.8mm x 25.4mm - I really have just put verniers on it) and about 0.6mm thick. I haven't peeled it off to look behind.
Yeah, close relative of the stuff we use for timing BHPC races (https://www.smartrac-group.com/dogbone.html). There's not a lot to see: The functional part of the tag consists of some foil in a pretty pattern that forms a resonant aerial at the appropriate radio frequency, with a teeny tiny dot of an integrated circuit somewhere in the middle. That's sandwiched between a couple of layers of sellotape for protection and easy attachment to flat surfaces. Bought in bulk, these things are insanely cheap: Their day job is asset tracking in warehouses etc, where you can read the tags on widgets from a distance as they roll past on a conveyor, or simultaneously read all the tags on a trolley full of stuff[1] simply by wheeling it through the door.
The advantages over an active tag system is that there's no battery in the tag, and they're cheap enough that you don't have to go to the effort of rounding them up again after the race. The BHPC have found that unless the tag is damaged or attached at a weird angle or to something conductive, they're extremely reliable. (And because they're so cheap, you can use more than one tag for redundancy.) Most of the problems we seem to have are with the reader equipment (dicky cables, obtaining a power supply, random acts of Windows, etc), or tags coming repeatedly unstuck from helmets[2] that don't have a flat enough surface.
[1] The necessarily high throughput makes them practical for sports event timing.
[2] Has the advantage of tracking the rider rather than the bike, and is often the easiest way to avoid carbon fibre.
Post by: madcow on 23 August, 2019, 03:44:10 am
It's still good advice.
Prepare well, do the miles and learn from multiple 400s and 600s.
If you are a fussy eater, don't like cycling in the dark, don't like French people or you can't look after yourself and your bike, it isn't the ride for you.
Try Ride London instead.
I've done three now. I'm 59,work full time and have half a life beyond cycling.
This edition of PBP was no harder than I expected. We have been blessed with pretty good weather in the last 3 outings.
The headwind was hard work but not terminal IMHO, the heat nearly caught me out (dehydrated at Mamers), but I dealt with it. PBP is a great ride and I would encourage anyone to have a go BUT it's not the only thing in life.
Thanks to all who organised events that enabled me to qualify, to the PBP and ACP volunteers and especially to all of the ordinary families who turn out to feed and water riders on the road.
Someone once said that these people own the route, we just borrow it for a few days. They make PBP special.
Post by: Wobbly on 23 August, 2019, 07:19:43 am
:thumbsup:
Post by: simonp on 23 August, 2019, 09:24:52 am
If jsabine's description of the transponders built into the frame badges (ie. disposable passive RFID tags) applies, then the reading device was probably a set of horizontally mounted aerials, aimed across the path at bike height, rather than a mat of the type used with active transponders.
Yep. Each was a pair of posts about 1 metre tall either side. Most controls had them on entry and exit.
Post by: FifeingEejit on 23 August, 2019, 12:41:25 pm
72:34 here.Spare Jersey? I had my vented hi vis as well as the pbp one, I found putting the pbp one over the vented gave the perfect amount of insulation in that "cold"
Happy with that, as I took a couple of decent sleep stops.
It was consistent with my plan, which was Make It Up As You Go Along.
600k to Brest, 4 hrs sleep, 300k to Fougeres, 5 hrs sleep, 300k home.
Surprisingly cold in the wee small hours, but my Audax Ecosse training came into its own and the Spare Jersey was deployed.
Fingers weren't feeling the chill though so it can't have been That cold.
Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk
Post by: FifeingEejit on 23 August, 2019, 12:48:46 pm
Yes that system has been in use by a number of different organizers for a good few years now.If jsabine's description of the transponders built into the frame badges (ie. disposable passive RFID tags) applies, then the reading device was probably a set of horizontally mounted aerials, aimed across the path at bike height, rather than a mat of the type used with active transponders.
Yep. Each was a pair of posts about 1 metre tall either side. Most controls had them on entry and exit.
Mtb organizers usually put the stickers on one side of the riders helmet, much better than the dibber/dobber system. But is limited by sidedness.
Sent from my BKL-L09 using Tapatalk
Post by: Kim on 23 August, 2019, 01:06:26 pm
Yes that system has been in use by a number of different organizers for a good few years now.If jsabine's description of the transponders built into the frame badges (ie. disposable passive RFID tags) applies, then the reading device was probably a set of horizontally mounted aerials, aimed across the path at bike height, rather than a mat of the type used with active transponders.
Yep. Each was a pair of posts about 1 metre tall either side. Most controls had them on entry and exit.
Mtb organizers usually put the stickers on one side of the riders helmet, much better than the dibber/dobber system. But is limited by sidedness.
We solve that by writing the same EPC to two tags, and sticking one on each side of the helmet. Simples.
(Does mean an extra step for the organisers, though, if you're otherwise set up to use the tags' factory EPCs.)
Post by: Dai P on 23 August, 2019, 07:37:54 pm
I don’t know how you make people respect others but IMHO it failed for many ‘later’ finishers. Can we influence ACP to do this better?
There are riders who want to be part of PBP because of what it is, there are people who support riders on PBP and there are riders who want to do PBP for themselves, and all these are totally acceptable, I don’t have a problem with peoples reasons.
But for the latter two above then they should park outside the main site. The main site should be for the duration of PBP, until the last time rider has finished and all vehicle movements should be restricted until the ‘end’of the event. That way riders who have suffered to finish will finish in the same style as all the rest.
There were plenty of places for mobile homes and cars to park outside the grounds, which if people wanted to do a PB PBP then fine, they can do that then leave. But for the audax riders who celebrate the ethos of audax in then the later finishers deserve more respect and this would give that....
..... rant over.
Post by: redfalo on 24 August, 2019, 06:29:31 am
Olaf (redfalo) is onto the last stretch, having left Mortagne with 118km to do and about 14 hours in hand. He felt he was close to a DNF, but feeling better after a kip and some food.
Making it to the start line at all was a particular privilege that I could not take for granted after smashing my patella badly in May 2018, luckily a couple of days after having ridden LWL as a 400 pre-qualifier.
due to a comedy of errors, I was in a late start group (7:30pm). Strategy of bouncing the controls and avoiding to stop in between by all means did work out - I had worked myself through the bulge after Brest.
Really had the ride of my life - even dreaming of a sub-80-hour finish - until after Villaines on the way back, where things went pear-shaped. After a blow out puncture on the rear wheel I realised my rim tape was disintegrating. Fixed it temporarily with gaffer tape but was concerned the issue may return. Then I rode myself into the ground by doing a lot of work at the front in a fantastic French-lead group on the A-roads before Mortagne, probably also not drinking and eating enough.
Hit a wall on the last 20km into Mortagne which I found utterly brutal. At the control, I dopped bike at mechanics who put in new rim tape within 10 min.
For the first time ever I had the dreaded "cannot get food down" issue. I had to force half a bowl of pasta in me, but could not really eat. I had two normal beers, one alcohol free one, a coke, and went to sleep for 2.5 hours. Afterwards I was feeling better leg-wise but still failed to eat even a pain au chocolate. I was a bit out of my mind, and did not even intuitively know in which country I was in. Luckily Yoghurt and fruit salad worked, plus anther alcohol-free beer and a coke.
Was feeling relatively jolly afterwards but the cold on the last 40km into Dreux was relentless.... Met John L on the upright trike there, and was happy to ride the last 44km in great company. Finished in 84 hours and 21 seconds, three hours less than four years ago.
I found this one harder than in 2015 although I wonder why as I would say the conditions were near perfect. The knee worked perfectly - no issues at all (I was riding with an active support bandage).
Not a single drop of rain, not a lot of heat during the day (Wednesday afternoon being a slight exception maybe), and I found the headwinds on Monday totally bearable. I think to some degrees a lack of fitness after my injury, plus the fact that I am 10kg heavier than four years ago :facepalm:are the key reasons.
Post by: scarlet on 24 August, 2019, 11:49:29 am
Many thanks to the Devon beer club who put me up (and put up with me) at Huttopia.
Post by: Von Broad on 24 August, 2019, 12:29:20 pm
but at the finish, upon entering the Bergerie I struggled to get to the check-in due to vehicles and pedestrians spread out across the full width of the road.
Shame to read yet another account about the chaotic nature of the finish for the later riders - I'd have struggled to hold it together at that point.
Was it ever announced why the start was moved from St Quentin? It appeared to be fairly late in the day, so I guess some aspects of the operation just got over looked with so much to organize.
Post by: The French Tandem on 24 August, 2019, 12:30:52 pm
I found this one harder than in 2015 although I wonder why as I would say the conditions were near perfect. The knee worked perfectly - no issues at all (I was riding with an active support bandage).
I'm afraid you might be 4 years older than you were in 2015 :( From reading all the recent posts, it seems to be the same for most yacf riders.
A
Post by: madcow on 24 August, 2019, 01:24:16 pm
Aye well, I can add this one to my ever extending palmares de DNF. Ho hum.
Some time ago ,you were happy to call me a very rude word in another place.
My PBP 2019 time- 84:13.
#karma
Post by: jsabine on 24 August, 2019, 02:48:10 pm
Aye well, I can add this one to my ever extending palmares de DNF. Ho hum.
Some time ago ,you were happy to call me a very rude word in another place.
My PBP 2019 time- 84:13.
#karma
Karma has fuck all to do with it. Lack of fitness and insufficient riding on my part has plenty.
I called you a rude word in another thread because of the views you'd expressed in it. If I ever meet you, I'll be happy to explain why, and if you repeat those views, I'll be happy to repeat my opinion of what they make you.
Given that this is *not* that thread, and not that discussion, congratulations on your finish.
Post by: madcow on 24 August, 2019, 05:36:14 pm
Post by: zigzag on 24 August, 2019, 07:10:31 pm
UK fastest is 48:51. Zizag rode PBP in 49:36 last time, and checked into Mortagne-au-Perche 44:04Looks like zigzag missed out on the UK record by 2 mins, but was 43 mins quicker than 4 years ago.
He should extremely pleased with that.
Well done to you good sir.
Magnificent effort.
thank you for the compliments - kindly received and appreciated!
i rode a stretch with a young gentleman velosophie otp who is a solihull cc and auk member, he finished two hours ahead of me, without sleep. his pbp badge was a139 - does that make him the uk record holder?
Post by: grams on 24 August, 2019, 07:16:19 pm
Very different from LEL where the riders had a clear run in, and even with (at the times I was there) only a handful of gathered spectators outside they still got a much warmer welcome.
Post by: Andy Corless on 24 August, 2019, 07:19:14 pm
That would be Claude Binchet. He's an AUK member who was on the Pendle 600 back in June this year. Not sure whether the 'record' is done by club membership or nationality.
Andy Corless
Post by: bhoot on 24 August, 2019, 09:24:40 pm
I have done a hasty update of the home page on the website to reflect this - apologies Claude for not giving you full credit at first.
Does anyone know which AUK member had the slowest time, but still less than 90 hours?
Post by: mattc on 25 August, 2019, 07:40:55 am
The finish was utter shit - I had someone reverse their car in front of me, *after* looking and seeing me, then various motorcaravans to dodge as well as all the pedestrians. I hope a video exists somewhere of me screaming “get out of the f***ing way” at the various randoms gathered across the width of the finish line, then slamming on the back brake and skidding sideways over it.You have my sympathies, it all sounds rather shit :(. Apart from the endless congested traffic-lights to *get* to the last km in 2007, I've had nice finishes at all my 1000+ events.
Very different from LEL where the riders had a clear run in, and even with (at the times I was there) only a handful of gathered spectators outside they still got a much warmer welcome.
I'd be inclined to cut the organisers a little slack; I can imagine the (changed) finish being literally the last bit of the puzzle to sort out, and there are many more things that they do get (mostly) right:
- 1200km of route signage
- an enormous bureaucracy of qualification/registration/starts
- food for all
- some showers/beds
- ... et al ... things that contribute more to getting the riders *to* the finish :)
Post by: JonB on 25 August, 2019, 09:03:21 am
Things went pretty well through the first night but when the dawn broke between Villaines and Fougeres the wind got up and that was a real slog which carried on for the rest of the day. At Loudeac we were on schedule but broken and I took some time out, with a lie down on a bed (couldn’t sleep with the adjacent music playing) and set out for St Nicolas in the late evening and got there for midnight. The following day was great up and down the Roc and then onto Carhaix, Loudeac and deep into the morning hours to Quedillac. Things went well to Fougeres but as the sun strengthened, the energy levels weakend. At Villaines we took some more time out with a lie down and we knew we weren’t going to get any substantive sleep until the end. Got to Mortagne, had another lie down and left at 12:30 and had a brief lie down on route. This is the section that I really hated last time because of the oppressive need for sleep and ended up doing it even later this time! Once we got to Dreux, we only needed a bit of a lie down, the sun came up and we knocked out the last 45km in a lovely misty sunrise.
I loved the event, I was disappointed that I was unable to get more sleep than last time but enjoyed doing it on fixed, the main problem on that front was the big groups overtaking on the downs, boxing you in and then dying on the hills where we had to work our way out of the group to maintain momentum going uphill. On some of the rolling sections this would be repeated regularly. The hills were relentless but not steep.
I’m 57 now and I’d like to think that I have one more PBP in me to make it three but we’ll see how I feel in 4 years time.
Post by: davocon on 25 August, 2019, 09:48:19 am
I’ve had a few injuries this year which meant I was just happy to be on the start line and was aiming to just finish within the time limit. However, things seemed to be going pretty well and I was hitting my controls at times that made me think I might even make it to Brest before sleep. Then the wind hit and whilst it wouldn't have been horrendous in normal circumstances, I had gone out a bit too hard and so I struggled. Had a good sleep at Carhaix and made it to Brest just shy of 40 hours and dreaming of a sub-80 finish.
Ticked along nicely back to Loudeac despite a failed sleep attempt at Quedillac but then I started to have a slight niggle in my ankle which turned into a big pain by Villaines. 80hr schedule was JUST manageable as I left Villaines but then a combination of a mechanical a few km out, my Wahoo screen breaking and then faffing to sort this and finally my ankle breaking down further resulted in a reversion to plan A of just finishing. Ankle progressively got worse and I ended up only really being able to push with one leg and just roll the other one round and I couldn’t stand up in the pedals. Had to keep stopping for rests to let pain subside a bit before heading on again. A bit of a massage at Mortagne helped me on my way but I knew it was going to be a slow and painful ride in. Was looking forward to a massage top-up at Dreux only to discover they only had a first aid station so put my last bit of ibuprofen gel on and headed on. I found this leg the most frustrating as it was a great flat section which I know is have been able to speed through normally but there I was hobbling along haha.
Eventually rolled in at about 86:30 very relieved! It was an amazing experience with the support on the sides of the road and in hindsight it was really good, met and rode with some great people and no one cares about your time except yourself so chapeau to everyone who attempted the ride.
Post by: simonp on 25 August, 2019, 11:30:56 am
I finished in 86:41 which was a bit faster than last time but don’t think I got as much sleep. My aim after 2015 was to give it a go on fixed and for the last couple of years I have been riding almost exclusively on fixed. I used my usual 68” gear, there was a lot of talk about gearing up amongst our club but I knew how relentlessly hilly the route was and so stuck with it.
Things went pretty well through the first night but when the dawn broke between Villaines and Fougeres the wind got up and that was a real slog which carried on for the rest of the day. At Loudeac we were on schedule but broken and I took some time out, with a lie down on a bed (couldn’t sleep with the adjacent music playing) and set out for St Nicolas in the late evening and got there for midnight. The following day was great up and down the Roc and then onto Carhaix, Loudeac and deep into the morning hours to Quedillac. Things went well to Fougeres but as the sun strengthened, the energy levels weakend. At Villaines we took some more time out with a lie down and we knew we weren’t going to get any substantive sleep until the end. Got to Mortagne, had another lie down and left at 12:30 and had a brief lie down on route. This is the section that I really hated last time because of the oppressive need for sleep and ended up doing it even later this time! Once we got to Dreux, we only needed a bit of a lie down, the sun came up and we knocked out the last 45km in a lovely misty sunrise.
I loved the event, I was disappointed that I was unable to get more sleep than last time but enjoyed doing it on fixed, the main problem on that front was the big groups overtaking on the downs, boxing you in and then dying on the hills where we had to work our way out of the group to maintain momentum going uphill. On some of the rolling sections this would be repeated regularly. The hills were relentless but not steep.
I’m 57 now and I’d like to think that I have one more PBP in me to make it three but we’ll see how I feel in 4 years time.
Chapeau Jon. 68" is a good choice of gear IMO (I've used 69" twice). I tried the same thing of sleep at Loudeac during the day last time, but the music was too noisy for me as well. There was also someone throwing up in the dorm. I went straight through to Brest this time, yet still took two hours longer despite having gears - that headwind was a real bugger.
Post by: patchy on 25 August, 2019, 02:33:01 pm
Post by: orejas on 25 August, 2019, 04:18:39 pm
Brilliantly well done Claude (still very well done Zigzag of course) - so it looks like you are the fastest AUK finisher..... unless of course anyone knows better.
I have done a hasty update of the home page on the website to reflect this - apologies Claude for not giving you full credit at first.
Does anyone know which AUK member had the slowest time, but still less than 90 hours?
I took 89.29 after some seious mechanical and waiting a bit towards the end for some friends.
Post by: CJ on 25 August, 2019, 04:40:30 pm
Hi Jbb,say hello to Claire,we shared a shopping stop on tuesday evening,fruit cake and 1/2 lt of sour milk by mistake for me ,turned out to be rocket fuel,Hope Claire finished in good shape,
Hi! The fruit cake thing was amazing. I loved talking to the indian guys at that stop about my Horizon tyres. "Aren't they heavy?" I said if I need to lose weight anywhere its the tyre around my waist and they laughed.
Post by: CJ on 25 August, 2019, 04:41:51 pm
Still a great experience and I was able to help my friend Claire through a bad patch and I think she's going to make it.
Which I appreciate more with each passing day. Thank you.
Post by: Wycombewheeler on 25 August, 2019, 05:15:38 pm
Rambouillet was nice, but the timing sensor in the courtyard was pointless, it should have been under the visual finishing arch which looked like a finish, and also was where people were gathered, the only other thing they need to change was to make the exit different from the finishing straight, and not have all the vehicles parked up along the course, of if they are allowed, then they should be obliged to remain in place until after the final control closing time, with access to and from on the grass, rather than the course.
Post by: JBB on 25 August, 2019, 05:44:42 pm
Hi Jbb,say hello to Claire,we shared a shopping stop on tuesday evening,fruit cake and 1/2 lt of sour milk by mistake for me ,turned out to be rocket fuel,Hope Claire finished in good shape,
Ah, common mistake, Ribot instead of milk.
Post by: PeterM on 25 August, 2019, 06:08:18 pm
I liked Rambouillet as a start/finish, though the arrivee was a bit of a zoo and needed better signage or marshalling. The circuit of the cobbled courtyard was a nice idea but not exactly what you need after 1200k.
Post by: grams on 26 August, 2019, 09:45:45 am
When we started we left through a different gate, which on the way back we rode past, through the town, through the main gate, through the car park, through the motor home alley to get to where that gate came out. Just routing us in through that gate would have been a huge improvement.
I mean, I’m sure there are reasons why it was done the way it was done, but that doesn’t make it a better experience.
Post by: T42 on 26 August, 2019, 09:48:33 am
Post by: simonp on 26 August, 2019, 09:49:26 am
Looking at the pics & videos I get the impression that if the finish had been wet the place would've been a quagmire.
As it was at the bike check.
Post by: SR Steve on 26 August, 2019, 10:42:44 pm
Like last time I started in the 84 hour 05:30 Group Z so I would hopefully only have to ride through the Monday and Tuesday nights. Unfortunately I started feeling tired by 22:00 on the Monday night so started on the caffeine gels that I’d hoped to save for later and despite limiting my caffeine intake for literally years they had little effect. Instead my ability to keep going through that first night owes more to the kindness of the French people offering free vegetable soup, coffee and cake to riders from tables in their gardens by the route.
I was still running myself into the ground, only stopping to control at controls and then heading straight off, eating energy bars on the move, still steadily working my way through the bulge. I didn’t want to push my luck too far so decided to briefly rest my eyes. There wasn’t much opportunity in that vicinity and it was too cold to lie down outside so I just leaned on the back of a chevron sign on a bend and rested my head on my arms for a few seconds. The effect was immediate and I was able to up my pace all the way over the Roc to Brest.
It was 0930 when I turned at Brest after 28 hours elapsed time. I expected a tailwind after the previous day’s headwind but was disappointed to find more headwind! A definite againsterly wind whichever way I turned! I made the most of the Tuesday daylight by not stopping to eat until it got dark and for me this was Tinteneac. I was absolutely starving by this point and I picked up bean salad, potatoes, vegetable soup, coffee, Coke and water. I had to leave some of the food and put the Coke and water in my bottle. I was now attempting a second consecutive sleepless night, but mindful of a few couchage possibilities between Fougeres and Villaines. It was another cold night and I wore my foil blanket under my Goretex jacket again. I had foolishly expected my helmet to keep my head warm enough but too much heat was being lost through the vents. All I had was my spare shorts so I took my helmet off, put the pad on top of my head, a leg over each ear and the waist band to the back. The helmet held it in place and it worked brilliantly, making the cold bearable at the price of looking even weirder than usual.
The calm, kind lady welcoming me to the free couchage at Le Ribay didn’t bat an eyelid at my strange appearance and sleep deprived state. After using the pristine bathroom I had a choice of twenty or so mattresses in a small hall, all with pillows and blankets or duvets. I was awoken by her soft voice calling my name half an hour later. At first I thought it was my lucky day but I soon realised that I had a bike ride to finish off.
By Villaines it was warm enough for me to take off my Goretex jacket and I binned my foil blanket. The wind got up and it was still a nagging headwind. Pushing into it and constant climbing was making my legs sore, just above the knees, but I had to keep going as I couldn’t face going into another night. I did relent on the way to Dreux and stopped for a lie down in the shade of some rare trees between vast fields. This eased my aching legs and ensured that I could stay awake for the rest of the ride. I had a light meal at Dreux and then pushed on the final stage to the finish. I hadn’t looked at the diversion route and only had the original route in my GPS so was relying on the arrows and at first they seemed few and far between. The diversion was longer than expected and there wasn’t much of the route left when it finished.
I had worked out that I should be on for a personal best time anyway so hadn’t been pushing too hard and just trundled up to the finish, dodging people and campervans on the final approach. I thought I’d crossed the finish line, but was directed round the cobbled courtyard to the actual finish line. Despite the tough conditions I had managed to finish in a new PB time of 61:04 at the age of 55, beating my 2015 time by 25 minutes.
After a tasty vegetarian meal in the pleasant company of a group of AUKS, I rode back to my pitch at Huttopia, still in daylight on Wednesday evening. I was surprised to find a strange woman and her young daughter there, pitching a tent and even more surprised when she knew my full name! It turned out she was Rob Gray’s Dutch girlfriend who had traveled by bus from the Netherlands as a surprise to meet him at the finish. She had a long wait as Rob had a few problems but she was excellent company for me in the meantime. The following afternoon she presented Rob with a bunch of flowers that she had brought with her from the Netherlands and he was over the moon to see her.
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 27 August, 2019, 12:36:33 am
If it were up to me I’d either put the finish line and brevet stampers just inside the gate, or put the cars and motor homes somewhere other than the main drive (or just not have them!).
When we started we left through a different gate, which on the way back we rode past, through the town, through the main gate, through the car park, through the motor home alley to get to where that gate came out. Just routing us in through that gate would have been a huge improvement.
I mean, I’m sure there are reasons why it was done the way it was done, but that doesn’t make it a better experience.
The first three times I did PBP, I absolutely hated the finish. There were about 3 miles of busy new-town traffic, and local drivers were getting thoroughly pissed off. That was after a series of seemingly gratuitous hills, to avoid the worst of the approaches to St Quentin.
In 2011, I came in around 6am, and that was tolerable. The only good thing was the finish roundabout, which provided a bit of a spectacle. The 2015 finish was dismal, with a narrow path into a holding area behind the velodrome.
2015 was marred somewhat by security concerns. The Nice truck attack took place soon after, and there were bouncers on the doors at the velodrome. I saw no security at this PBP.
I did two 'finishes' for filming purposes. One at about midnight, and one at 9am. The motorhomes were a bit of a nuisance, but the main problem was what I call 'Reservoir Dogs Syndrome'; pedestrians walking abreast, and hogging the road.
The desire to introduce elements of Paris Roubaix into the finish was a touch ambitious, but was perhaps an attempt to evoke the spirit of the St Quentin roundabout. The courtyard finish was a good place to film, as you'd be in the middle of the road at the main arch. It was possible to sit and photograph the finishers in the courtyard in some comfort, but the combination of cobbles and gravel was a bit crazy.
Post by: Gattopardo on 27 August, 2019, 01:02:59 am
Have had a good chat with the president of the Rambouillet cycling club, he is a really nice. So can feedback your thoughts to him.
Post by: Martyn Wheeler on 27 August, 2019, 10:18:46 am
I had ridden three qualifying SR series in 1987, but had to DNF PBP with severe knee pain after damaging my bike and myself coming off on a wet descent. Since then I finished all seven PBPs but this year I had completed three SR again so was worried about history repeating itself!Legendary tale Steve!
Like last time I started in the 84 hour 05:30 Group Z so I would hopefully only have to ride through the Monday and Tuesday nights. Unfortunately I started feeling tired by 22:00 on the Monday night so started on the caffeine gels that I’d hoped to save for later and despite limiting my caffeine intake for literally years they had little effect. Instead my ability to keep going through that first night owes more to the kindness of the French people offering free vegetable soup, coffee and cake to riders from tables in their gardens by the route.
I was still running myself into the ground, only stopping to control at controls and then heading straight off, eating energy bars on the move, still steadily working my way through the bulge. I didn’t want to push my luck too far so decided to briefly rest my eyes. There wasn’t much opportunity in that vicinity and it was too cold to lie down outside so I just leaned on the back of a chevron sign on a bend and rested my head on my arms for a few seconds. The effect was immediate and I was able to up my pace all the way over the Roc to Brest.
It was 0930 when I turned at Brest after 28 hours elapsed time. I expected a tailwind after the previous day’s headwind but was disappointed to find more headwind! A definite againsterly wind whichever way I turned! I made the most of the Tuesday daylight by not stopping to eat until it got dark and for me this was Tinteneac. I was absolutely starving by this point and I picked up bean salad, potatoes, vegetable soup, coffee, Coke and water. I had to leave some of the food and put the Coke and water in my bottle. I was now attempting a second consecutive sleepless night, but mindful of a few couchage possibilities between Fougeres and Villaines. It was another cold night and I wore my foil blanket under my Goretex jacket again. I had foolishly expected my helmet to keep my head warm enough but too much heat was being lost through the vents. All I had was my spare shorts so I took my helmet off, put the pad on top of my head, a leg over each ear and the waist band to the back. The helmet held it in place and it worked brilliantly, making the cold bearable at the price of looking even weirder than usual.
The calm, kind lady welcoming me to the free couchage at Le Ribay didn’t bat an eyelid at my strange appearance and sleep deprived state. After using the pristine bathroom I had a choice of twenty or so mattresses in a small hall, all with pillows and blankets or duvets. I was awoken by her soft voice calling my name half an hour later. At first I thought it was my lucky day but I soon realised that I had a bike ride to finish off.
By Villaines it was warm enough for me to take off my Goretex jacket and I binned my foil blanket. The wind got up and it was still a nagging headwind. Pushing into it and constant climbing was making my legs sore, just above the knees, but I had to keep going as I couldn’t face going into another night. I did relent on the way to Dreux and stopped for a lie down in the shade of some rare trees between vast fields. This eased my aching legs and ensured that I could stay awake for the rest of the ride. I had a light meal at Dreux and then pushed on the final stage to the finish. I hadn’t looked at the diversion route and only had the original route in my GPS so was relying on the arrows and at first they seemed few and far between. The diversion was longer than expected and there wasn’t much of the route left when it finished.
I had worked out that I should be on for a personal best time anyway so hadn’t been pushing too hard and just trundled up to the finish, dodging people and campervans on the final approach. I thought I’d crossed the finish line, but was directed round the cobbled courtyard to the actual finish line. Despite the tough conditions I had managed to finish in a new PB time of 61:04 at the age of 55, beating my 2015 time by 25 minutes.
After a tasty vegetarian meal in the pleasant company of a group of AUKS, I rode back to my pitch at Huttopia, still in daylight on Wednesday evening. I was surprised to find a strange woman and her young daughter there, pitching a tent and even more surprised when she knew my full name! It turned out she was Rob Gray’s Dutch girlfriend who had traveled by bus from the Netherlands as a surprise to meet him at the finish. She had a long wait as Rob had a few problems but she was excellent company for me in the meantime. The following afternoon she presented Rob with a bunch of flowers that she had brought with her from the Netherlands and he was over the moon to see her.
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Post by: FifeingEejit on 27 August, 2019, 11:32:59 am
That's where we sat later on.
Got round in 86:32:32, happy with that.
I know where I can save a lot of time next time...
Post by: Wobbly on 27 August, 2019, 02:23:37 pm
The first three times I did PBP, I absolutely hated the finish. There were about 3 miles of busy new-town traffic, and local drivers were getting thoroughly pissed off. That was after a series of seemingly gratuitous hills, to avoid the worst of the approaches to St Quentin.
That ^
In 2011 ... The only good thing was the finish roundabout, which provided a bit of a spectacle.
That ^
The 2015 finish was dismal, with a narrow path into a holding area behind the velodrome.
And that ^
Post by: vorsprung on 27 August, 2019, 08:11:40 pm
Vorsprung marked as finished in 90:34. Haven't bumped into him on the campsite yet to find out the story.
You didn't bump into me at the campsite..you should have been in the bar, that was the correct way to find me
Why did I take 34m too many?
1) I had a headcold when I started but it wasn't severe and I thought it was hayfever. Didn't really figure it out until after the event. So I consistently misjudged when to sleep and how much I should push it
2) Pulled a Ukraine rider out of a ditch on the retour before Tintenac. Gave him a sandwich, fixed his bars straight again, apparently his really loose headset is "always like that". This was about 30m delay I guess by the time I'd ridden along slowly with him
3) Chatted too much to various people instead of riding hard
4) Between Tintenac and Fougeres Rider behind me crashed. It was a touch of wheels. Blow to the head and severe concussion. Made them sit down and wait for a bit and then called an ambulance. To be exact a friendly local called the ambulance as they knew where they were :) Waited for the ambulance. Answered questions from the ambulance crew with mixture of pointing at translation cards, badly spoken french and the power of mime. Kept telling crashed rider that they were in France, that their bags were on the ambulance, that we'd arranged for the bike to be picked up by the race orgs and that I would phone their husband. About 1h30m delay. Thankfully, I heard that they have no lasting damage and made their way back to Rambouillet on the train
5) Now I was in triple trouble as I wasn't going well, I was off the back and there was only 300km or so to go. I think one person over took me on the fast section after Villianes, I was only doing 27kph into a slight headwind but the rest of the field at that point were doing even worse than me. I didn't have another proper sleep but a few emergency cat naps and this didn't help the time
I am not especially bothered about missing the cut off. I made the distance when a lot didn't and I was trying to make it right to the end
.
Post by: Chris S on 27 August, 2019, 08:23:50 pm
Post by: yanto on 27 August, 2019, 08:24:56 pm
As this was my first PBP and setting off with the specials at 5:15 I didn't know what to expect so stayed close to a friend and fellow velomobile rider, after 30km he siad to me "we're going too fast ease off" only I didn't feel that way, I wasn't feeling that the pace was too much, in fact I thought it was a bit slow, we eventually drifted apart and I didn't see him again until he finished in about 88 hrs.
I was constantly riding with other velomobiles and tandems, which have the same road dynamics apart from tandems climb faster. Talking of climbs, I didn't find any particularly taxing, I just geared down and spun my way up slowly, this caused a lot of yo-yoing with groups as they overtook me going up and I overtook them going down.
I carried a fair amount of food with me so at controls I just stopped for water, I didn't stop for sleep the first night. On the descent of the Roc' towards Sizun, I suffered I front wheel puncture at about 70kph, it wasn't a problem but I took some time to stop with gentle braking, so much for the sealant in the innertubes! A very messy change of both tyre and inner tube and I was off, only to be stopped soon after by the Police, apparently I had been caught at 80kph in a 50 kph zone, with my poor French and his poor English I managed to prove to him that I couldn't pay a fine, I was on(in) a bike and I couldn't go and get him money, he eventually relented taking my details from the Brevet card and said I would receive the fine in England! I have subsequently looked at my GPX files and can't find a place where I was doing that speed on the run between Sizun and the outskirts of Brest!
Soon after the stop I developed the squits again making me stop at a supermarket for the loos, I also restocked on fluids and a bit of food.
I didn't like the run into or out of Brest, but I guess It's a busy place and it was about 5pm. Riding out of Brest it soon became apparent that the head wind that had been keeping me cool on hills was now about the same speed as me climbing, i.e. no cooling breeze, I suffered really badly from overheating until the sun set and the wind died.
It was surprisingly cold during the nights and on the Monday night I was feeling it badly on the descents, the mist and strong lights of the approaching outbound riders were making me close my eyes, I became aware that I was having micro-sleeps so at about 4am I found a wooden pic-nic bench, got out my bivvy bag and somehow slept for over 2 hrs waking to violent shivers. I had to get on my way just to try and warm up. Soon the sun came up which cheered me up. I stopped for coffee and pain au'choc' at a cafe somewhere!
By now my ability to eat had failed, nothing tempted me at controls and when I did try and eat it was like eating cardboard, alcohol free beer turned out to be the best lubricant.
At every control I would be surrounded by people taikng photographs and asking questions, while this expected (it always happens) on a tired brain it became a bit wearing and I inevitably had to border on being rude just to escape.
Eventually the hills subsided and I was on a fast run into Druex with speeds of about 40-45kph, although once into the town they dropped significantly, I was most disappointed with the control at Dreux, there was nobody to tell me where to go, where to park, where the control was, it soon became apparent why, a whole detachment of Fireman and women were there and all the volunteers bar one on the road where with them. Eventually I found the control with two ladies at the desk, they seemed most upset when I said I wanted to go straight out to Rambouillet, when I clip clopped my way back over the wooden bridge I found about 20 fireman and volunteers poking about my velomobile, they had turned my lights and were looking under the seat the cheeky feckers, I asked them to stop, then the question and answer period started again, eventually I escaped back into a very noisy town centre with lots of youths doing youth type driving/racing.
Finally I was out in the countryside, after a while I noticed I hadm't seen a sign for a while, until I eventually saw a red cross, backtracking a couple of junctions provided no clues so i went a few Km back eventually I saw an arrow, on following this again I became aware that I wasn't seeing any arrows. After a few minutes of map reading I knew I was heading in the direction of Rambouillet so I carried on, to my relief a couple more Km down the road I saw a rider and followed him until I was seeing more arrows and gained confidence that I was on the correct route.
The run from Dreux to Rambouillet was fast until hitting the cobbled section but what a relief I had made it, up through the deserted motorhome park, my car was still there then a slow climb up to the finish and the nasty cobbles through the arch and I'd finished, but only half a dozen people there. I felt slightly deflated.
Overall though very pleased with my time of 54:26 and I wasn't a physical wreck despite not being able to eat for essentially 400km, in fact I couldn't eat the finishers meal.
But, the bug has bitten, a bit late perhaps at 56 years old, but I would think I have at least one more go in me.
Post by: vorsprung on 27 August, 2019, 08:43:01 pm
I would like to think you'd get mitigation for some of those :)
I've applied for extra time but if I've asked the right people in the right way who knows?
The mystery of PBP will work itself out
Post by: Redlight on 27 August, 2019, 09:15:59 pm
I would like to think you'd get mitigation for some of those :)
I've applied for extra time but if I've asked the right people in the right way who knows?
The mystery of PBP will work itself out
Let's hope your request is viewed sympathetically. I was following you on the tracker and wondered why your 'pace' had suddenly trailed off. On Thursday I was checking in about every 15 minutes to see if you were going to make it!
ISTR that jsabine had a similar experience, helping another rider, in 2015 and was given appropriate latitude. Good luck.
Post by: Phil W on 27 August, 2019, 09:22:47 pm
It's one thing for interested parties to ask questions but fiddling about inside your velomobile was out of order.
Post by: velosophie on 27 August, 2019, 09:23:02 pm
Being French but leaving in the UK since 2017, sorry in advance for my English!
"
The start at 4pm feels like a big relief. No more waiting for bike check, unclear sign on where the start is, etc. My plan is not to have any but try to stay in a group. Pace at the start is OK, obviously everyone was a bit nervous with the cross wind. I take the opportunity in the first 2 hrs to talk to people with experience about how the control points and food/drink work. But we pass the first drink station which was not a control after 110k and I miss the drink but asks someone on the side of the road and am quickly back in action. I am now in a group of around 10 until the first control point (around 210k). It is getting dark, one German guy screams about my fixed rear light being too bright. No worries I have another one less bright, but ask him to be a bit polite, your are way too nervous Sir! We reach the first official control point. Nice atmosphere with the speaker, a lot of people cheering despite the night! I grab an apple pie and water and leave. I am then riding with a guy from the B group who left 15min after me, he is pretty excited to catch the front... I find out his name is Michel Mingant and it is his 9th PBP at 60! He is super strong. After a bit we are now with a group of 15 from A-B-C group and notice I am the only one with a big saddle bag, they all have outside support at control points. I lose time at every control points but try to stay with them. control 2: water and 2 croissants (I like croissant but as energy supply not so much...). Control 3: water and I buy some Overstims bars which took for every and were much more expensive than the 1E croissant. oh well.... I also have some stock but they get empty I still feel I need more food to continue at this pace! We get close to Loudeac km445 and tell the guys I will have to stop longer next, but one guy Denis Moran offers his team to support me as well since one of his teammate had to abandon earlier. A process is put in place with our group of around 10: 5 min stops at control, re-group at the town exit (all had support teams at controls) and keep going. We reach Brest after 21.5 hrs riding through the first night, the pace is still excellent. The experienced riders are really nice and help me a lot. Denis' support team is so nice with me at the control points, I feel bad to eat their food but they tell me not to worry. On the way back the pace slows down despite slightly better wind conditions, everybody starts to feel tired as we get in the 2nd night with no sleep. We start to see waves of riders on their way to Brest. I feel bad for them! Some congratulate us, some wonder why we are coming the opposite way :-). I see riders in the fields catching some sleep. Some facing major mechanical with almost the entire bike in pieces! I still do some work upfront but am definitively not the strongest in the group. We stop a bit longer at controls but still around 15-20min max. It gets cold and I only have a thin wind jacket while others put let warmers, hats, winter jacket, etc. Well I trained in the UK so think I will be OK and it reminds me of the 400 BRM Paddington express night which was also very cold, but this is night 2. Everybody is struggling but we keep going, we catch some riders who struggle to stay with the group. We get to one ride that I meet and discover a fellow AUK rider Zigzag. He rides very strong but he feels he is falling asleep. To be safe with us, he rides in the back but unfortunately eventually had to stop for a sleep. The control point routine continues. It is down to 5c that night. I start to struggle, and despite talking to my "companions", I do not feel great. I do more work upfront, being "in charge" of checking the signs and pedaling a bit harder keeps me better awake. I can tell some still want to catch the first riders, I would not care less and happy with the planned ETA, anyway everybody is getting tired. The sun finally comes out but takes so long to warm us up. Surprisingly at around 150-200km to go our group face issues, around 5 have various problems (a few are falling sleep, one is facing neck issue and almost hit a truck coming the opposite way, Michel is unfortunately not straight on his bike anymore and struggles to keep it upright, 2 crashes at a stop but no damage, etc.), we are really struggling on the leg to Dreux and have to stop several times or slowdown to keep the group together. We split at the Dreux control point and the 5 of us continue to the end. 40k to go! 3 have a lot of power left and push at 35-40k/hr, I can follow but not get upfront anymore! We know around 3 riders are ahead by 2hrs, we just ride to finish. I pass the finish line after 46h56, I let my team mates finish first as a Rookie Gentleman. A French journalist wants to interview me, well tough for me to say anything smart especially after 2 nights with no sleep! A small video got published by France 3 :-). Now the family duty calls, son wants to be with dad! He is used to watching me doing some Cx races, but not leave for events that long! Time to go home. What an incredible experience! Denis Moran's help and support team at controls made the difference to reach this time. On top of my repair kit and food which all got eaten on the way to Brest, I still carried around 1kg for nothing (spare bib, tooth brush/paste, a lot of battery packs, spare brake pads, etc.), but should have put some leg warmers in the bag!
"
It is nice reading your stories and there are some many ways to ride PBP that I understand why people do it every 4 years!
Claude
Post by: Davef on 27 August, 2019, 09:42:53 pm
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Post by: Von Broad on 28 August, 2019, 08:12:13 am
Here is my story of my first PBP completed in 46h56. In total I stopped for 2.5hrs in total (44h30 riding time), no sleep, so around 10min per control point. This plus riding in a group, getting some food/drinks from other people's support crew only at control points from a bit before Brest explain the relatively fast time.
Being French but leaving in the UK since 2017, sorry in advance for my English!
No problem.
It is getting dark, one German guy screams about my fixed rear light being too bright. No worries I have another one less bright, but ask him to be a bit polite, your are way too nervous Sir!
You communicate very well. :)
Chapeau Claude, extraordinary ride. Reading these kind of accounts is akin to reading something from a different universe. It's mind boggling to understand how you lot can keep going for so long without sleep - although sleep is forever hammering on the door! Nice to see the human side of Zigzag being exposed too :)
Interesting to see Michel Mingant finished in 49hrs. That's inspiring for those of us knocking on a bit.
Well done. Amazing stuff.
Post by: jsabine on 28 August, 2019, 10:14:00 am
I would like to think you'd get mitigation for some of those :)
I've applied for extra time but if I've asked the right people in the right way who knows?
The mystery of PBP will work itself out
Let's hope your request is viewed sympathetically. I was following you on the tracker and wondered why your 'pace' had suddenly trailed off. On Thursday I was checking in about every 15 minutes to see if you were going to make it!
ISTR that jsabine had a similar experience, helping another rider, in 2015 and was given appropriate latitude. Good luck.
Indeed - I got two hours knocked off, having spent them waiting for a controller to arrive to assist a French rider who was by the roadside, sans vélo, somewhere between Mortagne and Dreux.
I did get that signed off in my brevet card by the roadside though - hope whoever you spoke to has the power to get appropriate adjustments made.
Post by: vorsprung on 28 August, 2019, 10:48:02 am
Indeed - I got two hours knocked off, having spent them waiting for a controller to arrive to assist a French rider who was by the roadside, sans vélo, somewhere between Mortagne and Dreux.
I did get that signed off in my brevet card by the roadside though - hope whoever you spoke to has the power to get appropriate adjustments made.
Yeah although I went to to the Fougeres control to check on the crashed rider no one signed anything at the time. The control people didn't think of it and neither did I. The bike was picked up etc so the incident is recorded in some way. I've emailed Thiery Rivet (apparently the right person) but whether it will work out ok, who knows? I emailed in English, which won't help :)
TBH as a 2x Ancien helping people is more important than homogulation so it's not the "oh you must be gutted" that other people are saying to me
Post by: vorsprung on 28 August, 2019, 10:53:40 am
Here is my story of my first PBP completed in 46h56. .... What an incredible experience! ....
"
It is nice reading your stories and there are some many ways to ride PBP that I understand why people do it every 4 years!
Claude
great write up and very athletic performance!
Post by: [tim] on 28 August, 2019, 01:24:51 pm
52:33:27 moving
15:12:30 stopped with 6:30 ‘sleeping’ (5:00 at ~606km /1:30 @ ~1012km) and 9:28:39 at controls (mostly eating)
1589 tss
11,302m climbing
26,044 kJ
15 sandwiches
19 pastries
18 coffees
4 pro plus
6 ibroufen
4 bananas
3 gels
2 apples
2 crepe
Nice ride, scenery was a bit samey for the first/last 550km.
Finish was tedious / dangerous.
Support was amazing.
Post by: Ivo on 31 August, 2019, 03:15:49 pm
Indeed - I got two hours knocked off, having spent them waiting for a controller to arrive to assist a French rider who was by the roadside, sans vélo, somewhere between Mortagne and Dreux.
I did get that signed off in my brevet card by the roadside though - hope whoever you spoke to has the power to get appropriate adjustments made.
Yeah although I went to to the Fougeres control to check on the crashed rider no one signed anything at the time. The control people didn't think of it and neither did I. The bike was picked up etc so the incident is recorded in some way. I've emailed Thiery Rivet (apparently the right person) but whether it will work out ok, who knows? I emailed in English, which won't help :)
TBH as a 2x Ancien helping people is more important than homogulation so it's not the "oh you must be gutted" that other people are saying to me
Thierry speaks enough English to handle emails in English.
Post by: postie on 31 August, 2019, 06:10:23 pm
Post by: jsabine on 31 August, 2019, 08:26:03 pm
Post by: vorsprung on 31 August, 2019, 08:58:45 pm
Yes , but vorsprung is from DEVON- a very odd type of english. Is spoken . Even the English don't really understand it. :demon:
When I moved to Devon 25 years ago I was baffled by Uncle Michaels way of speaking. All I could make out was the odd swear word. When I mentioned it, I was told "oh noone understands him"
Post by: vorsprung on 06 September, 2019, 05:05:26 pm
Indeed - I got two hours knocked off, having spent them waiting for a controller to arrive to assist a French rider who was by the roadside, sans vélo, somewhere between Mortagne and Dreux.
I did get that signed off in my brevet card by the roadside though - hope whoever you spoke to has the power to get appropriate adjustments made.
Yeah although I went to to the Fougeres control to check on the crashed rider no one signed anything at the time. The control people didn't think of it and neither did I. The bike was picked up etc so the incident is recorded in some way. I've emailed Thiery Rivet (apparently the right person) but whether it will work out ok, who knows? I emailed in English, which won't help :)
TBH as a 2x Ancien helping people is more important than homogulation so it's not the "oh you must be gutted" that other people are saying to me
Thierry speaks enough English to handle emails in English.
Email back from ACP today
Quote
Hi
Good news, we took in account your request and you will be finisher with the time of 90 hours.
Regards
Thierry Rivet
Which is cool
Post by: Chris S on 06 September, 2019, 05:25:21 pm
Indeed - I got two hours knocked off, having spent them waiting for a controller to arrive to assist a French rider who was by the roadside, sans vélo, somewhere between Mortagne and Dreux.
I did get that signed off in my brevet card by the roadside though - hope whoever you spoke to has the power to get appropriate adjustments made.
Yeah although I went to to the Fougeres control to check on the crashed rider no one signed anything at the time. The control people didn't think of it and neither did I. The bike was picked up etc so the incident is recorded in some way. I've emailed Thiery Rivet (apparently the right person) but whether it will work out ok, who knows? I emailed in English, which won't help :)
TBH as a 2x Ancien helping people is more important than homogulation so it's not the "oh you must be gutted" that other people are saying to me
Thierry speaks enough English to handle emails in English.
Email back from ACP todayQuoteHi
Good news, we took in account your request and you will be finisher with the time of 90 hours.
Regards
Thierry Rivet
Which is cool
That's fair.
Post by: Neil C on 06 September, 2019, 06:50:47 pm
Post by: Ivo on 06 September, 2019, 08:06:01 pm
Post by: Chrisheg on 07 September, 2019, 07:21:58 pm
At some stage would you like me to feed back your issues to the organisers?
Have had a good chat with the president of the Rambouillet cycling club, he is a really nice. So can feedback your thoughts to him.
My take:
I thought the finish was unnecessarily chaotic. I came in around 1300 and there were hundreds of oblivious people walking, riding, and driving on the road to the finish before and during the cobblestones. The gravel/cobble stretch to the timer seemed confusing and potentially dangerous for exhausted riders. I would recommend at least putting the timer at the finish kite. The trip to bike storage and to the tent was also very crowded and slow and prominent signs would have helped. Overall, not circling around in the Bergerie would have greatly simplified the whole process and putting up something like cones and caution tape to separate the finishers from the crowd on the road up from the park entrance would have helped as well.
I didn't like he ride into SQY either but I thought the finish layout in 2011 was much better and more obvious than either 2015 or 2019.
Post by: vorsprung on 09 September, 2019, 08:37:39 am
At some stage would you like me to feed back your issues to the organisers?
Have had a good chat with the president of the Rambouillet cycling club, he is a really nice. So can feedback your thoughts to him.
My take:
I thought the finish was unnecessarily chaotic. I came in around 1300 and there were hundreds of oblivious people walking, riding, and driving on the road to the finish before and during the cobblestones. The gravel/cobble stretch to the timer seemed confusing and potentially dangerous for exhausted riders. I would recommend at least putting the timer at the finish kite. The trip to bike storage and to the tent was also very crowded and slow and prominent signs would have helped. Overall, not circling around in the Bergerie would have greatly simplified the whole process and putting up something like cones and caution tape to separate the finishers from the crowd on the road up from the park entrance would have helped as well.
I didn't like he ride into SQY either but I thought the finish layout in 2011 was much better and more obvious than either 2015 or 2019.
The finish was chaotic but I would guess if they ran it again with the same layout it could work better as the crowds would know to keep out of the way of incoming riders
Or maybe they could hire more barriers
Post by: Ajax Bay on 14 September, 2019, 11:15:57 am
Email back from ACP today
"Hi
Good news, we took in account your request and you will be finisher with the time of 90 hours.
Regards
Thierry Rivet"
Which is cool
Great!