[LEL17] Is LEL easier than PBP?

[vorsprung]

C'mon Anciens, "They are difficult in different ways" is a cop out.  Make a judgement

You can't provide an option in your poll and complain when people choose that option!

I can!  and I will!

It's just a last option for people on the verge of a nervous breakdown!   Even if the difference is 0.001% or less there must be something you can decide

Remember this poll is the MOST IMPORTANT question of our generation.  Brexit and Brangelina pale into insignificance

[alwyn]

I'd kill this thread and start another poll with a binary option.

[The French Tandem]

It's just a last option for people on the verge of a nervous breakdown! 

I didn't realize I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, thank you for telling me 

Even if the difference is 0.001% or less there must be something you can decide

This is a multidimensional problem. Since you are a computer specialist, as you stated in another thread, you probably knows a thing or two about that. You can say simultaneously "PBP is easier regarding criterion A", and "LEL is  easier regarding criterion B". No one can tell which one is easier overall, it depends on which criterion is more important for you!

[Aunt Maud]

I would say it all probably depends on whether you like baguettes or not.

[Greenbank]

C'mon Anciens, "They are difficult in different ways" is a cop out.  Make a judgement

Define harder/easier and I'll make a judgement.

PBP is harder because the minimum average speed is higher.
LEL is harder because it's longer than PBP.
PBP is harder because it's almost constantly undulating.
LEL is harder because it has large sections of flat but then much bigger hills.
PBP is harder because of the language barrier (although I think I spoke more dreadful French/German/Spanish on LEL than I did on PBP).
LEL is harder because of the lack of roadside encouragement.
...

[red marley]

In their acronym forms, I think LEL is just a little easier to say than PBP.

[Deano]

There should be a voting option for those of us who've only ridden one (or neither) but want to vote anyway.

[Greenbank]

There should be a voting option for those of us who've only ridden one (or neither) but want to vote anyway.

Start a new thread and add your own poll.

[Deano]

As if I'm taking it that seriously

[mattc]

Brexit and Brangelina pale into insignificance

I'm sorry, but I can't take you seriously after that. Just ridiculous. 

[CrazyEnglishTriathlete]

C'mon Anciens, "They are difficult in different ways" is a cop out.  Make a judgement

OK Vorsprung.  PBP in 2015 was easy-peasy 

[vorsprung]

C'mon Anciens, "They are difficult in different ways" is a cop out.  Make a judgement

OK Vorsprung.  PBP in 2015 was easy-peasy 

dah!  I missed that one!

[Aunt Maud]

Downhill all the way and a tailwind in both directions too.

[Pete Mas]

I found that LEL ( completed 2009) was easier than my PBP's ( 3 times, 2007, 2011, 2015, but only finished in 2011).

I always did the 90 hour PBP with evening start and suffered more with sleep deprivation at the end. On LEL, despite the poor weather that year and a bad mechanical I still managed to get enough sleep and finish with time-in-hand.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

There is no such thing as an easy 1200(+) brevet but neither PBP nor LEL are within the ranks of the hardest long brevets. I'd put PBP as slightly tougher for full value riders, due to the higher minimum speed required for the first 600km, generally longer daily distances throughout and the absolute requirement to ride through the first night.

Finished: PBP 1999 to 2015 inclusive, LEL 2005 and 2013, several other 1200(+) brevets

[Ivo]

I've missed the poll due to riding a 1200 in Uzbekistan.

I've done 6 PBP's (finished 4, packed 2) and 4 LEL's (finished all 4 but out of time in 2009).
For me as a full value rider who likes nightriding LEL is easier. The relaxed time limit and especially the way it's calculated reduces the sleeping problems. Apart from my first LEL where there were only a few manned controls (1997), I never had an issue finding a place to sleep at the control I prefered to sleep. PBP is different, sleepspaces are limited if you're in the bulge. So sleepmanagement is a lot easier on LEL
The hills on LEL suit me more, the long drags in Scotland are easier to handle as the short steep climbs on PBP.
LEl doesn't have the popular support which is a great plus for PBP but the controls are better stocked so you need less outside assistance. And since there are more supermarkets by the roadside it's easier to buy your supplies during daytime.
I can rule out language issues (speak both English and French), regional knowledge (both area's I only visit once every 4 years) and due to the amount of events ridden, weather influences.