I think those of us who finished it this time, owe it to the Ourselves of 2019 (and anyone else who might be interested) in committing to silicon salient experiences and summaries from this time, that the audax Men-in-Black will blot out. This thread might... just might... prove to be a resource for the PBP2019 sub-board that will probably appear near here.
Here are my contributions, in no particular order.
1. PBP is NOT flat. It's a 1% ride (1230km laterally/11700m vertically). There's nothing steep, but the rolling +80m/-80m is relentless - for days. So pick hilly qualifiers. Don't stay east of the meridian. Do the Bryan Chapman (or equivalent) for your 600.
2. Learn to manage sleep. Do some overnight rides in the vacuum between qualification and PBP itself; they really help.
3. Emetophobes. You will see people throwing up. Deal with it.
4. Don't fear the desire to eat Spag Bol at 3am. Listen to your body. Your body knows best, unless it's saying "I wanna go home...." in which case, stop at the next place that feeds your weakness. You know... McDs, a Crepe+Nutella place, a bar, just something that says "I hear ya - you're hurtin' - have some of this."
5. Don't underestimate the level of SMUG you get from seeing folks still heading for Brest, when you are Paris-bound; Fuck Yeah! OK, they almost certainly started later, and they're just doing what you did last night, but FUCK - they're headed West, when you're headed EAST. NUff said.
6. I mentioned the hills, right? If PBP2019 is your first - listen. PBP2015 was my first, and I was on the same bike as someone who had done it all before in 2011. She had no recollection of the hill at Bécherel. It has an Eglise, and a fucking great mast at the top, OK? If you do the Severn Across as your 400 qualifier, you'll know how masts-on-hills work. There are two on PBP - the one everyone remembers at La Roc'h Trevezel, and the other one.
7. Unless you're really into the Refugee vibe - book hotels en-route. F1s aren't glamorous, but they do have a 24-hour checkin window, showers, and a bed that will feel SO much more comfortable than a grass verge, and if you carry 21st Century tech with you, you can cancel the fucker several hours in advance, if you've scored a tow from a tandem.
8. Tandems. Tuck the FUCK in, and hold on tight. NEVER. EVER, waste a tandem tow. If they're going just that bit too fast for you, work that bit too hard to stay the fuck on, because overall, they WILL save you energy, and time. Don't box them in on the descents, tuck the fuck in behind, and hold on tight. Next climb, take the time (there could be a lot!) to get your breath back, take in the surroundings, and admire the backside of the stoker.
9. The hills. (You did that). OK.
10. Have fun. It's a ride that has history, and true adventure.