A023 ...
It’s a shame there’s no ‘bricking it’ emoticon
It's good to be nervous before you start. Worst thing you can be is complacent about the outcome.
I'm not so sure. The two rides I have had doubts about I ended up DNF. Easter arrow 2018 and Mille pennines the same year.
ISTR using a similar brick related epithet in 2015.
In an Arrivee article long ago , Tom Jackson (multiple PBP finisher) stated that if you had 5000 miles on the clock from Jan.1st to arriving on the start line, you were in pretty good shape. In my experience,I'd say he was about right. You won't be the fastest or the most elegant and you may not get much sleep but you should get round in time.
In 2011, I had done the qualifying rides and a few more 200km. events-well within time-got round on pure adrenalin.
Same in 2015.-didn't enjoy it as much but that was my bad planning and not getting enough sleep.
Unless you have a supreme level of confidence generally and are also used to bashing around 3 or 400 kms. every other weekend then a few nerves are understandable. It's a long way and many things can happen.
Preparation, experience and mental planning all determine whether you are successful.
Thinking about things that can happen and how to overcome them is way different to contemplating failure.
Mods-Probably should start a new thread on "Positive Thinking for PBP "