More PBP hints and information
| June 13, 2011 | Posted by RandoRob under Events, PBP, Randonneuring |
Riding PBP is not for the faint of heart. However, it is meant as an event that an average cyclist can complete. Difficult, but certainly doable. Do the math yourself. Averaging only 10 miles per hour you would complete the event in 75 hours. Finishing near the 90 time limit would mean you averaged a little better than 8 miles an hour.
I know from watching many of you ride and complete the brevets that you all ride faster then this. A key to completing PBP will be to be efficient. Lost time is lost time. That’s why I ride the brevets like I intend to ride PBP. One of my key goals is being efficient as possible through the controls. I’ll start the event with enough food and fluid to get me through the first couple controls before filling up again, usually about 60 to 90 miles. It certainly helps to know the routes and my body and how much it needs to complete those distances.
Do the math again. If you stop and spend 15 minutes at each control you are probably adding 1.5 to 2 hours to even a 400 km event. Do not get me wrong about getting good rest time. I don’t consider hanging around the control for a few minutes as getting proper rest. That 1.5 to 2 hours saved should be banked for a good lie down and sleep break. That’s why in one of the previous notes I suggested to ride aggressively with your time early in the event so this important sleep time can be banked later when you really need it.
The start of PBP is going to be hectic. The first official control at PBP is at the 200 km mark. There is a food and fluid control at about 85 miles, but is not a required control to present you card. Many riders carry what is required to ride the first 200 non-stop. I’ll ride with a Camelback to insure I have the fluid to get to this first control before stopping.
A reason for this is because with the large start groups at PBP you can ride in a pack and get sucked along with little effort. What better way to start than to finish 200 km and still have pretty fresh legs.
Controls at PBP are going to be more spread out than what we have on our brevets. The distances usually will be 50 to 70 miles between controls. The shortest is only 35 miles. The controls will always have cafeteria foods available and it’s good food, cycling friendly foods. Do not depend on only eating at the controls. They are not Kwik Trips. We will be riding through villages and cities and you can stop at any number of cafes or bakeries for extra nourishment.
I’ll take a generous supply of energy bars to eat along the route. Always having something in the jersey pocket to eat in the event a bonk starts to come on.
WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY SECRET CONTROLS, BUT EXPECT AT LEAST 2 AT PBP. ONE OUT BOUND
AND ONE ON THE RETURN.
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