The PBP 84 hour experience

[Hamish Moffatt]

I'm considering entering the 84 hour start in order to spend less time
riding at night. Can some PBP veterans comment on whether this lessens
the experience in any way, with regard to the size of the (riding)
crowds and the French cheering along the route?

I might decide I'm not confident about the shorter time limit anyway,
but would welcome some input.

As an aside, it looks like the 90 hour start will involve riding a lot
of nights and sleeping during the day a bit, assuming the first two
sleeps are at Loudeac and leaving shortly before closing time. Right?

thanks
Hamish

[Phil Chadwick]

On 16 June 2011 15:22, Hamish Moffatt <ham...@cloud.net.au> wrote:

I'm considering entering the 84 hour start in order to spend less time
riding at night. Can some PBP veterans comment on whether this lessens
the experience in any way, with regard to the size of the (riding)
crowds and the French cheering along the route?

I think it probably does.  if you want the the full PBP experience then I'd recommend the 90 hour start.  That huge mass start & night ride out of Paris is fantastic

(I did the 90 in  2003 and the 84 in 2007 and I've entered the 84 again this time)

P

[Mark Wolff]

Not to quibble Phil, but I think you mean the evening start out of "San Quentin"
is fantastic? Paris proper is a ways off.

Can't speak to the 84 Hour start experience, I've started both of mine w/ the
masses.

Hope you all have great weather and a terrific ride this summer over there!

MW

[Steve Rice]

The departure for the 90 ride won't be in the dark - it is scheduled for 6:00pm this time.  Should make for a safer start - I have seen plenty of crashes in the first 20 miles.

Steve

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[Paul Rozelle]

I'm an 84-hour ancien from '07 (finishing in 79:10). I'll do the 84-
hour start again this year. Even in the lousy '07 weather, I found
that I did minimal riding at night. It helped me keep my sleep cycle
close to something normal (ride during the day; sleep at night). I
did the whole ride off one charge of my Niterider Moab, so I was less
than 11 hours in the dark. If I want to ride in the dark, I'll do
that at home. Dark is dark. I want to "see" France!

In '07, I did have a problem catching up the 90-hour riders at
Loudeac. It was about 11pm when I got there, and it was a madhouse.
Seemed like I rolled in at the same time as the bulk of the 90-hour
riders. Lots of folks there; services overwhelmed. Two things about
that: (1) '07 was a unique year. Lots of folks DNF'd there and were
just hanging out; (2) big changes have been made for '11. The earlier
start means the "bubble" of 90-hour riders ought to be clear of
Loudeac by the time most of the 84-hour riders get there. Most of the
84-hour riders will likely catch them further up the road than they
did in '07. I would suspect the resources at Loudeac to be much less
stressed this year than they were in '07 due to the changes in the
starting times, even with what looks like a 20% larger field.

There were plenty of people cheering on the course, but no so much on
Day 1. It's a lonely start at SQY. No big crowds. But by the end of
the day, you'll see plenty of folks out on the course giving you a
much-needed "Bon courage!" In '07, I went down for all the hoopla
Sunday night and participated in the party, watched my friends start,
etc. And then I went back to my hotel and got a good night's sleep!
For me, that was definitely the way to do PBP.

Opinions on this one vary, but I think if you're confidently finishing
600Ks over similar terrain in 35 hours or less, then you'll have
plenty of margin for error with the 84-hour start. My fastest 600Ks
have only been about 32 hours, and I've had some 36+-hour 600Ks to my
name, and I never had a worry about running up against control closing
times at PBP.

Paul

[roadijeff]

On Jun 16, 9:22 am, Hamish Moffatt <ham...@cloud.net.au> wrote:
>
> I might decide I'm not confident about the shorter time limit anyway,
> but would welcome some input.

This will be my 4th PBP. I've always started in the 84 hour group
because of the smaller crowds and also beginning a long ride at 5:00
a.m. is closer to what my body is used to.

As far as not having enough time versus the 90 hour start it seems
that many riders spend close to the same amount of time on the bike,
within 5 hours or so (50-55 hours actual riding). The difference is
the 90 hour group spends much more time at the controls standing in
line for food, restrooms, etc. The choice is yours but if you do the
90 hour start, check your total riding time on your computer after you
cross the finish line and recall this message. :-)