Paris Brest Paris 2027

[Peter Hewitt]

Is there interest in preparing for PBP ’27?   I rode it only in ’07 and would like to ride my second PBP, having not attempted a 1200km ride since that time, and having come to the conclusion that riding in the US is clearly inferior to dozens of foreign countries, including France.   I am seeking to learn whether there is interest in planning to go to/from, not ride, PBP together.   The ride itself is full of complex issues and thus I aim to reserve the right to go slow or not slow and not disappoint potential partners.  But it would be my pleasure to get to anticipate seeing friends at a particular lodging, and maybe even practice a bit of French over the next 21 months.  

I live in Bristol Vermont, newly here after decades on the west coast,and thus do not know many of the NER folks.  Memories of ’07 are good: 50 bicycles on our single flight from San Francisco to Paris.  Maybe we can get 5 bicycles on our flight out of Logan?   (throw me a bone here people, I’ve been a little frozen in time and don’t know the show in progress).   

     Not as funny as I used to be, Peter Hewitt

On Oct 31, 2025, at 4:11 AM, ne-rand...@googlegroups.com wrote:

ne-rand...@googlegroups.com

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• Reminder - 127km Nov 1st - 1 Update

Reminder - 127km Nov 1st

Jake Kassen <li...@jkassen.org>: Oct 30 06:12PM -0400 Hey NERds. Here's a reminder to register for the 127km event taking place on Sat, Nov 1st if you are considering the ride. The event starts at 7:30am but please arrive 15-20 min to get checked in. Links to registration and RWGPS route can be found at   https://ner.bike   I'll turn off registration tomorrow around noon. I need to cook for the party and there are things to print so please don't delay. No cue sheets will be printed so bring your own if you shun the evil electronics.   People are welcome inside, obviously, but we'll probably congregate on the deck where there's more room so don't forget to bring something warm for after the ride. People are also welcome to come to the party & member's meeting (3pm) without attempting the ride. There is a shorter route being used by a CRW event which starts at 8:30 for those who might be interested in that -- details at http://crw.org. (Registration required.)   It looks like we might get 30+ riders on the NER event so please don't cluster on the bike path and ride slowly around other users, giving them generous clearance. Mass Ave is an easy alternative to the path if you want to ride above 15mph.   Finally. the Harvard General Store has great sandwiches but they are SLOW. Call in an order while in Bolton Center unless you want to wait an extra 20 minutes. They have a cooler with drinks and chips, etc if you want a little snack without the wait. When you get back there will be hot food.   Email with any questions.   Jake

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[Andrew LaMarche]

If you like dirt roads and bumpier stuff, you're actually in a pretty awesome place to ride. I'm across the state over near WRJ.

I might be interested in doing PBP for the first time in 2027. It'll probably depend on how the long haul rides I'm thinking of for 2026 pan out.

[eatbi...@gmail.com]

Welcome to Vermont Peter--

I hope that the amazing back roads of the state deliver some excellent riding! We are just over the App Gap in the Mad River Valley. I've sort of drifted away from randonneuring in the last few years, so I'm unlikely to consider PBP,  but hope to do some shorter rides again one of these days.

Cheers,

Dave Cain

[John Buten]

John here from the end of season ride.  There are enough members spread across VT/NH and we could likely organize a "perm together" calendar in addition to the official VT/NH Brevets if we care to get up early and drive to a common location. 

For PBP 2023 we did meet up the night before in Rambouillet and set up a WhatsApp group and tag each other on the PBP app, which helped us find each other on the road.  I'll admit, I was a little worried about flying with a big bike case on a full flight but I was lucky enough to fly out early and spend a week at the beach in Brittany.  Accommodation might be a better place to coordinate than flights as there's not a lot of inventory in and around Rambouillet.  It could be good to coordinate an AirBNB.  I was able to get a hotel reservation about 10K away in Nov/Dec... so Fall next year would be the time to organize.  

STORE

J

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[Charles Coldwell]

The quintessential Vermont ride, the Six Gaps 200K, will be returning next July 18 and I hope to see a good representation of our Green Mountain denizens there. We are nearly out of t-shirts, so I am working on a new design destined to become a collectible.

I will pre-ride the route, although the White Mountain Getaway is the weekend before so I'm not exactly sure when. I might play hooky from work. Anyone wanting pre-ride or perm credit can come along. Pace will be middle-aged.

--

Charles M. Coldwell, W1CMC

Belmont, Massachusetts, New England, FN42jj

"Turn on, log in, tune out"

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From: ne-rand...@googlegroups.com <ne-rand...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of John Buten <john....@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, November 14, 2025 8:15 AM
To: eatbi...@gmail.com <eatbi...@gmail.com>; Andrew LaMarche <andrew....@outlook.com>; pvvh...@gmail.com <pvvh...@gmail.com>
Cc: New England Randonneurs <ne-rand...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [NER] Re: Paris Brest Paris 2027

 

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[Charles Coldwell]

Apropos PBP, I was also there in '07 and boy, was it wet. I went '03, '07 and then not again until '19. Some of that gap was due to babies born in '08 and '11, but a lot of it was PTSD from 3+ days of riding in miserable rain.

Anyway, I would love to go back but probably never will. The logistical overhead is considerable and the local rides are much prettier. PBP is the international carnival of the bicycle, sure, but it does not go through an especially pretty part of France. If I were going to Europe to ride a bike I would aim for the Alps. I've got to pick off a few new bucket list items before I do any more repeats.

[Jacob Layer]

Hi Peter,

I've got my sights on PBP in 27 and have started training in a similar fashion to how I trained for PBP '23.  Indoor winter training on Zwift, an R-12, and 1200k the year prior to PBP.  

I'll be sending another message shortly inviting others to join me on the 200ks but these start in the Boston area and would likely be a drive for you.  If you want to meetup on Zwift, I'm happy to arrange some rides.  Several of us are active on that platform.

Best,

Jacob

On Thursday, November 13, 2025 at 11:57:33 AM UTC-5 Peter Hewitt wrote:

[Roger Hillas]

If you’re interested in the Six Gaps 200, you might also enjoy Aeolian Harp, which I am organizing the following month. Sneak preview here:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/53465409

While it’s not as challenging as Six Gaps, it does feature a robust 9,000’ of climbing and uses some roads pleasantly off the beaten path to traverse the middle tiers of NH and VT.

While the brevet version will start in Lincoln NH, there is also a permanent version (#5048) that can be ridden starting from any of the controls. Riders in central Vermont could start from Tunbridge or Chelsea, which should be relatively convenient. I would definitely recommend riding clockwise wherever you start, as several of the climbs (e.g., Kinsman Notch) are significantly steeper ridden counterclockwise.

Riding in New England is an excellent preparation for Paris - Brest, where there aren’t any big West Coast style climbs but the terrain is pretty relentlessly up and down.

If you go, I wish you the sunshine of 2003 and 2023 and the tailwinds of 2011. And don’t underestimate how cold it can get in NW France, even in summer. I’ve seen temperatures around 40 degrees F, or maybe lower, more than once. Hot too, but that’s easier to deal with.

Roger

[Jake Kassen]

> If you go, I wish you the sunshine of 2003 and 2023 and the tailwinds of 2011. And don’t underestimate how cold it can get in NW France, even in summer. I’ve seen temperatures around 40 degrees F, or maybe lower, more than once. Hot too, but that’s easier to deal with.
>

This point worth hammering home. If you're planning on PBP, expect four days of heavy rain, cold temps, and headwinds. Maybe you'll get lucky and that won't be the case. But there are plenty of PBPs in which the weather was far from idyllic and it caught many riders off guard. We're overdue for bad weather PBP.

As soon as it's wet, the plans of "I'll just take a power nap by the side of the road!" become unappealing and the controls are overwhelmed as the peak wave of riders becomes a tsunami with everyone looking to eat and rest at the same time. It's also easier to become dehydrated, ironically. The riders who do best as those who came ready with clothing that would keep them warm in prolonged inclement weather.

Jake "Ask me how I know" Kassen

[John Buten]

So glad to see the calendar's firmed up and was surprised to see this ride on it.  I did the Aeolean Harp perm this summer and can affirm it's beautiful, scenic, and challenging with great roads and pretty towns and general stores.  Thanks Roger for charting the course.  I did the ride as a perm starting out of Thetford which has the twin disadvantage of hitting the general stores in Strafford, Turnbridge and Chelsea before they're open... and stacking the biggest climbs toward the back half. Kinsman is beautiful... as is the climb south of Moosilauke on 117 (does that have a name.... it sure felt like it should).  Looking forward to the ride!

John

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[Roger Hillas]

John,

You did the ride on Sunday? Tunbridge general store opens at 08:00 on Sunday but 06:00 every other day of the week.

Ditto Coburns’ in South Strafford, which opens at 08:30 on Sunday but 07:00 every other day of the week.

Alternatively, you could start in Fairlee, where Jan’s Diner opens at 06:00 and Sunnyside Coffee at 07:00.

The climb over the south shoulder of Moosilauke is known locally as Gonzo Pass.

Bonne route,

Roger

[John Buten]

Indeed.  Looks like it was Sunday and I set out at 6:15. I remember Turnbridge was closed when I hit it.  I don't recall why I didn't stop in Cheshire... maybe the store was closed. I remember there was a working bubbler and a port-o-san at the church on the green. I had plenty of calories with me so it wasn't a big deal.

TLDR: pack food, arm warmers, rain gear when you're biking more than 100 miles across VT/NH. 

Across the three perms I did in the upper valley this year,  I'd say 1 in 4 general stores was closed during their posted regular business hours (memorably, the Rumney Village Store, also Coburns).  On the plus side, there's often a port-o-sans by the little league field, and a spigot for water behind the church in any given town (including Rumney Village).  Nice folks... but fewer of them.

J