PBP Audax + PBP Randonneur

[LittleWheelsandBig]

The Audax Club Parisien's 1200 km PBP Randonneur is the pinnacle of
brevet riding for most of us. The 5300 starters in 2007 became part of
PBP history stretching back to the race's beginning in 1891 and the
first PBP brevet in 1931.

Unknown to many riders is the Union des Audax Francais's PBP Audax,
also held for the first time in 1931. Some more history can be found
at http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1200.0 but the original
form of Audax riding (since 1904 in France) involves groups riding
together for the full distance to a set schedule. The now-common
randonneur style (free pace between specified maximum and minimum
speeds) was only developed in 1921, following a disagreement between
the ACP and Henri Desgrange. The original group brevet style is still
fairly popular in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and more
recently in Sweden and Australia. The USA also held a few UAF brevets
about 10 years ago.

Early on, both PBPs took place in the same years. In 1971, eight
Frenchmen rode both PBPs in just over a week and the PBP Randonneur
interval was subsequently shifted to every four years. PBP Audax is
still run every five years and it is only every two decades that both
PBPs are held in the same year. The prospect of riding two PBPs in
2011 is an intriguing prospect to some cyclists.

The UAF traditionally limits the number of riders in each peloton to
avoid over-stretching facilities, often running each peloton at
different dates. Next year, the UAF are currently looking at running
one peloton simultaneous with PBP Randonneur (the last week of August)
and another in July. Several riders in Australia and the UK are
interested in riding both PBP Randonneur and PBP Audax but would
prefer to ride PBP Audax in early August, to allow riding both PBPs
during the one trip without taking excessive leave.

UAF Cycling President Bruno Danielzik is happy to organise another
Audax start but this requires about 50 riders to justify another start
date. He has asked me to collect expressions of interest from
randonneurs interested in taking part in PBP Audax next year and which
date they would prefer.

If you are interested in riding PBP Audax next year, please email
pbpa...@gmail.com with your preferences for riding the 2011 PBP Audax
during:
A the first week of August
B the second week of August
C a date in July
D simultaneous with PBP Randonneur

A reply as simple as "B, A, C, D" is fine, as is "A".

Regards

Dave Minter