PBP Early Registration

[Rose Cox]

I have been following the email string regarding PBP early registration.  For those of you worrying about getting a longer ride completed in 2026 - there are plenty of rides on the calendar:

Charmed 1200 or 1000 - June 20 (registration closes on June 8)

Four 600k rides:

June 6 - Spring 600k (registration closes June 4 @ Noon)

July 25 - 8k600k

August 18 - Brevet Week 600k

August 29 - Summer 600k

And there are two more 400k rides:

August 8 - Summer 400k

August 21 - Brevet Week 400k

Or - if you want to travel down south a bit our friends and Oregon have two more 400k rides:

June 13 - Oregon Randos 400

August 28 Wilamette Randos 400 evening start

[don person]

The evening start 400 is a great way to check your night riding setup while you are still relatively fresh

shiggy Don Person
Dead Center WA

--
To post to this group, send email to seattl...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
https://groups.google.com/g/seattlerando?hl=en
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Seattle International Randonneurs" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to seattlerando...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seattlerando/CAByppfbYJ9n5yQuoyu3MLGOUKj9sG-pxBArawBH8c-NsaFxZfQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[don person]

…and it’s a full moon night!

shiggy Don Person
Dead Center WA

[Steve Ciccarelli]

There is also  Event Details: ACPB 600km 2026-5-30: VI Spring 600 -- BC Randonneurs Database in a week and a half. I can't do the SIR 600 so I'm doing this one. Lots of other long rides organized by our friends to the north, too.

Steve

--

[Rob Hawks]

There are 2 phases of PBP registration: pre-registration and regular registration. In pre-registration, you can claim a spot for PBP and only lose that spot if you fail to complete enough qualifiers by a certain date. Roughly speaking, the registration phase begins in May when people that have pre-registered can convert to full registration. There is actually a third phase, but I wouldn't recommend it: wait until slots open up (some point in June) when people have failed to convert pre-registration into regular registration. This third phase is the most anxiety inducing, least stable path to getting into PBP.

Rose's list includes a number of 400kms as options for people to move up the PBP pre-registration ladder. For PBP aspirants, historically anyone with a 400km as their longest ride in the year before PBP has found spaces available in the 3rd wave (1000/1200 first, 600 second, 400 third) of pre-registration. In 2022, I DNF'd both a 600km and a 1000k and relied on the 400km finish for pre-registration. I got the wave I wanted. 

In 2011, there were riders who were able to register for PBP that had not ridden an ACP event in 2010.

in 2015, pretty much the same deal, but barely so. 

In 2019, IIRC, spaces ran out before all 2018 ACP 200km finishers tried to pre-register. However, about 700 spaces came open in June when that number of successfully pre-registered riders failed to convert their pre-registration into a registration (many of whom just didn't complete at least 3 ACP events in 2018).

for 2027, there are more total spaces available than there were in 2023. My memory is that the total number of spaces available has increased over the prior iteration for most (if not all) of the last 5 iterations of PBP.  From memory, I recall that no PBP from 2007 onward started with all slots claimed beforehand (even and perhaps especially in 2019 where pre-reg claimed all slots).  For 2023, it looks like 325 people registered but did not start. (alas, I was one of those 325 DNS registrants).

rob hawks

RUSA brevet coordinator

PS: btw, there is a google group devoted just to PBP preparation discussions: pbp_prep.

On Wed, May 20, 2026 at 12:48 PM Rose Cox <rose.p...@gmail.com> wrote:

--

[Steve Ciccarelli]

So, for us first timers, what IS the best wave?  :)  I watched your video series with it's strong argument for the 84, but I'm hesitant to throw away six hours I might need.  That said, starting after a full day of perfectly good daylight seems ... odd.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seattlerando/CA%2BV%2BKA3yxHTu6zWO9VpiRqiVN8Mh6mmw78%3DehksVg5z%3DXFjpGg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Rob Hawks]

Steve,

to my mind, 6+ hours of sleep when everyone else is riding <> throwing away 6 hours. However, no one listens to me.

The best group to start in is the one you want. Not what someone else wants. 

rob

[Jeff Loomis]

I agree 100% with Rob.  There are too many variables to pick a specific time as the best time for everyone.  On my first 1200k I was riding with an very experienced rider with 3PBPs under her belt.  She highly encouraged me to sign up for the 84 hour start to be less impacted by the bulge of 90 hour riders at the controls.  Fortunately I ignored her advice because although I have finished PBP 3 times, I have never come close to finishing it in 84 hours or less.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seattlerando/CA%2BV%2BKA2dpa7iDf9VZO8kGxxR7vCyvHT-kYGYkb81%3DO0KiV6dfg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Rob Hawks]

Hi Jeff,

Another point that I try to make, which also gets largely ignored, is that in starting at 5am in the 84 hour group, you will end up riding less time in the dark. I think most people would say they ride faster in daylight than they do in darkness. You might find that you take less time to do 1200km in the 84 hour group than in the 90 hour, early evening start group. That is in addition to possibly spending less time in lines at controls in the 90 hour group. 2015 was my best PBP. I felt the best going into it, and felt the best while riding it. Check out my RUSA results in 2014 and 2015. I am not a fast rider, and yet I had little trouble finishing in time in the 84 hour group that year.

But, like I said, no one really buys that when I explain it, and frankly I'm fine with the 84 hour group being less difficult to get into because there is no rush to sign up for it by others.

rob

who is aiming for one more PBP and would sign up for the 84 hour group again if I qualify

rob

[Narayan Krishnamoorthy]

Hi Steve,

I would put in a BIG word for the 90 hour start, especially if it's your first time.

1) Maximizing daylight riding does not work too well when temperatures are pushing 90s and 100s, as was the case in PBP 2023.

2) The 90-hour start is practically a requirement for a first-time rider, with a much bigger spectacle, way more pageantry and way more people lining the course at all hours, most of whom will be in bed when the 84-hour start folks go through their towns.

3) _Excellent_ insurance, the 6 extra hours.  I know of at least one case (let's call him Mr. Fish, to protect the innocent) of people registering for the 84-hour start, finishing in under 90-hours and NOT getting homologated. That would be truly sad.

4) You have no chance of making the Adrian Hands (or Charly Hands) society on the 84-hour start. ;)

5) The 90-hour start allows for the possibility of taking public transport to the start. The 84-hour group does not.

 

OK, that was more than a big word, but you get the idea..

Cheers!

Narayan

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seattlerando/CA%2BV%2BKA1b_Jc04e02nD-W3eSUUPHWYe7Ch8eT%2BDJ27iNvkCb%3DLg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Geoff Hazel]

Having people on the side of the road along the way seems like a huge benefit and memory maker. 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seattlerando/CA%2B-41eEfDiFygRLL0bZNvof1pGGnUBWL%3DOjGE2t5D1jsAGGhKQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Ron...@comcast.net]

Just to get to the start line, you have to successfully complete a 200, 300, 400, and 600 km qualifying brevet.  Most of you are contemplating a 1000 km or 1200 km pre-qualifying brevet.  The cost of air fare, hotel rooms, and French dining for two weeks would pay for a year’s tuition at the UW.  You’ve just spent a small fortune on a headlight that turns night into day.  You’ve endangered the relationship with your significant other because you’ve been out training every weekend and now, you’re spending your vacation time to do this.  Why do you want to see how fast you can get it over with?

 

There’s more of everything you go to PBP for in the 90-hour start.  More spectators cheering you on and wishing you “Bon route” or “Bon courage”.  More kids lining the route and holding out their hands for a high five from a rider.  More kids to serve you coffee or fill your water bottles.  More of the spectacle that is PBP.  More time to savor the experience.

 

 

-Ron Himschoot

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seattlerando/CAHAvRAK_1jwYNxfRQnVeqRXsK4Tif83TZsJvn_iiAiA5LaBFCg%40mail.gmail.com.

[Andy Speier]

Well said Ron. Too many Chocolate Crossiants to eat in under 84 hours.

Andy Speier

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seattlerando/038a01dce8e6%24be176a80%243a463f80%24%40comcast.net.

[Steve Ciccarelli]

Another cultural obstacle to navigate during this whole process is my dislike of the flavors of both coffee and chocolate. The French seem to like both.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/seattlerando/1105474792.4182367.1779369590062%40mail.yahoo.com.