PBP Preparation

My PBP Bike: Fenders

Until 1991, all bikes in Paris-Brest-Paris had to be equipped with fenders. Traditionally, this had been a way to distinguish randonneur events from races – the randonneurs were expected to ride bikes that were equipped for real-world riding. However, by the 1980s, there simply weren't many performance bikes with fenders...

Ryan’s Bike for Paris-Brest-Paris

Ryan Francesconi rode his steel-framed Smeltzer 'Thee Gifford' adventure bike in last summer's Paris-Brest-Paris. Ryan's tires were wider than almost anybody else's, and yet his 650B x 48 mm Switchback Hill Extralights didn't slow him down as he surfed the fast pacelines during the early hours of the event. (more…)

David’s Bike for Paris-Brest-Paris

When David Wilcox signed up to ride in last summer's Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 km (750-mile) brevet, he wondered about which of his bikes – he has quite a stable! – would be best for this long ride. Comfort is paramount if you're going to spend 45+ hours in the saddle, but...

Riding 600 km (Almost) Non-Stop

As part of preparing this year's Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), riders qualify by riding 200, 300, 400 and 600 km brevets. More than just preparation for the long ride in France, these rides are fun challenges in their own right. The last of the Seattle qualifiers started at 6 a.m. just south of...

The Road to Paris-Brest-Paris

Paris-Brest-Paris, one of the world's oldest long-distance events, is held every four years. 2019 is a 'PBP Year,' and thousands of cyclists all over the world are preparing to ride 1200 km (750 miles) from France's capital to its westernmost city and back. PBP is not just an epic ride –...

Retracing the first Paris-Brest-Paris

The first Paris-Brest-Paris was held as a "utilitarian race" in 1891. Organized by the newspaper Le Petit Journal, the big event started with a parade through Paris, before the cyclists raced off toward France's westernmost city, some 600 km distant. On our way to the pre-ride bike check of this year's...

Last-Minute PBP Prep: Tabata Intervals

Paris-Brest-Paris is less than three weeks away. If you are riding in the 1200 km ride, you already have qualified and trained. You will have thought about your equipment and tried any changes that you may want to make. Your endurance training should be complete by now. Riding long distances between...

9 Reasons to Ride Paris-Brest-Paris

If you have been around randonneurs lately, you'll have noticed a buzz around three letters: PBP. The 1200 km ride from Paris to Brest and back has captured the imagination of cyclists for more than a century. It's now organized every four years, and 2015 is one of those years! Randonneurs...

Getting Your Bike Ready for Randonneuring

A number of readers have asked about randonneuring, and more specifically, about which bike is best to get started with randonneuring. I recommend that you gradually ease into long-distance riding, and also incrementally change your equipment as you gain more experience. You don't need to buy brand-new equipment before riding your...

Winter Projects

At this time of year, we plan our rides for the summer. There are so many places we want to explore! We pore over roads and look at event calendars. And we think about changes to our bikes. Some of the changes are intended to make our bikes better suited...

Doping in Randonneuring?

With the recent news that Lance Armstrong effectively admitted to a large-scale doping conspiracy on his teams, the issue of doping has been front and center in the cycling news. A few readers have asked whether doping exists in randonneuring, too. The short answer is yes – doping exists in any...

PBP: The Movie

Last week, Sur la Route de l'Extreme by Sandrine Lopez and Philip Dupuis was shown on French TV. It's a well-done documentary of this year's PBP, with beautiful shots showing the variety of randonneurs who participate, from the fastest to the slowest. There are great shots of the lead peloton....

Report from Paris-Brest-Paris

I enjoy returning to Paris to ride  the Paris-Brest-Paris event. Paris is a place steeped in cyclotouring history. Several of us met in front of Notre Dame to ride to the start for the bike check; this is where the Flèche Vélocio used to start for the teams from Paris....

PBP Preparation: Quality Time Off the Bike

Many people think that the difference between a fast ride and a slow one is a superhuman power output. While some riders ride somewhat faster than others, especially on hills, the main factor affecting the time to complete a ride is off-the-bike time. In Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), imagine riding from Carhaix to...

Bicycle Quarterly Get-Together at PBP

Following Paris-Brest-Paris 2011, Bicycle Quarterly readers (and others) are invited to an informal get-together at the historic start and finish of the famous 1200 km ride. On Friday, 26 August 2011, starting at 11 a.m., we plan to meet at the Brasserie Aux Trois Obus. During the 1940s and 1950s, randonneurs...

PBP Training: Recovery

In the past, we've discussed hill intervals and how they make you stronger. They've certainly worked for me this spring, as I achieved one of my big goals this year: I completed my Cyclos Montagnards R60 Honors. You get faster and stronger through overload and recovery. This means not only that...

PBP Training: Hill Intervals

Whether you are training for Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP), a century ride or racing, speed is an essential part of a successful event. Simply put, the faster you are able to ride, the more enjoyable (and less stressful) your ride will be. You'll be able to work with pacelines, rather than just...

A February Ride

Last week, we went on a "training ride" into the hills northeast of Seattle. We met at 7:30 and rode to Snohomish (above). The valley of the Skykomish River was filled with cold fog, so a stop at our favorite bakery provided a welcome warm-up. As we headed through the hills...

Avoiding Numb Hands

Hand numbness can spoil the most wonderful long distance ride. A cyclist's hands can get numb from vibration and pressure. The first step is to eliminate as much vibration as possible near the source (road surface). Supple, wide tires, run at moderate pressures, are key. Flexible fork blades and suspension are...

Preparing for 2011 and PBP

At this time of year, we reflect on the cycling season that just has ended, and make plans for the next season. For me, the highlight of 2011 will be Paris-Brest-Paris. The famous 765-mile ride still is 9 months in the future, but now is the time to begin preparing...

Farewell to the Mountains

Autumn is a melancholy time. In Seattle, it is hardly noticeable, as the weather gradually gets cooler and wetter. But in the Cascade Mountains, the change of the seasons is swift and spectacular: Cold nights turn deciduous foliage into bright hues of yellow for a brief time, before snow falls...