Actually I agree with you, or at least to a point. I think everyone should have the same, so no support crews, or pre-planed roadside assistance.

I have never taken part in anything big like this but I always thought that in a self supported event, any outside assistance is forbidden by rule? If it is secetly done by all the leading athletes that diminishes their effort greatly imho since planning the food and water gathering is part of the achievement. Your pace was phenomenal though!@@MattPage

Good point. Agree there should be no support for anyone, otherwise it's not an equal baseline.

@@MattPage Thinking about this again I agree with you. This morning when I watched the vid, you highlighted what is a subtle nuance being someone (yourself) wanting to finish first (top ten)? Against someone (others) who are riding the brevet as it should be ridden, and that is to get around under their own power being self sufficient - in essence what an audax is. On this note I think it was naïve of yourself to believe that there would not be an issue with your drop bag, when the people in charge of said drop bags would not be aware that any one who was using their drop bag service would be looking to get around at speed. Because all people should be doing is just looking to get around which is what a brevet is ridden for. And it's on the above point that I agree with you. Brevets are all about self sufficiency and getting around and providing that controls are well stocked there should be be no need for outside help. And those that want to get around at speed - crack on. FWIW LEL 2025, it has been announced no outside assistance at all, it's to be banned. Chapeau on the effort, I also agree that PBP as a route is boring, what attracts people is the history of the event (second oldest cycling event in history first run in 1891 as a pro ride). The cycling heritage around that region, the Badger (Hinault comes from a town about 50k north of Loudeac). And the locals, of which you had first hand experience in the vid riding through that village where everyone was out cheering you on. Not uncommon to get a lot of people out on the route day and night doing this. Chapeau again.

@@MattPageEveryone having the same is quite important. If it is a race. It is a thought provoking experience. Agonising for you, given your goals. Maybe I think having a go at the scenery is bit of a low blow, given that the event dates from the era of single speed bikes and any hill after 300km is a big hill. And maybe I love France and French and the French as much as I love bikes, and it is such a big festival of all that, that for me just being fit enough to go to that party would be a joy. But I understand what you were trying to do. From other stuff besides bicycles I recognise a bit of my own psychology in your DNF. That if a thing is worth doing it is worth doing well, and perfectionists don't go through hell for just OK. Would it be fair to say you entered the PBP in the hopes of recording a good time? With that lost, was it difficult to find a completely different motivation half way round? Just enjoy it, like you proposed to camera, was never going to stick with you and PBP, it might seem. When I rode Mont Ventoux (from Dieppe) I can't imagine what seeing it as a competition might have done to my head, and my capacity for distance, for enjoying it, and as a result of that, for going quick. I was awed by your LEL vid. PBP must be so much a bigger party, the atmosphere. Partly just numbers, roadside enthusiasts, public support. But also prestige, excitement, myth, history, the build up. The fact it was once, in the past, a race. Do you think PBP being A Big Thing is part of why you set out so quickly? Maybe the lack of big crowds or anything suggesting Alpe d'Huez on the LEL is also an asset for you, in doing a fast time, given how much psychology enters into stuff. Language and foreign parts. Were you well rested before the départ? Those supported riders that you tried to keep up with from the start, and so much effected how many matches you burned early on, do you know how many of them finished?

Maybe we saw things a different way. There seems to be a lack of co-ordination between stations, with some having different things, charging different prices. Pre-event the information and available, and the content on the website is shocking, and hopefully you would agree with that? The volunteers were brilliant, but perhaps just someone to ensure each has similar offering.

@MattPage I totally agree that it was impossible to predict what would be available at each station. This is one reason I also went with the drop bag option. But that went wonky for me for other reasons. Really enjoyed your video BTW. Interesting to see how it works at the pointy end of the field.

When you look at the profile, it looks "spikey" and I know the m/km is more than LEL, so I expected some hills, but it didn't feel like that. And the issue is not lack of bag drop, but how poor the company who provided it were, and I know I am not alone in thinking that. There needs to be more consistency. In some controls you pay more for food, and limited choice, but others they have huge choice and its much cheaper. The queue for hot food at Loudec was quite long, so I went for the basic options instead. As I say in the end, the support is great, and that section rolling through the crowd was very memorable, and the general support beats anything we have here.

I'm glad you enjoyed it. I can see how it could be enjoyable for some perhaps. I've been fortunate to have ridden many places around the World, and it doesn't rank anywhere near the top - for me.

That's exactly what I attempted, and soon got bored. I get no enjoyment from riding slowly, unless the scenery and roads are worth it.

Definitely, although with things you can't control is it hard to learn from.

Maybe it's just the way the French can be "c'est la vie". Areas such as the website, pre-event info and getting answers to questions are areas that need improvement. It might be a historical event, but some areas need to move forward.

Thank you

Thanks 👍

Thank you

I won't be back, and I know that 100%. This year has taken so much time for all the qualification and prep that I know it won't be worth it.

Thank you.

I'll look into that one, thank you 👍

Yes, I think that is a good move. I doubt PBP will follow, and it might be harder to police.

I know the 2019 fastest was unsupported, so it is possible. Maybe he was experienced, and knew what to expect? I think riders can learn a lot from their first attempt if they want to ride unsupported.

From the video section at Loudec, you can get some ideas. I had more photos and videos I hadn't used, but it wasn't well organised at all. Huge numbers must have been expected there, but it wasn't coping well.

When you look at the profile, it doesn't have many flat areas, but I should have looked more at the maximum elevation. Someone said it has more climbing per km than LEL, although I find that hard to believe. But they were my biggest reasons for expecting more hills.

Thank you, and I hope you are also able to find something new to challenge yourself on.

Thanks Daniel. It's a GoPro 10, with a shortened handle, not the official GoPro one.

@@MattPage spot on thanks mate 👍

That could be a fair assessment, but normally I'd be fine to just roll by if the riding was more enjoyable. I've been given a few events to look at now, but I will add that to the list too. I love France, and the Alps, but haven't much in the south.

They sound great, and I love the Alps, and Italy. With Italy everything is said with the hands anyway, so no need to learn the language 😁

...or come to our 1234km event in Pennsylvania Sept 25 2024. Google PA Randonneurs.

Is the German 1200 you're referring to run by ARA München? I've been riding their events for years. The routes are superb. But they are 100% self supported. The 1200 route looks beautiful. Was added for the first time this year.

There is no denying, French drivers have more respect for cyclists in general, but I don't remember any problems at LEL. It's mostly on quieter roads.

Thank you Guy, I am glad others see it too - although perhaps it is because we have been spoilt by LEL? I hope you had a good ride yourself.

I'm looking at all options, and I did read that, but I don't think it is hypoglycemia. I'm good at eating - up until it happens - so it's almost the opposite. It has happened 3 times, every one ~18hrs into a big event/challenge. One was just gels/chews, another just "normal" food, and this was gels/chews to ~10hrs, and a mix beyond that. I'm going to look into my medication more, and see if that could have some possible effect, as I never had gut issues before, and it has only started happening since things have changed.

I didn't realise quite how big it is for some, and how important it is overall.

It was scorching hot! I struggled out of Brest, despite going easier by then. I had to divert off route to find a shop and get more water, and I'm sure others would have struggled too.

I am fortunate as the riding I have at home is much more scenic. Until Brest it was very bland. But the drivers were good, and the road surfaces are also excellent.

I appreciate everyone is different, and just like the shot coming through the village, some areas the support is brilliant. That alone wouldn't be enough to get me back though.

I can't remember if there was a small group of ~10 ahead at the time, or if I was the very first through the crowd - but wow! A few seconds glimpse of what a TdF Alpe d'Huez stage must be like. As much as I would love to see what would be possible with a fully supported attempt, the time it has taken from normal life this year, I wouldn't bother in the future.

@@MattPage I agree. Unless you ride a lot of Audax anyway, PBP is a bit of a ball ache, considering you usually just pay the entry fee and turn up for most events. It used to be even worse before on line entry.

I do several a year, but finding a mix of not being able to drive and relying upon public transport, plus having to find the BRM events within set dates. It has meant more time away from the family than I would have liked. All the events have been good though, mostly local which has meant great roads (I am biased 😄).

@@MattPage You're backed into a corner in SW Wales. That doesn't make it easy to get to events. I ride to them but I live in probably the best place in the country for that and it does take time.

Strictly speaking is not an Audax. It is a timed event, unlike most other similar events, so there will be competition. But no winner, no prizes, no podium.

Absolutely, although I doubt they will change anything.

I've started looking into others, and maybe MM in Italy?

MM is very good (but perhaps not the first 400km of flat or last 400 if they reverse the route as I heard they might) Organisation seemed a bit quirky when I rode about a decade ago. Some controls you're well looked after, others, not so much... Bristol Glasgow Bristol is the hardest Audax I have ridden. Some off road in that one which isn't for everyone but I thought the route was very good.