MC's Cycling Diary

Date: 18 August 2019 - 22 August 2019 Total distance: 1,232 Kilometers Start Time: 6:48 pm 18 August 2019 Return Time:  13:25 pm 22 August 2019 With: Various riders Paris Brest Paris (1,200 Kilometer Brevet): Part I - Randonneuring Dream Altitude Profile: Rambouillet - Mortagne Au Perche (Food/Refreshment Stop) - 118 kilometers 6:48 pm when I made my way past the timing mat in bright sun light. There are so many riders around and the spectators cheering us on, it's difficult to avoid the adrenaline rush. Focusing on the ride in such an environment is difficult and it is so easy to get carried away. I was away to a fast start even though the rolling terrain started just as we exited the gate from Rambouillet castle. The Austrian riders riding with loaded pannier bags and back packs caught my attention as they were riding with so much luggage and yet were accelerating like they had no load on their backs. I was riding with a group of Hyder...

Paris Brest Paris (PBP) is a 1,200 kilometer brevet. It is held every 4 years. It was held for the first time in 1891 in a race format and was held in the brevet format for the first time in 1931 in which the riders have to complete it within 90 hours with no competition. It was being held every 5 years from 1951 till 1975 and since then it is being held every 4 years. The 19th edition of the brevet was scheduled for 18 August 2019 to 22 August 2019. I was introduced to the PBP ride 4 years ago by Rajkumar Khot and ever since it's been about reading up about the event and also getting to know about the riders in India who had attempted the ride and completed it as well. It was not until 2 years from the event that things began to heat up and I decided to go for the ride. It would be my first foreign travel and what better way than to ride the PBP to commence my foreign travels. Preparation for the Event Hear about an event which is two years away and it seems like ...