The 1995 PARIS > BREST > PARIS

( OR 100 Miles on a bottle of Coke - and then some!) by Graham Brodie. Part I

Baxter bus outside Apollo Theatre in London
Graham Baxter bus, outside Apollo Theatre - London.

The PBP is a 1200Km randonee run once every 4 years, the idea to get across Northern France and back within a 90 hour time limit.

So here I am - aboard the sporting Tours Coach bound for Dover - Calais and Paris. The 4 years since the last abortive attempt of this event have simply flown by, but few days have passed when I haven't thought about the return match!

 There were huge delays getting through London because of VE day marches, but the coach was late too, and just got to Folkstone before the ferry left!
Arriving at Trappes at midnight
Arriving at the Campanile, Trappes at midnight.
Unpacking bikes the following morning.
 We arrived at midnight on Friday, - the event started on Monday night so there were a couple of days to relax before the big ride. I teamed up with John Thacker from Exeter, and some lads from Newbury and Westbury and we spent the 48hrs generally eating and drinking and pottering about.

First job on Sat. was to reassemble all the bikes which had been packed in bags on the Baxter bus.
Where's the insulation tape?
Breakfast in the Campanile
First breakfast in Paris.
Bill Best and John Thacker
Bill Best from Torrington rode out to the start of the event. We met him on the road coming in.
Outside the Gymnase des Droits De L'Homme
Sussing out the start, so we wouldn't
get lost on the Monday night.
Lunch at the HQ on Sunday
Sunday was the check in for getting all the bits and pieces and collecting French SR medals.

Greenspeed - Pete Gifford & Noel Simpsons flying machine (or mobile bed!)
Queue for th bike inspection - Swedish riders in yellow & blue.
Also the Bike checks, - make sure you plenty of spare "ampoules"!
On Sunday we had to sign in at the HQ - Gymnase Des Droites D'Homme , Guyancourt - and get the bikes checked. We also picked up our French Super Randonneur badges, which you get for qualifying for PBP.

Collecting cards etc. at the HQ
Checking in in the main hall.
(Jim Roberson and Glyn walking away.)
Lot's of AUK's
AUKs: Ian Hennesy, John Thacker, Anne Learmonth, Mike Steer, Stan Watts and Bill Best.

Different tables laid out for diferent countries.


BREVET CARD
More AUK's
More AUK's: Liz Creese, Sheila Simpson, Jim Brown.....
Monday morning comes as does disaster, - even before breakfast I'm confined to the loo with non-stop sickness and Diarrhoea. The following nausea saw me in bed for the rest of the morning, as I lay staring at the ceiling wondering why it was that I was destined never to complete this ride, and listened to people outside preparing their bikes. "Fortunately" the prologue in Paris had been cancelled due to the terrorist attacks so as the ride wasn't due to start until 10pm so I just prayed that I would get better by then and wouldn't miss anything.
One of the guys gave me a packet of some stuff which stopped the runs, but the 7 mile ride to the start left me feeling washed out, and just the smell of food at the restaurant send me packing of to the loo again!
Arriving at the Gymnase des Droits de l'Homme just in time to see the 80hour riders leaving with a cavalcade of motorbikes and cars, we sat down on the astro-turf and contemplated what was about to happen to us. For my part I lay down staring at a darkening sky wondering if there was any point in even starting, and how far I would get on an empty stomach. I hadn't been ill for almost 2 hours, so I reckoned I would try and stick out 100miles or try to get to the first control (140 miles) and then pack!
84 hour riders setting off.
We we're on the 90 hours run.
Another group would set off at 6am, -the 72 hour riders!
Loudspeakers crackled into life and we were ushered towards the starting area. It hard to describe the scene, - picture an alien planet with thousands of lycra clad cyclists swarming under fierce spotlamps making the sky almost black, and a dazzling array of reflective belts backed up with countless Vistalights and other paraphernalia.

<<<< Various bikes on stands at the start.


 Kingcycle>>>>

<<<<Bill Best, ?? and John Thacker at Guyancour t.



AUK's Andy & Helen Morgan, and Dave & Pam Pilbeam.>>>>
<<<<Large crowds assembling for the off.





Aseembled SWAUK's - Jim Robersob, Mike Steer, John Thacker, Glyn Davies, and Graham Brodie.>>>>

 


contd.....