First run in 1891, the 1200-kilometer Paris-Brest-Paris, or "PBP" as it is commonly called, is a grueling test of human endurance and cycling ability. Organized every four years by the host Audax Club Parisien, the Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneurs is the oldest bicycling event still run on a regular basis on the open road. Beginning on the southern side of the French capital, it travels west 600 kilometers to the port city of Brest on the Atlantic Ocean and returns along the same route. Today's randonneur cyclists, while no longer riding the primitive machines used a hundred years ago over dirt roads or cobblestones, still have to face up to rough weather, endless hills, and pedaling around the clock. A 90-hour time limit ensures that only the hardiest randonneurs earn the prestigious PBP finisher's medal and have their name entered into the event's "Great Book" along with every other finisher going back to the very first PBP. To become a PBP ancien (or ancienne for the ladies) is to join a very elite group of cyclists who have successfully endured this mighty challenge. No longer a contest for professional racing cyclists (whose entry is now forbidden), PBP evolved into a timed randonnée or brevet for hard-riding amateurs during the middle part of the 20th century. The event is held in August every four years. (This paragraph was taken form http://www.rusa.org/pbp.html)
2007 Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) bike frame #: 7487
Age: Jennie is 46 years young.
Years riding a bike: Jennie started doing club rides in 1988. She did her first double in 1993. She currently races for Left Coast Racing Team, an all-woman's masters' team in Berkeley.
Randonneuring experience: Jennie started riding brevets in 2004. This will be her first 1200 km event!
PBP bike: Jennie will be stoking on the Habanero tandem with Craig Robertson.
PBP lights: The lights are a Cygolite (primary) and cateye (secondary).
PBP food: She'll be using Perpetuem, Sustained Energy, Hammergel, and Cliff Bars. On the way back, she plans on dining at the Control Cafeterias more frequently!
Jennie's goals are foremost to finish! She would like to finish in daylight, and preferably right behind Craig... Jennie and Craig plan to ride straight through to Brest as quickly as possible, then to take more time on the return trip where they'll both try to get some sleep.
She is anticipating that the start of PBP will be a zoo! Coming from a racing background, she is expecting there to be more downtime at the controls than she is used to, and is not sure what it'll be like to sleep for 3 hours, then start riding again!
Jennie's email address is: jlp7@pacbell.net Jennie plans to check her email after PBP.
You can track Jennie through the 2007 PBP by logging onto: http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=64 Enter the Nom (name) and Dossier (certification, i.e. bike number) where prompted.
2007 Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) bike frame #: 7486
Age: Craig is 49 years young.
Years riding a bike: Craig has been riding since 1991!
Randonneuring experience: Craig has ridden Paris-Brest-Paris in 1999 and 2003, and Boston-Montreal-Boston in 1998. He has also done one 1000 km, eight 600 km, and many, many 200 km, 300 km, and 400 km brevets! Craig usually does several 200 km and 300 km brevets each year. He earned the coveted Randonneurs 5000 award in 2003 for riding 5000 km worth of brevets, including a PBP and Fleche team event in a four year period!
PBP bike: Craig will be riding a Habanero tandem (with Jennie Phillips)
PBP lights: His lights consist of a Cygolite (primary) and a Cateye (secondary). Craig is rather creative, so he designed and built the battery packs himself.
PBP food: Craig plans to dine in the PBP control cafeterias and use Perpetuem, sustained energy, Hammergel, and cliff bars between stops.
Craig's most memorable PBP experience was riding with a group from start to finish in 2003, and staying healthy. He describes his 1999 PBP as a solo death march!
Craig plans to finish PBP on Thursday, in time for lunch! (That works out to be a 65 hour finish!)
Craig's email address is: craig.robertson@idt.com He is on the SRCC chat list and hopes to check his email after PBP!
You can track Craig Robertson (and Jennie Phillips) through the 2007 PBP by logging onto: http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=64 Enter the Nom (name) and Dossier (certification, i.e. bike number) where prompted.
2007 Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) bike frame #: 4859
Age: Tom is 59 years young.
Years riding a bike: Tom has been riding since he was a teen, about 40 years!
Randonneuring experience: Tom started Randonneuring in 2006, completing his first series of brevets (200 km, 300 km, 400 km, and 600 km), then deciding to go off and complete Boston-Montreal-Boston (BMB) in 85 hours, 31 minutes! He did the full series of brevets this year at Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz.
PBP bike: Tom will be riding a Ramboullete.
PBP lights: His lights consist of a Schmidt generator (primary) and cateye (secondary).
PBP food: Tom plans to use a support crew along the way for most of his meals. He may try the cafeteria cuisine, depending on the length of the lines. Between stops he'll use perpetuem.
Tom's most memorable experience from BMB was setting off at 7:00 PM in the rain from Ludlow for the 10% grades of "Terrible Mountain"!!
Tom's goals are foremost to finish! He would like to improve on his BMB time and also intends to try to sleep each night. He hopes to make it to his first sleep stop at Loudeac, in under 27 hours.
Tom's email address is: trrendo@sbcglobal.net Tom is on the SRCC low-flow list and intends to check his email after PBP.
You can track Tom through the 2007 PBP by logging onto: http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=64 Enter the Nom (name) and Dossier (certification, i.e. bike number) where prompted.
2007 Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) bike frame #: 4745
Years riding a bike: Donn has been riding for 36 years - since 1971!
Randonneuring experience: Donn has ridden Paris-Brest-Paris in 1999 and 2003, and the Davis Bike Club's Gold Rush Randonnee in 2001. In all, Donn has ridden 45 brevets total! This includes 200 km, 300 km, 400 km, 600 km and the above mentioned 1200 km events! Donn is the current Regional Brevet Administrator (RBA) for the Santa Rosa Cycling Club.
PBP bike: The bike he'll use is a Rambouillet.
PBP lights: His lights consist of a Cateye Halogen HL500 (primary) and Cateye EL200 (secondary).
PBP food: Donn plans to live off the land. He will buy his food in local markets and cafes. He may enjoy the control cafeteria food if the lines aren't too long, but does not intend to use any high tech bike food, though he may keep a couple cliff bars in his bag for emergencies.
Donn's most memorable experiences from his previous PBPs are of the local town's folk, who come out with food and refreshments for the riders, and help direct cyclists through the villages. He also has fond memories of confronting that 4th night on the road!
Donn's email address is DonnK@pacbell.net He is on the SRCC chat list and intends to check his email after PBP!
You can track Donn King through the 2007 PBP by logging onto: http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=64 Enter the Nom (name) and Dossier (certification, i.e. bike number) where prompted.
2007 Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) bike frame #: 4858
Age: John is 61 years young.
Years riding a bike: John started riding in the early 60's in Santa Barbara. After a break, he returned to riding again in the 1970's in San Francisco. After another break he started riding locally in 1999.
Randonneuring experience: John has completed four years of brevets (200 km, 300 km, 400 km, and 600 km each year!). In 2005 he decided to use his brevet series as qualifiers for the Cascade 1200 km Randonnee, which he successfully completed!
PBP bike: John will be riding a Rivendale Romulus.
PBP lights: His lights consist of a Son generator (primary) and cateye (secondary).
PBP food: John plans on enjoying the control cafeteria cuisine and may also stop in local cafes along the way. Between stops he will be using Perpetuem.
John' most memorable experience from the Cascade 1200 was riding at night with others randonneurs down the middle of the road in the moonlight and with no traffic!
John anticipates plenty of nighttime riding during PBP, and is hoping for no rain!! He is also hoping to finish PBP in around 85 hours.
John's email address is: murphystgrill@comcast.net John intends to check is email upon returning home.
You can track John through the 2007 PBP by logging onto: http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=64 Enter the Nom (name) and Dossier (certification, i.e. bike number) where prompted.
2007 Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) bike frame #: 4689
Age: Mike is 62 years young.
Years riding a bike: Mike has been riding since the 1980's when he mostly did triathlons and won the Vineman in his age group! He started training with The Team in Training three years ago.
Randonneuring experience: Mike started his Randonneuring in 2006 with a 200 km brevet. This year he did the entire series of brevets; the Santa Rosa 200 km and 300 km brevets, the Davis 400 km and traveled to Wisconsin for his 600 km brevet, to qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris!
PBP bike: Mike will be riding a SyCip.
PBP lights: His lights consist of a Son generator (primary), an Ixon (secondary), and a helmet light.
PBP food: Mike plans on experiencing the local cuisine by stopping at cafes along the way. In between stops he will be using perpetuem, hammergel and various bars.
Mike is hoping to be able to ride with his friends from the SRCC as much as possible. He is pleased with his training so far and looks at this event as the adventure it is. He plans to keep on his bike and moving as long as possible.
Mike's email address is: mmcguire@pacbell.net He hopes to check his email after PBP!
You can track Mike through the 2007 PBP by logging onto: http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=64 Enter the Nom (name) and Dossier (certification, i.e. bike number) where prompted.
.gif)