PARIS–BREST–PARIS 2015
Loads of bikes on the DNF train from Le Mans (yes we had to change there to get back)
cold and just shivered for 2 hours, before giving up, having something to eat, and deciding I was better off on my bike. This really was my downfall I think. I never recovered from missing that sleep, and it caught up with me big time from Carhaix on the return leg on night three. By this time I had fallen way behind, as I had to keep hopping off the bike to sleep. I found that I can nap in all kinds of positions and locations, and when really, really tired I can’t even feel uneven ground and stones. I was very grateful for the space blanket that I had packed. I had never used one before, but they really are a micro-miracle of warmth. I noted though, that my riding pace hadn’t actually dropped off at all, my problem was the amount of time off the bike as I couldn’t stay
awake. I worked out that if I could keep my pace going and minimise stops, then I was in with a chance of still completing within 90 hours. So I ploughed on and on and on. I also determined that, even if it looked likely that I wouldn’t finish in time, I would just keep riding and see how far I could get in the allocated 90 hours. However, my next downfall (and a surprise), when I got to Fougères, they announced to get in quickly as they were closing up. Another seed was planted, but this time it was a weed. I was about to go into my fourth night, and had about 280 km to go. All I could think about was the controls ahead. Gorron was the last town of any note with open facilities in the evening, but what would happen if the next controls in the night were closed? I wasn’t going to able to get through to morning without food, replenishments etc, and I really didn’t want to get marooned. Yes, yes I know it wasn’t likely, but I wasn’t thinking clearly. Also I knew I wouldn’t get through the night safely without sleep — the next control was a long way away. For the first time in 3 years I decided to bail on a ride for my own safety. I stopped in a hotel in Gorron and called it a day. I managed 950km, which is 350km further than I had ever gone before. My body didn’t give up on me, and I am still convinced that I could have ridden the 1230 km. Maybe, like my qualifiers, if I was to do it again in a month or two I would crack it. Who knows? The next day, I needed to find my way back to Paris. Once I had stopped I was in no mind to cycle the route back, so I figured I would find the nearest train station with trains back to Paris. It turned out to be a town called Laval. So I rode there, bought my ticket, only to find out that the next couple of trains were full to bikes (other DNF’ers), so I had about 4 hours to
kill. Not difficult as it turned out. Other PBP’ers were discovered in the same predicament, so we settled down to lunch in a bar by the station and whiled away the afternoon, planning a little post PBP party on the train on the way back. We even made it into an article (very tongue-in-cheek) in the regional newspaper. I finally got back to my hotel around 11pm on the Thursday evening. Was I disappointed in not finishing? Yes a little. Is it going to put me off the long rides? Not a chance. I’ve continued to learn more about these kind of rides on each one I loved the whole experience: the international field; the oriental riders wrapped up like it was the middle of winter; and all the other nationalities that I talked to along the way, despite language barriers. The local people in France made the event, with their shouts of “allez”, and “bon courage”, along the way, as well as their hospitality all through the day and especially the night. The support I have had from most of my local cycling group has been superb. I was always going to find it more difficult than most of our much quicker local entrants, but they have encouraged me all the way. And those that decided I was never going to make it anyway aren’t really worth bothering about. Full value riders, I tell you now, if you are good at endurance, but maybe not speed, but you have thought about entering a long distance event like this, I urge you to give it a go. Don’t listen to what anyone else says. If you can get through the qualifiers, then you have as much right to be there as anyone else — regardless of whether you complete it or not. Next stop LEL — in time!
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Louise Rigby and Mary-Jane Watson riding the AAA Milne perm. Photo by Martin Malins
www.aukweb.net Arrivée Autumn 2015 No. 130
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