WEE REPORT - PARIS BREST PARIS 1200KM - 16th to 20th August 2015

[Ironman]

PARIS BREST PARIS 1200KM - 16^th to 20^th August 2015

 

The morning has come Sunday 16^th August I have until 17:45 tonight until I start so it’s a rest, eat & sleep as much as possible day. The 3 of us check out from the hotel at 13:00 & head for the velodrome Robert & Neil do not start till 19:30 so I wish them luck & off I go to the pre event meal, the food is good. I watch the first too lots off vedets set of & think, that was me 8 years ago they’re in for a hard ride. I find a nice seat on the grass in the shade & wait for my time to go to get my brevet card stamped, (the brevet card is a small book that has to be stamped at all the controls, signed & time written in to prove your passage on the event. The chip is only for back up & people at home). Brevet card stamped and I am ready to go I know there is one other Scot in my start, Martin but in a crowd of 300 it’s hard to pick each other out. We move up to the start ready to go, the countdown is on, the hair is up on the back of my the neck. I know this will be fast for the first 5km until it splits up. You need to have eyes everywhere, bad group riding, street furniture, you name it, it can happen. Then its 5 4 3 2 1 & were off.

 

Velodrome St Quentin-en –Yvelines to Mortagne-au-Perche - 140km

 

(Food only) – Stage length 140km

 

This stage was fast as the bunch speeds through the suburbs of Paris. You are lead out by police & motorcycle escort. It’s still daylight so you can see the cheering crowds that line some of the streets. This is where you have to watch for the street furniture! You don’t have to worry about any off the junction as they are all policed for you then you’re out into the countryside it’s still light as you speed through small villages with quaint squares. The riders have settled down now as the sun starts to set. There’s a trail of tail lights snaking through the countryside on the way to Mortagne-au-Perche. We reach Mortagne-au-Perche at midnight food & drink is consumed & we leave after an hour. 

 

Mortagne-au-Perche to Villaines-la-Juhel 221km

(First Control) – Stage length 81km

 

The drop out this control is very steep at first then eases & goes for about 2 miles this will be tuff on the way back. You are chilled by the cold night air so you are glad it’s a climb to get you warmed up, it’s a rolling stage so the lights are stretched out before you, with small brakes as the field starts to break up.  We stop for a few minutes at the side of the road as a family had set up a table with coffee, hot chocolate or water for any rider that stopped there was cake to. Martin & I set of agene after a short brake. Martin & I had been cycling from the start together, but we manage to loss each other just before the control so I go into the control, this is the first control, Arriving 03:21 on 17/08/15. Card stamped and more food not knowing wither he was in front or behind, I set of for Fougeres.

 

Villaines-la-Juhel to Fougeres – 309km

(2nd Control) – Stage length 88km

 

It is cooled as I leave glad of the uphill to heat me up, the sun will not be up till 7 in the morning this is a rolling section to, not much happens except the sun coming up to provide some warmth to the air, it had been quite chilly & with 20km to the control I snap a rear spoke, so its quick stop to open up the brakes & of I go there will be a mechanic at the control that will hopefully put in a new spoke. As I was riding a bit easier than I would normally not to do any more damage to the wheel Martin caches up with me we ride in with a small group. Arriving 08:13 on 17/08/15. Its strait to the mechanic & I leave my wheel with him & go and get my card stamped & more food. On returning to the mechanic he was just finishing but while waiting the man next to me collapses so the medic is called he was ok in the end but it just shows you the toll it was taking on some people all ready, you have a area in the brevet card the doctors can write up what they have done & what has happen so the if something ells happens further on in the ride there is a record that another doctor or medic can look at.

 

Fougeres to Tinteniac – 363km

(3nd Control) – Stage length 54km

 

Martin & I set of it is quit warm & there is not a cloud in the sky from memory this was a easy section, well this & the next proved to be hard it was constantly up down up down all the way & the heat just kept building, but it got done as one would say & we Arriving 12:08 on 17/08/15. Food & watered.

   

Tinteniac to – Loudeac (Control) – 448km

(4nd Control) – Stage length 85km

 

This is also a hilly section in the heat of the day & did not ease till just short of the control the sun was still very hot we get to the control & it is packed with spectators 2 to 3 deep, they are out waiting for the first riders on their way back to Paris. One of the crowd reads the name on my number on the bike & shouts out bravo Campbell this put a spring in my step on the way to the control. We are eating when the first rider goes through on their way back then there is a group of say 20 riders the German rider would make it back to Paris in 42 hours. We were glad to get to the control, Arriving 17:39 on 17/08/15 the food is good here with soup, chicken rice with a mushrooms sauce, rice pudding you can’t beat it.

 

Loudeac to Carhaix-Plouguer – (Control) - 525km

(5th Control) – Stage length 77km

 

By the time we come out of this control the heat is out the air so we are moving quit quick there is a secret control in St Nicolas- du-Pelem at 493km. There will also be one on the way home. The sun set at 9 & we get to Carhaix-Plouguer Arriving 22:57 on 17/08/15 we have been on the go for 29 hours so we have food & go for a sleep till 04:30 in the morning getting 4 ½ hours sleep before more food & heading off for Brest in the cool of the morning.

 

Carhaix-Plouguer to Brest – (Control) – 618km

(6th Control) – Stage length 93km

 

As we set of in the dark it is cool we are on the biggest of the climbs on the ride up to the roc trevezel at around 700m this climbed with easy as we are fresh from our 4 ½ hours sleep & two feeds the mist is hanging in the hollows on the road as the sun comes up what a view when we get to the top. The sun is up so it is not to cool on the decent, we come into a small town of Sizung that is buzzing with cyclist so we stop for coffee & panacocolata & orange juice in the café du centre in the main square. Its then of to Brest with only 40km to the turn home half way on the descent to the port of Brest my hart sinks as another spoke goes on the rear wheel. I start to think should I cut my losses & by a new wheel in Brest but I get it fix while having food I had been lucky with the mechanic as on the 2 occasions I was looking for something to be done they were quiet & could get on with my wheel right away   Arriving 09:44 on 18/08/15 the wheel would not cause me anymore trouble on this ride but it was always on my mind.

 

 Brest - Carhaix-Plouguer – (Control) - 703km

(7th Control) – Stage length 85km

 

The return home, we set of in glorious sun shine & a tailwind it will be all uphill for 40km once we leave Brest, you go out a different way from coming in but the route is back together by Sizung for coffee & cake this makes the climb up to Roc Trevezel very present then it is a right rollercoaster of a run into Carhaix-Plouguer, it is encouraging that you are passing people still climb to  Roc Trevezel with the drop to Brest still in front of them, we get to Carhaix-Plouguer Arriving 15:24 on 18/08/15 quick feed as we were hoping to go to a restaurant for dinner that we spotted on the way out.

 

 

Carhaix-Plouguer to Loudeac – (Control) – 782km

(8th Control) – Stage length 79km

 

 

This control is still full of some of the tail Enders that are out of time but may be able to pull it back. We fill up & head of as we need to build a bit of a buffer so we can sleep this was a hard section on the way out but we make good time on it with the wind on our backs it also gets cooler. We stop at the restaurant just before the control & have pizza & ice-cream & fruit for desert. Arriving 21:43 on 18/08/15 into Loudeac this control was quit quite so we get through it niece and easy.

 

 

Loudeac to Tinteniac – (Control) - 867km

(9th Control) – Stage length 85km

 

We head for Tinteniac with the intention of sleeping at Quedillac an intermediate food & sleep stop it was quite so we made the right choice. We get a good 4 hours sleep with food before & after we set of in the early morning to get a good sunrise as we get to Tinteniac for a niece early breakfast Arriving 06:57 on 19/08/15

 

Tinteniac to Fougeres – (Control) - 921km

(10th Control) – Stage length 56km

 

This is a short section so it is covered quickly it is also were Mark Cavendish won his only stage in the tour this year. There is a magnificent castle with moat in the run in, we have to go thru a secret control in this leg its set up as there must be a short cut, a well read cyclist could obviously take, I have a map & a route sheet but the route is well signposted so there is no need to use the route sheet. We Arriving 10:18 on 19/08/15 for our second breakfast of the day.

 

Fougeres to Villaines-la-Juhel – (Control) – 1009km

(11th Control) – Stage length 88km

 

The next section starts with a pull out of Fougeres then a long drag of a hill it was also very warm at this point so with the heat & no cooling from the breeze, as we were cycling at the same speed as it. We decide to have a short brake in a field in the shad we catnap for about hour then were off. We come to a small village on route. Martin goes, do you fancy some lunch, so we stop at a niece looking restaurant & have a 3 course lunch this is very civilised don’t know what the other guests thought as we were still in the same cloths, that were had started with, I can remember the ice-cream was particularly good. We Arriving in Villaines-la-Juhel 16:38 on 19/08/15. To crowds of people bands playing, & also you get announce to the crowd, as you come in to the bike park which is the main street there is a real party atmosphere with shouts of bravo, you still have 221km to go so it not over, it had been a hot section so plenty food & water was required.

 

Villaines-la-Juhel to Mortagne-au-Perche (Control) – 1090km

(12th Control) – Stage length 81km

 

This is the section that I feel that I am on my way home as you go under the 100miles to go after the initial climb out of Villaines-la-Juhel it is rolling & very straight with only a couple of long climbs in the middle it has a small village at the top of one of them with coffee & cake supplied by the locals for the riders it’s a welcome break as it is still hot but dusk will soon be upon us, this will be our last night fall. the final climb to the control with 17% right into the control were the crowds gather to see if you have to get off & push, you get it into the low gear before the corner & just roll it up to the cheers for making it. On the way up this last hill Martin was having a hard time & I was talking him up it as I could remember this from my last two times, as we came into the town there was a woman ring a bell & shouting encouragement which Martin mistook as hurry, hurry, hurry to which I hear him muter if you say that once more I will shove that bell up you’re a??? to which I burst out laughing & nearly ground to a holt, I shout get into the low gear know to which he replied I am already f?????? in it. We huff & puff into the control Arriving 21:38 on 19/08/15. The food is really good her soup bread, beef olives rice, & you can’t beat it creamed rice washed down with Perry water, coke, coffee.

 

Mortagne-au-Perche to Dreux – (Control) – 1165km

(13th Control) – Stage length 75km

 

We had already decided that we would cycle to Dreux & lay up there till the morning before heading for home. The night is very warm so it’s only the florescent gille that is added now need for arm warmers hats or light gloves, just as we were about to leave there was a load mouth group from across the pond leaving so we let them go, but to our amassment the were not going that fast, so we sate about a hundred yard of the back off them. Were up hill at the beginning then on a long descent Martin was in front I see out the corner of my eye a left turn quick shout to martin going left then a loud shout to the group but they did not hear me, it also had a cross that they should have seen 20 meters down the road. It was more uphill for us on this rise we can see the glow of the lights from Dreux & the other major towns we end up on a high flat area of fields that seem to go on & on this is hard work when you are tired as you don’t get a rest from pedalling, then it the dropt Dreux Arriving 02:55 on 20/08/15 we have food & sleep for 2 hours to leave at 6 to head for Paris.

 

Dreux to Velodrome St Quentin-en –Yvelines – 1230km

(Final Control) – Stage length 65km

 

We set of at 6 as planed. The sun will be up by 7 we are well feed & watered it is also just a short hope but as usual there are a couple of killer hills that on the way out on the Sunday were not really notes as you were swept along, we are passing rides that are on their last legs & giving it all to get to Paris. One of the images in this run in was there was a chap sleeping on a bench right outside a monastery that was chiming all its bell & he never even stirred. We climb the last major hill & can see the motor way that we go under about 6km from the end it was over cast this morning & starts to rain but we can’t feel it, were going home. downhill then under the motorway & the run through the suburbs of St Quentin-en –Yvelines the roundabout are all manned to stop traffic to keep the tired riders going that’s me to. Then it the pull up the hill to velodrome the crowds are out clapping shouting you cycle up this as if you had just came round the corner over the timing belt, park the bike in the secure park then into the velodrome for the final stamp on the brevet card it’s such a great feeling I didn’t even know how close I was to finishing at 9 o’clock till George text me to say hay your 2 minutes early we Arriving 08:58 on 20/08/15

 

We meet other Scottish rider that are finishing & sitting and chating for an hour or so but you feel the tiredness staring to take hold so you make your farewells & off to the hotel for a sleep & beer.

 

Some stats from the ride.

Time spent going through control & eating – 17hr

Time spent sleeping - 11hr

Time in cafes & refreshments outside controls – 6hr

Total time for ride was 87:12

 

This was my last Paris Brest Paris I look back at this ride with great happiness as in doing it the way I did you get to see the full field of riders from the fast to the slow like myself but I am thankful to be go home after, there were a few how would not & my thought are with their family but to see the joy on people faces that finished you will never forget. You also have to think off all the helpers that gave of their time to make this event happen & I had a smile on my face & thanks as they served food, stamped cards or even guiding you the right way on the road. It is a mythical event & you have to work hard to get fit for this in order to join the long list of successful randonneurs who have contributed to the legend of the Paris-Brest-Paris. I have 3 under my belt & flew the Johnstone Wheelers flag in Paris.

 

Campbell

 

Ps here is a poem that gives me inspiration its 'IF' by Rudyard Kipling

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master,
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
 

[P McDonald]

Campbell, fantastic tales and very well done, again

[thejanullrichdietplan]

Chapeau and well done! Sounds like an amazing experience

[PaulL]

Great read and great adventure Campbell! Well done

[LenMcD]

Mad

[BoydJohnston]

Inspirational, Campbell.