Preparing Paris-Brest-Paris

Preparing Paris-Brest-Paris

How to prepare and get ready for Paris-Brest-Paris. Here is an example of an approach, training, and a pacing chart, based on the experience of several PBP riders.

Paris-Brest-Paris, or PBP, is a 1,200 km bike ride. It's not a race, so there's no ranking, and the average speed is limited to 28 km/h, with a deadline of 44 hours for the fastest riders.

Preparing for Paris-Brest-Paris can be done in as many ways as there are riders. Let's say there are three groups: those who aim to complete it in less than 50 hours, the fast riders who aim for less than 70 to 75 hours, and those who take their time. Just like running a marathon in 6 hours is harder than running it in 4, completing PBP in 90 hours is certainly harder than completing it in 75 hours. 15 extra hours on a bike ride is a significant effort, especially if it means spending those 15 extra hours on the bike and not resting.
Let's look at the case of riders who aim to complete PBP in 60 hours. For those who aim for a longer time, see Paris-Brest-Paris in 90 hours.

Paris-Brest-Paris in 60 hours :

1,200 kilometers to cover in 60 hours, which is an average speed of 20 kilometers per hour.

The refueling zones are located approximately every 80 kilometers. It seems interesting to plan stages with a break and a checkpoint every two zones. With an accompanying person, it allows for the road to be covered while preparing for the follow-up, or even sleeping. Without an accompanying person, it allows to resist the temptation of stopping at every checkpoint, but rather to take only the time needed to stamp, and to take a break at every other checkpoint.

The plan must be based on this distance. Refueling outside these areas is disqualifying (including personal vehicles).

1,200 kilometers equals 8 times 150 kilometers. 150 kilometers in 6 hours means an average speed of 25 kilometers per hour.
Therefore, the PBP (Paris-Brest-Paris) can be completed in 48 hours, which leaves 12 hours of rest (60 - 48) to be divided into 7 times, which means 1 hour and 42 minutes of rest at each checkpoint, or more humanly, 1 hour and 42 minutes of rest to be divided for every 150 kilometers.

Another possibility is to spend 28 hours on the way there, with 2 hours of sleep, and 30 hours on the return trip, which amounts to an average speed of roughly 22 kilometers per hour.

On the way there, there are 7 checkpoints, taking into account 30 minutes of rest for eating every other checkpoint, and 10 minutes for the other checkpoints to record the passage, which adds up to about 2 hours. Our average speed for the first 600 kilometers is 23 kilometers per hour, covered in 26 hours.

For the return trip, the same strategy is used with an additional 2 hours of sleep in Brest. The average speed for the return trip drops to 21 kilometers per hour.

Since 2011, departures are more numerous than before, ranging from 4 pm (less than 80 hours) to 5 am the next day (less than 84 hours).

Starting on Monday morning at 5:00 am, the time limit is 84 hours.

If starting on Sunday with the "cadors" (top riders) or with the randonneurs who follow them, the time limits are 80 or 90 hours.

If the Monday morning start allows for one less night on the bike, it does not benefit from the "kermesse" effect that exists at the start on Sunday. Groups do not ride at the same speed, the cadors are in a racing mindset, then the averages decrease as the starts progress, and finally those starting on Monday also ride fast, but not as fast as the cadors.

The march tables must take these aspects into account.

Different march tables can be envisaged, such as a daytime pace and a lower nighttime pace, or a faster pace on the way there and a slower pace on the way back, but as in a marathon, regularity of pace is important, and one must also keep some energy in reserve!

In 2011, there was a difference between starting on Sunday or Monday in terms of the number of nights spent on the bike.

The wind also needs to be taken into account, which can blow in the direction of travel, but can also be in the face, both on the way there and on the way back (yes, this has already been seen, especially in 2011 for those who started on Monday morning, but who also had rain and storms around Fougères).

On the road to Paris-Brest-Paris.

One Step Higher
Besides recounting the author's participation in the legendary Paris-Brest-Paris race, this story depicts the difficult climb that he had to overcome to get there

With the marching plans established, the next step is to schedule the bike training sessions, mainly for the last year. Since the race is 1,200 km long, it can be assumed that there is a base of 12,000 km in the legs at the start.

For this training, it is necessary to take into account the qualifying brevets of 200, 300, 400, and 600 km, and then base the training on distances of 150 km, which will be the standard during PBP. One can then include long events such as Bordeaux Paris, BRA or BCMF, or Tour de France Randonneur in July as a final preparation. The route is not flat and has more than 10,000 m of elevation over the entire 1,200 km (11,000 in 2019), and this element should not be overlooked during training.
60 hours on Paris-Brest-Paris is ok, but it's fast! Discover here a marching plan for Paris-Brest-Paris in 90 hours with real nights.

Since the schedule has been established, the next step is to plan the bike training sessions, mainly for the last year. Considering that the race is 1,200 km long, the cyclists are expected to have a foundation of 12,000 km in their legs at the start. To prepare, one should consider the qualifying brevets of 200, 300, 400, and 600 km, and then base their training on distances of 150 km, which will be the baseline during PBP. Long races such as Bordeaux-Paris, BRA or BCMF, or Tour de France Randonneur in July can also be included as a final preparation. The route is not flat and has more than 10,000 meters of elevation over the 1,200 km (11,000 in 2019), which is not to be underestimated during training. Completing Paris-Brest-Paris in 60 hours is possible, but it is fast! Discover a training plan for Paris-Brest-Paris in 90 hours with real nights.

Advice: It can be wise to choose a 600 km BRM with an elevation gain similar to that of PBP, which is 5,000 meters for 600 km.