2003 Before the Brevet Information

Paris-Brest-Paris comes every four years. This was my first PBP year as a randonneur and RBA. How does one train oneself and prepare a series which will offer enough training for others to qualify and complete PBP when you hardly know anything about PBP. Information was scarce .... I hadn't ever even been to France! Luckily there were some anciens locally and I had volunteered at Boston-Montreal-Boston several years.

In 2002 (the first year for NJ Brevet Series), we had two rides, a 200K and 300K. So, I knew these routes needn't no tweaking. For 2003, I submitted a complete NJ series of 200, 300, 400 and 600K. We had no 400 or 600K routes planned - just ideas. Knowing I had to plan a 400 and 600K was scarey especially when the main route advisor, Sandiway Fong, was travelling and moving out-of-state - unavailable to help plan.

My plan was to qualify through Florida at Jim Solanik's series. Travelling took a toll on my body as I ended up with Bronchitis on the 400K and was forced to leave Texas Hell Week early. I was almost qualified - only needed a 600K. I did manage to ride the NJ 200K finally on March 8th in 25F!

Now the NJ series was upon us ..... we started with 78 riders on the 200K and ended with 40 on the 600K. 30 cyclists qualified on Father's Day 2003. Several riders from our series had already qualified on Lon and Susan's Wisconsin Brevet Week while a few went to Canada and nearby series'. I estimate 35 from the NJ series in total qualified.

Some of us booked hotels, car rental, sleepover, transfers and flights with Claus Claussen of Des Peres Travel - while others were independent. I believe it's good to book through Claus if this was your first PBP.

Now that we know bits of the qualifying, let's go into the actual PBP experience!




	Paris-Brest-Paris 2003 "The Qualifying Rides" *by Diane Goodwin*
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		Paris-Brest-Paris comes every four years. This was my first PBP year as a randonneur and RBA. How does one train oneself and prepare a series which will offer enough training for others to qualify and complete PBP when you hardly know anything about PBP. Information was scarce .... I hadn't ever even been to France! Luckily there were some anciens locally and I had volunteered at Boston-Montreal-Boston several years. In 2002 (the first year for NJ Brevet Series), we had two rides, a 200K and 300K. So, I knew these routes needn't no tweaking. For 2003, I submitted a complete NJ series of 200, 300, 400 and 600K. We had no 400 or 600K routes planned - just ideas. Knowing I had to plan a 400 and 600K was scarey especially when the main route advisor, Sandiway Fong, was travelling and moving out-of-state - unavailable to help plan. My plan was to qualify through Florida at Jim Solanik's series. Travelling took a toll on my body as I ended up with Bronchitis on the 400K and was forced to leave Texas Hell Week early. I was almost qualified - only needed a 600K. I did manage to ride the NJ 200K finally on March 8th in 25F! Now the NJ series was upon us ..... we started with 78 riders on the 200K and ended with 40 on the 600K. 30 cyclists qualified on Father's Day 2003. Several riders from our series had already qualified on Lon and Susan's Wisconsin Brevet Week while a few went to Canada and nearby series'. I estimate 35 from the NJ series in total qualified. Some of us booked hotels, car rental, sleepover, transfers and flights with Claus Claussen of Des Peres Travel - while others were independent. I believe it's good to book through Claus if this was your first PBP. Now that we know bits of the qualifying, let's go into the actual PBP experience!