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PARIS – BREST – PARIS

Over 6,000 cycling enthusiasts from all over the world attended this event. PBP is a 1,216 km (760 miles) randonneuring spectacle that occurs every 4 years.

In terms of history, it is older than the Tour de France. It began as a race in 1891, but ceased to be a competition in 1951. It essentially involves a test of cycling skill and endurance as riders negotiate nearly 12,000 meters (40,000 feet) of climbing over 1,216 km in under 90 hours.

Stage 1 involved 28 hours of cycling covering 490 km (305 miles) and nearly 4,000 meters of climbing. No outside mechanical assistance is permissible so a self-sufficient, ready-for-anything plan is essential.

The night-time temperatures dropped to 40°F so multiple layers of clothes were needed to stay warm. The local people from Brittany were in front of their houses all through the cold nights offering encouragement and pancakes, coffee, and water to the riders.

To qualify for PBP riders have to complete a series of rides; 600 km, 400 km, 300 km, 200 km in the year of the event. During the winter months, Geoffrey’s training included many sessions in the YMCA gym and swimming pool.

We build a Passoni Top Force for Vadim in 2015 with this event as the main goal. We used a custom steel fork from Waterford to accommodate the 650b x40c tires.

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For Geoffrey, we build a Seven Axiom Sl with a 700x38c tires, Enve M50 wheelset with a dynamo hub and internal wiring to power the Plug3 generator on top of his Spork Fork so he can charge his computer/phone during those long rides.

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The French people of Britanny were fantastic. We go through about 170 towns and they all have 4 years to prepare for this event and they line the streets to cheer the riders on. All along the route you hear “bravo”, ‘bon courage” and “allez allez”. Even at 3 or 4 am in the morning during almost freezing conditions, the locals were in front of their houses offering water, cakes, biscuits and in some cases homemade crepes or pancakes.

Unlike races, PBP does not acknowledge fastest time and for a good reason; everyone who beats the clock is considered a winner, and get their names recorded in The Great Book held by the organizers. This event is about a journey across North Western France and the four yearly repetition ensures the tradition continues and it delivered an experience.


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Definition: Randonneuring is long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. This style of riding is non-competitive in nature, and self- sufficiency is paramount. When riders participate in randonneuring events, they are part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy.

We couldn’t be happier and more proud to have Geoffrey and Vadim as clients and friends, looking forward to their new adventures! Are you ready for yours?



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