1200km Paris Brest Paris 2019 audax vlog

I went in the 90hr time limit. 90hrs is a looong time so this video is pretty long too!
ride my charge grater fixed 48:18 with 28c tyres giving a 71" gear.
Massive thanks to Audax Club Bristol for organising the travel and accommodation and for generally being great.

[@davidp7414]

Out of the blue, I just thought to myself: "I want to watch Adam's PBP video again", did not disappoint

[@Wolfman1250s]

What an adventure. Looked like a great experience. The way the people and towns supported the riders was cool. Glad the bike held together! Chapeau 👍🏻

[@adamwatkins]

Crazy cool local people, families, kids and everything, so cool

[@FlintF]

First thing I heard of you! Great video, thanks much for showing us mere mortals the insides of PBP! Looking forward to more!

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks I appreciate it 👋 only 4 years to get ready

[@SteveBrill]

Love your channel Adam and just found this one old one. Astonished at your resolve and resilience!

[@adamwatkins]

Very kind, Steve, you reminded me of this video and I watched most of it again yesterday. It was a great time

[@likecycling82]

I am a Korean Landoner. I enjoyed your pbp video.

[@user-jn3wl6my9t]

허허허

[@alexsheehan4617]

I love your video! Thank you so much for capturing and sharing all these moments, it's amazing to get a glimpse of the experience. I've watched it numerous times and it's got under my skin - I just signed up to my local randoneers club and am hoping to attend in 2023. Also, your Dutch 'everyone gets behind them' joke is soooo good! Particularly after 700km. Hahahaha! Cheers,

[@adamwatkins]

haha glad you liked the vid and the comedy :) not long till the next edition of this ride, 2023?

[@alexsheehan4617]

@@adamwatkins Just booked my flight and hotel! Thank you again for your entertaining videos, they've played a huge role in fueling my interested and intrigue with PBP and audax in general. Excited for August and to hopefully cross paths with you out on the course!

[@marks-0-0]

Great effort well done. And the vlog quality was excellent, it gave a good sense of what you could expect from riding PBP.

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks I'm pleased with the vid, turned out ok. Missed the super dark bits where I had no energy to film !

[@m1mbz]

I applaud your ability to tolerate the clicking bottom bracket on top of riding 1200km, great video!

[@adamwatkins]

thanks ! ps. I just removed it and reinstalled and it's silent again ... ha

[@alexanderlawson1649]

I would have went crazy.

[@philsmith2615]

Well done Adam an amazing achievement. Thoroughly enjoyed your video

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Phil 🙂

[@IanFairweather]

Great video Adam, well done keeping it together to film all the way through, and congrats on completing fixed, I just about made it through with gears and nothing else to think about!

[@adamwatkins]

Congrats to you for completing, it wasn't until Brest I believed I could finish really

[@odetocycling]

Some great moments in this wonderful footage which really captures the spirit of the event and the trials and tribulations that go with it. Some nice touches like the bread and rapidly depleting jam jar; the scene with you and 3-wheeled Aidan on the road; the final reflections that subtly answer the questions we all wonder. It was great to meet up at various points throughout the ride and I briefly joined the ACB train on the road out of Dreux (I'm the guy on the Flying Gate). Hats of for making it around on a fixed with a dodgy BB! And thanks for the bread tip - a pain de campagne occupied the top of my bar bag throughout the ride.

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Bob I've kept the jam jar (unless the boss chucked it out) I must Google flying gate and figure out which character you were ! 🤪

[@odetocycling]

@@adamwatkins You see me at 32:45 on the last leg in that early morning ride back from Dreux on the back of the ACB train.

[@s0012823]

Great job! Maybe 2023!

[@kc3718]

your headware angles are a masterclass in artful dishevelled chic, somewhere between a corsair and a cavalier, chapeau.

[@adamwatkins]

I believe Alexander Kristoff demonstrates similar lopsided helmet habits so I'm in good company 👷

[@theklotzle]

thanks so much for sharing. gave me food for thought to try it when i never dreamed i would consider it. well done!

[@adamwatkins]

Excellent only 4 years to prepare 👍

[@Human_Named_Paul]

After binge-watching loads of your videos whilst on lockdown, that was like 'Watkins the Movie" 🤣 good effort, and a great vid 👍🏻

[@adamwatkins]

lol told my other half, she laughed. Watkins the movie !

[@williamcovey4162]

WOW. 1200 km/87 hrs on a fixed gear. GREAT RIDE, MATE! Hope to see you in 2023!

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks yes I'll so do this again, bring on 2023

[@mattswaine3058]

Brilliant video. Great riding with you. May have been slightly delirious but the night ride into Dreux was a highlight for me, laughing at tales of David Ginola's domestic misadventure. That needs a video of its own.

[@adamwatkins]

Blimey, think that was buried in a deep place in my memory - now I remember! Not sure i'd have made it to Dreux without curling up on the floor if it wasn't for those tales!

[@peteross4587]

Hi Adam, I've been following the Vlog for a good year or so. I saw you at Mortagne and wanted to say hi. I think you had just come in after the big climb and was in a bit of a state. I felt in a bit of a state as well so I left the hello's for another time. Well bloody done on the clicking Grater!

[@adamwatkins]

No worries Pete I think everyone was in a bit of a drained state at that Mortagne place! The clicking just gave the bike extra character by the end, ha! Congrats on your ride and see you on another ride maybe

[@robertcampbell8845]

Another great video Adam. Great meeting you on the 'fun bus'. Regards Rob Campbell 😉

[@adamwatkins]

Cheers Rob and well done on your ride :)

[@johnpark1107]

Great video! Thanks!

[@andrew097]

Well done and keeping the camera charged while doing it is amazing. I could not even keep my Garmin going

[@adamwatkins]

It's all about the dynamo 🙂 or if you want a fast ride you need a supporter on the route with a battery pack

[@Misterobozo1]

@@adamwatkins Dynamo! That's what it was! I was thinking how many battery packs is he carrying??

[@vilassilverton3666]

Well done Adam! You captured the atmosphere nicely ;-)

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Vilas, good seeing you in the 84hr wave coming towards Brest

[@2wheelsrbest327]

Congratulations Adam that is some achievement. I cannot imagine doing it. Well done for also although obviously feeling very tired for having banter with those at the side of the road egging you on. Best I dont mention your comedic skills though. You have earned another Sub.

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Ted loved the public on the route, felt it wasn't doing it properly unless I shouted back at them. Some are even British !

[@tonyfrewin4822]

Absolutely amazing Adam! My longest ride so far is 112 miles. I just can’t imagine how you achieve such incredible distances.

[@adamwatkins]

just riding more and more, zone zero baby

[@rachelking9774]

Well done, glad you shared gives me insight as to what Is going on. My son was there for his 4th PBP.

[@adamwatkins]

Thank you! I can see the appeal of riding this a number of times

[@horrovac]

Oi! I met you at the PBP and rode a while with you. I'm even in your video, the beardy bloke in red and white right before you at 13:05 and riding on the other (correct) side of the fence at 18:10. The one who gave you grief about riding the PBP on a fixie :). Glad to see you made it and the BB held through!

[@adamwatkins]

I remember! Good to hear from you! Next time I ride on the proper side of the fence 😂

[@yt2w3e]

Thanks for sharing. Really well done!!!!!

[@adamwatkins]

thanks!

[@davidwestwood5135]

Your best video to date , well done

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks David, surprised how popular my video seems to be!

[@lindanicholas4921]

Hi Adam, an absolute brilliant video - my son did the ride as well and he returned with a cold as well - he also was a finisher - WELL DONE 👍

[@adamwatkins]

I think we all took a bit of a hit from the ride and got poorly, but just a cold, you have an excellent son pass on my congratulations

[@supernaturalvegan1123]

So so proud of you sweetheart ❤️🧡💛 well done on completing PBP 🎉🎊xxx

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks for the support xxx

[@LJ-rz4zg]

Congratulations on a top ride Adam cheers

[@adamwatkins]

thanks :)

[@tomcruz3774]

Idk why but I love the vibes in this video haha

[@TheCoopsvids]

Well done mate an epic journey 👍🏻🚴🏼🍻

[@adamwatkins]

thanks it was truly epic

[@pantwone8469]

Well done dude! Great vid thanks for sharing experience

[@adamwatkins]

Cheers!

[@paulschmidtke425]

Your face and obvious delirium( Dutch joke) have relieved me of my desire to do this ride ,,,,, but really well done,, great story for the grand kids

[@adamwatkins]

Yeh defo had a good deal of delirium! And fatigue!

[@mikegreer1829]

Well done Adam, great ride and as usual a great video. Slack chain may be helped/ stopped by adding chain tugs. Did it for me anyway, but then 1200 km is way beyond anything I would contemplate..

[@adamwatkins]

never ending problems keeping chains tight enough to remove slack and loose enough not to damage cogs/bearings ... I have surly chain tug it does make things easier

[@jhtprojects4431]

Well done Adam. Congratulations. One thing I saw this time was a fixed gear rider with rear saddlebags. As he flew down hill he leaned forward and had his legs resting on top of the panniers, pedals spinning madly below him. Cheers. PBP # G180.

[@adamwatkins]

Oh wow I unclipped a few hills but that sounds a bit dodgy!

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

Heading to my first PBP Thank You so much for your video!

[@adamwatkins]

All the best George good luck for the ride ✌️

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

@@adamwatkins likewise Adam. Good luck to you sir!

[@JamesManthorpOnline]

Cracking work Adam!! Nice one

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks James 🙂

[@martindavey8742]

Well done Adam, super effort!

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Martin

[@briancardwell7226]

Well Done, checked out the ACB riders on the tracker- I fully approve of the conservative pace! Extra kudos for putting up with the BB creak, must have made the ride feel twice as long!

[@adamwatkins]

90hr is the way to go I recon, all the time to enjoy and if all goes well then plenty of time to catch zzzs, cheers Brian

[@smoore5540]

Bloody well done mate👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻I followed you and Richard lake on chrono course app. Keep vlogging,keep riding and well done again 👍🏻😁🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Stephen, I actually met Richard at the start, I gather he was doing the faster 84hr ride. Cool that they have a tracker to follow riders. I expect Richard finished before me

[@alfwilliams5446]

Nice video Adam and well done on becoming a fellow 'PBP Ancien'.

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Alf, I loved it. Seems such a long time ago having nice dry summer weather. PBP is timed perfectly in August

[@RomainLange]

4 years later and I still remember this speechless moment at 25:45 !

[@adamwatkins]

haha blimey what a face

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Awesome & Congratulations :)

[@pradeepsaggi]

Arumai Arumai 👍🏽🍻 means too good too good.. fantastic effort on a fixie 🙌🏽.. The movie is a great watch and I did feel through you.. May be will try to meet you at LEL.. 👍🏽.. the joke did get a late laugh from me..

[@adamwatkins]

😂 brilliant thank you Pradeep glad you enjoyed the film, see you at LEL 👍

[@johnbouttell5827]

Excellent commentary. Well done.

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks John

[@maidbloke]

Great video of an awesome ride, congratulations

[@adamwatkins]

cheers! truly a classic

[@zedsprocket3673]

Total chapeau awesomeness 👏

[@adamwatkins]

thanks !

[@stevenmcfarlane8831]

Kudos esp for riding fixed. Great achievement

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Steven

[@pankajsrivastava5485]

Good to watch your video. I am 45 years old from India . Started cycling few years back to control weight . Looking at the adventures one has on PBP , motivated to join rodendoneur club here and do next PBP .

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Pankaj, I saw lots of riders representing India on my ride - you have 4 years to prepare I'm sure you could ride PBP if you wanted :)

[@leebending]

Well done, amazing 👍🏽

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Lee

[@Rohiteb]

That was great Adam!!!

[@adamwatkins]

Thank you Rohit I'm glad you liked it 👍👋

[@BelgaBike]

Felicitaciones! Saludos desde Mérida - Venezuela.

[@adamwatkins]

Hello thank you thank you! Keep on riding 🚲🚲🚲

[@jurjojo]

Amazing!

[@WillEyedOney]

Well you did it, f'n superb job! :)

[@adamwatkins]

cheers Will I doubted it so much, almost couldnt believe how legit I was still feeling half way round, crazy experience

[@andysadventures3910]

"Trenchmouth" I like that....sums it up perfectly!

[@adamwatkins]

Gross isn't it!

[@andysadventures3910]

@@adamwatkins Yes it's horrible. You any idea what causes it? Keep meaning to research it...then it heals and I forget :-)

[@kibohei]

Wow. Epic ride and at this point I can’t imagine. Some day perhaps.. would want a list of what to take and what to leave

[@adamwatkins]

Someone should do a video on guide to riding pbp but it would be a very long video!

[@davidkeogh268]

Congratulations!

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks David 🙂

[@simonbennettalbertst]

Nice vid. Best yet. Saw you at the end, shuffling round the sheepfold. I'm an old friend of Matt Swaine's. I'm over the trenchmouth. Hope you are too.

[@adamwatkins]

Hi Simon well done I assume you rode and completed it, Matt helped to keep me sane !

[@simonbennettalbertst]

@@adamwatkins I did. Your vid helped me remember lots of the places which seemed like a blur.

[@Elmachuca]

Getting into riding longer fixed rides. This one looks like a winner.

[@adamwatkins]

It's a great goal to aim for

[@themoodyteam]

Well done Adam 😃👍😃

[@adamwatkins]

cheers!

[@BikepackingAdventures]

Great to meet you on the Sunday as you were setting out =) Heading out in the 84hr found it tough getting footage, always up against the clock! Managed to salvage enough for a vlog! I think next time, if I do it again that is, I will opt for the 90hr group just so I can take in a bit of the hospitality a little bit more- and wow it seems you found the opportunity to even sleep! I think I got less than 4 hours and most of it was power naps in the sun!

[@adamwatkins]

Yea 90 HR was nice, lots of time to soak it all in. But another night to ride through! More ass pounding ❗I'll check your channel for the vid

[@ColonelBummleigh]

What a feat Adam,well done Sir The lack of sleep and exhaustion would have made it all seem more surreal no doubt.

[@adamwatkins]

In sure it did, cruising into the finish like a zombie with other riders was some experience

[@Thracium]

Bravo! Good Luck!

[@adamwatkins]

👋👋👍 hey! Thanks!

[@RobFinch1971]

Congrats, an awesome achievement! Never in doubt.

[@adamwatkins]

good to hear you were more confident than me!

[@Winterbiker333]

Súper impressive ride!

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks!

[@Winterbiker333]

Very inspiring, thinking of doing the same in 4 years time! Thanks

[@sebreens]

You are crazy! I'm still stuck on the deliveroo part of riding, gotta get outta there and count some larger miles :D

[@adamwatkins]

go get those bigger kms! thanks for your comment

[@PeatCowman]

Lovely stuff! A danglemug and all! 🤣

[@adamwatkins]

Yeah couldn't believe my luck. The bloke thought I was being genuine 😂

[@chasc2389]

Fair play to you mate. Qualifies for 'epic' without a doubt. I thought I had an epic day Exeter-Bristol-Exeter with only 22 gears....I will keep quiet now! Hope you've caught up on your sleep and calories by now. Respect.

[@adamwatkins]

Tell you something, in still eating cake icing out the tub ...

[@anthonymorris8423]

well done fella ,top marks

[@adamwatkins]

thanks!

[@rainergabriel9363]

Ha! I just saw myself at 21:42. I think we even talked a little bit! You and some other crazy UK guys have inspired me to try to brevets fixed soon. Maybe see you in 2023 and maybe even fixed !

[@adamwatkins]

Excellent! Me and I'm sure all our fixed wheel riders are proud to be encouraging more to get into it. Don't know about you but pbp was the highlight of last year, and the last few probably!

[@rainergabriel9363]

@@adamwatkins I really liked PBP for the people and the whole spectacle of it, but a bit less for the landscape - a bit too monotonous for me. I'll see you around then! PS: I was on that sparkly Isen Workshop bike that was in the concours :)

[@adamwatkins]

Oh sweet, I remember speaking to someone with a concourse bike (you?) on a hot flat (slightly dull) stretch of road where the filming van came along with a camera person hanging out the back. I felt like they were waiting for me to get the hell out the way so they could film your ride 😂

[@user-mf6og1ic9y]

Your swap jersey is the number one jersey in Korea Randonneurs. Congratulations.

[@adamwatkins]

Brilliant I love the jersey what a great memory to bring back a jersey from Korea. It says GR1200 I guess that is a 1200km Korean randonee

[@CloCkWeRX]

Ah, another J group rider :) We're everywhere! Edit: 23:43 - the bandit jersey guy!

[@adamwatkins]

Hey J rider! 👋

[@douglasramsay1447]

Chapeau

[@adamwatkins]

:D

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

Looking at some of those bikes it attracts some right knob heads

[@HW-op7pq]

Well done mate

[@adamwatkins]

thanks :)

[@jimbojet8728]

You did well. Making the video too. Thanks

[@adamwatkins]

Thank you!

[@surfinggraham9550]

Just watched this again as I'm planning on riding fixed this year. What gear did you ride (is it what you'd ridden in the qualifiers?), and what would you ride if you could choose another?

[@floriansteiper7000]

Yeah. Found me at 11:30. Great video

[@adamwatkins]

Looks like I was following behind you 🙂👍

[@senorj6854]

Bravo.

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks 🤪

[@shadrachmalooly9394]

3.44 ... TRIKE! My dad used to race one of those in the '60s

[@adamwatkins]

Excellent! Yes I saw a few of those, hats off to the riders

[@dickmartino9933]

Those Proplus did work. Don't think I'd like to go that far on a fixie. I have had a bad knee the day before a ride then then on the day it was okay. weird. Well done.

[@adamwatkins]

Yea they worked in enough quantity, knees are strange aren't they, I've had one blow and fix itself in one ride...

[@philipashbourn1538]

What an wonderful evocative record which brought memories of riding in 1979. Was that the Ian Booth who also rode that year fixing the bottom bracket?

[@adamwatkins]

Yes Ian Boon, you know him? Thanks for your lovely comment 🙂

[@Risayogi]

I just finished my 300 km Audax a couple of days ago. It was a brutal mental test. Still cannot imagine what 1200 km going to feel.

[@adamwatkins]

Well done 👍 just peddle a bit softer

[@stuarthenderson7354]

Excellent video as usual. Would you consider taking a thermarest mat and a bag if doing it again?? kip anywhere ?

[@adamwatkins]

I guess a very light weight bag would be ok but I think a mat is too much to carry, unless I have a real problem sleeping in a sports hall I'm really just going to minimise the amount of crap I take on the bike. Having a nice easy fast ride is preferable for me

[@skiperoo]

what a pleasure to see your video....feel I can never get in shape to tolerate this PBP thingy but still very interesting as a viewer

[@adamwatkins]

only 4 yrs to train up for the next one :)

[@jiml-j]

Love the video great achievement mate. What gearing do you use Adam?🚴‍♀️

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks Jim 48:18

[@willmcgrane6359]

Congratulations!!! Well done! A superb accomplishment. At the end you mentioned "LAL in two years time." Is that correct? If so, where and when exactly? Many thanks. Again, congrats!!!

[@adamwatkins]

Lel is London Edinburgh London 1400km thanks for your comment 🙂

[@markmitchenall5948]

How the crap did you keep going with that knocking from the BB? Incredible!

[@adamwatkins]

I know... It was terrible but in the end it was affecting other people more than me!

[@darrelduke]

that would be insanity.

[@s-ultracycling]

Nice work. Congrats. I am working on my PBP Movie as well

[@adamwatkins]

Link me when it's published 📷👍

[@s-ultracycling]

@@adamwatkins Definatelly. Hit subscribe . I'll do the same

[@s-ultracycling]

@@adamwatkins kzbin.info/www/bejne/iojPqKeGlKeepJo

[@l139x3]

Cheers for the achievement. 🎉 Do You know how your heart rate go through the ride?

[@alexanderlawson1649]

Just sorted a bad click after fitting new pedals. It involved gettin a fuck off tube over the allen key, and torqin the fuckin pedals up to the point of destruction. Sorted, the bike is now in harmonious synchronicity with the rest of my existence. Bottom bracket noises so often have more to do with a pedal or chainset disturbance, its a total head fuck.

[@adamwatkins]

Bloomin pedals 🤦‍♂️ I bet the next long one I do the noise will be back 😂

[@breathestrongcycling3672]

I thought "getzba hindem" was the dutch blokes name ....i grew up powered by jam.... subscribed 👍

[@adamwatkins]

Haha kinda works, hello fellow jam lover

[@Gabay54]

Well done video of your ride. Fun to watch. Do you secure your bike when you leave it for shower, sleeping, buying food etc. ?

[@adamwatkins]

I did take a small cable lock, with the two pins to unlock it, this particular ride there were no issues about security really

[@MulksBikes]

Good video - I've watched this a few times. Would you think a 75 gear inches ratio would have been more appropriate for the route and the hills?

[@adamwatkins]

75 would be great I think, need to be a strong ish rider but the downhills would be much less painful with 75

[@MulksBikes]

@@adamwatkins do you think that recommendation would be different for single speed instead of fixed?

[@adamwatkins]

I wouldn't fancy pushing a big ss gear because you don't get help with the pedalling dead spot

[@leeomurchu1213]

That looks a true test of endurance. hoe come so many were on single speed bikes? Looking at the elevation it's not to high but looks to be constantly up and down. Well done 💪

[@adamwatkins]

Thanks yes lots of people said it was lumpy , some hills but nothing steep so fixed wheel is fine. I find the fixed drivetrain better for endurance, no option to freewheel and the added momentum helps

[@alexmorgan3435]

Was there any one from North Korea? Congratulations on a fantastic achievement riding fixed and with a knackered bottom bracket. Can you sleep anywhere not necessarily where every one else is so you can get a good kip in peace and quiet? All you'd need is a bivvy and a mat plus a bag which presumably you already had? Also are panniers banned? Well done again.

[@adamwatkins]

Hi Alex, didn't see a North Korea rider, but someone said they were represented. Carrying sleeping gear isn't recommended by the organisers, well at least they said not to pack a tent. There are a number of 'controls' with at least some gym mats to sleep on a a hall or something. You are right, with a bivvy and a mat i'm sure you could sleep OK in a field. I think i kept waking up due to being cold and then the snoring kept me awake. Next time I need my insulated jacket and i'd sleep much better and could comfortably through the night. Temps down to 8C were unusually cold this year I would say. Panniers are allowed and I saw many riders using them - I would be concerned at the aero drag at least 1 to 2kph disadvantage. I think a small handlebar bag and a big seatpost bag would be perfect.

[@alexmorgan3435]

@@adamwatkins Thanks very much for replying. Re the panniers. I'm not suggesting a full touring set up just a thought to help carry a little more to make the experience more enjoyable in terms of staying warm and perhaps wild camping along the route. Of course extra weight and drag would be issues but the route is quite flat. As you suggest a full bike packing set up might suffice. Still use the feed stations if need be and of course get the stamp at controls. Of corse to be accepted for this "race" you'd still have to ride your qualifying distances. Would a RTW ride count? You can get insulated down trousers as well jackets which are very light and pack down small. I think Patagonia do them. Still fantastic effort you made to do this especially on a diet of white bread and jam! I've thought about titanium bikes and a Van Nicholas, but a bit expensive for me at the moment. Oh and I asked about NK as you said on quite a few occasions every nation was represented at the event.

[@mlupp]

5:24 Is that man riding a... fatbike? I wonder if he made it.

[@adamwatkins]

Yes! I don't think he could have made the time cut. I saw one heading to Brest as I was nearing carhaix on the way back (and I only had 2hrs to spare!)

[@alexanderlawson1649]

No man who liteth a candel, placeth it under a buschell but upon high, so that all who enter can see by the light.