First Timer at Paris-Brest-Paris 2023

In 2019 my qualification hopes ended with sickness in the 600km distance qualifier, and then faulty Di2 scuppered my last hope, a 1000km distance event. Three seasons of failed 600km attempts later I ticked one off when it counted, and grabbed a golden ticket to the legendary Paris-Brest-Paris event. However, that 600km success came at a price. An ITB injury which meant that I couldn’t put full pressure through the pedals, and a niggling tennis elbow injury that made changing to the big chain ring damn painful.
I rolled up to the start with no expectations, just to enjoy the atmosphere, catch up with friends, chat to some well known faces from the audax scene, and not to get sucked into the craziness from the start. Perhaps if everything works perfectly I could complete the event. This is the video of my experiences as a first timer for PBP.
Music by:
Teho - Glacier 3000 (special remix for the Circle live events)
Max Cooper - Origins (Live at the Acropolis)
Oceansize - Music for a Nurse
Route animation by www.relive.cc.
Special thanks to Richard Lake @BikepackingAdventures for use of a clip.

[@philcyclelife]

Thank you for this vlog, mate. I'm Q195 and through your vlog I managed to recall many wonderful sights that I wasn't able to document. You'll come back stronger, but showing up already makes you a winner. Cheers!

[@londoncenturies]

Thanks for the footage!

[@colinwellman9480]

Don't beat yourself up, This is one tough event and another year you'll have a better feel for it. Thanks for the film.

[@DanilaKulakov]

Mate! Respect for your effort! This time and place will be always in my heart! It's no nice to go back there in a winter time. Nice movie, excellent soundtacks, some comments made me laugh:D

[@alienaudaxer9827]

Thanks a lot for the comment and praise. If I can make a couple of people laugh then I'm happy.

[@user-sq2xj8yk2t]

Great video John! Thanks a lot for sharing. My first PBP attempt too and I feel the same impression as you did in this awesome video. I started 1 hour after you did, passed Tinténiac 1 hour ahead of you, and had a big stop à St Méen-Le-Grand. Reached Brest in 40h 39m. With limited hope to finsih in time, I cooled down and planned for DNF , looking for a train to go back home and finally stopped at Loudéac on the way back. So this video is a great way for an emotional revival, sitting at home : much more relaxed than cycling under the hot weather. THANK YOU SO MUCH ! Keep the spirit, and let us make it in 2027 ! Arnaud (T148)

[@bassistadisinistra]

Fantastic riding and filming!

[@Moreandover992]

Great story

[@ralfher3833]

Respekt für die Leistung. Ich bin gestern das erste mal 110km gefahren mit 53 Jahren. Ein 200km Brevet reizt mich sehr,leider ist dieses Jahr schon alles ausgebucht.Ich wünsche dir weiterhin viel Erfolg.

[@alienaudaxer9827]

Danke und Glückwunsch. Auf die Audax Randonneurs Allemagne Seite gibt die Termine für 2024. Es gibt mehrere Brevets im September. Die sind normalerweise 200km und fast nie ausgebucht. Ich könnte die empfehlen!

[@BarilletMontre]

Good Job anyway. You will rock it in 4 years. It was also my first PBP this year, I chose the 84 hours limits with the departure monday morning. I did it in 81 hours and your video helps me to reminder how great was this race. The mix between riding in a group, chatting with people from all over the world, and also a LOT OF TIME riding alone. Take care

[@Jessatron888]

Such an effort! You did the best you could. I wish I can do that ride someday. It must have taken a lot of mental and physical strength. Best wishes to you.

[@horriflying]

Awesome . Great vid, editing and effort 👌👊🏻

[@mantaskreivys5459]

very well documented, lived PBP again. Nicely done!

[@evildrchan]

Thanks for sharing. I recognised myself 11 min into your video (I started in the 18:15 wave). Watching this brings back lots of memories. Thank you again.

[@arminholz2120]

Hallo habe auch teilgenommen, allerdings habe ich es nur bis Loudeac geschafft. Großartiger Film, hat sehr viel Spaß gemacht in anzuschauen. 2027 bin ich wieder dabei, aber dann wirklich gut vorbereitet. Nochmal Danke für den tollen Film! Vielleicht bis in 2027.

[@james-p]

Excellent, thank you! I'd love to ride PBP, but I have a lot of riding to do to get to that point!

[@user-py3wf1lh8o]

Great video and and I am in (9:20). Thank you for catching me. I am riding the Dahon folding bike (not Brompton) next to the FAT bike. A great adventure with nothing to compare to.

[@alienaudaxer9827]

Hey, thanks a lot. I used to own a Dahon folding bike called a P8 Speed or something. It was a joy to ride. How did you do on PBP?

[@user-py3wf1lh8o]

We finished outside the time limit and we are happy with the result. Started first in 2019 with DNF after 1000 Kilometers. After waking up somewhere in the dirt, i totally lost orientation where I was and what I was participating in. I do not speak any french, but a french hairdresser helped me out. I like the words of Claus Czycholl: " You can't win anything here, only friendships". Andy, who is driving left to me in this video, i know from PBP2019. Together we managed the challenge this time. You will not get the real spirit of PBP, if everything works perfect during the ride. It becomes something realy special if you can help someone or you need and get the help of someone to continue.

[@alienaudaxer9827]

Huge respect. If I manage to qualify next time around I'd like to complete the route, no matter whether or not I finish inside the time limit.

[@freddixon]

I just saw you two. I never realized that you rode through the night. I am intrigued ;

[@nicolasgonzalezdelfau9378]

Great video, mi first like in youtube, yo deserve it!

[@alienaudaxer9827]

In that case it was well worth making. Thanks a lot!

[@alanpage8911]

A good effort. Life is what happens while you're making other plans.

[@rebeccaclark3657]

I was in the blue helmet and braids just in front of you at the start! The heat on the return from Brest was brutal, I agree. 89h30 minutes or so for me. My first time I also rode Paris-Brest-Loudeac (2011). It's a lot to process, finishing "only" 800km. Bonne route for your future endeavors!

[@sveloman]

Hallo John, ein großartiges Video von dir! Hat großen Spaß gemacht es anzusehen, eine absolut gelungene Aufbereitung! Ich freue mich darauf dich bei den Brevets in 2024 wieder zu treffen! Bis dahin alles Gute!

[@alienaudaxer9827]

Danke vielmals. Ja, hoffentlich klappt es ein paar mal in 24 zusammenzufahren.

[@Wiederkunft]

Great stuff, good job! You can be proud of you! 😊

[@KevinJohnKiely]

Enjoyed that, great effort 👏I hope I will be a first timer in 2027 🙏

[@shemmac4700]

Such a good video, amazing effort.

[@josemirezola1684]

Se me han quitado las ganas de ir de momento. 😉💪

[@cargra4860]

Danke für das tolle Video und zurückholen von Erinnerungen.🙂 Eine echt harte Tour für den Kopf und mit 4.500 km in den Beinen und 6 Monate Vorbereitungszeit dann doch zu viel um mit dem Lastenrad im Zeitlimit zu bleiben. In vier Jahren nochmal? 🤔

[@anjamuller3392]

Tolles Video. Da komme ich ins Überlegen, dieses Projekt doch mal anzugehen...

[@alienaudaxer9827]

Danke sehr. Kann es nur empfehlen. Alleine für die Stimmung!

[@vedevalsebastiao8052]

Ótimo trabalho parabéns 👏👏👏

[@LateStarter52]

So great sunrise / sunset shots, thanks for the video, I had a brief fantasy about qualifying in April 23 and even pre-registered but that is as near as I got, certainly envy your ride, maybe 2027? I am of two minds regarding the apparent rush to close-up after the control close time, while the close time for the P start had passed a while before the close time for the final Z2 start group was still almost warm when you arrived at Loudeac would have been nice to keep the control open a few hours past close. I saw a video of some Hong Kong riders, out of time too but who wanted to continue but keep arriving at deserted controls, finally just got the train at Rennes, their video is 25 hours ! (at double speed), see Jason's Cycling Videos on KZbin. You are all amazing and I can only hope, thanks again, good luck next.

[@Peasant010]

eines Tages bin ich auch dabei... insallah

[@freddixon]

This type of riding is so cool. So many miles and riding through the night too. May I ask what type of shorts and saddle do you use that allows you to ride for so long? Cheers and thanks for the insight into this very interesting type of bicycle riding, I will have to explore the sport more.

[@marccourse]

Yh it

[@jcmuellner]

Did 82 hours in 2003 and hors delay of 94 hours in 2007 after food poisoning. You never know what PBP will give you! Hope you give it another go.