Paris-Brest-Paris 2023: Final Cut (Full-Ride)

[@christophersimser9500]

I appreciate and enjoy your videos and your positive attitude!

[@blockprojects]

Thank you so much! Cycling has had such a positive influence on my life. I am very grateful. Happy Holidays!

[@johnlawrence8785]

Just watching your videos is a pleasure.

[@blockprojects]

Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@bluebilby]

Magnificent ... lovely film and extraordinary achievement. And next?

[@blockprojects]

Thank you, Paul! I see you are out there crushing it too. Congrats on the marathon! Next up…London-Edinburgh-London 2025 :-)

[@michellesgoldberg]

Loved watching your prep for it and loved watching you complete it. Congrats! Also loved seeing you in Sherry's video (Buzz Along).

[@blockprojects]

Thank you so much, Michelle! That’s very kind. It was fun connecting with Buzzalong. She really captured the texture of the event. Thanks for following along!

[@SeanKeesler]

Congratulations! Pretty epic!

[@blockprojects]

Thank you, Sean! Appreciate it

[@TheGlobalNobles]

Great inspiring video!!!!

[@blockprojects]

Thank you so much! It was an adventure for sure.

[@bb-r5710]

❤

[@blockprojects]

Thank you!

[@alexanderlawson1649]

Awesome, I used to do big miles when younger but how its possible to do those huge Audax marathons, I don't know. A lot of training and more. Congratulations on a superb athletic achievement, you have my respect.

[@blockprojects]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it.

[@Caspar_old_skool]

Wonderful video of the event. It's a vague dream of mine to try it, but time will tell. Your goggles have me intrigued. I'm needing prescription glasses/goggles, and I really loved the lens size. Are you willing to share the brand of frames? Discerning middle-aged riders would love to know. Thanks!

[@blockprojects]

Thank you so much! I love the goggles. They are prescription sports goggles from Visionworks I believe. The best solution I’ve found.

[@ericnichols941]

Well ridden, sir. Fast enough to get some sleep and keep time in the bank. Loudeac is the ideal sleep stop for the 84-hr group. Then the inevitable pause around Mortagne. I’d be interested in an episode that contrasts your two very different PBP experiences.

[@blockprojects]

Hey Eric! Thank you! That was exactly the plan it played out really nicely where I maximized daylight riding and got just the ride amount of rest. I still had almost 8 hours in the bank when I got to Dreux. The comparison between 2019/2023 would be a nice episode. Thank you for the suggestion. I’ll do that. Cheers!

[@l139x3]

Smooth ride there August, congrats! Can share how you’ve fuelled? Also, did you try to manage your heartrate and if so what was your average? Thanks and stay safe.

[@blockprojects]

Thank you!! I appreciate it. I fueled scientifically on 47 baguettes with Camembert and butter. Pure power! Lol Next time I am going to build a baguette quiver on my bike. But seriously, I started out with my protein bars (RXbars and Skratch) with UCAN packets and EFS fuel mix but having trained all year on the bars, I couldn’t bear another so I kept the UCAN packets and EFS fuel mix, with the occasional bar but supplemented with bread, cheese, butter, eggs and fish at the controls. UCAN and EFS are great even energy sources. I never bonked. As for average heart rate, I tired to keep at endurance level, below 140 bpm but I really just focused on perceived effort. My perceived effort is fairly well calibrated to HR, except when I am super exhausted then perceived effort goes up but HR goes down…oddly. I hope that’s helpful.

[@blockprojects]

Oh, I left out the strategy. I tried to keep a constant flow of fuel, taking in small amounts every 30 to 45 minutes as best I could.

[@l139x3]

@@blockprojectsThanks a lot for your reply August, great achievement !

[@BikepackingAdventures]

Well done August =) How did you find the heat? For an Englishman it was pretty horrific.

[@blockprojects]

Hey, Richard! Thank you. The heat with the hills kind of got to me at times. But, honestly I had been training all summer in Florida and every ride had a heat index over 100 degrees and 85% to 90% humidity so the temps at PBP were mostly a nice break from that haha. How are you doing? I saw you were injured? I was sorry to see that. Are you on the mend?

[@BikepackingAdventures]

​ @blockprojects Yeah I can imagine Florida much more acclimatised! Crashed out about 85km from the start, broken clavicle, last 3 weeks I've been back riding again a little bit further each weekend with this weekend just full-blown bikepacking weekend. And today - I've 2 paracetamols all day long which is a first!

[@blockprojects]

@BikepackingAdventures oh, man! So sorry. Those groups were sketchy the first 100K. I was relieved when they broke up. I’m glad you are back at it. I had to look up the word paracetamol haha

[@BikepackingAdventures]

@@blockprojects ahh I thought the word paracetamol was pretty commonplace. Yeah painkillers. It was indeed - never mind - am over it now! Little point dwelling on it.

[@blockprojects]

Paracetamol will now be part of daily lexicon. I think we use Ibuprofen in these here parts. :-)