Practicing my sleep schedule for the first 604km of the 2023 Paris Brest Paris

In this video I describe three practice runs of the first 604km of the Paris Brest Paris on a virtual course that has a similar elevation gain and at a riding speed that I aim to maintain at the actual event.
Many thanks to my PBP mentor Joe Todd for his photos of the actual PBP and his advice on how to tackle this enormous challenge.
I would like to thank pexels.com and all the creators who have provided video material to make this video possible.
Video by cottonbro studio: www.pexels.com...
Video by Carlos Arribas: www.pexels.com...
Video by Jack Sparrow : www.pexels.com...
Video by Matthias Groeneveld: www.pexels.com...
Video by Nature Feels: www.pexels.com...
Video by Ketut Subiyanto: www.pexels.com...
Video by Ron Lach : www.pexels.com...
Video by WeStarMoney : www.pexels.com...
Video by Matthias Groeneveld: www.pexels.com...
Video by Tima Miroshnichenko: www.pexels.com...
Video by Aduri Prem Kumar: www.pexels.com...
Video by Taryn Elliott: www.pexels.com...
Video by Harry Cunningham @harry.digital: www.pexels.com...
Video by Pressmaster: www.pexels.com...
Video by Timo Volz: www.pexels.com...
Video by Sebastian Feistl: www.pexels.com...
Video by Kelly : www.pexels.com...
Video by Karolina Grabowska: www.pexels.com...
Video by Zlatin Georgiev: www.pexels.com...
Video by Tima Miroshnichenko: www.pexels.com...
Video by Pixabay: www.pexels.com...
Video by Ron Lach : www.pexels.com...
Video by james: www.pexels.com...
Video by cottonbro studio: www.pexels.com...
Video by cottonbro studio: www.pexels.com...
Video by MART PRODUCTION: www.pexels.com...
Video by Philip Wels: www.pexels.com...

[@inigoo.7698]

I am sure that no one or almost no one of the 8,000 participants has prepared all aspects of this PBP so well as you. This compilation of videos that you have made over the years will surely be of great help to many people from many editions of the PBP. Thank you for sharing it and I know you will finish easily and better than you expect because of all the training, work and determination you have put on it.

[@reganarendse6157]

Thanks so much for the encouragement. These preparatory rides have been very informative to me in so far as learning my limits and capabilities. I hope others will be able to benefit from the experience and optimize their own training and PBP achievements. All the best to you too

[@radhagovind479]

Great video my friend. See you in Paris 😊

[@redgplops]

You're all set for PBP! Bon Courage, Regan!

[@BikepackingAdventures]

Hi Regan, in 2019 I rode to Loudeac for my first sleep and then form their was sporadic with no clear strategy of sleeping. This time overall I am just hoping to be more organised when it comes to sleep. 4 years is a long time that has past and since then I've done 4 ultra races and finished them all. The one thing that has changed in this time is my approach to sleep, I've chosen to prioritise sleep over riding through the night, but PBP is a (relatively) short race in comparison to say TCR and PCR both which I have completed. With that in mind I know for sure I am going to have to ride all the through the first night and through the first day, this is something I have done little of post-Covid so for me there lies the challenge.

[@reganarendse6157]

I have followed you closely on your conquests and have no doubt you are going to have a super good ride. All the best to you my friend

[@davidkcowie]

Hi Regan - Greetings from a fellow ex-SA. I've been following your videos in trying to build up all possible advice for my first PBP. Interesting to watch your Zwift experiments (I could not sit on a trainer that long!). I found in a long Audax last year, that I was able to ride through the night (10pm depart) and staying active, with everything around definitely helped. However as dawn broke around 5am once I got to that point it was ok and several enormous coffees helped through the day. On other Audaxes (400 through the night 6am to 6am) as soon as we entered the warmth of the service station, slowed down and ate, I could notice my body slowing down (eager for sleep). You'll be 2 hours ahead of me at PBP, I'm a 6pm start and going for the full value package!

[@reganarendse6157]

Hi David. Thanks for the advice. Riding through the night is such a huge challenge for me. However some can ride multiple days without sleep. Difficult to understand what’s the difference in sleep deprivation endurance between individuals. So happy that you have good sleep endurance. It’s going to be a huge advantage at PBP. I hope we get to meet in Rambouillet. All the best for your ride and enjoy the full value version 👏

[@ellywiner2330]

Very thoughtful video Regan. I just rode a moderately hilly 400k with a 4:00pm start. Beware the trap of losing precious sleep time to social media, especially the night before. I plan to keep my phone off at PBP and just pop in for a minute at my sleep stops. Regarding sleep stops, I'm planning on making it to Nicolas de Pelem on the first night, sleep for 4 hours, then ride to Brest and back to Tinteniac (airbnb on the course) for a 4 hr sleep, then a shorter leg to Mortagne (another airbnb on the course) for a 4 hour nap, then a very short final leg to Rambouillet. Hopefully with lots of time in the bank I'll stop for a lengthy breakfast in Dreux and meet up with Josh Haley and my friend Nat Watson. Best wishes to you and Germaine!

[@reganarendse6157]

I wouldn’t expect anything less from you Elly. You’ve already practiced your start time and booked your first two nights to sleep. Super organized and prepared. We hope to bump into you in France 🇫🇷. All the very best my friend

[@fmejiamulet]

Excellent tracking of your capacity...you'll do great my friend...I have no doubts. When you feel tired just think about the bull head you got in NZ 🐃

[@reganarendse6157]

Miss you my friend. It was awesome riding with you in New Zealand 🇳🇿. Hopefully once this PBP is over we can meet up for some good rides

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

Thank You for your video. Amazing dedication to do this trial run - virtual and real world for 29 hours. Subbed

[@cpollock]

Great video Regan! It looks like our plans for PBP are quite similar, and we're both in the A group. I'm also hoping to make it to Brest before a longer sleep, but unlike you I'm just winging it and haven't quite put in the effort to test myself with overnight rides. Looking forward to sharing the road with you in just under a month!

[@reganarendse6157]

Awesome 🤩. Looking forward to meeting you. I’m sure that first group is going to be fast. Hoping I can hang in there long enough to cover some good distance before I have to sleep. It will be huge to get to Brest for a first sleep. But so far that goal appears unlikely. All the very best to you and for your preparation

[@brentprockert5679]

Great video This is my first year as a member of the manitoba club. So far i have completed a 200, 300km ride doing a 400 tomorrow. The 600 makes me nervous. let alone a 1200. maybe in 2027 ill do PBP

[@reganarendse6157]

Congratulations on your achievements so far. I was in your situation just two years ago and am amazed at what is possible when you just push your limits. We are also riding the 400 tomorrow. All the best for your ride and PBP 2027!

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

Hello have you done PBP before? I’m headed over for my first PBP this year. I have a lot of questions. I wonder if we can collaborate together on a video

[@reganarendse6157]

I haven’t done the PBP before and have just been trying to learn from some well informed and experienced Randonneurs. This ride was putting into practice what I have learned from others. I will certainly like to try a collaboration. Send me an email at [e-mail] and let’s see what we can do! All the best for your ride

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

@@reganarendse6157 Thank You for the reply. I’m up in the Southern California mountains this weekend. Let’s connect when I get back and have WiFi 😂 for planning considerations I live in San Diego.