You can try your first ride with Randonneurs Ontario for free, but after that, you'll need to be a club member which costs $40/year. Rides are free otherwise.
Just whatever you require for food and drink really, maybe $40? For a 600 like this, there was also the cost of a hotel (although some ride through, or just get a little sleep on a park bench somewhere).
Thanks for the coverage. Mist is one thing I never saw there! I was a BC Rando from '85 to '16. I did PBP in 1999 and 2001 and DNFd both times at Loudeac for all kinds of reasons. Worst was Shermer's Neck on the way back to Carhaix. It was just getting dark when a young Alberta Rando caught me. He was out of batteries and had no lights. I had an excellent dynamo system but could not keep my head up for more than seconds. So he rode next to me all night, telling me when I had a turn or obstacle coming up. I could only stare at my top tube. Neither of us was very happy! It was scary on the twisty downhills. At dawn we reached Carhaix and he continued on. I went to bed. Taking the train back to Paris with some other DNFs from SoCal, I learned about Shermer's Neck for the first time. Later I contacted MIchael Shermer himself, wanting to know if it was related to my previous whiplash injuries. But he was skeptical. BTW my friend Deirdre Arscott finished it for the tenth time in 2023, A record for any woman, That does take 40 years! So she could tell you how to get it done. Not that just anyone can do it! But don't give up.
Hi Conor -- John Archibald here, I believe we chatted briefly early on. PBP is a tough old slog, chapeau on your effort and see you in 2027. Your experiences this year will serve you well I am sure.
It looks like our rides overlapped a bit as I started in wave C. I also have challenges riding in the heat. I rode PBP and the qualifiers using a Core device to monitor my body temperature. It's pricey but knowing I had to lower my effort levels when my temperature was reaching critical thresholds was useful. I also found salty electrolyte drinks were helpful. However, I still struggled that Monday afternoon of PBP because of the heat. I ended riding more of the event at night than I planned to avoid the late afternoon heat. Good luck in 2027!
It's a good thing to report not only the glorious victories but also the more difficult moments. Healthy eating is definitely a challenge on those super long rides, and the food you easily come by isn't always the one that will let you ride through to the end. Nice video !
Really want to do this one. Maybe next year. I did Forks of the Credit going the other way on the Lake of the Burning Plains brevet. Much easier that way. 😂
Would like to know more about your setup, specifically the cockpit. What are the handle bar extensions and how do they attach to your drops. thanks for the video
I'm running regular drop bars, with Profile Design T3+ aero bars, and I use their riser kit to give me enough space to access by bag below. The handlebar bag I use is made by Route Werks, and I have my GoPro mounted to the top shell of it. If you click the Strava link in the description, there are a few photos on the activity which show the setup.
I was looking for this for a long time. Thanks for the video Conor! It's cool!!! I recently came to Canada in August 22 and I live in Mississauga, I am planning and preparing to participate in the BRM's. Great to see you guys and hope to meet in upcoming events. If you can please help with the audax registration link that would be great!
I also got caught out in this storm. When I turned north onto 6th line from William Halton everything looked good. By the time I was at 6th and Britannia I was turning around. Took shelter in a friendly strangers garage for 20 minutes as it went over. The weatherperson lied to us!
I'm on 38mm tires, can take streetcar tracks at just about any angle without issue. Although I think the GoPro makes the angle look tighter then it actually is.
I was riding on 25mm slicks at the time, and I remember some sketchy bits of sand-like gravel that I would sink into. When I go back, I'd be bringing a tire with a bit of tread and at least 28mm width. Funnily enough, the section I crashed on was paved, and probably gave me a little too much confidence after previously riding the gravel portions.
