Now that I've decided to try PBP in 2019—and fortunately this decision came at least a year and a half before it's August 18 start-date—my first concern is being denied entry. I'd hate to plan and train and day dream for nothing.
Being turned down can happen for two primary reasons: 1) The organizers decided to cap the number of riders from the USA, and this number turns out to be greater than the number of registrants; and 2) you fail to complete the required Super Randonneur series in 2019 before the cut-off date for qualifying rides.
It's too soon for me to worry about #2—that will have to wait until late next March when the ride calendar begins. So what can I do about Worry Number One? Other than simply hope that no one who completes the qualifiers is turned away, I can take advantage of a rule that says, The longer you ride in 2018, the sooner you get to register in 2019."
If you complete a 1000 or 1200K in 2018, you can register beginning 1/14/19; 660K begins 1/28; 400K, 2/11, etc.
So the first order of business on my road to PBP '19 is to complete a 1000K this year in order to insure entry in the case of an imposed cut-off.
Given that 600K is the longest brevet I've ever completed in my 12 years randonneuring, this is a big ask of myself. And the fact that so far this year the longest ride I've completed is an unofficial 200K, it looks even more daunting.
But in two months there is a 1000K in Ontario that's very flat, so that's where I'm heading! Hopefully between now and then I'll get some long rides in!
Being turned down can happen for two primary reasons: 1) The organizers decided to cap the number of riders from the USA, and this number turns out to be greater than the number of registrants; and 2) you fail to complete the required Super Randonneur series in 2019 before the cut-off date for qualifying rides.
It's too soon for me to worry about #2—that will have to wait until late next March when the ride calendar begins. So what can I do about Worry Number One? Other than simply hope that no one who completes the qualifiers is turned away, I can take advantage of a rule that says, The longer you ride in 2018, the sooner you get to register in 2019."
If you complete a 1000 or 1200K in 2018, you can register beginning 1/14/19; 660K begins 1/28; 400K, 2/11, etc.
So the first order of business on my road to PBP '19 is to complete a 1000K this year in order to insure entry in the case of an imposed cut-off.
Given that 600K is the longest brevet I've ever completed in my 12 years randonneuring, this is a big ask of myself. And the fact that so far this year the longest ride I've completed is an unofficial 200K, it looks even more daunting.
But in two months there is a 1000K in Ontario that's very flat, so that's where I'm heading! Hopefully between now and then I'll get some long rides in!
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