PBP happens every four years, and four years ago, right about now, I was thinking the same thought I'm having now: How can I squeeze in a long ride before the season's over in order to secure a better chance at being able to register for PBP in a year's time. Which means history is repeating itself in more ways than just this one thought: Four years ago I must have gotten to July without bagging a long ride in the spring or summer, just like this year; some things never change. There is progress, however—I have learned a thing or two. OK, maybe just one thing: In order to count towards early preregistration, a brevet has to be an ACP-credited ride, not simply a RUSA one. A technical difference, having to do with which governing body approved a route—the international overlords in France or simply Randonneurs USA. This was a lesson learned the hard way:
Four years ago, in the exact position I am now, with regards to 'dreams of PBP'; 'fears of not getting in'; 'lack of a completed brevet'; and 'running out of time,' I drove 10 hours to Michigan to complete a 400K circumnavigation of the mitten's thumb. I settled into the hotel at the ride's starting point after the long drive, and woke at 4am for the start the next morning. In the pouring rain I ventured out of the cozy hotel to register at the start, and met the organizer, who remarked on my fortitude and enthusiasm to have traveled so far to join the locals. "Well, I need this to move up in line for PBP preregistration," I explained. And this is when I learned that RUSA rides don't count, and that this was not an ACP-sanctioned brevet. Sigh.
So, I have learned one thing in four years; and I made sure I picked an ACP ride to add to my year's results. But another lesson that is coming to me only slowly is this: You can't skip training and completing long events and expect to successfully finish an ultra-distance ride. It's taken me a few months to come to terms with how unwise it would be to attempt a 1000K a week from now; I've now changed my plans to instead ride a 600K (yes, ACP-sanctioned!) September 1-2.
Let's see how much training and time in the saddle I get in in the next five weeks . . . .
Four years ago, in the exact position I am now, with regards to 'dreams of PBP'; 'fears of not getting in'; 'lack of a completed brevet'; and 'running out of time,' I drove 10 hours to Michigan to complete a 400K circumnavigation of the mitten's thumb. I settled into the hotel at the ride's starting point after the long drive, and woke at 4am for the start the next morning. In the pouring rain I ventured out of the cozy hotel to register at the start, and met the organizer, who remarked on my fortitude and enthusiasm to have traveled so far to join the locals. "Well, I need this to move up in line for PBP preregistration," I explained. And this is when I learned that RUSA rides don't count, and that this was not an ACP-sanctioned brevet. Sigh.
So, I have learned one thing in four years; and I made sure I picked an ACP ride to add to my year's results. But another lesson that is coming to me only slowly is this: You can't skip training and completing long events and expect to successfully finish an ultra-distance ride. It's taken me a few months to come to terms with how unwise it would be to attempt a 1000K a week from now; I've now changed my plans to instead ride a 600K (yes, ACP-sanctioned!) September 1-2.
Let's see how much training and time in the saddle I get in in the next five weeks . . . .
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