PBP USA Wiki
The PBP USA Wiki was created as a place to share information relevant to US riders going to PBP, wikipedia-style. No doubt much of the information may be useful for residents of other countries. Access the PBP USA Wiki here.
PBP tips from an Ancien
What do you want to know about PBP? Eric (the campyonlyguy) has helpfully created a series of videos based on his experiences. Is it worth it? How tough is it? Time Picking a start time Fix it now! Weather Making a plan Hands and arms Lodging for you and your bike Relax! Food Getting Yourself and …
What is Randonneuring (Audax)?
How do you explain to someone why they should ride a long distance on a bicycle, through the night, through the wind, through the sun, through the cold, through the rain, through whatever conditions fickle fate decides to throw at you? [Puddle]
How to Avoid Heart Disease
Beyond Cholesterol — What Really Causes Heart Disease? According to Dr. Thomas Dayspring, a lipidologist (expert on cholesterol), and Director of Cardiovascular Education at Foundation for Health Improvement and Technology (FHIT), most heart attacks are due to insulin resistance. He has also stated that LDL “is a near-worthless predictor for cardiovascular issues.” Evidence suggests high …
PBP Statistics
From Eric Nichols on the Randon group: A kind anonymous soul has put together this searchable website of all PBP results from 1931 through 2019: http://www.pbpresults.com/results It’s searchable by year, country, bike type, start group, etc. The 2019 numbers are probably unofficial results scavenged from various data sources. The finishing rate in 2019 was the …
1932 Mochet Velocar Modele Sport Recumbent Prototype
This earliest model of Velocar recumbent ran for only one year. It was so low-slung that it was hard to ride and the riding position was therefore altered in 1933 for subsequent models. This 1932 prototype model was named in the Mochet catalogue as a Velo Velocar (V.V), but for the first year it was …
1932 Mochet Velocar Modele Sport Recumbent Prototype Read More »
What tools do you bring on long rides?
Should you carry a full toolkit to be prepared for any eventuality, or will you only need the basics? Jan Heine is confident his bike will not need much attention along the way. Read his thoughts here
Deja Vous
This was my first recumbent, on which I completed PBP in 2003. The handling was excellent but the narrow high-pressure tyres gave it a harsh ride on rough roads and was almost impossible to ride on unsealed surfaces. The tailbox helped streamline the bike and also provided a large storage space which, along with the …
The right time to quit
Randonnées can be tough, but riders who prepare well can usually finish within the time limit. We all have times when we are not feeling good and may be tempted to give up. Pushing through those periods makes the difference between success and a DNF. Ed Bernasky says about his PBP2019 ride: The decision to …
Mechanic’s advice for Audax rides
Whilst this was posted for LEL entrants, it is equally applicable to all longer audax events. Mechanic’s advice for the next LEL
New Easy Bicycle Derailleur Hanger Alignment Tool
A new take on an old tool. This one is easier to use and small enough to carry on the bike if you think you might need it.
Sleep on 600Ks and longer
Here’s John Hughes’ advice: Take a sleep break if you can – you’ll ride better the following day. Danny Chew used to take 3 hour sleep breaks on RAAM while his competitors were only taking short breaks or not stopping. As a result he was fast enough to win RAAM twice. . If your event …
Early Recumbents
Geared recumbents , as distinct from early front-drivers , first appeared in the 1890s, soon after the pneumatic-tired safety bicycle. Charles Challand , a professor in Geneva, built what was probably the first geared recumbent (Swiss patent 11,429 of 1895, British patent 6,748 of 1896). He called it the Normal Bicycle, because the rider‘s posture …