PARIS-BREST-PARIS 2007




THE STORY CONTINUES:
2007 saw 10 South West AUK riders attempt a wet and soggy PBP.
Most of them battled the rough conditions to arrive in Paris 90 hours later.

STEPHEN DARTS RIDE STORY

Greetings from good old Blighty. Well, what can I say - the boy done good! PBP 2007 was certainly a challenge in every sense of the word. The story could easily last for four days but against all my natural insticts here's the short(ish) version - I hope. Just over 5300 riders from 42 different countries had signed up for PBP 2007. Monday 20th August Having got the bike ready I spent much of Monday 20th trying to rest but didn't really sleep. My start at 21:30 on Monday 20th August had around 3000 riders. What many people looking on the internet didn't realise was that the organisers let the '21:30' riders go in groups of 500-600 at 20 minutes intervals. I eventually left Paris at 22:30. This difference of an hour would come into play later in the ride. Our group cruised out of a drizzly Paris throught every red light for 20km as police stopped traffic at many junctions. Red lights stretched forward to the horizon as a huge line of white lights followed from behind. Thousands of people cheered us off as we disappeared into the night. Tuesday 21st August By the time we reached Mortagne au Perche (140km) at 5:30ish on Tuesday morning it was pouring with rain. Like a drowned rat I arrived at Villaines La Juhel 222km just before 11am. ........READ MORE>>>

It wasn't all good news, Danny McKernan from Cornwall had to pack it in at Loudeac on the way out and Dave Carrivick from
Trispen was desperatley dissapointed when he packed in at Fougeres with almost 1000Km under his belt. Cold and tiredness had
Taken a hold and he simply couldn't stay awake.

Chris Bennet was going really well but then had a stomach complaint and really struggled on the last sections but made it to Brest, and Kenn Middlemiss suffered similar fate.
Heavy rain and stomach bugs seemed to be the main things to hamper the riders in 2007. They may even be related as many riders ended up drinking from waterbottles sprayed from muddy roads often passing near farms which may have caused some problems.

Update: 24/08/07 1230

Update: 24/08/07 0900

Update: 23/08/07 2400

Update: 23/08/07 1930

Update: 23/08/07 1530

Update: 23/08/07 0900

Update: 23/08/07 0030
First rider is home in Paris! Jan Heine from Seattle completed the ride in around 50 hours.

Apparently the weather in Brittany thisafternoon and this evening is poor. Heavy rain, and probably a bit windy
adding to the PBP cahllenge somewhat. At least they won't be getting sunstroke!
Update: 22/08/07 2030

Update: 22/08/07 01430

Update: 22/08/07 0930

Update: 22/08/07 0100

Update: 21/08/07 2130

Update: 21/08/07 1600

Update: 21/08/07 1130

Update: 21/08/07 0800

Chris Bennett	Depart SQ	2250	Ian Weatherill	Villaines	0834	Rod Pash	Villaines	0911
Andy Hamlyn	Villaines	0848	Danny McKernan	Depart SQ	2130	David Carrivick	Villaines	0909
Steve Dart	Villaines	0926	David Johnston	Villaines	0732	Ken Middlemiss	Depart SQ	2130
.	.	.	Ian hennessey	Depart SQ	0408	.	.	.

Update: 21/08/07 2300 ( French time shown is one hour ahead of us!) SQ = Saint Quentin en Yvelines.

Note:Ian Hennessey on 84 hour ride - 6 hours behind 90.