The more I plan this the more scary the prospect becomes, people just laugh at me when I show them the route.

Any thoughts of luxury accomodation seem to be out the window as it seems like any chance of completion relies on riding through most of the night, and predicting where to bed down will be nigh on impossible.

And whoever devised the route wants shooting, going up Kennedy's and along the tops after all the Tikki-tour around Banks Peninsular - WTF! That's just downright rude!

On a less ranty note, for the unGPS'd what is the best map for the job?

memorise the route, to save weight

malcs wrote:memorise the route, to save weight

Or follow Tim

OK since it's gone quiet here I might as well treat it as my blog

Training ride 1, 17 Oct: 4* hills: Croc/Kennedy's, Worsleys, 2* Bowenvale (once on each side of the valley). 5 hours, 46km, 1700m ascent.
I felt like I was coming down with a cold on this ride and sure enough I came down with one hard after the ride, spent all week off the bike trying to recover for ride 2.

Training ride 2: 24 Oct: 'Crater Rim' race course, from door to door 7 hours, 83km, 1725m ascent. Awesome ride yesterday, forgot how good much fun some of that single track was, was toast by Godley head though so ended up walking up most of the techy climbs.
Still hadn't recovered fully from cold at the time and now feel like crap, hopefully will have shaken it off by next weekend

Plan is for next 3 training rides to go 9h, 12h, 14h (figuring the big one is going to be 2*14h). Will have to start making the rides more specific (long hill repeats) which is a shame in a way because the singletrack in this weather is soo much fun! Will try and get one of these rides in on the course in Banks peninsular so I will be ready for riding it in the dark.

Can anyone recommend the closest port hills ride that resembles the brevet course?

mfw wrote:Plan is for next 3 training rides to go 9h, 12h, 14h

YOU'RE A NUTTER!

Very impressive dedication, especially for an old man

Went to Nelson to do some training by riding downhill as fast as possible . Unfortunately crashed a lot and am now sore pretty much everywhere . Will probably just have to heal between now and Le Petit Brevet .

Ha ha
My parents questioned my safety when I told them about this event, they commented that at 40 I should maybe be taking things more easily - that's made me more determined than ever

Logistically I have had a few challenges as I will away for two of these weekends, however for once my ducks have lined up as one of the weekends will be in Okains bay, right on the race course , that's the weekend before the event so I guess I'll try and make a 14h loop over as much of the course as possible.

XCguy wrote:

mfw wrote:Plan is for next 3 training rides to go 9h, 12h, 14h

YOU'RE A NUTTER!

Very impressive dedication, especially for an old man

malcs wrote:Went to Nelson to do some training by riding downhill as fast as possible . Unfortunately crashed a lot and am now sore pretty much everywhere . Will probably just have to heal between now and Le Petit Brevet .

Er, hope you make a good recovery. Does the Brevet require lots of riding fast downhill

Are you planning to bivvy? I will feel a lot more comfortable if others are planning to , if not where are you staying (can PM if it's a secret )

mfw wrote:
Are you planning to bivvy? I will feel a lot more comfortable if others are planning to , if not where are you staying (can PM if it's a secret )

Akaroa looks tempting for the night, but may be unrealistic. Okains looks more likely. On the other hand weight is a major issue with all that climbing. Haven't fully decided yet.

Is anyone driving down from Wellington for this and would like a passenger (with bike) to share the cost of ferry/fuel/etc? Or, if I drive, does anyone want a ride to and from Wellington to help out with the cost? Promise I won't be too annoying.

I'd love to do the Petit Brevet, and my weekend has now freed up so I am able to do it. But, I am struggling to front up the hassle of flying or cost of ferry and driving alone. And realistically, foot passenger on the ferry and riding to/from Christchurch would be a bit much eh?

Ta. Paul.

WHAT HAVE I DONE!

Just emailed Tim, I'm in.

Is tonight too late to start training?

Rik wrote:WHAT HAVE I DONE!

Just emailed Tim, I'm in.

Is tonight too late to start training?

Ha ha
Fool
Of course it's not too late - heaps of time

Seriously though, what have you got to loose
If you enter and fail, it will likely be an epic fail story so much vorb kudos and at least you gave it a go.
If you enter and pull it off, then you have an epic achievment story, again much vorb kudos.

Think about it from an after event perspective (say at xmas time when all the sores/blisters etc are gone), either of the above are a win win: great experience, you will have some premo training and you will kick off your summer season with some great fitness.
However, if you declare an interest publicly then pull out - much head down shame So, you are now committed

I have also emailed Tim, and convinced Roscoe to join in the hilarity as well. Will need to get on top of some maps and things pronto. Being a Blenheimite I'll be in unfamiliar terrain.

Paul, I'll be driving down friday night if you want to roll on / roll off, I could possibly pick you up. Share gas money and stimulating tire choice conversation.

How do...

Came across the link to Le Petit Brevet a little while ago and followed it here. The concept caught my imagination BIG time, but judging by a few of the posts, like some others, felt a tad (?!) intimidated by the scale of the challenge. Have come to the conclusion that short of spending some money on equipment (bzzzt!) it ain't going to happen. Or is that just my excuse for wimping out on a masochistic weekend? Not going to be in town the weekend of the event now anyhow, but have now felt obliged to have to ride the entire course - even if not necessarily the same way - at my leisure in order to appreciate what you guys are going to be up to.

So... Thursday last week decided to have a hit out at some of it on the Saturday. Course: Ch-ch, Rail trail, Birdlings, Bossu Rd (had to ford a narrow channel to get across) Jubilee Rd, Wainui, Barry's Bay, the old Stock Route (bit of a grunt) up to the Summit Rd, down Pettigrews Rd, (that'll be a grunt going up) Port Levy Pigeon Bay Rd, Purau Port Levy Rd, Purau, Diamond Harbor, Governors Bay (wimped on the road from Allendale and rode the coast track to Governors) Dyers Pass and home. Left home 7.40am, arrived home 6.30-ish. Trip computer crapped out on the ride, but as best as I can trace on a mapping program, about 140 ks. To fit more that two of those days together including riding UP Pettigrews and Jubilee Rds AND carrying more gear than I had....