3. News and Pictures

Emails, photos and news from riders as the event progresses.

Friday 24th August 17:25
Everybody's back. Exceedingly well done all of you, riders and Support Team alike. Those of us back home are thoroughly... grateful we weren't doing it with you - it's been tough enough watching!

Enjoy your post PBP picnic (try saying that after a few bottles of red); you certainly deserve it. Then we look forward to your personal accounts and hopefully some photos on the Blog when you are back.

Order home: (unofficial times)

Friday 24th August
Unaccounted for: Mike Ellison last seen on the PBP system at Dreux at 10:32. But then it didn't register his starting time either, so he's probably sitting in Paris with his feet up enjoying a long, cold beer!

16:28 Liam Fitzpatrick (89:58)
16:10 Bob McDowell (89:40)
15:52-15:58 John Davies (88:42), Dennis Falvey (89:23), Ian Oliver (89:08)
15:33-15:36 Steve Ayres (82:49), Darlene Rini (82:51), Yoshi Sekido (89:25), John Williams (82:52)
13:40 Andrew Deaner - 88 hours 19 minutes
12:12 Mark Green - 87 hours 28 minutes
11:46 Peter Turnball 86 hours 26 minutes

First 3 home - Thursday 23rd August

3: 18:37 - Ivo Miesen - 68 hours 45 minutes.
2: 16:07 - Mel Kirkland - 67 hours 11 minutes
1: 08:56 - Martin Lucas - 60 hours 41 minutes

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24th August 11:00

A great party is going on a Dreux! John Davies phoned in, and the sound of celebration was fantastic! After 1,200k, cyclists were dancing to the music and there was so much excitement it was difficult to hear. What are we missing by staying at home?!

It has clearly been a long hard night and the weather and exhaustion has taken it's toll. As we were speaking, some poor soul, only 66k from the end, was being carted off in an ambulance, and our own Darlene Rini is suffering horribly and receiving treatment. It sounds as if she'll have to be pushed the rest of the way home. Well over 1,200 riders from the original 5,500+ have already abandoned the ride, and in the night Ray Kelly was forced to pack at Villaines. Mark Brooking was riding with Ray and hasn't logged a time since 3:42 at Villaines, so perhaps he's packed too. If not he now has an almost impossible 4 hours to make up to finish in time - which he could do if he averaged about 20kph for the 200k from Villaines to Paris!

Barring a drama or crisis, Peter Turnball should be the 4th Willesden rider across the line around midday today, followed very closely by Mark Green who is only minutes behind him. Andrew Deaner is making good time on his own, and should arrive at St Germain around 14:00. And we then have two groups of John Davies, Darlene Rini, John Williams, Mike Ellison, Steve Ayres, and, about an hour behind them, Dennis Falvey, Yoshi Sekido, Bob McDowell, Ian Oliver, and Liam Fitzpatrick who will all be in between 16:00 and 17:00.

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23rd August 22:35

Our sturdy colleagues are heading off into their last night of torture, as I head towards a nice comfortable bed. It's great riding a desk!

Today we have seen three home in good times. Nobody else will arrive back in Paris until about 10am tomorrow when, if they come together through the night, France could enjoy the spectacle of a Willesden pelaton gracing their streets.

Peter Turnball looks like being the next rider through Montagne, just before midnight tonight, followed closely by Mark Green. Mike Ellison appears to be riding strongly on his own, due to reach Montagne around 1am. Then comes the trio of Rini, Williams and Ayres - do they do everything together? - accompanied, it appears, by Andrew Deaner (although he's been pushing hard over the last couple of stages so may have broken away). They will reach Montagne around 1:30.

At the back of the pack, Mark Brooking and Ray Kelly need to find a couple of hours ro finish in the time. Let's hope they will get encouragement and energy from one another in the night.
But a lot can happen in the night....

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23rd August 18:37
3rd person home is Ivo Miesen at 18:37 in 68 hours 45 minutes. (Ignore his stage timings, they are wrong, Sorry!)

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23rd August 16:07
Mel Kirkland is the 2nd Willesden rider home, with a time of 67 hours 11 minutes. Well done Mel!
But sadly it looks as if we've lost Minoru Mitsuomoto at Loudeac. He's not logged a time for 12 hours, since 04:40 this morning.

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23rd August 08:56
Martin Lucas has finished! He arrived back at St Germain at 08:56 this morning in a cracking time of 60 hours 41 minutes!

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22nd August 09:50

So, Martin has finished and 3 have abandoned, but where are the others? According to the last posted times the running order is as follows:

Ivo Miesen - Montagne (13) @ 07:31
Mel Kirkland - Montagne (13) @ 07:55
Peter Turnball - Tinteniac (10) @ 08:46
Mark Green - Tinteniac (10) @ 10:56

All the others last checked in at Loudeac as follows:

23:48 - Andrew Deaner
02:02 - Ian Oliver, John Davies, Darlene Rini, John Williams, Mike Ellison, Steve Ayres
02:10 - Liam Fitzpatrick
02:20 - Yoshi Sekido, Bob McDowell
04:40 - Minoru Mitsuomoto
06:44 - Ray Kelly
07:31 - Dennin Falvey
08:44 - Mark Brooking

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22nd August 23:15

Another eventful day, that has sadly seen the first casualties. Norman Lazarus, Tim Wainwright and Akiko Kawachi all abandoned after Brest, but it's great they made it to the turn around.
John Davies called in this evening to say how much he's enjoying the ride (the masochist!) - Miles Back cruising as usual! He described the amazing support they are getting all along the route, day and night, with people routing for them in that funny foreign language they speak that side of the channel, waving flags, shouting their encouragement, and throwing gateaux creme et fromage (or perhaps he didn't say that bit!). It seems that today has been a better weather for the riders, and John has even put his shorts on ("mon dieu" I hear them shouting! Or as they'd be saying in Spain, "that's a lovely Piranees, Piranees, Piranees! ;-) ).

In terms of progress, around the time we good folk get to work in the morning we can expect Martin Lucas to arrive back at St Germain. Ivo Miesen is making steady progress too and should be in around tea time tomorrow.

In terms of speed, Martin continues to be the fastest Willesden rider, but Mel and Andrew Deaner have both stolen the jersey for the fastest rider on some stages, and the trio of Darlene Rini, John Williams and Steve Ayres (who are back together again -- ahhh!) are consistently the third fastest riders.

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22nd August 11:15

A new day, and we armchair cyclists have had a good rest. And so by the look of things have some of the riders, some much longer than others and who can blame them! A few seem to have simply snatched a nap - or perhaps they have slept on their bikes!

A few groups seem to be well established now: Dennis Falvey, Andrew Deaner, and John Davies arrived at Carhaix together at 10:04 this morning, as did Bob McDowell and Mark Green a little ahead of them at 09:45. Mark Brooking and Akiko Kawachi arrived at Loudeac together at 06:05 having had a good kip at Tinieniac by the looks of things. Norman Lazarus and Ray Kelly arrived at Carhaix together at 10:10 this morning, and I think John Williams and Steve Ayres are riding a tandem!

Darlene Rini who set off with John and Steve has now broken away from them and is 2 hours up the road. It looks as if she had 2 hours sleep at Loudec and tiptoed out leaving the men to snore on!

As for our lead man, Martin Lucas is now well on the way home waving at others as he passes them going the other way! He passed Loudeac on the return leg at 10:32 - not too far off a few folk hitting it on the way out! Mel Kirkland is now only an hour behind him. At this rate these two guys will complete the run in just over 60 hours.

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21st August 22:45

24 hours in and Willsden is showing it's colours (and I don't mean green or yellow)!
Martin Lucas reached Brest, half way, 612K, an hour ago, at 22:42 (French time) and is thrashing along at a constant average of around 21kph. Mel Kirkland is holding pace a couple of hours back - it looks as if he's taken a rest break - and will hit Brest around midnight.
Most of the pack had passed Tinteniac by 18:00 and are heading on for Loudeac, whilst the later starters are making great headway. Mark Brooking and Akiko Kawachi hit Tinteniac at 21:42, and have in fact been caught by Steve Ayres, John Williams, Darlene Rini.

I apologise to Mike Ellison, who I didn't think had got away. There must have been a glitch with the PBP system because later today he suddenly appeared! He also passed Tinteniac at 21:26, so is well and truly with us :-)

And finally a mention to our correspondant on the spot - before I head off to bed! As well as giving us his PBP Blog Log, Andrew Deaner stole the jersey for the fastest Willesden rider on stage 4, to Tinteniec, averaging 21.3kph for the stage.

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21st August 10:30

They're off!

Already Martin Lucas and Mel Kirkland are stonking ahead and have passed through the 4th checkpoint at Tinteniac. Martin was the first Willesden rider through at 10:30 having completed the 364Km averaging a fantastic 25.53kph! Mel followed him through 42 minutes later at an average speed of 24.75kph, travelling slightly faster in through this stage. In fact these two guys stormed stage 2 at 28.6kph and 27kph - that's over 17mph in old speed! What are these guys on!

At the other end of the pack, Mark Brooking and Akiko Kawachi left leter so haven't got through a checkpoint yet, Steve Ayres, John Williams, Darlene Rini didn't get away until 4:44 this morning, so they have some way to go, and it doesn't look as if Mike Ellison got away at all.

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20th August 12:47
SMS from John Davies

The rain, the mud! It's Glastonbury meets the trenches. Lots of fit looking riders posing around. What am I doing here??

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Andrew's Blog Log

Titiniac and Loudeac.
Get on the road to Titiniac without delay. Cycle hard and get there in 2 hours. Cheese sandwhich and sweet coffee. Even so felt hypo for first half hour of next stage. Less rain this time. Rescued by Mars Bar.
Strong for last hour and check in at Loudeac at 9pm. Really pleased as only 20 minutes slower than 2003.
Shower eat then sleep.

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Fougeres
Long and very wet ride to Fougeres. Stop on the way for coffee and paine au choclate.
I was feeling strong so went ahead to gain some time.
Note to diary; Urgent appointments with urologist for Dennis and me, frequent toilet stops suggest prostate trouble.

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Villianes
Rained almost constantly. Frequently torential. Misserable.
Breakfast provided, life saving.

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Mortagne
5am
30mins rain in Paris and then dry.This was false reasurance. At 4am the heavens opened and we were soaked.
No queue so pasta and cheese easily obtained and really hit the spot. Followed by pastry containing strange brown cream like substance but strangely pleasant. Now off to Villianes

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Monday 15.30

6 hours to go, the tension is rising. The last minute shopping is done. Who would have thought I would need to buy long fingered gloves in August?

Its really muddy on the camp site much like Glastonbury but without music or drugs(??). I wonder if I should find someone with O+ blood to lend me a pint, seemed to help Vino, but no I'm no cheat, If I do this I do it clean (that's assuming gaviscon and ibuprofen aren't banned substances).

So now to try and sleep for a couple of hours.

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Sunday 19th

It's Sunday afternoon (August 19) not far from Paris and the rain is coming down outside. Tomorrow sees the start of the 2007 Paris Brest Paris, a four yearly event in which 5500 cyclists will pedal over 750 miles from the French capital to the west coast of Brittany and back. The maximum time allowed is 90 hours although the fastest riders will return after only 45. Those of us without ambitions to break records will set off with the 'cycle tourists' at 9.30pm on Monday and return sometime Friday morning. In between we will experience many emotions from the elation of starting and finishing to the depths of despair when cold and hungry we fight to reach the next control to refeul with bread and pasta and to grab some despately needed sleep. The French public will be at the roadsode to encourage us with cheers of 'bon courage' or simply 'allez!' even in the early hours. Locals will set up stalls in their villages to distribute coffee and cakes to sustain us. We will meet and chat to riders from almost every country in the world and new friendships will be made.

This is my second time here, my memories of 2003 are vivid and mainly positive. I can't wait to get going. I plan to write as often as I can during the next 4 or 5 days,obviously depending on my state of mind. Hopefully by writing as I go along you will gain an insight into how one rider really feels during this amazing event. So farewell for now.

Andrew