PBP: So what did happen to Drew?

Most of you know that I was unsuccessful on my recent attempt at Paris-Brest-Paris, so here is my version of events.

I left Paris at 5.15 p.m. to cycle through the night to the first control at 220 km. This is not normally a problem as I’m fresh at this stage and charged up with adrenalin; however on this occasion it was (a problem).

After only 100k I was falling asleep and had to cat-nap 6 times in the next 100k. I reached the 220k control still in time but very shattered. I struggled to eat and about 10k after leaving the control I was very sick. I kept going with Kendal Mint cake as the only food I could eat. I was still needing cat-naps many times by the side of the road, even though it was during the day.

It may surprise you that you can actually fall asleep while cycling, and I use cat-naps as a safety thing so I don’t crash (many people do). I remember stopping once to have a nap and whilst setting my alarm I fell asleep, and I only woke when I hit the ground. I kept going until I reached a control at 450k, still in time, but falling asleep. So I slept for 5 hrs, putting my self out of time.

Although there were trains back to Paris I decided to cycle back and join my fellow participants on their way back. I felt great and was able to keep up with people well above my pay-grade. I ended up doing 900k instead of 1200k but had a really great time. One of the joys of PBP is the multi-national nature of the event, and one minute you’re talking to an American, Indonesian, French, Chinese person, etc. I cycled to and from the event which means I did 1100 miles in a week and a half. No regrets and now got to remain fit so I can do the next PBP in 2019 (along with some of you).

Drew Buck