downtube42

They did in '15, so I presume yes.

Alphamoose

It definitely seems that no 1200k rides are listed in the results. I guess I'm lucky that I did a 1000k too.

kingston 

You can pull it up based on the cert # on the pre-registration page.

Alphamoose

Maybe there's some other reason that Mac & Cheese doesn't show up in the list.

kingston 

It shows up on the pre-registration page, just not the results page. Strange.

unterhausen

when you preregister, they ask for the cert number of the longest ride you did. You can then enter the 1200k number and it will find it. Not sure why it doesn't work on the results tab of your account.

they finally got around to putting this on the results tab of your account:

antimonysarah

Welp, pulled the trigger when registration opened for 600k-last-year riders -- 7:15pm slot was the earliest open, so I took one. I have no idea if this is a good idea or not, haha.

Edit: I have no issue with the time slot, I was laughing about whether PBP is a good idea for me at all, but I'm going for it.

tbdean

Man, at 5 minutes past midnight I got 7pm and there were 30 slots left.

unterhausen

that's still pretty early. I'd be curious what the totals are. I'm sure the number of people that only rode 400k and shorter rides last year that want to register is going to taper off. Probably more people that didn't ride any brevets last year that want to register than 200k or 300k riders. I know a couple of people that have ridden every PBP since 2007 that have only ridden the qualifiers and PBP.

clasher

Pulled the trigger on my registration... still unsure after DNF'ing the cascade last year. I picked the 19:45 depart time since that was the earliest time left. I almost forgot that it was opened today, glad I checked in here.

Not that there is a worry about hitting the limit yet, here's what is left as of the time of this posting:

Date Time limit Available places
18/08 80h00 638
18/08 90h00 1328
19/08 84h00 422

unterhausen

Well, it looks bad, they have had a lot of registrations. They say they were counting on people not registering and letting their preregistration lapse to keep the field size down. The randonneuring version of overbooking. So the number of spots that will open up for people that don't get in during preregistration will be small. And no wait list. Which could include people with a 400k last year. I'm really surprised. They warned us in 2009, we just didn't believe them.

kingston 

I'm sure there are a lot of people like me who pre-registered even though there's only an outside chance I'll be able to make it.

unterhausen

They specifically mentioned that they were counting on you not showing up.


I think there were 5500 riders in 2011, and they still had some problems keeping up with the food demand. I don't know what number they are hoping for this year, but if all 6500 people show, it's going to be even more of a madhouse than usual. I imagine it wouldn't hurt their feelings if only 5500 registered. I'm sure they know their usual dns rate. Although with a lot of riders from countries that don't have a long history at PBP, there may be differences from the norm.

clasher

Does anyone know if you can switch your starting time later on? If my qualifying rides this spring go as well this year I am tempted by the 84 hour start...

samkl 

If people don't confirm their registration by June 20th then the spot will be opened up to people who complete a 2019 SR series, correct? I am trying to hold out hope that I can qualify even though I did no brevets last year.

unterhausen

turns out a lot of French Randonneurs only come out in PBP years. It's a bit of a tradition there. The ACP is not holding out much hope.

samkl 

Well, that's disappointing.

clasher

Could always go as a volunteer and do some touring in the area after the ride... I know some people that did PBP as a tour last year.

unterhausen

the organizers reversed themselves and today they said they are trying to open up more spots.

antimonysarah

I wonder if they'll have to go to a lottery system next time?

unterhausen

In 2011, they did a country quota based on the previous year's aggregate mileage. They might go back to that since the current system seems to limit French riders as much as anything. They want to encourage participation in all years, not just PBP years. They also really hate DNFs. So, I think a lottery that puts people that only ride in PBP years on an even footing with people who ride longer distances all the time is not going to happen. But since it's such a big deal in France, I'm sure they don't want to annoy the populace by having a batch of angry French randonneurs.

The current system is about as fair as it can get. The rules have been in place since summer of 2009, when they told the country organizations that PBP participation would be based on 2010 ride distances. It's just that people don't want to play by the rules. Four years is up really quickly, there is always another PBP. If it comes to the point where riding a 1000/1200k is required to get in, which I suppose is possible, they would have to go to a lottery. As of now, riders determine their own fate.

PBP was my first 1200k. I would say that was a mistake. It was a great experience and it's a great ride, but I should have ridden a domestic 1000k or 1200k first. I spent hours on the last day of PBP telling myself that people who ride 1200k's are idiots, I was an idiot to be there, I was never going to ride a 1200k again. But my personality defect is to continue doing something until I get it right. So I rode a domestic 1200k and I had a good time and everything I had done wrong on PBP came into focus for me. Now I realize the last day is always the most fun.

clasher

There's also the Audax version of PBP that happens... I would like to try out some audax-style riding sometime.

unterhausen

I just saw what it takes for a non-UK rider to get a guaranteed slot at LEL. A RM 1200k in each of the 4 years prior to the event. Oh, and PBP doesn't count. Otherwise you go into the lottery. Don't think that will happen to PBP any time soon, but it might be harder to get in for future years.

At least with PBP, you make your own luck for now and the requirements are not too bad

unterhausen

I just looked at my preregistration yesterday. It says that you can change your time at the time of registration if there are openings at the desired time. I feel like there is a slim chance of 84 hour openings. Then again, there are people on another forum talking about registering as a "special," so maybe not.

clasher

I'll probably just stick with the 90 hour start, I dunno how my training will end up progressing this year anyway. I will have to do another night start event to try and get better at them.