Originally Posted by
unterhausen
With a longest ride of 200k, I think I would advise not making decisions now based on a ride you are planning in 4 years. There are a lot of great 1200k randonnees in the world that are worth riding. Ride a 1000k or 1200k next year or in 2021. Get a SR series done before you start worrying about a new bike. PBP was my first 1200k. Riding it again after having done some more was a much better experience.
+1
When I started, I rode a 200 km with the idea that if it went well, I'd ride a 300 km.
Then if that went well, I'd ride the 400 km. Etc.
I learned what worked as I went along and increased my distances.
Thing is ... 200 km wasn't much different than the centuries I had been doing. My 300 km wasn't actually much different than my 200 km ... just a bit longer. But the 400 km was different because it involved night riding. And the 600 km was a whole lot different. I struggle with 600 kms.