D is for

part;

on a long event such as PBP, we are reliant not only on fitness and mental strength. On the start line we should be:

-full of energy, but not digesting food,

– well hydrated, be mindful that you may be queuing for several hours before the start. Bring a disposable bottle of water with you, this will save you dipping into the bottles on your bike.

-blood sugars should be stable rather than high from sugary snacks.

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Ronnie Moore at PBP 2011 EXHIBITS THE ALL IMPORTANT  3 C’S AT START; CALM, Collected and in control.

Pre event meal: the majority of us will be starting PBP from late afternoon onwards. This allows sufficient time for a meal (3/4 hours beforehand). This should be easy to digest, delivering carbo with a small amount of protein and minimum fat. Anyone in the 84 hour group, needs to be conscious of where they can source a breakfast in the middle of the night. If you have difficulty eating before big events, drink a carbo drink.

48 hrs prior to the event: stock up on adequate carbohydrates with 3 good meals per day, supplement with fruit.

Anyone travelling to Paris via road/ferry should consider bringing food with you. If you get stuck in a 10 hour traffic jam, you may have to eat one of the passengers. Over reliance on food at service station may be slightly more appetising, but no less ideal. Think of Graeme Obree, throughout his professional career, he was never parted from his trusty packet of Cornflakes.

Ensure that you know how to get to the start from your hotel and make sure that you get there early.

Start: after a lot of waiting around you will be eager to get going at the start. This is natural, but you need to temper your enthusiasm for the first 40k or so. Participants can be nervous, twitchy, overexcited or just unaccustomed to riding in large groups. In short, you need to be vigilant at the start:

-Stay in control, but enjoy the atmosphere, it might be a long time before we get a motorbike escort on closed roads again. —Be aware of what others are doing and expect the unexpected.

Most accidents will occur in the first 15k, lights will be bouncing everywhere, pumps will be flying and even stranger still, riders may stop without checking behind them, to retrieve their bits and pieces.

– Always use insulation tape to secure your pump and rear lights before starting.

– If you drop something early in the ride, keep riding you can replace it at the next control.

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