FLCC> [BHV] our envoys to paris brest paris

[Bob Nunnink]

Checked on Mark and Dan looks like they are both still on course Dan
is at stage 13 and Mark is at stage 11.  They have 15 stages total.

Any way you cut it sounds like a tough ride.

Weather Woes Wallop PBP

Report  from RBR correspondent Les Woodland in France . . . .

"The weather is simple," said Europe-1, one of France's most
authoritative radio stations. "If it's not already raining where you
are then it soon will be."

That was 8 a.m. on Tuesday -- late news for the 4,000 randonneurs
who'd set off hours earlier on the longest ride of their season. Among
that number were 570 Americans. Rain was already torrenting down as
they left the western suburbs of Paris, and that was how it stayed for
the rest of the night.

This year's Paris-Brest-Paris quickly turned into 1,200 km (745 miles)
of misery for riders who had already ridden qualifying events of 200,
300, 400 and 600 km just to be there.

"I watched them leave and you could see that even though the
excitement made them cheer and wave, there was a look of real concern
on many of their faces," said Jean-Louis Tachlon, who'd crossed the
country from Lyons to support his clubmates. "For some there will be a
real risk of hypothermia."

PBP, held every four years, has been lashed by rain and buffeted by
cold northerly crosswinds in one of the worst summers Europe has
known.

Forecasters said the rain was due to end only when the last riders
were back to Paris after 90 hours. Northerly winds on a route that
runs east-west are almost as difficult as headwinds. Temperatures have
been consistently in the 50-60F (10-16C) range. More than the usual
number of retirements is expected when the final accounting is done.

The irony is that in the previous PBP, France was hit not by
winter-in-summer but a heat wave that killed 15,000 citizen. Then the
heat vanished with just days to go. Many will be wishing the rain had
done the same this year.
______________________________________



The following came from roadbiker.com



On 8/21/07, William Lodico <wlodico at stny.rr.com> wrote:
> There are two bhv/flcc Diners Club Centurions out on the Paris Brest
> Paris (1200 km) course right now.
>
> Mark Sheehan, frame number 6906
>
> Dan Barbasch, frame number 4715
>
> Dan went with the 90 hour limit group, and got a headstart over Mark
> who left 6 1/4hours later (near as I can figure) with the 84 hour
> limit group.
>
> You can track their progress at
>
> http://www.paris-brest-paris.org/EN/index.php?showpage=64
>
> Just punch in the frame number.
>
>
> There's also a webcam or two and some interviews of participants at
>
> http://www.parisbrestparis.tv
>
>
> Bill Lodico
>
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