The boy is back in town. So the question that pops up is: Well how was it? We visited Basti on the premises of our colleagues and reviewed his monument while straighten up the shop and having Belgian devil’s beer.
Waiting game
Before hopping on bike and going on track, Basti had to go there with his mate who joined him. With Falko and Stephan, well known faces of the Dresden cycling scene, they went to the west on Thursday evening punctually 7 o’clock through the night. After twelve hours the gang arrived relaxed at breakfast time. First official act: coffee! But apart from small baked goods, there were no traces of black gold. The next attempt in the hotel then succeeded plus a buffet into the noon hours. Oh yeah! And what’s on the agenda after a night full of travel and a full stomach? Clearly. A small round of 80 kilometres through Versailles with the finest imperial weather. What else?
The next Saturday was rather stagnant, because it was completely rainy. Basti tells us that they planned a small ride – WTF? – which fell through, so everyone took care of himself a bit and read the world wide web till the end. With two participants from India they philosophized a bit about the personal qualification and as they had already taken part in PBP, we exchanged information. In addition, #PBP2019 was always used to check a little the current situation and thus predict an eternal waiting at the bike check. But that was really the only excitement of the day. Luckily the thoughts about the upcoming days did not come to the front. Stage of deep relaxation. No excitement. Nothing. Everything cool.
Everything under control
Sunday – 9:15 am – Bikecheck! From the hotel they went to Rambouillet. Thus for the first time out of their own bubble through endless alleys of tents and campers, into a mass of cyclists. The typical Randoneur is an older semester, mentioned without offending anybody. Promise! Therefore, with 6300 participants, the gang was a tiny bit under the average age. The huge number of participants cannot be really grasped either, yet Basti immediately catches the eye with “Carl and Carla” – hello Dresden!
The registration including check-up is fluffy and less like the hashtag oracled. Everything is super organized. Small flags show the way to the desk including the appropriate language. So nothing stands in the way of communication and everyone gets their own starter bag with a Brevet booklet and official vest. Merci!
The next step is the inspection of the machine. The whole thing sounds from Basti’s mouth like picking up the TÜV badge in rural areas – just without the coffee. Light works, bottle cage sits tight and the brake pulls. Thanks again and please keep moving.
The culmination of the first official day with all organizational things is the testing of the culinary conditions. Unfortunately there was the first bitter disappointment in this field. Noodles, bread rolls and something spongy, which is probably called a pâté, were served. In addition still another small sweet buns. Everything arranged on aluminium assiette. Magnifique!
After this gastronomic training session the gang walked over to the guarded “parking lot” to inspect the two-wheeled material. The main focus – quite clearly – was on steel and not off-the-shelf carbon stuff. The beautiful long distance racers were good for the eyes and the walk made the food forgettable. Satisfied, they went back to the hotel.
I packed my bag and in it I put…
The keystone of the preparation, says Basti, was the big packing. Questions like: What do I take with me now? How much of it does it need? Rain jacket and with mudguards? Or would you rather take it without? Important thing! Everything step by step. First of all get an overview. Basti has spread out all the planned utensils and clothes as a precaution on the sidewalk in front of the hotel and then has successively proceeded. In the end there was a short jersey for the day, a warm jacket for the night, the official Brevet vest, a change bib and an undershirt. In addition there was a power bench, second tail light, a rescue blanket, gloves, bars, ass cream as well as caffeine and guaraná chewing gum. Caffeine wins! Everything packed in his Velo Orange Randobag with self-made front carrier and a small 2-litre saddlebag. Mudguards were courageously dismantled and the rain jacket left at home. Time estimate: three hours. Thus the last days before the actual start came to an end and all the organizational things didn’t start the mind games. A lot to do and therefore a lot of distraction.
For dinner there were delicious French specialties for the gang: pizza and red wine. At 23 o’clock lights off and bed rest.
Morning glory
It was perfectly clear to the three musketeers that there was not much to think about sleep in the next few nights. But four hours before such a number? Basti casually says: “Why do I want to go to bed early if I can’t sleep?” Good counter-question. Hard facts for Monday morning: 3 o’clock eyes open, 4 o’clock start from the hotel back to Rambouillet, 5:15 o’clock absolutely unspectacular start of a bicycle marathon classic. In Bastis dreams it was more like Le Mans. Mass start, pistol shot with roaring audience and then all together out into the wide landscape. The reality was as followed: Starting block Y and Z, forming a line, getting the first stamp, driving through a gate for the first clocking with the applause of about 100 guests beside the track.
Perhaps not the expected feeling for the beginning of this journey, whose name is always reverentially muttered. Basti tells us about the first kilometres and his eyes are shining. After the start a huge field of drivers rises in front of you. A sea of rear lights and Brevet vests like sparkling stars in the night for the next 120 kilometers. The gang swims with the bulk of bikers and tours through the smaller subgroups. Only at the first checkpoint the field clears. And then you’re in…
TO BE CONTINUED…
Christoph, Henri, René – August 2019
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