Contents:

Brevet Summary 2003

Facts:

Distance: 3,360.7 Miles 5,408.5 km Elevation (climbing): 70,028 ft 21,345 m Riding time: 234:09 h   Total time: 321:44 h   Average speed: 14.4 mph 23.1 km/h

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1200k, PBP (Paris - Brest - Paris), France - 18 August 2003

Facts:

Distance: 771.2 Miles 1,241.1 km Elevation (climbing): 34,088 ft 10,390 m Riding time: 58:24 h   Total time: 87:57 h   Average speed: 13.2 mph 21.3 km/h Calories burned 34,100 kcal

Brief ride summary:

Start at 10:30 PM Monday, 18 August 03.
Finish 2:27 PM, Friday 22 Aug 03.

Sleep: (total 9 hours)

1. night:  no sleep
2. night:  3 hours
3. night:  3 hours
4. night:  2.5 hours
last day: 2 x 15 min. at the side of the road

More info: PBP 2003

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300k mountainous, Spartanburg, SC - 14 June 2003

Facts:

Distance: 182.0 Miles 292.9 km Elevation (climbing): 12,559 ft 3,828 m Riding time: 14:17 h   Total time: 18:15 h   Average speed: 12.7 mph 20.5 km/h

Brief ride summary (by Barb Bergin):

A brief update on Ann Mullins' 300km mountainous brevet ride. 6 participated on Saturday's 6:00AM start.

 

The morning was cool compared to Florida weather so I started with arm warmers which were pulled down shortly after we started. Three of us were from Florida, Dan Cochran, Reinhard and myself. We started together and finished together at 12:15 AM, we had till 2:00AM to finish. I would ride with either of them on any ride we did well together.

 

The terrain was mountainous over the top of Caesar's Head and back approx. 13,000+' cumulative climbing.  Weather was great except for the rain. We must have stopped at least 10x's to put our raingear on and back off again. Plus the descents for the ride back in the dark were a bit frightening they were still wet from the rain some of the turns descending were a real eye opener more lights would have helped.

At the top of Caesar's Head on the way out we stopped at a quaint restaurant about 100yards from the top of the mountain where we met up with Ann & John for lunch.  I must admit the sandwiches & salad were great! On the way back over Caesar's we had the Ranger sign our cards again. He was ready to lock up but was extremely nice to let us use the facility to get snacks & drinks out of the vending machine and also the restrooms.

For our dinner we stopped at a Pizza place. Only seating was outdoors with cement benches very few places available for drinks or food so we did not take any chances. Since there was not registration fee this ride was self-contained. Glad I had my Camelback and bars with me.

Welcoming us back at the finish were Ann, Nick & Phil. Ann & John finished around 8:45PM, Phil approximately 10:00PM. Ann did have cold drinks for us at the end. Thanks Ann, for making this ride available for us. It really boosted my confidence for PBP. The biggest climb we have is Sugarloaf in Clermont, FL.

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600k, Raleigh, NC - 7 June 2003

Facts:

Distance: 375.1 Miles 603.7 km Elevation (climbing): 3,579 ft 1,091 m Riding time: 26:09 h   Total time: 32:30 h   Average speed: 14.3 mph 23.1 km/h

Brief ride summary:

This ride went from Raleigh, NC to Wilmington, NC and back The weather: rain, showers, wet, but in between we had rain, showers, wet (but not like Florida) ...

I forgot to mention the wind

Most DNF's (did not finish) I seen on any Brevet's so far. We left Saturday morning at 6:06 AM. 26 people did start. I was the first single bike rider in at 2:41 PM Sunday, which makes it 32.5 hours without sleep break.

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1000k, Brevet, Lake Worth, FL - 16 May 2003

Facts:

Distance: 636.4 Miles 1,024.2 km Elevation (climbing): 4,002 ft 1,220 m Riding time: 45:42 h   Total time: 72:32 h   Average speed: 13.9 mph 22.4 km/h

Brief ride summary:

I arrive 5:32 AM, Monday morning.

Towards the end between Titusville and Lake Worth we had a continues straight Head wind for the last 150 Miles along the coast.

Surprisingly the last 100 Miles are slower than the first 100 :-))

Riders at the night start:

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Fleche, Miami to Sebring, FL - 26 April 2003

Facts:

Distance: 262.4 Miles 422.3 km Elevation (climbing): 1,299 ft 396 m Riding time: 17:54 h   Total time: 24:00 h   Average speed: 14.7 mph 23.6 km/h

Brief ride summary:

The "Sweat Dogs" made it. We started out with 5, had two DNF and made it to Sebring with the remaining 3.

We met in Sebring the two Gainesville Fleche teams that left at 6 and 7 AM. So all three teams made it. A great success.

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600k, Gainesville, FL - 12 April 2003

Facts:

Distance: 380.9 Miles 613.0 km Elevation (climbing): 5,000 ft 1,524 m Riding time: 24:41 h   Total time: 31:12 h   Average speed: 15.4 mph 24.8 km/h

Brief ride summary:

see 600k ride report

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400k, Tavares, FL - 15 March 2003

Facts:

Distance: 247.6 Miles 398.5 km Elevation (climbing): 6,040 ft 1,841 m Riding time: 16:06 h   Total time: 19:30 h   Average speed: 15.4 mph 24.7 km/h

Brief ride summary:

So far this was the best Brevet I had. The forecast was bad, but fortunately we had no rain at all, the wind was low and the temperatures nice.

Jim told me, that one person complained about busy roads, especially 561 from Astatula towards Sugarloaf. I couldn't share that opinion. As you know, most of the roads in the Mt. Dora/Clermont area are quite nice.

Since my legs were fine and my helmet light worked great during the night, I actually picked up speed towards the end and cycled the last 70 Miles by myself, coming in at 12:30 AM.

Just Sugarloaf at the 230 Miles mark at 11:00 PM clogged up with fog was a little spooky and gave me the slowest Sugarloaf downhill ever :-) We had a total of 6040 ft ascending elevation (4 times Sugarloaf).

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300k, Gainesville, FL - 15 February 2003

Facts:

Distance: 189.9 Miles 305.6 km Elevation (climbing): 1,401 ft 427 m Riding time: 11:39 h   Total time: 13:30 h   Average speed: 16.3 mph 26.2 km/h

Brief ride summary:

I finished by Brevet in Gainesville, but missed my goal of 190 Miles. It turned out that I seemed to having Mitch's issue and was not able to go any further after 189.9. In addition this time I was riding 120 Miles by myself with a lot of headwind and was slower than the last time and took 13.5 hours. Even so at the beginning at the first 30 Miles I stayed with the front group and later on with some tailwind the first 100 Miles were completed in 6:10.

But the biggest achievement I saw in Gainesville, was a Hand-cyclist with only one leg. We had a few small hills in there and he had to work hard with his arms to make it. It took him probably about 19 hours, but he did ride the whole distance.
The weather on Saturday was not as warm as promised. It stayed at approx. 60 - 62 F, which was of course ok for me.

Linda and Andrew	Nick - Ann - Reinhard

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300k, North Palm Beach, FL - 8 February 2003

200k, Gainesville, FL - 19 January 2003