Friendly amendment to how Jan characterized PBP.
Nowadays, PBP is not officially a race. And for 99% of the entrants, it's not a race it's an endurance challenge. For that remaining 1 percent, though, it IS a race. I'd venture to guess that, physiologically, that top one percent of PBP finishers would do well in UCI sanctioned races amateur and professional if properly trained.
I'm still gathering info but my understanding (though its all rumor) is that there is a significant effort on the part of clubs to find and groom candidates to win PBP, especially in France. As a Brevet Administrator I look for and will encourage really fast finishers to continue on the path that leads to a high finish at PBP.
It was really an enjoyable experience to cruise along at 50kph for hours on end. That pace was maintained at the front until at least the first control which is an average length professional race stage. I've read that the pro peloton is much harder than a PBP (tourist routier) peloton because they cruise at 45-50kph but then crank it up to 60kph+ for miles and miles to pull back breaks or to instigate breaks. The typical PBP'er would not hold up to such yo yo-ing paces.
RE: old new. For me, generally, I feel faster and finish fresher on my 18lb large size Bianchi EV3 6000 series aluminum frame and all carbon fork than on my steel or titanium steeds. The bianchi is my second one though because the first one broke after intermittent but moderate intesity use (2.5 years and 4500 miles). Steel and titanium will endure much more loading cycles. My theory on the rapid adoption on shifters integrated with brake levers is that it is safer and it is faster to shift with this new equipment. Taking your hands off the bars to shift in a pack is more dangerous (higher risk) than shifting from the brake levers. I personally have been dropped many times from a group trying to shift my down tube levered bike in a grouip of riders of mostly ergo/sti shifters. But I can stick with them longer when I have the same shifting system.
With ergos/sti you are on a level playing field. If you are dropped it is due to poorer conditioning or lesser physiological ability. The argument for ergo/sti is probably less if compared against bar end friction shifter.
Despite my feelings, I still admire the old stuff (for me generally 1949 to 1968) and I will never abandon steel lugged frames.
To end in cliche, it is the motor, not the bike, that makes for fast speeds.
Todd Teachout
Hercules,CA