Charles Andrews wrote:<Brevets of 200, 400 and 600 KMs, with the requirement of meeting all checkpoint times, in all weather, separates the serious from everyone else pretty quickly. It seemed to me like I'd have to devote a year to just that, and nothing else. Perhaps this next four-year period is the time to get ready.>
While I agree that PBP is not a venture to be undertaken on a whim I don't feel it as daunting as Charles implies. For me in 2003 it took nothing more than the qualifying rides in addition to my usual club rides of about 100km on most weekends. I was lucky that all the qualifiers were on my doorstep and my Brighton home is just 20km from the ferry to Dieppe. No doubt the logistics are very different if you live in the US but for sure it is one of the most rewarding ventures for any sporting cyclist.
By the way Anco De Jong who beat 45 hours, referred to by Tom Sanders, is age 48 ! Ray Green, Brighton, England