Paris-Brest-Paris is a strange thing to do... In addition to the great distance and the elevation difference, it also offers a handful of potential hazardous weather opportunities for which you should be prepared.
In fact, if you look at the historical data, EVERYTHING will happen in those 4 days. It is late summer, and the daily maximum regularly reaches about 30 degrees celsius. The night shift through Brittany brings uncomfortably low temperatures that drop to 4-5 degrees above 0. At least one rainy day is almost guaranteed, and winds are very, very common. If the Germany strikes again and some axes fall from the sky, there could be an apocalypse.
Training for the specific conditions mentioned above is more mental than physical. Once you ride 400 and 600 km with such an interesting elevation, everything else becomes a struggle with your mind. The body regularly explains to the head that it's enough, that it can't do it anymore, or "how long will it be a until you finally fall with your face first on tarmac below you"... Or simply after a while, your body just gives up on your mind… it just continues to ride on the glycogen that is stored in your muscles. Or until the head just gives up and shuts down all but the survival systems.
I rode 200 qualifying kilometers in Požega in mid-February. The famous Antivalentine's Day. The temperature dropped to -6 degrees in some sections, preparing the body for the cold and uncomfortable conditions in France. My toes were frozen so much that I carefully took off my shoes trying not to accidentally tear them off my feet. My fingers were like wood at times, depending on how hard I held the handlebars and how windy it was. PBP education has officially started, and I can happily say that I passed that first crash course. It was shaggy, but I passed. I can cross off cold and wind from the specific training list above. The head is ready, the body will be with some other equipment, primarily some windproof gloves and maybe a raincoat... I'll think about it...
The next exam in the brevet index is rainy. 100%.
Until next time, share the road.
en
hr