FAQ: Which time to start in the 90 hours group in PBP?
Paul Rozelle wrote a great post, about which start group to choose. That post is a good read if you're undetermined which start group to choose.
This post is a refinement of that post, and might be of interest to if you choose the 90 hours start group, to help you choose which start time to choose within the 90 hours start group.
First, some general info:
PBP has 3 different start groups, with the following time limits: 80, 90, and 84.
The 80 hours group starts in the afternoon.
The 90 hours group starts late afternoon after the 80 hours start (and late into the night.)
The 84 hours group starts early in the following morning.
The 90 hours group is by far the largest group, and is divided into smaller groups of starting times, spreaded over several hours.
"The bulge" referred to below is a moving group of riders hitting the controls roughly the same time.
It's about 2-4 hours "wide" at the start, and the affect diminishes as time (and riders) moves on.
If you know what you're doing, and "understand" reality, it doesn't really matter what time you start.
The time you spend in controls (queuing, or just "faffing") will have the largest impact on your total time.
There should be a post (if nobody else will, I'll write it) about how to efficiently manage the time in controls.
You should know that below are my own views. Others may see things differently. YMMV.
Most of the impact of the start time is on the first night and day, the first 24-30 hours of the ride.
If you're (more than a little) faster or slower than the average, then after the 2nd night (30-40 hours) it doesn't matter which time you start - Your control times and speed will determine the rest of your ride.
The terms "slower" and "faster" take into account both riding time, and time spent in controls.
I'm dividing the start time into four groups: Early start, Between early and middle, Between middle and last, and Last.
And below are my thoughts about each of these groups.
*) Early start:
Not advised if you're a slower rider.
Everybody passing is faster than you, so you couldn't help them, and can't make use of any of their help.
The fast riders will mix with the slower riders of the 80 hours start.
If you're not slow, and don't waste too much times in controls - most (if not all) of the controls will not be crowded.
You should sleep after Loudeac.
*) Between early and middle:
You'll be in the bulge.
You'll see many riders, and enjoy PBP's social aspect in its full glory (good or bad...)
You should try and sleep after Loudeac.
*) Between middle and last:
You'll be in the bulge in the first controls.
You'll see many riders, and enjoy PBP's social aspect in its full glory (good or bad...)
Average speed riders will probably sleep in Loudeac.
Faster riders should try and sleep after Loudeac.
The slower rider will be caught by the faster 84 hour starters around Loudeac.
*) Last:
Not advised if you're slow. Everybody will be ahead of you, and you couldn't enjoy drafting the 84 hours starters.
You will be behind the bulge, and probably mix with the 84 hours starters.
Faster riders should try and sleep after Loudeac.
Whatever happens, don't forget that the main goal is to enjoy the ride! :-)
Good luck!
Tal.
Paul Rozelle wrote a great post, about which start group to choose. That post is a good read if you're undetermined which start group to choose.
This post is a refinement of that post, and might be of interest to if you choose the 90 hours start group, to help you choose which start time to choose within the 90 hours start group.
First, some general info:
PBP has 3 different start groups, with the following time limits: 80, 90, and 84.
The 80 hours group starts in the afternoon.
The 90 hours group starts late afternoon after the 80 hours start (and late into the night.)
The 84 hours group starts early in the following morning.
The 90 hours group is by far the largest group, and is divided into smaller groups of starting times, spreaded over several hours.
"The bulge" referred to below is a moving group of riders hitting the controls roughly the same time.
It's about 2-4 hours "wide" at the start, and the affect diminishes as time (and riders) moves on.
If you know what you're doing, and "understand" reality, it doesn't really matter what time you start.
The time you spend in controls (queuing, or just "faffing") will have the largest impact on your total time.
There should be a post (if nobody else will, I'll write it) about how to efficiently manage the time in controls.
You should know that below are my own views. Others may see things differently. YMMV.
Most of the impact of the start time is on the first night and day, the first 24-30 hours of the ride.
If you're (more than a little) faster or slower than the average, then after the 2nd night (30-40 hours) it doesn't matter which time you start - Your control times and speed will determine the rest of your ride.
The terms "slower" and "faster" take into account both riding time, and time spent in controls.
I'm dividing the start time into four groups: Early start, Between early and middle, Between middle and last, and Last.
And below are my thoughts about each of these groups.
*) Early start:
Not advised if you're a slower rider.
Everybody passing is faster than you, so you couldn't help them, and can't make use of any of their help.
The fast riders will mix with the slower riders of the 80 hours start.
If you're not slow, and don't waste too much times in controls - most (if not all) of the controls will not be crowded.
You should sleep after Loudeac.
*) Between early and middle:
You'll be in the bulge.
You'll see many riders, and enjoy PBP's social aspect in its full glory (good or bad...)
You should try and sleep after Loudeac.
*) Between middle and last:
You'll be in the bulge in the first controls.
You'll see many riders, and enjoy PBP's social aspect in its full glory (good or bad...)
Average speed riders will probably sleep in Loudeac.
Faster riders should try and sleep after Loudeac.
The slower rider will be caught by the faster 84 hour starters around Loudeac.
*) Last:
Not advised if you're slow. Everybody will be ahead of you, and you couldn't enjoy drafting the 84 hours starters.
You will be behind the bulge, and probably mix with the 84 hours starters.
Faster riders should try and sleep after Loudeac.
Whatever happens, don't forget that the main goal is to enjoy the ride! :-)
Good luck!
Tal.
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