PBP Stories: Tom Altemus – 4 visits – 1987 to 2023

PBP Story #59
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This week we have Tom Altemus who currently lives in Tucson, Arizona. Prior to that he lived in Illinois. He has started PBP 4 times, his first was in 1987, and his most recent was 2023.

1987 – 68:56
2015 – 75:17
2019 – DNF
2023 – 94:00

Paris Brest Paris: PBP Stories and Tips
Join Peter Curley (PBP ’19, ’23) as he interviews the riders who have completed (and DNF’ed!) Paris Brest Paris, the most famous (and oldest) endurance ride in the world. Learn firsthand what to expect and how to give yourself the best chance of a successful PBP.

Paris Brest is a long-distance cycling event with a rich history. Established in 1891 as a professional race, it has evolved into the premier amateur endurance cycling event. Every four years, thousands of cyclists from around the world attempt to finish PBP’s grueling 1,200-kilometer (745-mile) route, within the 90 hour time limit.

10 PBP Stats (2023)
Participants = 6431
Finish rate = 76%
Average age = 51
Oldest female & male = 69 & 79
Youngest female & male = 17 & 17
Female participation = 7.24%
French participation = 29.03%
Charly Miller (56:40) = 12
Adrian Hands (88:55) = 62
Club with most riders = San Francisco Randonneurs

This week we have Tom Alimus who currently lives in Tucson, Arizona. Prior to that he lived in Illinois. He has started PBP four times. His first was in 1987, a different millennium and his most recent was 2023. Thanks for volunteering, Tom. I really appreciate it. Oh, you’re welcome. You’re welcome. I I hope I do well. You’re going you’re going to be fine. you’re already uh better than most of the people I’ve talked to, so it’s fine. Okay. All right. So, I’m going to start my usual one. What does PBP mean to you? And I know I know that’s a very open-ended question for someone who’s been there four times. Yeah. And uh it’s been a while, too. Um so, uh so yeah, I’ve been there. Well, first time was 1987, so um I was young and and I was just looking for an adventure. it was a vacation, you know, to to to France and and I happened to ride bicycles and I rode them well and and bicycles were really hitting the news then uh with, you know, all the big events um toward France and and um race across America, uh great America bike race, you know, I can go on and on. Um yeah, but uh so yeah, um it was an adventure. I I don’t travel much. Um in fact only even to this day I’ve only been outside of the country four times and all four times it’s been PBP. Yeah. So this that’s cool. This is really a great um yeah adventure. Well I think if you’re going to travel outside the country doing PBP is probably a pretty good reason. Yeah. Cool. Yeah. Um great. Tell me then um what did that first finish line feel like? Do you remember in 1987? 19 so yeah 40 years ago. Um, it was so it was I was thrilled to get it done and and uh you know it was a difficult ride with all the weather conditions and um not knowing anything about the ride before going there and and just so relieve I guess I was relieved that it was nothing had you know no showstoppers and and uh so I was thrilled And uh I mean it just seems like now it’s still amazing that you know I did that and and it was different back then in Yeah. Uh a very more French event than now it’s more international now. So true. Um maybe this is a good time to say it. I should have said it earlier, but I’m meeting you now because I spoke to Allan Nevin before this, who rode with you the last few miles, him and his buddy Declan, and you guys all hung out, but you had lost touch or he didn’t know who you were. He’s You saw that video and then you reached out to him. So, that’s kind of cool, huh? Yeah. Yeah. Mostly I wanted to tell him my name’s not Bob, it’s it’s Tom. Okay. Sometimes I was I was Bob, but but that’s okay. My My father’s name was Bob, so I’ll I’ll I’ll take it. It’s true. I think everyone is a little bit delirious towards the end of PBP. Anyway, I’m I’m surprised he remembered you were male, you know. So, that’s good. All right. All right. Um why don’t we go back uh let’s go back to the start. Tell me about your background in cycling. What is your earliest memory on a bike, etc.? Yes. Uh well, so so yeah, gosh, in 1965 I would have had my first bicycle and uh with training wheels and um so that’s a bicycle, not a trike. Yeah. And uh so so yeah, I was like seven years old and and I don’t really remember that much about it. Um, I remember more about cuz that was a regular bicycle, but I remember more about getting the cool Swin Stingray, you know, like like a few years later and uh, you know, doing wheelies and and, you know, dirt path riding and and and so that was more like 69 70. Yeah. And Yeah. Uh so uh but but it was all about just having fun and riding down the sidewalks, you know, down to the ice cream shop and Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. fun. Um it’s funny. I I always find it interesting bike culture in America. I’m obviously not from America, but I think there was certain key events back in the day. Um Breaking Sorry, not Breaking Bad, Breaking Away was 1979. Okay. Do you remember when that movie came out? You were maybe was it 15 or something? I definitely remember when it came out and um Yeah. So, so 79. Yeah. Uh or 89 was it? See? Um Yeah. I mean, I know I wrote it down. I think it’s 79. That does. Oh, you’re right. You’re right. 70. Yeah. 79. Okay. Yeah. So, I would have been 21 or something like that. Okay. in college and I remember that just because I thought it was really cool, you know, um, you know, the races there in I think it was Indian Indiana and um, and I think it was Italians came in and just you know great ending and uh, a great family film too. Um, so so yeah, that got me excit interested in racing. I had been running racing. I I was a runner back then. Um and around 1980 81 I I switched into bicycling. Yeah. Yeah. I get you. And I think you you sent me some excellent notes by the way. So thank you. Had you um like I would imagine riding bikes back then, this is in your late teens, early 20s, it was kind of very much a subculture like most Americans probably played football and things like that. Was it different being a a cyclist? Definitely. Well, so where I lived uh so I um first I lived like in Woodstock, Illinois, a little town. I don’t think anybody really did much bicycling there except except Yeah. about 15 20 miles over there was this guy Lon Halddederman. Yes. Who you know he’s riding across the country. um and and his wife too. But uh but but then also I lived in Wisconsin where I went to college and uh I lived in Lake Geneva and but yeah, nobody really bicycled there much and every now and then I’ I’d run into somebody riding uh and and and there was once I actually ran into Lon Halddeerman around Lake Geneva and and I thought, “Oh, that’s that’s that guy, you know, that rides across country. But uh no, it was pretty much me and um the club I joined clubs, you know, are the really the best way to really get to know a sport and and and learn some things. And so I had I joined a club uh closer to Milwaukee and um and eventually a club in Madison, Wisconsin. And uh so you um so I I always kind of was by myself, but at the races you’d get you’d join up with uh I get you your teammates. Yeah. Yeah. And is the reason you ride uh now the same? Like first of all, how did it make you feel back then? I’m sure maybe it’s a little bit different from how it makes you feel now. Yeah. Well, now it’s more about health and um there is a lot of the social thing. Um to Tucson’s a really bicycle friendly town and so I’ I’ve gotten, you know, you get to know a lot of people bicycling here, but um but just the feeling of how simple it is. You just it not as simple as running, but um bicycling uh you know, you just hop on a bike uh with a helmet and and and cleat and and and you can go riding, you know, down the road. Uh find the safe roads. Uh and um watch out for the deer. Uh I hit I hit a deer once, but Okay. So So everything’s good until you hit hit that deer. But um anyway, uh it’s just a fun thing to get out the door and um you know, go do a workout uh and and maybe plan some events like like PBP is such a big event. It it does take a while to plan. Yeah. Uh just back again because the span that you’ve cycled a bike is fascinating to me. It’s a long time, right? When you first rode your bike like competitively, it still was very much again that subculture. Now today, perhaps in Arizona, you see cyclists everywhere. Is Is that correct? You do. Has that changed? Yeah. Uh Oh, yeah. Well, yeah. There’s a lot of cyclists here. Uh I think even back in my old home stomping grounds, there’s there’s more cyclist. the bicycle shops are, you know, places to gather to um to get together. Uh and uh so it’s it’s definitely more a thing now. Um but especially in Tucson, I I think that’s a big reason why I moved to Tucson. Yeah. Was the cycling here. I can imagine. Cool. Um let’s get back specifically then to PBP. Do you remember the first time you heard those three letters? Paris, Press, Paris. Yes. In, uh, let’s see, it was early 84. Yeah. Um, uh, reading Bicycling Magazine. Um, and it was there an article about again Lon Halddederman and Susan Notangelo and and them doing the 1983 PBP. Wow. and uh and the way it was written uh you know it seemed very welcoming to like like other riders you know so um and so so I what I got out of that was that’s looks like a neat event um you know I’m going to put it on my calendar because it would be in ‘ 87 then four you know three years later and then I just happened to be in the right area of northern Illinois where they had lots of bur uh it was a so Chicago area um there’s quite a there were at that time quite a few riders um you know who who eventually went to 8087 and uh so um yeah I that’s where that’s when I heard 84 and then you know it takes a year or two to plan for that so and like back Then you had never been outside the country. Isn’t that right? So, not only was it this massive distance, but it was this completely different culture that you were going to visit. No internet, no anything. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Yeah. Yeah. No internet, everything was in French, you know, the the um the information, the you know, this the signup sheet. And fortunately this back then we had this group called the international randonurs. And uh there was uh um some some members there that really pushed this PBP uh event and and so they so it was it was just easy like like someone like me who had no idea what to do uh you know how to fill out forms and and and and do this. And so there was there was I think we had 200 some riders uh code to coal from the USA and I think we were the largest non French group you know UK was a close third and then and then all the other countries dropped off um quite a bit so yeah we had a big and it might have been just from that 83 84 bicycling article from law yeah and the fact that you read the article you happened to be living in the right part of the country that made it somewhat easy for you to get there and qualify. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We in fact they even had a a group um I don’t know if we if you could say we chartered this 747 but it was a big plane a big ass plane but we had I think at least a hundred cyclists Wow. on this plane flying from you know Chicago to um Charles de Gaul. Yeah. And uh it was almost like a party on the plane. Wow. Lots of It was great. Yeah. Yeah. Like I I can imagine that. So on this plane everyone with one kind of goal in mind. All right. Pre- internet again. So it’s very much there’s not as many connections or you know the unknown I suppose or whatever. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Do you do you remember uh what your strategy was going into that very first one? Did you have a strategy? Not all that pretty simple. Um yeah, I you know I joined I entered again they had like three groups and so I entered the 78 hour group. Um and that was the fast group and they were also the last group to leave. Um, yeah. And uh and I just because I had been doing some 24-hour races and 500 mile races, not that many, but enough to know I was pretty serious. So, I so I uh uh entered this faster group and basically I was just going to just try and hang on with this, you know, the 200 the 200 group pack. I was pretty comfortable then um with pack riding and uh um so uh also I I I I sort of knew Scott Dixon. He’s he’s the guy who eventually won. Um uh and you know I just I just said well I’m going to be hanging out Scott uh in the back if and you know he he just he didn’t I’m sure he he probably had everything figured out. He was going to win in his head. He was going to win no matter what. Whatever it takes. And he did uh the fastest time I I believe. and and um and and then um so for me it was just go go go find food along the way. Don’t don’t even sleep. Um and uh catch up with the other groups because that’s where all my other USA people would be and you know wave wave. I got you. Yeah. Um why don’t we because you’ve got four different visits, right? So what we’ll do is I’m going to ask you each one. Okay. The actual event and maybe we’ll talk about some highlights because I know I’ve got lots of questions. So that very first one, by the way, you finished that in 68 hours and 56 minutes, which is very fast. Yeah. Um do you remember the start line of that very first one? Yeah. And uh so that was they started in Paris. Uh um Wow. Edge of Paris. Yeah. Yeah. And uh that’s where the the dorms were also where we stayed. Um and uh uh you know it was a just like a a big like high school campus I would call it. I don’t maybe it was college. I don’t know. But um lots of people um and uh even though the mass starts earlier there there was even bigger groups you know long lines. My my group was just 200 people uh riders and and they were all like racer types all in their you know their race um you know you know let’s let’s do this. Yeah. And uh I will say when they said go, it was crazy. It was it was like a race for the money, you know. And and did you did you say that the fast group started last? So you had to you raced then through the um you know the bulk of all the other cyclists? Is that right? We did. Yeah. That’s crazy. That’s crazy, isn’t it? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But again, it was just 200 people. Now, the other thing too, it was raining. It rained like from the start. It rained a whole lot. Uh yeah. And and so that kind of broke up um the the group and people got flat. I got a flat tire uh within the first 20 miles. Oh, that’s terrible. Yeah. Yeah. I’m riding these so-ups, you know, tubular um tires and and uh so, you know, that was that was kind of demoralizing because, you know, I’m there was no draft after that. You know, you get in and it’s like you got to chase and and and uh I didn’t know where I was. Um it was a bad spot and but I thought I’m going to just keep going. Yeah. And hopefully I can catch up to some people. Yeah, that’s cool. Do do you remember that? Was it it sounded like because it was again it was 1987. Yeah. Mostly French people, then there was some Americans and maybe some UK people. Yes. Was it very kind of nationality based? Did people just hang out with each other or was there much much conversation between all the groups? Uh yeah, I don’t remember a lot of conversation. Um yeah. Um you know I don’t know any Fran French. Yeah. Okay. you know, bonjour, you know, Mercy Boo, you know, like like um yeah, I So that was sad. Um I tried to learn it, but but anyway, um once I I would ride either with USA people or possibly some French. Yeah. Um but I definitely um was very considerate of Yeah, I guess. I know. I know how that is. You don’t know who you if you don’t know who you’re riding with, you’re kind of concerned about lately that person. So So I understood that. And um and so I didn’t ride with a whole lot of people that 87. Uh I got you. Yeah. And I was I think you had multiple flats. Did you mention that to me? And it rained a lot. It rained a lot. Yeah. And and then it gets cold, you know, at night. And Yeah. But uh that second flat uh that was that was like oh my god. Um I flatted and this you know there’s all these French vehicles, Renault and um Pujo. And so this little this little car pulls up next to me and there’s there’s um like this father and son. They jump out of the car. Yeah. And they they point, you know, go sit over there, you know, Tom, you know, go sit over there. We’ll change the tire for you. You know, because they saw what I was doing and they knew what sewups were. Amazing. Amazing. and they they changed it and then I got going again and I thought, okay, I can do this. Uh yeah, there was a bag drop about 200 mile marker um with spare tires for me. Yeah. And so I thought if I can just get there, what’s the worst thing that could happen anyway? Um, you know, if I had another flat tire, probably this guy with with his son, they could Yeah. throw the bike in the back and, you know, take me to the train or something, you know. Yeah. That’s amazing. Yeah, it’s amazing. Yeah. And it must have felt just so alien. The whole environment, did it to you or not? Oh, you’re definitely um in a different world. Yeah. Uh and you know everybody looks like you know normal people. Yeah. While the the the um architecture a lot of old buildings, a lot of stone buildings, everything’s old there, right? And and uh just really a different um environment. The roads were great. Uh, in fact, all four all four times I’ve gone there. Yeah, they’re incredible. The road the roads are just fantastic. Yeah. Amazing. Yeah. Yeah. Any any other memories about that very first one, 1987? Um, let’s see. So, that was when I was young and fit and um, you know, the hills really didn’t bother me at all. I mean, yeah, you know, I could I could almost ride you know, almost like 500 miles in 24 hours. You know, I’m I was really really fit. I was 20 pounds lighter from now. And uh but the one thing um after the flat tires then with a couple hundred miles to go, it got foggy and then I got scared. I I I didn’t know where where turns were and um the fog, you know, thinking there might be cars, maybe they don’t see me. Yeah. So, I I actually stopped in the middle of the night and and I said, I’m not I’m not going anywhere till daylight. Uh that’s smart. Yeah. Smart. So So, you know, um I still did really well, you know, looking back, but um Yeah. Do do you do do you remember so you get to the finish line? We talked about that already, but do you feel did you feel like a month or two afterwards back in the United States that this had been some incredible event in your life? For well, for sure. Um I I’m just was really thrilled that I finished, you know, I got I got my medal. Uh And um uh then then I get busy doing other other I’ve been riding bicycles, you know, for 40 years. I mean, straight. And Yeah. And there’s always this next event, you know, to to do. Yeah. And and uh but still, it really is amazing. I I still have all all I’m kind of a packrat. You kind of you kind of can see behind me. Yeah, I got I got shelves and shelves of old That’s good. Ride history. Yeah. And um so no, definitely a memory. A great memory. Yeah, that’s wonderful. Um you know, I always ask this at least one time, but like just tell me about the people of France. Like again, coming from the United States, you’d never travel abroad. Uh there’s probably a certain amount of it’s not it’s a subculture in America, but you go to a place that loves cyclists. Is that correct? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. They love cyclists. Uh ne I never ever had any problems with any even in Paris, too. I mean, yeah, people were polite. No, I never heard one honk of a horn or or never anybody who tried to brush you, you know. And um and usually usually overly, you know, nice. It’s like, you know, like, no, you go ahead. You go ahead. And it’s like, yeah, it’s like, wow, they’re very nice people. And then and then during the event, everyone knows, you know, you you’re trying to get the get it done. Um, most of the USA people had USA stuff on like you know a hat or um very few helmets too by the way. Um, okay. If anybody was wearing helmets, usually it was the USA people. It wasn’t it wasn’t the French back in ‘ 87. And uh and but anyway, all at the controls and you know all your videos, I think you you hear the same thing. you know, in the middle of the night there’s people with their alongside the road. They’re all going, you know, they’re all clapping and they’re they’re going LA and Bravo and Yeah. stuff like that. Yeah. Cool. So, so in the um many years you’ve been going, has that kind of support from the locals changed in any way? I don’t think so. Okay, that’s good. That’s the answer I wanted to hear. Good. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. So then you finished the first one again in just under 69 hours and then you didn’t do PBP until 2015. I’m going to do my mathematics right now which is 28 years. Okay. Wow. Yeah. What were you doing with your lifetime? Well, I was still bicycling. Okay. Uh I was working a lot um you know a full-time job. Yeah. uh in an office that you know I wanted to get out on that bicycle, right? And so um you know that that was my big thing I like to do. And then um my wife my wife and I we would take trips but she didn’t want to have anything to do with the bicycle. No. Okay, I get you. Okay. Yeah, that’s fine. Okay. Yeah. Okay. But did you find yourself in those 28? Fine. Okay. Okay. But did you find yourself in those in the day? I would love to go back and do PBP. No. Oh, really? That’s funny. Okay. So, no. What happened at first in ‘ 87? I thought it was like one and done, you know. I’m done. And then and then um in about 200 six or seven um I started some old friends and even some new friends started talking about PBP and I started thinking, you know, I did that a long time ago. I wonder if I could I could do that again. You know, I wonder what that would be like. And that’s amazing. And so then I I thought, okay, I’m going to do it. And uh uh 2015 the weather was I thought was great and I was I was still pretty fit. Yeah. Yeah. And you did that in 75 hours which is amazing. Yeah. Um and tell me like tell me about that ride. How was it different? Because I’m sure it was different in many ways. Yeah, that one. Um so it was not with this big international rand group. Um that was all organized and with like as like a tour. Yeah. Um this was I’m just going to go do it. Uh and I’ll I’ll compare notes with some people, but you know it’s it’s not I can figure it out with the internet and and and so so I could see that yeah, I just I just got to fly there. I just um hop on the metro uh train in Paris. Um I one of the guys was staying in Versailles and uh that was close enough to the to the start at that time. Um and uh you know I I and and do the 84h hour group. I had some Arizona guys um to meet there. So, so we were meeting up a little bit um with others, but uh I just figured, well, I’ve been doing this forever. I’m just going to go challenge myself and do it again. Yeah. And any kind of things that stood out to you because I’m just reading your report here. It actually went very smoothly, it sounds like. Okay. It really did. and like was there any huge differences from the first time you had done it in 1987? Uh just older I and then I realized there are really are hills. Um Okay, that’s funny. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. That’s funny. Those hills get bigger with age. Is that correct? Okay. They definitely get bigger. Yeah. I I didn’t even remember the hills and then and then Yeah, they’re there. Okay. So, so when you crossed that finish line the second time, you said to yourself, “This is it. That’s two and done.” Is that right? Or No, no. I I I wasn’t I wasn’t thinking about really it doing it again. Um I I’m not even sure. I think maybe I just needed another trip um in 19 and um actually yeah can I just ask you though you must have felt very good though after that 2015 finish because you know it’s kind of that book ends not really book ends but it’s a huge span of your life um just a finish of accomplishment and all that kind of stuff. Yeah. Yeah. So then it went so well you said you know what I’m going to do another one. So that was 2019. I think what it was was I had contact with a couple guys um who we you know we thought okay we’ll ride together and so you know to to say that and then actually ride together you know and and never you know lose sight of each other that’s that’s different. So so true. It’s so really hard to stay together. That’s why that Allan and and Deck who I met in 20 three 2023. Yeah, we’ll talk about that definitely. Yeah, those guys they stuck together. But um yeah, so so I had a couple guys who were going to go in 2019 and I thought, okay, you know, we’ll try we’ll ride together. Yeah. Yeah. It didn’t work out. you know. Yes. This one did not go smoothly. I think it’s safe to say. You want to tell me about what happened? And it was early on in the ride, too. Yeah. It was I don’t know 50. It was after Drew. It was after the first control. I think like 50 60 miles out. And I I was um in a pack of maybe 30 people. And And we’re And I’m I’m starting to get hungry. Yeah. Yeah, like 50 60 miles, you know, you start thinking you really need to eat before you get hungry. And and so I I So I’m starting to eat. I’m in the back of the pack um just and just following the train, you know, um of riders and and then um there was an accident up front. Um um I don’t know exactly what happened, but you know when things happen up front, there’s like a domino effect. Yeah. And and here I’m I’m just eating and drinking and and then and it was a downhill and and then you know this like okay I can’t I did not I didn’t break hard enough or you know just you know happens sometimes. Yeah. and that the accident. I don’t know what happened there, but um so I ended up hitting the pavement. Um and by the way, everybody hits the pavement at some point if you’re a bicyclist. You just don’t want to break bones. Um yeah. So, so I so so I so and I don’t fall very often, you know. It’s about every 10 years maybe. But uh so I broke a collar bone. Oh. And I just thought, I I’m not going to try this, you know. I can’t, you know. Did you instantly know you had injured yourself? Seriously? I I I felt, you know, a a pain in um I think it was this shoulder. Uh yeah. So, I’ve broken both collar bones um by the way. But, um but anyway, so I felt a pain and then I thought, okay, I can’t raise my arm. Okay, this is the problem. And so so one of the motorcyclists that kind of followed the groups around um he asked if I wanted any ambulance and because I had no idea really where I was. Um, yeah. And, uh, I wasn’t going to ride back with a broken collar bone. And, um, so I said, “Sure, get me an ambulance.” And, uh, you know, a little while later, this an ambulance comes up. Now, and this is kind of a story. Um, I’ve only told this story once to my wife and Okay, hopefully she’s not going to watch this as she I hope he doesn’t watch this, but Okay, so there’s these three really kind of good-looking brunettes. Okay, jump out of the ambulance and um and and I said, “Over here.” No. Anyway, anyway, they they um I think they were the weekend EMT. you know, because uh I don’t know, they just seem like this is too good to be true, really. Um so they took me to the hospital. Okay. Um they did ask where I was from. I said America. They said they all three of them said they wanted to go to Hollywood someday. That’s funny. I said, “Well, Hollywood’s close to Arizona.” That’s funny. That That was the end of that. But uh but so I go to the hospital and uh the first doctor didn’t speak English. Um the second one did and so I could say you know it’s a broken collar bone. Um you know what couldn’t be done and he he took the X-ray and he he said yeah basically you just got you just got to go home to USA and see your orthopedic surgeon. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And Pam, were once you got home, were you just very disappointed by the whole experience or you kind of moved on? Yeah. I just kind of uh figured that’s well that’s bicycling racing and and and you know I thought well maybe I’ll make it up you know in the next year. Uh and uh I did want to say something after the hospital. So and you’re in the hospital at Drew. Yeah. And then um so they released me. There was no there was no fee, no cost or anything. There’s a you know, you’re on your own now. Go. Um and so there was this Russian gal um who was in the accident also. She had a different ambulance. And uh so we kind of we looked at each other and we knew we were in the same predicament. How do you get back to Ramble? uh Rombo here and and so we we so the one guy at the hospital says I can take you to the train station and so so this was the first and hopefully the only time I’ve been on the train of shame yes for um you know for cyclists that you know you can’t make it back and yeah so it was me and this Russian gal and we were we were communicating with our cell phones our translators Yeah, you couldn’t do that in ‘ 87. So true. Still true. And she she was really pissed that she fell and her race was over. Yeah. Just I’m just kind of like, well, you know, it’s just it’s just not our year. And I got you. So I went I just was you what do you do, you know? Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. So then you said, I’m going to come back in 2023 and show PBP. What’s it what what’s it about? Right. So how did how did that one go? You’re four years older, right? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So So how old were you then? You would have been 65. Would you have been 65? Is that right? Let’s see. Yeah. 65. Okay. Um and again, I’ I’ve been staying fit. Uh, and you know, it’s all about being prepared as much as possible. Um, you know, that’ll be one of my tips. But, uh, but, uh, so yeah, I and I I stayed at, you know, the nice hotel, the better hotel, the one that actually has air conditioning. And okay, the prior time there was no air. Not all not all hotels have air conditioning. And and so in 20 Yeah. 2023, uh things were going really well. I I was riding with the groups and and um you know, you’re seeing different nationalities uh and uh you know, I was I’m I remember like in 2015 there were all kinds of nationalities and I’d run a ride with their group and it would take me a while to figure out who they were, you know, just by listening to them because um you know, they weren’t English, they weren’t USA And and so you could tell the the Austrians and the you know the um the UK guys and and then Yeah. So so it was just I mean it’s an adventure you know it is. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So were you feeling in any way that okay I’m 60 what did I say 665? Yeah. Did you think that okay that could be challenging or not really? You were confident because you’ve done it before. Yeah. Um I think mostly just if you just keep it going and uh you don’t do the rookie mistakes, which I ended up doing. Okay. Uh and uh I knew I could I could do it because it’s it’s I’m still I still ride pretty well. Uh, it’s just I have to just um just have the right lighting, you know, the the batteries and um as far as food, I’ve always just been able to just pretty much eat whatever uh I want. Um and uh again, I didn’t I didn’t really ride with I I coordinated with some other guys. Yeah, I get you. And I So I rode all the way out the breast in like 34 hours, which is amazing. That’s incredible for anyone. Yeah. Yeah. And I thought, okay, I’m good. You know, I’m I got money in the bank, you know. I’m I’m doing well. I’m going to take a nap. Well, actually, I went to a hotel. Oh, wow. A hotel. Living large. Living large. And yeah, you know, I and uh so then so I just for like four hours went to McDonald’s. There’s McDonald’s there. And and and then I started riding back and and uh so that was going well and then and then one of my lights goes out and then it’s like, okay, so I have a spare. I have spares. Yeah. and and um and so then some of them I’m riding along and and then I um you know come to the next control and then I need to get to that bagrop. Uh, I wasn’t there yet. And and and then so so I waited a little while until it was day and then I went to the backdrop and and then and then I I didn’t really have what I needed was um a you know not a charger but a a battery bank or what you know. Yeah. Yeah. And and it wasn’t working. Careful what you buy in the internet. Completely true. Yeah. And so I I was I was kind of getting uh um a little desperate there. So I so I went off road and then in Fuer I actually got another hotel. Okay. And uh yeah, you know that was not planned at all and and but it was it was cold and I just thought I’m only gonna stop for a little while and you know how that goes. Um yeah. Uh and so I was there a little too long and it started raining and uh eventually I got going but um it was like my time was like not not enough there. It was pretty tight. So I started riding harder and eventually I I caught up to um the two um Irish guys. Yeah. So Allan Allen and Declan. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But at but at that time, Tom, you were already maybe behind. You weren’t going to finish in 90, you know. Can I just say um your thing about charging lights, it can happen to anyone. That happened to me actually in 2023. Um I had two lights and one of them for whatever reason didn’t work at all. And I had this little weak light and it was so dangerous, right? Because it was dark, right? And I’m really surprised I didn’t hit anything. So, it’s one of those the thing about I’ve never used a dynamo for example. Yeah. Um, but that is the beauty of those that it kind of removes that chance. So, yeah. Cool. Anyway, so you meet these two Irish guys and actually, you know what? I’m going to read something here. I think you read it nicely in an email and if I can if I can find it here and I’m sure I can. They were both newbies in the game of rondineering and hilarious self-deprecating guys and their bikes rattled, chain skipped and bikes squeaked, but they knew just to keep going riding riding till the very end, which is so true. When I talked to Allan, that’s exactly how it sounded like. See, so you meet these guys, right? And you’re you’re and you’re all beyond the time. You’re all beyond the time limit, right? Yeah. But you all know to keep going. That’s right. That’s cool. How long How many hours were you with them for? Do you remember? Uh oh, it might have been five or six hours. Yeah. So, um something like that. Yeah. But the thing that was cool about them is they were they were together, you know. It was like Yeah. Um you know, good friends. Uh so, um you know, that’s that’s what you want, you know. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But uh like at one point we one of the guys he like disappeared and I go, you know, where’s where’s where’s Dak? Yeah. And and and and then you know Allan, well, I don’t know. So So Allan, he circles back and I I think it was a flat tire or something. Yeah. Some drama. Yeah. Yeah. and their bikes, you know, not the greatest, but um really great guys though for I I think Allan described his bike as the worst bike at PBP, which is kind of funny. Yeah. It was making noises. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Like I always think it’s funny because especially those last 10 hours of PBP, we’re all kind of beaten up and torn down and to meet someone in that state is kind of funny, isn’t it? Yeah, certainly. Yeah. So, do you do you guys remember um crossing the line? I think you finished in 94 hours, they were 110 hours maybe or something like that, right? Was it kind of saying, “Oh my god, I’m glad this is over.” Or did it feel like an accomplishment? It must have at that point. I was just I was glad to be home. Um yeah, basically and and uh you know I I was glad those guys got it done too. And yeah, cuz you know they had never been anywhere near near doing this kind of thing before. And and and um so it it was an accomplishment. you know, we took pictures and and uh you know, it’s it’s too bad that there’s um this out of time um there’s not more recognition for that. Um yeah. Uh but I mean I understand like rules are rules, but um but these guys they they were close. They were close to getting they were they had their cards all stamped. I had my card stamped. We I mean we were pleading for people to stamp our card, you know, at the controls. Yeah. Even though some of some of the controls were closed, but but we we got them stamped and it was like Yeah. You know, we did it. I think in some ways it’s almost more of an accomplishment because once you know you can’t make the time, it’s so easy to psychologically say that’s it. I’m going home. Right. But to finish, that’s really impressive. Yeah. Tom, anything else before I ask you about your plans for the future? Anything else on on that last um bride in 2023? See, I I think that was Okay. Yeah, about it. Yeah. Yeah. Cool. Okay. Here’s the million-dollar question. Um, will we see you in 2027 with with Allan and Declan? I think we got to put the band back together. Yeah. Yeah, that would be cool. I’d like that. Yeah, I I hope so. And and uh I I’ll be there. I’ll be there. And you know, I’ll be a little older. Um but I’m I’m already thinking about it. And uh yeah, 2027 that’ll be 40 years from Amazing. Amazing and and you know that’s you know there that’s a big span. Yeah. Yeah, it is. Tell me, um, is there anything you’re going to do different from the previous one? Uh, let’s see. I would say, um, yeah, more more pay attention to my my charging, my battery charging. Um, the lighting was good. Uh, maybe just be sure I have a backup. You know, in 87 87, all we had were these sixvolt batteries. you know, we put them in our in our bottle cages. Yeah. And and you know, it was old really old technology. It did work. Uh but so there’s the batteries and then um No, everything else went pretty pretty Oh, don’t don’t oversleep. I don’t need two hotel rooms, you know. Okay. Maybe Maybe one. Nice. Don’t get the second one. Just Just keep going. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Well, that’s great. Well, I’m sure I will see you there. It’ll be a real pleasure. So, we’re going to Cool. We’re going to end Tom then with your three tips from someone who has great experience that guarantees a finish. Tip number one. Guarantees. Tip number one. Yeah. Be be prepared. Uh um you know you know have so have a have a and there’s different way different ways to do all this. You know you have a um a schedule uh um of the ride, you know, at checkpoints and and where you’re going to eat and and and uh so I would say, you know, double check your your bicycle. Uh, and um, yeah, let’s see. I would say the preparation. Yeah, that’s that’s that’s the biggie. Um, that so that’s tip number one. See if I forgot. Um, yeah, you wrote them down here. Feel free to have a look at your notes. Um, so number one was planning. Yeah, if you’re going to nap, you know, where do you do it? Uh, some people reserve rooms in advance. I mean, yeah. Gosh. So, okay. So, that’s tip number one. Always know the clock is ticking, too. Yeah. Yeah. So, be be keep going. Yeah. Uh so, tip number two. Yeah. Tip number two. Okay. So the weather the weather uh you know it can be beautiful you know when you start and and and even the forecast could be beautiful and it could be night you know cool light winds sunny. Yeah. No one knows in like in in two days what it’s going to be doing. You usually usually I think they do you get some kind of rain fog. There’s probably going to be some headwinds, you know. It’s so so be ready for, you know, carry a rain jacket, you know. Yeah. Um be be ready for that that cold when it comes in. Um Oops. Uh so, so just, you know, don’t think it’s all um going to be nice weather. Uh it’s not. When you get close to that ocean, it’s gonna get it’s going to get cold. It’s gonna get windy. Yeah. So, that’s tip number two, the weather. Yeah. Yeah. And then, and then number three, that’s the easy one. This is why probably I keep coming back. You know, enjoy the ride. You know, it’s it’s it’s an adventure. There’s always going to be unplanned things. Um, some really fun, nice things, good, great memories, and then there might be some some unfortunate things, too. Um, and and it’s going to be fun because the people are there, you know, in France. They’re they’re all I just I’ve just in the four years I’ve just never had uh any any issues with the the the French there. Um, as long as you know you you acknowledge them, you know, you you know, try to speak French, you know. Yeah. Sure to everybody. Uh, and they’re just I don’t know. I just was really Lyla really liked France and and everyone was pretty nice there and very nice. Yeah. Right. Great. Cool. Yeah. Wonderful. Uh well, Tom, it’s been a complete pleasure. Okay. Some excellent tips. I really appreciate it and I really look forward to meeting you in two years time. We have now. Okay. Definitely, Peter.