300km (186m) are 100km more than 200km (124m)!! Exactly one week after Thomas, I was permitted to get on the track and smoke the 300-Brevet. As I mentioned in my report of the 200, this time we would be going through the Bergische Land ("hilly country"), so I was ready for the altitude. Even though the altitude/mile ratio was a little higher in the 200, it was enough.

After the obligatory short opening speech, promptly at 7:45am and the customary group photo, came the start. There is no "classic" start of the Brevet. You just go - like at the RTF.

Arounf 75 people were registered for the 300. A lot of new faces and a few real exotic types. One of the guys that I had been riding with for a whie, told me that this was his third (!!!) 300 of the year - where do they find the time -ndon't they have a life outside of cycling? I don't know, but it doesn't really matter. Guys like them are entertaining and that's what you need for a distance of 186m/300km, otherwise it gets tough!

After the second control post, a group of Belgians asked me if I wanted to ride with them. "Sure!", was my reply. However, I wasn't able to fulfill their expectation, which was to know the track and so we had two problems. 1. I kept having to look for the way and 2. the Belgians spoke only French - which isn't my strong suit. Digging up the French I had learned at school was a good preparation for P-B-P, but I was still glad that the groups tended to keep re-forming and we ran into a larger group after a few miles and started looking for the way collectively, which went much faster.

The track went near Plettenberg too. The degree of destruction through Kyril - which ultimately led to the cancellation of the marathon in Plettenberg - was made clear. Some parts were really bad, especially in the vicinity of the Veser valley barrier. Otherwise, the countryside was really very beautiful. Especially the parts in higher altitude in combination with the unbelievably great weather made for great clear views. It was awesome!

The worst part were the last 18.6m/30km along the bank of the Rhein. People were cooking out everywhere and the smell accompanied us the rest of the way. I began hallucinating about a grilled steak and a wheat beer - after 10:30 hours of energy bars, apple juice and other sweet stuff, it was time for something hearty. Man, I was jonesing… for a cold beer. Cheers!

The important stations were:
Start: Brühl
Wermelskirchen
Lüdenscheid
Drolshagen
Wiehl
Betzdorf
Siegburg
Finish: Brühl

After 11:30h of biking, the 186m/300km were over and done with - bring on the 400!
Greetings,

Andreas