PBP 23, 20th edition of this once every 4 years event. Now starting in Ramboullet, France and going to Brest,France and back. About 6,200 riders started! What a grand affair with the Sunday late afternoon start for those using 80 hours to complete the 1200 km (750 mile ) route. The riders were organized in groups by letter A-Z, +. The A-__ were the fastest riders and given a better chance at "racing" since less people would be at the controls. Yes PBP still makes you park your bike, dismount, and walk to a control to get your card stamped and signed. Then you have the chance to eat pre-prepared food takeout style, or a sit-down cafeteria style. I did both over the 4 days of my cycling. I was sitting on the east side bank under shade trees watching the A & B groups assemble and move forward toward the 2 large white tents, of which 1 was for meals and the other was a gathering/advertising tent. Then from right in between the tents the group would get a short talk on the event and await the 15 minute count-down and off they go. Then the next group advances. Pretty smooth, yet a ton of cyclists and tourists and family watching. After the 80 hr groups finished leaving, it was the 90 hour groups. Not sure which letter the 80hr group ended on and the 90hr group began. But both of these groups would have to alter their regular sleep patterns to do the ride as they ride into the night to begin with and stay awake as long as they can. Then end up sleeping along road or at controls. I saw a bunch of these sleepers, rolled into their space blankets While watching the B group assemble I ran into Rashid Khan and Jennifer Moore of CO. They were waiting for their letter J group to come up. I am guessing about 300 per letter for these. My Y group had 147. They told us in Y on Monday AM at 5:30 that there were 147 in Y with an average age of 50! I was an old man of the group. At the front I met Paul, from England. We had the privilege of following a pace car and 2 motorbikes. Eventually as the initial miles went on, the faster boys came up and we were sent to the back! Eventually I had to fall away for some reason. At which point I settled into my own rhythm. The ag fields were amazing. Initially I had my bull shifter vest and the PBP vest on. That was too hot but I did not want to stop to loose contact. I should have stopped earlier to remove the vests. The rolling hills started right away, and I knew this was going to be a long day of 275 miles! It was long, hot, yet extremely fun and motivating to see the lines of cyclists ahead of you on the road. As we progressed I was riding in a small pack and travel van pulled up beside us and a gal hung out the window with a camera and filmed Amy, the gal cycling next to me. That van was a GCN (Global Cycling Network) van that was doing a documentary on 3-4 female cyclists form Derby England! Amy was one of them. Amy also has her own YouTube channel. I might be on it and the GCN. Thank heavens when I arrived at Loudeac that Mike was allowing me to sleep in his hotel room! ALso thankfully he had those directions in the RWGPS cue sheet!