By Bill Bryant
One hundred years ago, Charly Miller of Chicago was the first American to ride Paris-Brest-Paris. In the second edition of PBP, in 1901, he finished an excellent fifth place in 56 hours, 40 minutes. This was an outstanding achievement for an unsupported rider, especially when one considers the poor roads and bicycles of that bygone era. Though many of his opponents at PBP had elaborate teams of pacers and helpers along the route, Miller persevered alone for three days and two nights, non-stop. While other racers with better support threw in the towel, Charly Miller had to use all his resolve to overcome a disheartening amount of punctures and a broken bicycle in order to finish. Yet, even on a hastily borrowed replacement bike obtained 350 kilometers from the end, the 26-year-old still set the fastest speed over the timed final kilometer to the finish line in Paris! Not surprisingly, his heroic performance at PBP was very much appreciated by the French cycle-racing fans of the day. Moreover, Miller's hardy athleticism and never-say-die determination is still an excellent model for today's randonneurs to emulate no matter what pace they choose to undertake PBP or any other long randonnée. It wouldn't be until 1975 that another American finished PBP, and it took till 1979 for someone (the amazing Scott Dickson on his first PBP) to do it as swiftly as Charly Miller did.
To celebrate this cycling hero, below is a list of Americans who have equaled or surpassed Charly Miller's time at Paris-Brest-Paris and the year(s) they did it. It should be noted that the modern route used by the Audax Club Parisien since 1979 is definitely hillier than the one Miller rode along the N-12 in 1901. The new course, though entirely paved, also varies in length from year to year and is a little longer than the original 1196 kilometers of dirt and cobblestones that Miller cycled. On the other hand, today's randonneurs have vastly improved sports training knowledge and nutrition, not to mention far better equipment, lighting, and clothing. Indeed, their lightweight multi-speed bikes weigh half of what Miller's single-speed did, so any comparisons shouldn't be taken too seriously--if at all. With several exceptions, the riders below had personal support crews meeting them at the checkpoints, too. Nonetheless, anyone going under 56:40 at PBP richly deserves their membership in this esteemed fraternity of fast American randonneurs and randonneuses. Chapeau!
Note: (F) denotes women riders.
Solo Riders Year
Andrea Achilli 23
Michael Aeling 95
Alexander Aprelev 23
Carl Anderson 15
Rick Anderson 99
Richard Avallone 95.99
Edward Bernasky 15
Rich Boettner 99
Timothy Bol 07
Bob Brudvik 11
Tom Buckley 95
Dwight Callaway 87
Charles Coldwell 19
Dan Colvin 19
Jason Connell 19
Greg Cox 11
Gerald Davis 95
Nicolas Dehaan 23
Scott Dickson 79.83.87.91.95.99
Daryn Dodge 95.99
Wayne Dunlap 19
Bill Dussler 11
Billy Edwards 11.19
Jonathan Fey 23
Benjamin Fichialos 19
Bob Fourney 95.99
Philip Fox 19.23
Ryan Franz 11
Michael Fulton 03
Christopher Graham 23
Chris Grealish 03
John Grunzke 99.03
Ian Hands 19
Dennis Hearst 83.91.95
Jan Heine 07.11.19
Kevin Hodge 95
John Jurczynski 03
Bryan Kilgore 15.19
Henry Kingman 99
Greg Kline 19
Tom Knoblauch 11
Melinda Lyon (F) 99.03.07
Kyle Marston 23
James McKee 11
Alexander Meade 07
Thai Nguyen 19
Susan Notorangelo (F) 83
Dale Perzanowski 07
Robin Pieper 11
Christopher Pile 11
Massimiliano Poletto 15.19.23
Chris Ragsdale 11
Matthew Roy 19.23
Ben Schauland 23
Brad Tanner 99.03.07.11
Mark Thomas 15
Steve Thorne 11
Frederick Tompkin 23
Bryce Walsh 11
James Walsh 23
Keith Wells 95
Ben Whiddon 11
Kevin Williams 23
Todd Williams 03.15
Tandem Teams Year
Lon Haldeman/Bob Breedlove 87
Bob Breedlove/Richard Fedrigon 91
Jodi Groesbeck (F)/UK Tandem Partner 99
Jan Heine/Canadian Tandem Partner (F) 03
John Jurczynski/Ann Rasmussen Jurczynski (F) 15.19
Records used are the official finishing lists published following each Audax Club Parisien "Paris-Brest-Paris Randonneurs" 1975-2019. "La Société Charly Miller" records compiled and maintained by Bill Bryant. All riders list US as their nationality when registering for PBP.