Categories: CogalsKeepers Tour

All Aboard The Keepers Tour: Latest Update

Rigid's gonna be there. Are you?

It’s so close I can almost taste it. The mud. The dust. The heavy Spring air, turning to rain, blown across the fields of Flanders, where many a battle has been fought, in trenches and on wheels. Battles fought against other men, battles fought within each man. My own mind is in battle; am I worthy? Will I be prepared for the beating my body will take, and will my mind deal with it? Well, I’m not going to my own grave without doing this. I will survive on V.

The Keepers Tour just gets better and better. The team at Pavé Cycling Tours should be known as the Mailmen of Flanders, because they just keep on delivering. It seems almost every day there’s an email informing us of an addition to the tour, and our responses are more and more ‘screaming teenager’ than composed adult. To say we’re excited about this trip could be the understatement of the year. We’re excited.

The latest gems from Alex and William include;

  • Meeting the legendary Freddy Maertens at the Flanders Museum in Oudenaarde.
  • Meeting Vincent Lavenau and the Ag2R team and mechanics at their motel on the Friday before Roubaix.
  • A private opening of the Casa Grinta restaurant, with what is described as one of the most ‘insane’ collections of cycling jerseys in the world, plus ‘Belgian Fusion’ food.
  • Riding into the Roubaix velodrome after our day in Hell, and cleansing in the iconic showers. (TBC)
  • A musette from Pavé’s partner Ravito, stuffed with cycling badges and a cap. (In addition to the special V Musette from us containing a V-Pint and special V-Shirt, not available for sale elsewhere.)
  • A possible showdown with Cycling Tips blog’s own Tour, with some cool prizes up for grabs, along with a ton of laughs.
  • A Cogal to be held in conjunction with our ride of the Ronde parcours on the Saturday before Roubaix.

Of course, this is all in addition to the already confirmed awesomeness of riding with The Lion of Flanders Johan Museeuw, touring the Eddy Merckx factory, riding on the Gent velodrome, touring the Brunehaut brewery (where our organic Malteni beer is produced) and another cycling museum visit in Beveren. There’s a heap of other activities confirmed too, so email us for the full presentation.

And the best part? All of this is included in the super low price! Everything. All meals, all accommodation, all drinks (yes, beer!) and hanging out with a cool bunch of like-minded bike nuts.

Sell your first-born if you have to, but don’t miss out on a week, or weekend of pure Classics bliss. There are still a few seats available, so book yours now.

Full PDF Schedule

Brett

Don't blame me

View Comments

  • @Belgian Cobblestones

    Yesterday ,
    while leasurely strolling around at velofolies , between taking in all kinds of exotic sexy carbon frames , fondeling electric italian gruppo's and gazing at all kinds of tightly wrapped spandex clad high heeled promogirls i got to listen to phrophet Freddy Maertens explaining his heroics over a beer under a gazebo, have Johan Museeuw explain what the advantages are of having flax weaved in the carbon of his trusty steeds and taste the sweet nectar of gods that is molteni beer at the stand of the Pave boys while chatting about the upcoming V trip. Loot of the day 2 books , Peloton by Tim de Waele and a signed to me by Karl Vanieuwkerke hardcopy of "Renner willen worden" translated yearing to be a racer. well i guess we all yearn to become a Flandrien over the tranchée laying down some V

    Thank god, a report from the front. I've been afraid this was all an elaborate dream/trick but you talk of seeing the Pave' Boys, Freddy Maertens drinking beer from the Brunehaut Brewery. It all is real?
    I hope you are joining us for some of the fun that week. I'll be the person with eight more layers of clothing than necessary. Hawaii is good for training but not for bad weather training. Rule V for me. Thanks for the report.

  • We'll be matched well then Gianni. Minnesota is great for cold weather training but not for training.

  • @Gianni
    Yes, Belgian Cobblestones is coming for a day - he just registered.

    I'll be the person with eight more layers of clothing than necessary. Hawaii is good for training but not for bad weather training. Rule V for me. Thanks for the report.

    A+1!!!

    @Marko

    We'll be matched well then Gianni. Minnesota is great for cold weather training but not for training.

    A+1 too! You'll be eachother yin and yang. But if I catch you spooning, I won't promise not to be jealous.

  • @frank

    But if I catch you spooning, I won't promise not to be jealous.

    I guess that settles it. I'll bring my camera and we can stage a Quick-Step style photo of the Keepers. Pillows provided.

  • @G'rilla

    @frank

    But if I catch you spooning, I won't promise not to be jealous.

    I guess that settles it. I'll bring my camera and we can stage a Quick-Step style photo of the Keepers. Pillows provided.

    Actually, that's a great idea. One of the Keepers for the Keepers page, and one of the whole group, for blackmail.

  • @all

    I just updated the article to include the PDF Schedule - I'll also update the Keepers Tour Event Page. But the PDF Schedule is available here. WARNING: Not suitable for anyone with a heart condition.

  • @frank

    @all
    I just updated the article to include the PDF Schedule - I'll also update the Keepers Tour Event Page. But the PDF Schedule is available here. WARNING: Not suitable for anyone with a heart condition.

    no words...tempted to sell the wife in to slavery

  • @Mikael Liddy

    @frank


    @allI just updated the article to include the PDF Schedule - I'll also update the Keepers Tour Event Page. But the PDF Schedule is available here. WARNING: Not suitable for anyone with a heart condition.

    no words...tempted to sell the wife in to slavery

    Go for it Mikael - she and her family will understand

  • @JC Belgium

    @TommyTubolare
    and matching socks!

    Right, where can I get a pair of these? - if I'm going down on the cobbles, I wanna go down in style

    I also want that saddle, and that Heelmo, but I'll settle for the socks

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