All Aboard The Keepers Tour: Latest Update
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.
This sounds ridiculously good.
Nice one Brett!
All you need now is matching helmet and you’re all set.
A wise man once told me that the trip doesn’t start when you depart but when you first start thinking about it. All the planning, research, anticipation, dreaming – its all part of the trip. The Keepers’ Tour is starting to look like the cycling equivalent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: almost too good to be true, an over-abundance of goodies and yet the prospect of misadventure at every turn.
In a strange unfolding of events, my VMH and I booked a trip to the Spring Classics in the week before the Keepers’ Tour was announced. (No bother – your dates would not have suited our opportunity anyway). We’ll get to see Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold and La Fleche Wallonne. I’m riding the Amstel Gold Sportive (125km version) and La Farniente Classic (145km the day before Fleche).
Needless to say we’re super psyched about the whole thing. Well I am, and she’s happy to drink beer, eat chocolate and perv on bumpy boys in lycra (not me…).
It would be reckless of me not to try to catch up with your group for a beer or two on P-R day. We’re likely to be lurking in similar spots – Arenburg, l’Abre … Perhaps we can make a plan, Stan…
I’ve noted that my thinking has changed since I’ve known I’m heading to the cobbles / Ardennes: I embrace Rules #5, #9 and #71 with much greater enthusiasm: I don’t care for the smoothest line on the road but seek out the rough edges: I pay closer attention to the alcohol content of Belgian beer…
The stuff Alex and William continue to come up with is mind boggling. I think most of us would be ecstatic to pedal our front wheels over one cobble in Flanders. But this, this! If these guys lay down the V like they put a tour together we’re all hosed.
And I wonder what they mean by Belgium Fusion food. Here’s a pic I found of frites and eggplant infused mayo. Does that count as fusion?
And this will be the first and last time I ever say this but – I’ve never looked forward to showering with a bunch of dudes before. Merckx’s stall should go to the ride of the day.
Good lord, what an extraordinary trip. I am consumed by the green-eyed monster.
I’m with Marko in wondering what “Begian Fusion” food might be. In addition to the hundreds of cycling-related photos you all are required to post, I expect a slide show dedicated solely to the culinary offerings.
@Marko
That image is the rudest thing I have seen on this site – ever.
So no I can’t make it either (grr#!@RRl&^Shmu+*#!! ahh, that felt better)but the best thing is watching you all get ready and then knowing that the reports are going to put me there with you.
@TommyTubolare
and matching socks!
@Marko
@The Oracle
I think Belgian fusion food is just food with influences of French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Asian… kitchen
e.g.: Vlaamse hutsepot
Stoofvlees (with fries of course…)
@Rob, @The Oracle
I’m trying to figure out how best to handle this. I think bike-mounted cams might be necessary to capture the bone-jarring. And we may start actually using our Tumblr site for some micro-blogging about the trip. Or we may just pollute the main site with daily updates, several times a day. We’ll see.
Dude! That is the most AWESOME saddle I have ever seen! What kind of saddle is that & where did you get such a phenomenal piece of equipment?
Man I am so tempted to go to the first weekend. Wish I had two grand lying about to pull the trigger on the whole week.
Frank, just remember: your not too young to adopt me as your son and take me on a father-son bonding trip to the cobbles…
You’re even. Sorry ChrisO. Pretty early here still…
Cycling Inquisition is about the Tour of Flanders today.
To Suffer In Peace
@mcsqueak
Weren’t you reading carefully? Maybe he did adopt you and then sold you to pay for the trip…
F’KIN’ FREDDY MAERTENS?!?!?!? Are you kidding me?!?!?!??! Good LORD, this just gets more painful by the day.
Okay, someone said it earlier but it is almost time to go AWOL and skip my trip to Central America. Or maybe I can “accidently” board the wrong aircraft and land in Paris instead of Honduras???
Might work…
@frank
My personal favorite angle is when the camera is mounted on the rear triangle, looking forward. It’s the favorite of a lot of mountain bikers. You get a good look at the cobbles, as well as the punishment to bike and rider alike.
That reminds me, what (if anything) are you all doing to prep your frames for the Rule #65 chainslap exception?
@TommyTubolare
Mate, the seat is my mate Rigid’s, but I have the Lazer Flanders shell ready to go!
@FNG
It’s made by Aussie company Thrones. Rigid got his used for $45! But he won’t be riding it on the KT, but will be getting it signed by The Lion, and Freddy, and hopefully The Prophet… thei t gets framed and mounted. Not by him. On a wall.
@frank
You should write a plugin or something for the sidebar of the velominati site that would give daily update and live video feed.
@itburns
Evocative writing. I always worry about ending up cycling around aimlessly in the middle of nowhere if I’m on a group ride in unfamiliar territory. Hopefully not an omen of things to come on the Keepers Tour.
I’m not sure that having the Lion of Flanders claw one’s taint for a couple hundred km’s is advisable or properly Reverent…. Just sayin’…
I also sent Fronk a cool pair of PhilGil socks I got as shwag at Interbike… I hope to see them in a pic or two… like these as I recall:
I know it’s not very Rule #74 compliant but with a bit of effort we couple probably rig a Garmin to deliver a live feed so that real time suffering could be displayed on a sidebar to the main page or overlaid onto the live video feed. Ant+ dongles for iPhone or something similar. Need a local sim to avoid astronomic costs of constant broadcast.
@The Oracle
Sure, @JC Belgium may have an answer that is “correct” and “accurate”. But I prefer to think that Belgium Fusion will be a prime cut of Flemish V, thinly sliced and fried on a hot cobble, with a side order of fites and creamy awesommaise.
So the parents of the father of my four goddaughters came into town last night. They have taken a keen interest in my racing and last night at dinner Helga mentioned that she was at the 1966 TdF when it finished in Chamonix. I looked it up and that was Stage 18 won by Luxembourger Edy Schutz but the story of the fight for the GC is interesting.
Helga also stated that she still has the pictures from the finish so she’s going to scrounge them up for me.
on ebay currently,
all my nearest and dearest, no reserve.
Man I hope they make the cost of this trip. I am so insanely jealous of this it makes me ill.
Really looking forwards to the write up and pictures. I expect to see much suffering.
@Lepidopterist
Doesn’t have to be a first-born. Second and third might work, or offer a package deal? Also consider pets. I wouldn’t go so far as to say my Dane is Great, but she’s at least Moderate to Fair.
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
@Brett is Rigid bringing that Time along?
@frank if those socks from Sgt aren’t pro enough for you, ill take them off your feet, as it were…
@Belgian Cobblestones
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.
A+1!!!
@Marko
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
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
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.
@Marko
Yep, he sure is…
@frank
no words…tempted to sell the wife in to slavery
@Mikael Liddy
Go for it Mikael – she and her family will understand
@JC Belgium
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
actually, I now own a pair – was also tempting to buy a pair of the “Wanker” socks for the rider dislaying the most amount of anti-V each day, but then I don’t want to end up wearing them myself…
@Dr C
Ah go on, you’re only there for a weekend so you’d only get to wear them for the Sunday’s spectating and there’s a good chance that it’ll be welly weather!
This does raise a more important question, though, will there be a special subset of The Rules governing Tour Behaviour, both on and off the bike?
Just as a point of interest, those socks and saddles say something, so be careful what you get…
The all black lion is used as a symbol of the Flemish independence movement… the one with red claws and tongue is the official Flemish symbol and used to show support for Belgian integration.
I guess you could have one of each.
@ChrisO
what would you wear in Flanders on the 2nd April, given I have as little idea about such matters, as I cared to have for our own petty Northern Irish squabbling over the last few decades of moronic self interest?
bottom line is of course that I will go with what looks most dashingly pro, and I reckon the yellow and black wins that battle hands down
@ChrisO
you are absolutly right! Watch out, @Dr C, don’t start a civil war by wearing those socks… No, I am not trying to make a political statement, it s just a nice souvenir for foreign riders, I guess? I also recall that Robbie McEwen rode de Ronde van Vlaanderen with Lion of Flandres socks and I don’t think he is interested in this kind of political ‘bullyouknowwhat’ (neither do I)
@JC Belgium
you surpass even @Fronk for the most complete filing system of cyclo porn
how on earth were you suddenly able to find a picture of someone wearing those very socks??
Exactly Dr C – I will give consideration to my sock and cap combination later. Obviously the V kit is for P-R, and I have some plain Belgian flag socks that go well with it.
Let’s face it, whatever I wear it will probably be so bloody cold (for me anyway) that nobody will see it. (Note to self, bring merino socks and softshell jacket)
As for McEwen wearing those socks, I wouldn’t be too sure JC.
He’s based in Flanders IIRC and often tweets in some indecipherable combination of spitting and guttural throat-clearing, which I take to be Flemish, so I think he probably knows exactly what it means.
@Dr C
I have to admit: I am addicted to cyclo porn!
and: Robbie is one of the first riders I remember from my childhood. I saw him winning for the first time on the champs-elysees, while I was watching cycling in grandfather’s armchair. From then on, he was my favourite sprinter, and he still is. He has my deepest respect as rider and as a person! (although I met him only twice) (found it on the livestrong site)
@ChrisO
I am not sure, and of course he knows what it means, but why would he care and make a statement? He is Aussie, came to Belgium for pro cycling, was living in Everbeek for 11 years and always said he would return to the Gold Coast, he did so in October… I think he just did it because of de Ronde van Vlaanderen, with the lion as a symbol of courage and perseverance.
and yes, thank you, the ‘some indecipherable combination of spitting and guttural throat-clearing language’ is Flemish…
well, it s just socks, aren t they?
@ChrisO
that’ll be Phlegmish