Categories: CogalsKeepers Tour

Beer, Frites and Mayonnaise

photo: Sherry Ott

Riding the stones of Paris-Roubaix, in the Spring, in crap weather (it’s possible) and finishing the ride in the velodrome in Roubaix* should be enough enticement for any right thinking cyclists to jump on to this event. It gets better, watching the race in a scrum of drunken-loud-mad-fans, everyone covered in a sheen of beer, frites and mayonnaise. It’s an experience of a lifetime. Do you still need more? Perhaps riding the last fourteen bergs of the Ronde van Vlaanderen, being your very own Boss of the Bosberg and then spectating this race, again the loud-drunk-fans, the sheen, the madness. Fabian Cancellara shall pass by so close he may wink at you as he drops the hammer on Boonen, again. How about a personal ride with the Lion of Flanders, Johan Museeuw? It does not get better than this, I’m sorry but it can’t.

It can’t yet it does, a tour of the Merckx bike factory and the Ronde van Vlaanderen Museum at Oudenarde. That is correct, we are going to museums, all right, a museum and it’s a museum about bike racing. There is much more fun crammed into this nine day holiday than should be allowed, please regard the original post for all the information.

This is the fantasy camp of a lifetime for cyclists. If not for yourself, dear reader, then bestow the holiday gift to end all gifts on your mate. The Velominati are united in a love and appreciation of cycling and the Spring Classics are a distillation of all things Hardman and beautiful.

Not to belabor the awesome factor, here are just a few more items:

  • Our guides, Pave Cycling Classics, are partnered up with a brewery.
  • We may not be invited back.
  • If you are ever going to break your clavicle crashing on your bike, breaking it on the stones of Paris-Roubaix would get you bragging rights for a lifetime.
  • There is the potential for shaking the hands Johan Museeuw, Eddy Merckx and Freddy Maertens on this trip.
  • Possibly the only chance to meet Frank and Brett at the same time, over Belgian beer, to argue the finer points of all things Velominati. Worlds are colliding and there are still open slots for this Tour. Spread the word to your fanatic friends.

[banner /]

*disclaimer from our legal department: unconfirmed but in the works.

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

View Comments

  • @Chris
    Not headed to the Classic Cogal, as the Ontario Cogal is all I can muster. I am, like you, headed to a Belgian bar tomorrow. Specifically, the Emporium location. 1/2 off Belgian drafts during happy hr. yummmmm. Then the pain cave the next morn....

  • @frank

    And, my favorite cycling YouTube clip probably ever.

    Yeah, that's just fuckin Ace!
    I hold the visualisation of this video in my head when I'm hammering up sharp rollers (hills). I'm sure its good for at least another 10 watts or so (if it were that I paid attention to that sort of thing).

  • @Chris
    I knew you were a Londoner. there's another den of inequity called the Rake in Boro' market, run by the same outfit who own Uto beer. stay away from the Rochesfort, it's fiendishly moreish

  • @j.king
    As much as I love my current museum, no, I don't work in one like that. Frankly, that would lead to a bit too much over stimulation going there every day. I mean, having carbone at work every day is not a good thing . . .

  • @zalamanda

    Burp. Just make from lunch. You're spot on when you say the Rochefort is rather moreish. I only had two but I can feel a slight expansion of the senses already. That was only the 8, God knows what the 10 is like!

    I only work in London, I live out in the flatlands of Cambridgeshire, on the edge of the Fens. Not a bad place to get used to Flandrian conditions (although you've got to look a bit harder for the ups.) Where abouts are you based?

  • The picture says everything........until you have been there...you can't even imagine the feeling!

Share
Published by
Gianni

Recent Posts

Anatomy of a Photo: Sock & Shoe Game

I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Men’s World Championship Road Race 2017

Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Women’s World Championship Road Race 2017

The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Vuelta a España 2017

Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…

7 years ago

Velominati Super Prestige: Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 2017

This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…

7 years ago

Route Finding

I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…

7 years ago