The Hardmen. They inspire us; we aspire to be one among them. They drive us to be better cyclists. They are the solitary voice among the thousands in our heads that tell us to keep pushing when all the others tell us to stop. Their long shadows look on in approval as we pull on our cold and wet weather gear and head out into the elements to ride.
Every Professional Cyclist is a hard man or woman; it comes with the territory. But to be given the title of Hardman, one must be more than just tough. Grand Tour champions are not given this title, nor are the winners of World Titles or King of the Mountains competitions. The Hardmen stand out among the rest as the ones who ride over the savage, jagged cobblestones of Northern Europe with a supplesse that is possessed only by those riders who thrive in the most torturous of road cycling’s domains: The Cobbled Classics of Northern Europe.
Velominati has partnered up with Pavé Cycling Classics, based in Northern France, to offer the Velominati a chance to walk where Giants tread and pedal through the trench of Arenberg and up the devastating steeps of the Kapelmuur. To pedal with the Pros during their reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix route. To visit the Merckx factory, and to spend an afternoon riding with Johan Museeuw, the last Lion of Flanders.
We have arranged for 9 days of Cycling in Glorious Hell, hosted by the Founding Keepers, Frank and Brett, and organized by Pavé Cycling Classics. We will be staying in a Bed & Breakfast Cottage in Gent, and all services are included in the package. *Hangovers and massages for your aching guns and back sold separately.
Alex and William at Pavé Cycling Classics really know the Classics, and have put together an itinerary befitting a Velominatus, including rides on the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Roubaix routes, as well as visits to the Prophet’s factory, and a ride with Johan Museeuw (pending confirmation of scheduling confirmed). It’s the trip of a lifetime for anyone who has ever dreamt about Springtime on the stones.
Here is the Preliminary Itinerary:
All participants will be greeted with a Velominati Musette stuffed with a commemorative V-Pint and V-Shirt. Given the abundance of Belgian beer, the V-Pint will be well used. We will also have a Velominati Flag to wave at the races. As a final note, a Cogal welcoming all riders will also be arranged, details pending finalization of the itinerary.
Everything is included in this 9 days/9 nights package. Food, drinks, support car with spare wheels, visits, Gent velodrome ride, Cyfac bicycle for the rides (limited sizes and quantities available), energy food, and insurance. The only thing you have left to do is find your way to Lille. All-inclusive price for this trip of a lifetime is 2250€.
There is very limited availability for this program; reserve your seat at the table by signing up below. Priority is given in a first-come, first-served basis. Email tours@velominati.com to register; serious enquiries only, please.
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@JC Belgium
What, you don't get free wheels? No, my thinking has changed a bit since asking about carbon wheels on cobbles. I'm hoping to sell one of the kids to get some Ambrosio Nemesises.
Great video. I'm not sure about hitting the cobble sur la plaque and on a little cog, certainly not maintaining that for any distance though!
haha, I wish!! and these ambrosio Nemesises are excellent, Flandrien style...
yeah, me neither, I was just spreading the prophecy of our ancestors-cyclists.
Cheers JC.
Will go with my old steel warhorse on RS80s and be damned.
First ride of the new year yesterday and it appears my lungs have shrunk to wizened raisin dimensions. Breathing through my bottom as the pace rose later on didn't appear to help either...
@JC Belgium
regarding lower pressures - does this not increase the risk of snakebite (or is it pinch) flats - I say this not knowing what either of there are, but assume it is due to squashing the tyre against the rim when hitting a big cobble??
Surely this is more likely to happen with a less inflated tyre, which distorts more when you hit the pave?
Again I say, I don't know what I'm talking about, but am curious to know what pressure to put in my tyres come the fateful day (usually ride Spesh Roubaix Pro 25 clinchers on Axis 3.0s) - usually I have 100 in the front, 115-120 in the back
@Dr C
You've not herd of the deadly cobble snake?
Actually, you're pretty much spot on, snake bite punctures are caused by the tube being caught between a lumpy obstacle and the flange on the rim that hold clinchers on to the rim. Tubulars are less susceptible to them as there isn't a flange and the closed construction of the tyre protects the soft inner. That allows you to run tubulars at a much lower pressure than clinchers.
The idea of riding at such low pressures is not something I can get my head round, I hate any give or squish and generally put as much air in as I can get away with. 100 - 125psi might have your fillings out though.
@joe
my first race bike was also a steel warhorse, who was ready to go to bike heaven, but I adopted him when I was 14, some 7 years ago now. I rode it till I was 18, everybody laughed: untill I raised my ass on a hill, and they suddenly saw stars (I don't know if this is a right english expression, it's literally translated)
yup, I know the feeling! hoping to finally get the wind from behind, and when so, realise it s not helping at all...
@Dr C @Chris
well, I am talking about Paris-Roubaix, not in general. It's just a suggestion, I think you will realise why when you are riding on those damned, concrete, cobbled, Northern France roads. if you see cyclocrossers only put 2 bar in their tubulars, it s perfectly possible to not puncture flattened tyres. 100-125 psi to ride on cobble stones is not really a good idea, you will get thrown from left to right and lose control. and it s not comfortable at all, it will be like bees are stinging your hands all the time. of course you are right about the snake bites, but a skilled rider will see obstacles and find his way. also if your speed is high enough, you 'float' over the cobbles, so you don't hit their 'sharp corners'.
also important is your weight! if you are a light version, you can put like 5.5-6 bar, heavier riders a bit more. (in clinchers)
anyway, I can't explain why one should do so, and I am not trying to convince or force you, you just have to 'feel' what s best for you...
another advice: if you hit the pavé, put your hands on top and lift the front wheel a bit
@JC Belgium
All good advice that I'll be taking on board. I suspect the the idea of floating over the pavé isn't really any different from floating a downhill mountain bike through a rocky section, it's all about letting the bike move freely under you without letting it control you and maintaining your position above it with minimal interference to it. Hard to explain and probably harder to achieve on a road bike whilst pedalling full gas as opposed to letting gravity have it's way with you. It's all bout relaxing.
It's not so much riding on cobbles at low pressure that I don't like the idea of, it's riding the tarmac in between whilst the tires squidge and roll around in the corners.
Only solution to it really is to remind oneself of the merits of Rule 5 and get on with it.
@JC Belgium
top tips thanks - I'm keen to get my head around this stuff early, rather than arrive and be told it all out there, so keep the advice coming
as @Chris says, it's all about keeping it smooth and relaxed, good tip on the bar lift - all of course require serious fitness and perfect technique, so what do you do after the first 150m of cobbles and your body has turned to blancmange!
Rule V of course
(p.s I'm sure the keepers will be reading this thinking, what the feck did we open this up to the numpties for!! If it gets too bad Fronk, give the nod and I'll whip of my front wheel and throw myself on my forks - dignity must be maintained
@Chris
@Dr C
yes, you could describe it like this...
Johan Museeuw says you have to be mentally prepared, set your mind to the cobbles stones and focus. and get the adrenaline pumping - but this won t be a problem! this is already half the job, because after all, you will be in shape and have a good condition. then the only thing you need is a bit of luck...
enjoy your ride, it will be legendary! I saw the programme and too bad you are not riding de Ronde van Vlaanderen on the day before, with all other riders (19 000!!), and people standing along the road and cheering.
maybe you can try to find a road, which resembles a bit like a pavé? something off road? and some short steep hills, like 500-1000m, 10-20%. this would be ideal to test your gear, and yourself!!