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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I'm just going to keep watching this video over and over and over and over until I've memorized the climb. Holy mother of Merckx, Museeuw was a badass.
@all
Update from Pavé Cycling Classics: the ride with Museeuw is confirmed, as is the visit to the Merckx factory.
I say again: TRIP OF A LIFEFIME. I'm actually feeling a little jittery about this.
Who's going to be the first to attack the LoF?
@marko
I don't know; Cyclops already said he can't make it.
@Dr C
After 17 years... my wife knows full well it is my idea of a holiday.
I did test her out on the subject. I lost points simply for telling her I WASN'T thinking about it.
However I do have 'in principle' approval for an RdV weekend.
For anyone who hasn't done a French or Belgium sportive and can't do the full-fat tour for whatever reason I would encourage you to think about the RdV.
Although there will be a large number of people that is part of the fun.
The towns and villages en route are often decorated and have a festive feel, there are people along the course clapping and shouting encouragement and the whole thing is probably as close to feeling like a real pro as most of us will get.
A group of mates and I do one each year. Some are quite small events which are more like a local road race and where you could count the number of Anglais on two hands. But we've done larger ones like Tilff-Bastogne-Tilff (too much traffic to start in Liege) and L'Ardechoise and they are equally good. Having other riders around can be useful too, if the group splits up with mixed abilities.
The only reason we avoid things like l'Etape and the Marmotte is the hassle of doing something where you end up a long way from where you started, which means you have to rely on organised tour packages etc.
@frank
My deepest sympathies go out to his chain.
@frank
Wow. Why did the mechanics even fit a smaller ring on his rig?
Sure hope the organizers know what they are doing rearranging the course for next year.
@Nate
He's got a Man's Block on the back, too. If it's a 23, I'm surprised, because it looks like a 21.
@frank@frank
Nice screen shot. Notice I said "smaller ring," not small ring -- looks like he's running a 46 or so inner ring. In other words, he's storming the Kappelmuur on his Roubaix rig. Have fun keeping up with that in April!
And his bidon appears to jump ship at the 30 sec mark, fearing for its life.