It’s referred to as the Hell of the North not for the misery the race causes on its riders, but for the landscape the route carries the riders through. Terrible, unimaginable things have happend there. Napoleon’s troops marched those lands, falling by the thousands at the bayonet and cannonball. More recently, the First World War took place there, a war fought with something resembling modern weaponry but using something too closely matching classical battle-line tactics.
The kind of agony that escaped the bodies of the soldiers who died on those fields is the kind that seeps into the ground and hangs in the air for centuries; you feel it in the air even from a distance when you first disembark the plane at the airport.
For those of us who love the Northern classics, there is a special week when the greatest one-day races of the year are held, de Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix. Both races are equally magical, for what Flanders lacks in the roughness of its cobblestones, it makes up for in the steepness of its muurs. Similarly, what Roubaix lacks in decisive climbs, it makes up for with the savage granite paving stones known as the pavé. Which is the tougher race? We intend to find out; join us for this magical week in Belgium and Northern France to ride the roads and watch the races first-hand.
I don’t think any of us dream of riding the cobbles of Northern Europe in the expectation that it will be enjoyable in a classical sense anymore so than any of us harbor the notion that resting your chin on a running jackhammer would provide rest for an invigorating nap. Quite the oposite, in fact; this is the type of experience that starts to become enjoyable only the moment you’ve climbed off your bike, and becomes more so with every day that passes after. But the memory will stay with you for ever, and the lessons you learn about yourself during such a physical challenge will strengthen your life and harden your character for all your remaining years.
I should think that those of us planning, hoping, or wishing to go on the Keepers’ Tour share a healthy degree of apprehension about climbing the steeps of the Kapelmuur or dashing down the Troueé l’Arenburg. Questions are creeping into our minds about frames, wheels, and handlebars, wondering how best to modify our bikes to endure the the roughest roads the Pros race on, even if there might be some difference in the speed with which we do so. But after having accomplished the feat, we’ll in some small way identify more viscerally with what the Pros experience when we watch them race the same roads on Race Day.
We have several package options available: the flagship fully accommodated, all-inclusive 9 day/9 night tour (2250€), full weekend tours with or without accommodation (500€ and 250€ respectively), as well as daily tours with or without accommodation (200€ and 100€ respectively). A full break down of pricing and booking options is available on the Keepers’ Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012 Event Page. Once booked and confirmed, we will coordinate directly to collect a down payment of 15%, with the balance due upon arrival in Lille, France. Everything is included in the packages: food, drinks, support car with spare wheels, Gent velodrome ride (if applicable), Cyfac bicycles for those not bringing their own (limited sizes and quantities available), energy food, and insurance. All-inclusive packages include accommodation; packages without accommodation are also available for those living in the area or wishing to look after their own lodgings. All packages, with or without accommodation, include dinner and drinks after each day’s ride.
Attendees of the full 9 day Keepers’ Tour 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. A Cogal welcoming all riders will also be arranged, details pending finalization of the itinerary. Also note that only attendees of the full Keepers’ Tour will be eligible to ride with Museeuw and to join the Merckx Factory Tour. Weekend and Daily Tour attendees will be eligible to buy the commemorative V-Pint directly.
We’ve made a few adjustments to our itinerary; confirmed are the ride with Lion of Flanders, Johan Museeuw (who is such a badass his last name even rhymes with the Flemish word for Lion, Johan Museeuw, de leeuw van Vlaanderen) and tour of the Eddy Merckx Factory. Updated (but still preliminary) itinerary, guided by Pavé Cycling Classics:
[product buttonid=”3FBBYVSTR5B6W” unitname=”Keepers’ Tour Gift Letter” unitprice=”0.50″ unitoptionslabel=”Gift” unitoptions=”Keepers’ Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012″ image=”http://www.velominati.com/wp-resources/products/v-gift/v-letter-thumb.png” shipping=”Shipping is free to domestic and international addresses.”]The V-Gift letter is intended to be given in leiu of giving the Keepers’ Tour on the day of an occation. It is carefully crafted and personalized before being printed on thick parchment paper and sealed with a hand-dripped wax V-Seal for wrapping and giving on the day. This beautiful letter can be wrapped and given to its recipient, announcing to the recipient the impending Glory of Merckx which will befall them upon their arrival in Belgium in April. The cost of the letter is only to cover the cost of postage.
[/product]
I know as well as any of you that I've been checked out lately, kind…
Peter Sagan has undergone quite the transformation over the years; starting as a brash and…
The Women's road race has to be my favorite one-day road race after Paris-Roubaix and…
Holy fuckballs. I've never been this late ever on a VSP. I mean, I've missed…
This week we are currently in is the most boring week of the year. After…
I have memories of my life before Cycling, but as the years wear slowly on…
View Comments
@Souleur
Guy cracking at 1.39 is so perfectly done it looks staged. Nice.
A mantra of mine when watching the Tour or Giro is that TV flattens out the gradient. It never looks as steep as it really is. So how fucking steep are those climbs in the flesh? There's one shot that just makes a climb look like a sheer cliff.
@RedRanger
Yep. That's a lot"”made worse by the unevenness of the cobbles (the one guy spinning out as he jumped out of the saddle). I have to try me this. Maybe not in a race.
Round these parts, we have Rattlesnake Point, which tops out at 20-25%. The climb is longer: 700m, which starts >10% and climbs to 20-25% (have heard different interpretations of the switchbacks) without much or any respite. Cobble free, mind. Add to that the 500m 4-8% grade before you hit the bigger ramps and this really starts to hurt. For me, though, riding 39x25 it seems as though it is more the distance than the steepness.
@Steampunk
In that case I'm in too. My bike is Swiss, I had a crush on the Swiss Miss girl as a wee boy, and my name shares some of the same letters as his.
@RedRanger
Let's hope you'll be better at Lear Jets after av. school than that guy's flight crew was.
@Marko
to true.
@Steampunk
Wrider = Cfriction x V x P + Cair x (V + Vwind)^2 x V+ Cslope x P x Slope% x V
Just a guess, but your particular forte may be generating high max power in short punches compared to less but more sustained power over time. See testing protocol as described by CyclingTips. Can be a focus of specific training.
That said, seeing the kind of riding you do, they're both well above the average.
@RedRanger
Absolutely agree. Millar is pure fuck'in class, JV is such a twatwaffle who tries wayyyyy tooo hard and sucks so bad at it, total poser, and TF is just confused.
I was sleeping soundly while the apostrophe debate was raging but I am glad to see it remains. Well done Blah for fighting the corner. The Keepers' Tour is what I'm doing.
To close all argument on this matter may I remind you that my wife will be in the vicinity and in charge of a large vehicle - she would not have the slightest remorse about running down people who had willfully ignored and abused apostrophes.
It's like the Rules - not only should they be obeyed whether you like it or not, but you should never knowingly allow or assist others in breaking them.
The crux of the biscuit is the apostrophe.
PS - all this is silly. Can't wait to participate in the Spring's Classics.