Categories: Belgian AffirmationsCyclotourismDefining MomentsKeepers TourNostalgiaThe HardmenTradition

Keepers Tour 2012 Update, Part 3: Awesome, Kinda Weird, Awesome Again, and Solemn

Outside the Merckx Velodrome in Ghent

With Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012 stitched up and in the history books, the challenge of documenting the trip became immediately obvious; how do you take the myriad impressions, experiences, and perspectives and put them down in a meaningful way – let alone in a way that can somehow be digested. Surely, to document even just the Keepers’ view on these goings-on would result in an article much longer than anyone would be prepared to read and would be a far cry from comprehensive.

We have decided that the best approach is to split the report into four Articles, one authored by each Keeper, and each covering a different section of the trip. We also look forward to the contribution of additional photos and stories through the posts from those who joined us and those who witnessed the goings-on from afar. Today, we look at midweek. There’s a little bit of everything – Velodrome, Roubaix Redux, midweek semi-classic, a kooky collector (and good friend), and a visit to seriously hallowed ground. We hope you enjoy!

Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2012 Updates: Part I // Part II // Part III // Part IV

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It’s been said previously and bears repeating again – The Keepers Tour just kept getting more rad as the week progressed. This is not to say that day 6 was really any better than day 2; it was more like none of us could get over the fact that the sum total of each subsequent day – when added to the previous days – moved the needle of the Awesome Meter further to the right. We were approaching the Redline of Rad.

We’ll let the photos and video speak for themselves in this installment of Keepers Tour report. Watching GoPro video and looking at more photos is probably a better way to put you in the action vicariously and it is certainly a better way to waste your employer’s money. But before unleashing the visual blitz, I’ll list some of the highlights.

The Vlaams Weilercentrum Eddy Merckx in Ghent was the second time I’ve ever ridden a velodrome. The first time was a few days earlier in Roubaix. If I never ride the banks and boards again it won’t matter. It was very cool getting hooked up with Merckx fixies and flying around the track. We ended by holding our own pursuit – six laps of metered pain. Very fun.
Watching Scheldapriijs from the finishing village in downtown Antwerpen was an experience in itself.
The fusion dinner at Casa Grinta was an absolute trip. At what point does being a fan of pro cycling go too far? We’re not sure but the proprietor, Paul, is a good friend of Williams and has an incredible private collection.
All would agree – the second time riding the stones of Roubaix was entirely different from the first. To a Velominatus, we all felt better, stronger, and faster and left wanting more.
Make no mistake – William and Alex are Velominati of the highest order. Not only can they ride, they MAKE THEIR OWN BEER AND IT IS CALLED MALTENI! Just ruminate on this for a second. They ride the piss out of the stones and have their own delicious Belgian beer with the coolest label ever for a recovery drink. BAD.FUCKING.ASS. The tour of the brewery where Malteni is brewed and bottled was a welcome recovery activity.
Heuvelland and the surrounding area was the western front in WWI. We had been riding past concrete bunkers, memorials, and graves all week and all of us wanted to visit one to pay our respects. Our group was made up of just the right mix of people for the Messines Ridge Cemetery and Memorial we visited as it was where many Commonwealth soldiers from New Zealand, Australia, and Great Britain gave their lives in service. As an active duty soldier, Bill led the prayer as we raised a bottle of beer to the fallen. The levity sunk in as I thought about how fortunate our group of blokes were to be riding our bikes, clad in Lycra, across the country side on a sunny day almost a hundred years after those men gave their lives for us to be able to do so.

Eddy Merckx Velodrome (Gent) Video

Scheldeprijs Vlaanderen Race Finish (and penultimate lap)

Roubaix Recce Video

Photo Album (days 6-8)

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/marko@velominati.com/KT Part III/”/]

Eyerefelction Fotografie* Pro Recce Ride, featuring Velominati

[dmalbum flikr=”72157629383149390″/]

@Marko’s Strava on the Roubaix Recce ride: http://app.strava.com/rides/6245723

@Frank’s Strava on the Roubaix Recce ride: http://app.strava.com/rides/6245827

* Eyereflection Fotografie is not affiliated with Velominati at this time; the photos of us appeared through coincidence and the photographer’s generosity. And, because we looked so Merkcxdamned Pro he mistook us for the real deal. Seriously, The Rules WORK.

Marko

Marko lives and rides in the upper midwest of the States, Minnesota specifically. "Cycling territory" and "the midwest" don't usually end up in the same sentence unless the conversation turns to the roots of LeMond, Hampsten, Heiden and Ochowitz. While the pavé and bergs of Flanders are his preferred places to ride, you can usually find him harvesting gravel along forest and farm roads. He owes a lot to Cycling and his greatest contribution to cycling may forever be coining the term Rainbow Turd.

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View Comments

Vin'cenza says:

Apr 20 2012 at 9:20 am

@marko

@anotherdownunder
The first day on the Pave it was helmet mounted. This sucked because I couldn't see what it was doing and couldn't really hear the beeps it gives to tell me what it was doing so I missed a lot of good shit. Not to mention I looked ridiculous with that thing perched on my head and over the course of the day it did contribute to my neck being sore. The Pave guys said other groups have had them mounted to seatposts looking back which could be cool but then everyone wants to follow the camera guy's wheel to see themselves. Mounted on the stem worked well.

\\ GoPro (stem image)
Marko says:

Apr 20 2012 at 9:27 am

@Vin'cenza
I had mine mounted underneath the stem and set to the upside down setting. That way I didn't have to look at the damn thing. Didn't even know it was there. That's more like a Willy-cam.
Xyverz says:

Apr 20 2012 at 9:47 am

Thanks for the strava links and videos. That's a lot of mileage on such rough roads. Kudos to both @frank and @marko.
Xyverz says:

Apr 20 2012 at 9:47 am

(and all the rest of y'all)
Nate says:

Apr 20 2012 at 10:09 am

@Xyverz
I believe you've previously enquired about whether an event like this might be taking place. Hope you can join in.
Gianni says:

Apr 20 2012 at 10:21 am

@Mikael Liddy
The Pave Boys really opened our eyes. One, their trip was so killer, what else can compare? Two, it felt so nice, why not do it twice? Local knowledge and connections are so important and we don't have that connection in Italy, yet, but we do in Belgium. Realistically, I don't see most people being able to travel to Europe more than once a year so two in 2013 might be a stretch. But...but, if the stars align and we make the right connections, nothing is ruled out.
Vin'cenza says:

Apr 20 2012 at 11:55 am

@Marko
\\ Marko made a really bold move as a guest at Merckx (see image) !!
seemunkee says:

Apr 20 2012 at 12:46 pm

@frank

@Mikael Liddy

@frank
I thought there was talk of an Italian based Keepers Tour next year?

There was, but nothing is set for that just yet, and there is nothing that says we can't do both, right?

Good, without mentioning the possibility of wanting to stick around for a bike ride I managed to convince my wife to put off a trip to Italy from this fall to next spring during the Giro.
McEnroeMark says:

Apr 20 2012 at 10:18 pm

@frank

For anyone saying/thinking that the video of the cobbles "gives a good idea of what its like": it doesn't come close. Due to the wide angle on the camera, it seems much less bumpy than in real life. In all, the only thing it transmits is a notion of the blurry vision, but without having your hands, arms, and but getting jackhammered it loses a lot of the messaging.But they're fun as hell to watch. The audio could have been cut, but I like how it accentuates the smoothness of the tarmac when you get off the stones.@McEnroeMark I echo Marko and agree that it defies logic that you could ride out of the saddle so much. Weirdo.@Belgian Cobblestones

i guess you have to look at something from a distance sometimes just to realise how good it is. Get the non local vieuw on things happening around you every day to open up a new kind of seeing

Nice avatar! Yeah, when you're living amongst the Awesome, sometimes you just need a fresh perspective to realize it isn't normal! You live in the best part of the world for Cycling!

Yes, I'm surprised it took you that long to recognize the abnormality of my mug and I. I probably shouldn't have been allowed to ride out of the saddle - it may have beat the rim up a bit more as a result?! Which reminds me, I meant to true that sucker up before leaving. I guess I was just trying to prolong the inevitable and got distracted.

And, yes, not a day has gone by where something will remind me of some aspect of the trip - whether is a rough section of my commute, shaking the knuckles awake from their coma, or the abrupt climb in the group ride, sans pave, of course. Anyone still feeling it in their fingers?

The videos and photos are great - I have really enjoyed the articles as well, thank you! It continues to keep the trip alive and even adds to it's effect. I was impressed with the quality of the photography amongst the group as well! There are quite a few shots that are of Rouleur status and inspiration.

Curious, did Cycling Tips hire a couple photographers to contribute? They're nice, but knowing that they were taken from blokes outside their group, makes them, how do you say, "pas vrai?" Ah, yes, pas authentique. Nice that he plugged Velominati, though.

I also keep thinking of Rigid, still wandering around France/Italy/Germany - anyone know how he's doing?!?

Oh, and Frank, I inadvertently changed my email - so sorry. I'll keep consistent, I promise.
McEnroeMark says:

Apr 20 2012 at 10:20 pm

@Marko

Yes, smart. I bet this is on the stem (as I did the first time I ventured out with one) because they were too lazy to change the camera setting. Ha. Plus, the under-the-bar perspective is cooler - seeing the levers brake and shift.

Again, Marko, bravissimo!