2011-04-02 - Tour of Flanders 2011

didn't ride this weekend, thats only two missed saturdays this year so far..
but planning a london-brighton-london session (longest planned ride) next saturday..
rendezvous CP cafe st germain around 0830..

I am in Beligum ATM.
Went out yesterday cycling, east of Brussels around Leuven, out in the sticks. Freezing cold, wet and a bit of pave chucked in for good measue, but only about 40 miles. I felt okay but my cycling buddy had hade enough. All the same, I need to HTFU a bit before the big one.
Olly

Olly,
i am assuming that 150km ride is start/finish at Ninvone?
i am booked for the 260km assuming start at Bruges

Yep, that's right. I doff my cap to thee! For my first attempt, I thought I'd go for the wimpy 150k start in Ninove.

thanks Olly,

this will be my first RvV, can't wait though.. and a beer or three afterwards.. that's my recovery plan 'c)
also i think 150km will be epic, don't feel short changed or wimpy..
[not sure this was any comfort]

watched A Sunday in Hell from my sickbed at the weekend. Immediately went online to see if Paris Roubaix or Tour of Flanders was possible ;)

jealous

#probably bitten off much more than I can chew this year anyway...

Just done a training run, 80km out of Ninove, taking in a bit of the Ronde route including the Muur. All new to me, and it's certainly steep alright! and a frikking tricky surface - was dry too today. I was out of my saddle on 39/26 and annoyingly, my left cleat which is a little worn popped out halfway up. So, back down, tighten up pedals, try again, sorted. New cleats a definite before the ride!

Yep, 150km will not be that wimpy after all! Just almac is double-hard! :0)

All the climbs are doable seated, if it's wet that's the only way to get up without slipping. 39x25 no problem.

Okay, well yer obviously a tougher nut than me! Actually I was seated until the bastardsteep section at the end. Each to their own I guess, but when it's short and steep (and tractable) I prefer to get outta the saddle and fookin gun it.

i probably would have stood up but it was that muddy it would mean an instant falling off, saw this happen quite a few times. riding fixed is good practice for seated flanders climbs :-)

The main problem with the climbs on the day is the sheer volume of people on them. If you get baulked, and you will, then on a lot of them you have to get off and push as you can't remount and get moving again.

Just almac is double-hard! :0)
LOLz, expect me to walk all the climbs Olly

I did. took the hybrid for the short trip two years ago. even sitting down on my most spinny gear I wasnt making any of the hills at all. no chance. but hey it was my first over 15m organised ride. totally out of my depth at the time. next time (next year hopefully) ill be back and trying the mid route. better bike. better legs. better preperation. (did no prep at all when I did it.)

The main problem with the climbs on the day is the sheer volume of people on them. If you get baulked, and you will, then on a lot of them you have to get off and push as you can't remount and get moving again.

have a look around you and ahead before the bottom of the climb either hang back if there's a big group ahead and wait for a gap or speed up to get ahead of everybody.
most people tend to try and blast up them and then fail, i found it best to immediately drop down to the lowest gear before the gradient gets steep and just sit and spin.
worked for me.

(not telling andy to suck eggs just adding to the advice)

one of the reasons for attempting the 260km course was to avoid the crowds.. or do we just end up bunched together despite the very early departure, also i am taking the titanium (winter training) bike for this trip partly because it has a triple and coz the frame is bomb proof.. seriously considering the 150km option now though, so i can get some serious recovery time in afterwards, possibly a sauna and dip in the lake, next to hostel :)

i just couldn't see the point of getting up 3 hours earlier to get a bus so you could ride along flat roads into the wind when you could get up at a reasonable time and start riding on the more interesting route and end the ride where you started.

i am out in the chilterns saturday 05 march, i will give this alot of thought.. hmm three hours extra in bed, now that sounds good..

i have put a request into fireflies HQ for a duvet cover, so i can dream about training at weekends rather than do training at weekends lol.. :)

.. seriously considering the 150km option now though, so i can get some serious recovery time in afterwards, possibly a sauna and dip in the lake, next to hostel :)

Hold on, that's splitter talk! In for a penny, in for a pound. The biggy ftw.

I am seriously bricking it now as I did a fast 90 miles on Sunday with a hilly end which left me a broken man. Really, I had to sit at the side of the road for a minute to gather myself. Then the thought of Flanders kicked, a sobering moment. Ho hey.

Lets be strong people, all these miles have not been in vain.:)

Merak, i hear you.. alarm call at 05.00am.. i am planning a long ride this saturday.. need to put +100 miles in if i am going to have a chance at cracking 260km in belgium..

deadline looming for this, final week for entries

2 of us signed up to the 260km in December. Have done 220km and 240km as max distance rides so far, and can safely say that although it hurts you will make it. 240km took me 8:45 at a doable around Surrey/Sussex, so add an hour perhaps and we're there. Really looking forward to it, but we have no accommodation booked. Anyone got any ideas/spare beds etc?

We are driving so will camp/sleep in the car if needs be. And then work out how to get back to the car after the race....

51 miles from Ninove to Brugge. you could always ride back....

spj7
the hostel i'm staying at is very reasonable 11.50 per night bring sleeping bag
nr oudenaarde, clost to all the action (hills).. look at earlier post on this thread..

al

spj7 - if you want to camp, we used this place last year....

http://www.reamerik.be/

Just a few miles outside Ninove - 20 mins to ride in. It was ok, cheap as chips and a bar/cafe on site. If was mainly static caravans plus a few tent spots - useful back up if the weather is against you.

Thanks guys, looking into the camping idea now.