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Tour of Flanders

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  • 14-01-2008 11:10am
    #1
    michaelm
    Registered Users Posts: 528 ✭✭✭


    As mentioned in a previous post I am hoping to do the Tour of Flanders sportive in early April. I spent two days in the area in early January and had a go at some of the famed cobbled hills (as steep but a little shorter than expected - but rougher and almost impossible when wet). I would love to hear from anyone that has done this event and would love advice on two questions in particular:

    1. Should I choose particular tyres - as the cobbles can be very slippy as explained above?

    2. Could anyone recommend somewhere to stay as all hotels at the start/finish (Ninove) are already booked out?

    For the record I intend to fly and bring my bike on the plane so on the morning of the event itself I will probably have to cycle to the start.


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    #2
    Morgan
    Registered Users Posts: 2,481 ✭✭✭Morgan


    There was a program on riding on cobbles on Cycling.TV recently - I can't remember if it was any good though.

    http://joost.com/2090004

    http://www.cycling.tv/


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    #3
    animal
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31 ✭animal


    http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/apr07/rvv07/?id=/features/2007/flanders_climbs07

    or if thats too long go to this and click on the inside the RVV article.
    http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/2007/apr07/rvv07/?id=features

    Maybe compare the climb you did to the other %'s and length. In my opinion the cobbled sections are worse than the climbs. You're body takes such a beating esp on the longer sections. you have to ride hard over them or else you'll just end up coming to a halt or fall over.
    I know some ppl wear 2 pairs of gloves/mitts as your hands go numb from the pounding. I'm not sure about tyres but i'd put on a fairly new set anyway. something pretty durable and grippy at the same time. Maybe the Vittoria CX's or the likes. Maybe browse the cyclingnews.com photos from last year and see what the lads are using. There are often close-up photos of the bikes beforehand. Maybe look at the Parix Roubaix page too as they're pretty similar races really.


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