paris roubaix sportive 8th june 2008

PutneyJoe
PutneyJoe Posts: 242
edited June 2008 in Sportives/audaxes/training rides
anyone know the website to sign up for this?
«1

Comments

  • yogi
    yogi Posts: 456
    Funnily enough I was just checking this out at work today. The websites are below - one is the actual French organisation the other is CTC Holidays and costs £200.

    I would love to do this event myself but for some strange reason none of my mates show any interest in doing it - may have to go on my own. It's one of those things you have to do once in your life.

    http://asso.nordnet.fr/vcrcyclotourisme/Site%20web/Paris%20Roubaix%20Cyclo/PRx2008.htm

    www.parisroubaix.co.uk
    http://yogi.terapad.com
  • star_rover
    star_rover Posts: 318
    That website hasn't been updated since 2006.

    Try
    http://www.sportingtours.co.uk/events/roubaix.html
  • pjm-84
    pjm-84 Posts: 819
    Look out for the big guy bouncing over the cobbles.......

    Down on my list for next year
    Paul
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Entries are normally accepted from January but surprisingly given it's reputation, it doesn't sell out- I've entered the week before I've done it the last two times and will probably convince a few mates to go over in June - just hope it isn't quite as hot - it was mid-30's last year, particularly grim after I'd lost a bottle on Arenberg. Unlike L'etape etc you don't have to pay hundreds for a 5-day trip to ride a one-day event - drive over on Saturday afternoon, beer, steak and frites in a nice cafe before kipping for a couple of hours and getting on the bus to the start at 2am. Ride for 10 hours and then get in the car and drive home - perfect!
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    No danger of falling asleep at the wheel? :wink:

    I would like to do this. Or at least part of me would like to do this. Another part is definitely of the "Are you out of your mind" viewpoint. I am a big guy and wouldn't like to chance my alu/carbon Spesh - may need to get a cheapo steel bike if I was going to do it (and a MTB suspension seatpost...)
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • Ed Moses
    Ed Moses Posts: 90
    I am trying to convince my wife to let me do this - she thinks I am mad!! But I think I am winning so am planing to book a place tomorrow.

    The really bad news is having to get fit enough to do a 260km day!

    Ed
  • Ed Moses
    Ed Moses Posts: 90
    The website is up with lots of information - and some bits to complete:

    http://asso.nordnet.fr/vcrcyclotourisme ... nglais.htm

    It does include the entry form!

    Ed
  • vermooten
    vermooten Posts: 2,697
    It also has a superb translation into English, eg:
    Should Paris-Roubaix cyclo still be introduced ? Its name alone is self-sufficient
    Ride of mass, on the professional course of the race, this "traditional" one of the basic excursions...

    Like a Chinese gadget's manual. Lovely.
    You just have to ride like you never have to breathe again.

    Manchester Wheelers
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Why do people worry about their bikes breaking? Believe me, you break long before your bike does.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    I'm 106 kg and have an aluminium frame Spesh Allez with carbon forks and stays. If I break first, at least I can recover and be back on the bike again. If the bike breaks first I am up the creek...
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    Isn't there another sportive the day before the actual race? I've heard you don't ride the full distance but do get to ride all the cobbled sections. Anyone got any info on that ride?
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • Ed Moses
    Ed Moses Posts: 90
    If you look at the link I posted above, you will see that there are three distance options for the Sunday ride:

    Courses
    The 255 km-long Integral closely related to the course of the professional race (49 km of paving stones) strating in CAMBRONNE-LES-RIBÉCOURT (near Compiegne).
    The 173 km-long Essential one comprising all the paved sectors (49 km) from BOHAIN-EN-VERMANDOIS (near Saint-Quentin ).
    The 98 km-long Final one of for the least trained (32 km of paving stones) starting in WALLERS-ARENBERG (near Valenciennes).
    Arrival on the cycle-racing track in ROUBAIX
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    Yes, but they are all on the 8th of June. I am talking about a sportif on the day before the Paris-Roubaix race, some time in April.
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • yogi
    yogi Posts: 456
    DaveyL wrote:
    Yes, but they are all on the 8th of June. I am talking about a sportif on the day before the Paris-Roubaix race, some time in April.

    I believe that you are thinking of the mountain bike race that they run the day before the race and use much of the cobbles plus some trails.
    http://yogi.terapad.com
  • Ed Moses
    Ed Moses Posts: 90
    They have published the route maps on their website - for those mad enough to be up for it!
  • DaveyL
    DaveyL Posts: 5,167
    yogi wrote:
    DaveyL wrote:
    Yes, but they are all on the 8th of June. I am talking about a sportif on the day before the Paris-Roubaix race, some time in April.

    I believe that you are thinking of the mountain bike race that they run the day before the race and use much of the cobbles plus some trails.

    No, I've found it - it's the Graham Baxter/Sporting Tours one:

    http://www.sportingtours.co.uk/classics ... l#roubaix1

    You can ride part of the route the day before and then stay on to watch the race (12th & 13th April). It doesn't say exactly how far you get to ride, and it sounds like it's a guided ride, so maybe not even as "competitive" as a sportive.

    Anyone got any info/experience of this one?
    Le Blaireau (1)
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    There isn't an official sportive before P-Rx - it would be deemed far too dangerous to ride the pave when wet and muddy in April - it's hard enough when it's dry and warm in June! The Baxter's ride is merely an escorted taster - they ride some sectors like Arenberg and Orchies but nothing like the full route. The only 'official' sportive is the one organised by the Velo Club Roubaix every 2 years on 8th June . It's a great ride, with quiet roads, barely any traffic and everyone's so spread out there's few times you have to worry about being held-up. Entries are usually available right up to the day - but you need to book by the closing date in May if you want to use the bus service from Roubaix to Cambronne or Billancourt.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • vermooten
    vermooten Posts: 2,697
    edited January 2008
    Can anyone help me with the entry form (pdf)?

    It says: "Join your payment and your club registration with your entry form so that this last one is taken into account"

    What does "your club registration" mean? Would a photocopy of my membership card count?

    Also, should I get a jersey? It's 45 euros - about £35?

    Maillot_devant_2.jpgMaillot_arriere_2.jpg
    You just have to ride like you never have to breathe again.

    Manchester Wheelers
  • pjm-84
    pjm-84 Posts: 819
    My riding buddy pulled out due to work commitments. (Runs his own business)
    :cry:
    Paul
  • Ed Moses
    Ed Moses Posts: 90
    Okay so this is a week tomorrow - who else from these parts will be taking part?

    Any recommendations for an under-fit person on the Pave??

    Ed
  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    I will be there! bike currently getting an extra layer of bar tape in place. Looking forward to it in a strange sort of way.
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • Jeff Jones
    Jeff Jones Posts: 1,865
    <Raises hand> along with three other colleagues (Robin Coomber, Mat Brett, Tony Farrelly).

    1) Get some fat tyres. I'm hoping for some 700x28mm
    2) Padded/extra bar tape
    3) Don't ride too slowly (you'll hit every bump) or too fast (you'll blow up) on the cobbles.
    4) Pray it doesn't rain
    Jeff Jones

    Product manager, Sports
  • Croxted Avenger
    Croxted Avenger Posts: 837
    I'm doing this (255km) - I did the 190km 2 years ago. Only advice I can give beyond whats already been said is to always keep something in reserve for the pave secteurs, because they sap you mentally as well as physically. Scanning the cobbles 50m ahead and trying to pick a line wears you out after a while.

    The front of the bike is much more of a problem the way I see it - the back takes care of itself but you'll find yourself pinning the front to the deck and this is very hard on your palms, wrists and forearms (as well as your heasdet!). Don't bother riding on the hoods unless you have a death wish, just tops and drops.

    When you finish you'll feel very satisfied indeed. You'll also have renewed respect for the pros, particularly as they HAVE to ride the Arenberg whereas you can ride up the side.

    7 of us from my club are doing this (Brixton Cycles) so see you on the pave!.
    \'You Come At the King,You Best Not Miss\'
  • mozwyn69
    mozwyn69 Posts: 170
    Phew ...that was hard! Flew along for the first 60miles then it was a case of hanging on in till the finish. I'm glad it was only those first few sections of pave that were wet and slippery or I would have been out there till midnight! All in we were out for nearly 12 hours, another painful reminder of why I am not a pro!
    Sometimes you have to lose yourself
    before you can find anything.
  • Croxted Avenger
    Croxted Avenger Posts: 837
    It was SERIOUSLY tough yesterday. I don't feel too bad today but my forearms and hands are screaming at me. You're right about those first few secteurs MOZ, I walked up the second muddied slurry of a cobbled climb with two wheels locked up with cowsh*t having just seen some dude from a French club lying in the pave with a broken arm thinking that we were all f*<ked. Thankfully it kind of got better, there were still slippery bits of pave along the way. My clubmate bonked very badly just before Cysoing so I had to nurse him to the finish.

    Great day but I have now vowed never to be stupid enough to do it again!
    \'You Come At the King,You Best Not Miss\'
  • Jeff Jones
    Jeff Jones Posts: 1,865
    Yeah, those first two sectors were very very sketchy. I was dreading the rest after that, but thankfully things improved. Some guy broke his leg on one of them!

    We really enjoyed it, and coming into the velodrome was a real thrill.

    I'd definitely do it again, just so I could nail the cobbles. Despite having a fair bit of experience in Belgium, it took me a while to get the hang of the rougher French cobbles. I used the death grip too much, whereas it would have been better to hold the bars quite loosely, let the bike do its own thing (within reason) and not get all the shock through your forearms. One of our trio, who had never ridden pave before, did it like that and was easily the best of us over the cobbles. Mountain biking is probably the best training for riding on pave.
    Jeff Jones

    Product manager, Sports
  • Ed Moses
    Ed Moses Posts: 90
    Well I had a mostly fun day out - up to the part where the guy on the mountain bike went down two feet in front of me on the third (slippery with cow dung!) set of cobbles - I carried on but pulled out at Arenberg with bad pains in my side - my feeling is that this is a great event and any cyclist should try it at least once!!

    I will be back as I have unfinished business.

    Ed
    (also hello to all of the fun guys on the Sport Tours International trip! - it was a good time)
  • Ed Moses
    Ed Moses Posts: 90
    Monty Dog wrote:
    Why do people worry about their bikes breaking? Believe me, you break long before your bike does.

    Having seen some of the bikes on the event yesterday, most people reading this will have not problems!!!
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Sadly, didn't make it this year, despite having promised to make it one of this year's must-dos. Maybe the conditions make me I'm glad I wasn't there - there's often a big muddy puddle as you hit the first sector at Troisville - I nearly ran into the back of someone as he faltered on the run in - and the second sector with a few 90 degree bends is always hairy, wet or dry.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Hugues
    Hugues Posts: 115
    Certainly was "interesting" :shock:

    I had a very low speed off on the very muddy uphill bit of section 26. Escaped with only bruises and (unknown to me at the time) a loose ergolever that slipped down the bar and locked the back wheel on the downhill section of the Arenberg. Great feeling though when entering the Velodrome :D

Categories