Paris-Roubaix - route & showers?!

durhamwasp

Thinking of organising a trip to cycle the Paris-Roubaix route in March, 5 riders and a campervan in support. Planning on doing it over 2 days, with a big piss up at the end (not in Roubaix though!).

Has anybody done it themselves, not in a sportive? Is it signposted like the Ronder route, or is it a matter of getting a map and following it?

Also, showers wise, is it easy to just walk in there and use them (often seems to be the case in France and Belgium) or can you pay to use the facilities (inc shower) or is it never open? What about doing a lap of the velodrome?

Cheers

greasedscotsman

Why in March? Surely April is the time to go so you can see the race as well.

The route isn't marked as such, but it's easy enough to follow with a map. The sectors are marked with little marker posts like this...



...so you should be able to track where you are and not get lost.

And when you ask about the showers, I assume you mean the showers at the velodrome. I doubt very much you will be allowed to use them, but if you ask at the cafe just outside the velodrome entrance very nicely, they should let you have a look round them.

Yes, you can ride around the track as it's a municipal track, my avatar is me "winning" the race in 2004! But it can be a bit hit and miss, it just depends on if the gates are open when you arrive. It's also worth noting that you can ride in via the Av. Roger Salengro which is the route that the race uses, but also Av. M Van Der Meersch. The gates are sometimes open on one and not the other.

Also don't forget to check out the bar at the Carrefour de L'Arbre. Seem to remember it being a bit pricey, but the interior looks quite cool.



Hope that helps.

durhamwasp

Thanks a lot for that, might have to call into that bar for a coffee! Looks great.

2 of us work at sea and so wont be at home in April, hence the decision to look at late March. We are going to follow the P-R challenge route from St Quentin, do a loop of the Velodrome and then probably head to Vuerne for a night out before taking the ferry back. We have a campervan and hopefully a driver so should all work out ok.

greasedscotsman

Cool, sounds good. I wouldn't follow the route of the challenge though, it's not the same as the race route. It does do the Arenberg forest and you can't miss that out! The 2012 route should be out by late March, if not, follow the 2011 route. It will probably be the same anyway! Plenty of details on the PR website.

durhamwasp

thanks for that tip, you are right - i will try and follow the official route, starting somewhere around St Quentin. Fingers crossed the velodrome is open for a final lap!

durhamwasp

Still haven't got round to this, due to other commitments, considering a short but sweet trip there in September!