Paris - Roubaix Cobbles

teisetrotter

Having picked up the latest cyclist and it being that time again. Got me thinking ........... and I concluded ....... you can keep them.

Sounds an utter nightmare and I don't know about the rest of you, but the near replication of the Paris - Roubaix conditions on every ride for the last six months through the filthy pot holed roads of north Kent has made me want nothing more than smooth tarmac in balmy conditions with friendly motorists.

I know man is driven to accomplish things and I have climbed mountains, cycled a long way, treked across deserts and drunk more than 12 pints in a single session .......... but cold, wet, muddy cobbles nahhhhhhh

Greg-46a

I've been to see it a couple of times, both times from a spot in the middle of the Arenberg Forest, the atmosphere is brilliant, beers, barbeques, what's not to like?!

team47b

I just hate cobbles.

In the part of the village I live in the streets are all cobbled, the other day I was turning around and managed to put my front wheel in a space between the cobbles at the same time as pushing on the pedal, clipped in, I went straight over the bars!

The woman in the van following me stopped to see if I was alright, it always seems to be someone you know when this kind of stupid thing happens :oops:

At least there was no mud or rain

elderone

OP any man who can down 12 pints in one go should have no issues with the roubaix LOL.Agree though,our roads bad enough with out looking for them.

pride4ever

The cobbles are for GODS like Cancellara not for mere mortals like us.

giropaul

Let me assure you that the pave of Paris Roubaix is NOTHING like any cobbles in the UK; they are many times more challenging.

declan1

giropaul wrote:

Let me assure you that the pave of Paris Roubaix is NOTHING like any cobbles in the UK; they are many times more challenging.

Yes. Ours are pretty horrific at times.

Also, Americans think these are cobbles:



They need to be taught a lesson or two about, well, everything.

teisetrotter

Greg-46a wrote:

I've been to see it a couple of times, both times from a spot in the middle of the Arenberg Forest, the atmosphere is brilliant, beers, barbeques, what's not to like?!

Well when you put it like that nothing. As long as we and the Belgiums bring the beer and the French bring the grub ......... and none of us brings a bicycle. Then I suppose it would indeed be great.

Camus

Trouee d'Arenberg = immortality.

James Q

I watched the high lights today and have to say it looks very tough, the cobbles are huge and from the crashes they showed was extremely easy to catch your front wheel in one and go over! Defo not for the faint hearted and I think what makes it more extreme is that its only a 1 day event.

Monty Dog

The first time I rode Arenberg I just laughed like a drain - I'd ridden the Flanders Sportive a couple of times, but nothing prepares you for the savagery of Arenberg. To lessen the suffering you have to hit it as hard as you can and stay in the biggest gear possible - the first 800m or so is slightly downhill so you can maintain speed, but after half-way it rises slightly. There's a VTT route that joins it and a couple of smug-looking MTB riders started riding their full-sussers but failed miserably, taking refuge on the path alongside because their bikes suspension couldn't cope and they were simply bounced all over the place.

thegreatdivide

Nice article about Sunday on Rouleur

http://rouleurmagazine.wordpress.com/

jonny_trousers

thegreatdivide wrote:

Nice article about Sunday on Rouleur

http://rouleurmagazine.wordpress.com/

Really nice article! Thanks for the link!

lotus49

It's my favourite race of the year. I don't fancy wrecking my bike (or my balls) on the pavé but I'm glad the hard men of cycling do. This year the weather was lovely but sometimes it's appalling. Try to see if you can find a video of the 1994 race as a good example of what it's like when it rains.

In one famous exchange, Theo de Rooij said "It's <word that means testicles> this race. You're working like an animal, you don't have time to <word that means urinate>, you wet your pants. You're riding in mud like this, you're slipping...it's a pile of <word that means faeces>". When asked if he would be back next year he replied "Of course, it's the most beautiful race in the world".

PS Bike Radar censors swear words, something I hadn't realised until now as I'm not given to swearing here, hence the stupidly Bowdlerised bits above.

bianchimoon

giropaul wrote:

Let me assure you that the pave of Paris Roubaix is NOTHING like any cobbles in the UK; they are many times more challenging.

british cobbles at their best

the road goes up to the right, be interesting to know if any road bike has ever made it up there, came down it once on an MTB, no chance of stopping, just had to hang off the back and hope for the best

lotus49

Is that Whitby?

bianchimoon

lotus49 wrote:

Is that Whitby?

it is indeed, well spotted

lotus49

bianchimoon wrote:

lotus49 wrote:

Is that Whitby?

it is indeed, well spotted

I recognise it as the path that leads up to the Abbey. I seem to recall that it's so steep that every metre or so there is a row of setts that are raised so that pack horses could get some purchase on the slippery path. Not that it would ever rain in God's Own County of course.

It was hard enough just walking up it. I'd love to see someone riding a road bike up there.

bianchimoon

lotus49 wrote:

bianchimoon wrote:

lotus49 wrote:

Is that Whitby?

it is indeed, well spotted

I recognise it as the path that leads up to the Abbey. I seem to recall that it's so steep that every metre or so there is a row of setts that are raised so that pack horses could get some purchase on the slippery path. Not that it would ever rain in God's Own County of course.

It was hard enough just walking up it. I'd love to see someone riding a road bike up there.

it would be an impressive feat for sure, would need super sticky tyres to get a grip on those cobles, tried to find a gradient online but nothing showing up, looks close to 50% in places