Tour of Flanders - kit choice

2

Comments

  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    having done RVV and PR now I can say double wrapping bar tape is not needed. I didn't do it for PR and I was fine. The solution I have to cobbles is 30mm challange strada bianca tyres with latex tubes on wide rims 55f/60r psi. I won't say the cobbles were comfortable but I don't remember them being very painful either. This was a more comfortable experience than riding 27mm Pave tubulars on RVV.

    If you ride off road alot you will know about not holding the bars too tightly and I would say riding a rigid 29er off road at pace is good preparation for cobbles.

    RVV is easy in comparison to PR.

    The best bottle cages are King Iris these really hold your bottles better than anything else on the market.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • rc856
    rc856 Posts: 1,144
    Hi folks.

    I'm staying in Waregem and wondered if anyone knows how easy it is to cycle into Oudenaarde
    for the start? Google maps says it's only 10 miles but I wasn't sure what the roads are like?
    Guys I'm going with will probably be taking the hire car as they're leaving early earlier for the full route so my bike will be the only transport.

    Cheers
  • the_fuggler
    the_fuggler Posts: 1,228
    [url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19763737#p19763737]RC856[/url] wrote:
    Hi folks.

    I'm staying in Waregem and wondered if anyone knows how easy it is to cycle into Oudenaarde
    for the start? Google maps says it's only 10 miles but I wasn't sure what the roads are like?
    Guys I'm going with will probably be taking the hire car as they're leaving early earlier for the full route so my bike will be the only transport.

    Cheers

    They'll be fine. We rode in from Ghent this year. No problem.
    FCN 3 / 4
  • rc856
    rc856 Posts: 1,144
    Great. Thanks
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,719
    Here's a couple of links from my trip.

    Was bloody hard in the wind and rain. But I didn't even have second bar tape.

    http://fendrieneu.tumblr.com/post/135767334819/veranstaltung-oudenaarde-ooike-rvv-cyclo-2015

    http://fendrieneu.tumblr.com/post/134326947254/giving-it-my-all-in-the-rvv-cyclo-of-2015-the

    http://road.cc/content/blog/147792-flanders-ticked-bucket-list-dream-comes-true
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • rc856
    rc856 Posts: 1,144
    I see the main site has been updated with the route maps.
    They haven't...unless they will later...put in the feed stations.
    Does anyone know from experience where they usually are...if always in the same place?
    Trying to plan ahead to arrange a meet with folk who are doing the full route and some who are on the medium.

    Cheers :)
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,620
    I've ridden it a couple of times and agree that it's not that big a deal. 25mm tyres gave me extra confidence. The first time I did it I tightened everything up, only I hadn't, I'd missed the bolts that fasten the saddle to the post and ended up in Shimano service getting a new one. Make sure you check everything.

    Bike choice is a no brainer. Use your best bike if you want the Flanders experience, otherwise it's like going for a boxing day north sea swim in a wetsuit. The choice you forgot to ask about is the route. I don't know why people choose the long route. It adds seventy miles of nothing and a load of hassle.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,620
    ... Final tip. Have eyes in the back of your head. The Belgians don't look before changing line or stopping. The standard of riding and consideration for others is abysmal.
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • mrc1
    mrc1 Posts: 852
    Echo lots of the above here. Flanders are nothing like Roubaix cobbles but they are a significant step up from rubbish regular roads in terms of issues. That being said definitely take the best road bike for the full experience!

    Double wrapping doesn't really make sense as others have said and having seen a lot of people have unravelling bar tape as a result of a dodgy double wrapping job I'd avoid it!

    I've seen plenty of people lose bottles from loose cages so make sure yours are nice and tight.

    Other than that there isn't a great deal you can do other than trying to enjoy yourself - it's huge fun.
    http://www.ledomestiquetours.co.uk

    Le Domestique Tours - Bespoke cycling experiences with unrivalled supported riding, knowledge and expertise.

    Ciocc Extro - FCN 1
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Probably will take the best bike - unless the forecast is cold and wet - then I'll take my winter one - no point trashing the best bike - and there's not a lot of difference in them anyway.
    I've got 25mm tyres so will put them on.

    If the concensus is bother the double tape then bother the double tape...
    bottle cages are good to go
    Prob doing the mid route now as I've just not had time to do any training - extra 70 miles of not a lot isn't going to be fun anyway - especially if I've not done any distances recently.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,334
    Slowbike wrote:
    Probably will take the best bike - unless the forecast is cold and wet - then I'll take my winter one - no point trashing the best bike - and there's not a lot of difference in them anyway.
    I've got 25mm tyres so will put them on.

    If the concensus is bother the double tape then bother the double tape...
    bottle cages are good to go
    Prob doing the mid route now as I've just not had time to do any training - extra 70 miles of not a lot isn't going to be fun anyway - especially if I've not done any distances recently.

    The extra 70 miles have no cobbles anyway, pretty boring stuff
    left the forum March 2023
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    however without those 70 boring miles the ride is too short.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,334
    thecycleclinic wrote:
    however without those 70 boring miles the ride is too short.

    It's not too short for recreational cycling, especially in early spring. I did the 140 Km route in 2011 and thought it was the perfect distance. I did Gent-Wevelgem 140 Km last year and again, perfect distance if you want to ride it hard.
    left the forum March 2023
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    Yes yes but what about the beer?
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,334
    itboffin wrote:
    Yes yes but what about the beer?

    Like everything belgian, over-rated... Leffe and the likes give terrible hangovers. IMO the best beer is to be found in Germany and Cech Republic
    left the forum March 2023
  • kingstonian
    kingstonian Posts: 2,847
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    itboffin wrote:
    Yes yes but what about the beer?

    Like everything belgian, over-rated... Leffe and the likes give terrible hangovers. IMO the best beer is to be found in Germany and Cech Republic

    Are you saying that Jean Claude van Damme was overrated ?!?!?!
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    thecycleclinic wrote:
    however without those 70 boring miles the ride is too short.

    It'll be just the right length for me ...
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,334
    Kingstonian wrote:
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    itboffin wrote:
    Yes yes but what about the beer?

    Like everything belgian, over-rated... Leffe and the likes give terrible hangovers. IMO the best beer is to be found in Germany and Cech Republic

    Are you saying that Jean Claude van Damme was overrated ?!?!?!

    ... and chocolate and waffles and the national football team currently ranked no. 1 by FIFA and frits, which are no different from chips anywhere else in the world
    left the forum March 2023
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,723
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    frits, which are no different from chips anywhere else in the world

    Woah Woah Woah, no sorry, but the Belgians make the best chips/Frites. I ve eaten chips all over the world ( :wink: ) and the best ones are always in Belgium
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • peterthomas1981
    peterthomas1981 Posts: 1
    I realise this is a bit of a long shot, but if anyone has any entries they're not going to use anymore, I know a couple of people who can give them a good home!
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    nom frittes
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,719
    Dissing Belgian beer ? wow!!!

    I took my best bike last year as the forecast was good, but then it went down to 3 degrees and sleeted.

    Belgians are bad at weather forecasting.
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,723
    Yup, postponed my first cyclo-commute of the year as it was supposed to be terrible weather but it's full on blue skies today...
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    Beautiful sunshine brutal cobbles and amazing beer what more could I have asked for.

    Loved every minute of it apart from the hangover
    Rule #5 // Harden The Feck Up.
    Rule #9 // If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
    Rule #12 // The correct number of bikes to own is n+1.
    Rule #42 // A bike race shall never be preceded with a swim and/or followed by a run.
  • pebble2
    pebble2 Posts: 3
    Looking for a spare entry spot if any going ? Thanks
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    Good Luck with that. Hens teeth spring to mind.

    looking forward to this. will I get up the koppenberg without watching a fat chopper fall over infront of me for the 3rd year in a row.... :) Luckily I've got a couple of extra days to do the decent hills around the area before or after the sportive...
  • ddraver
    ddraver Posts: 26,723
    For what distance, if you can look further afield you ll have more luck, Several have been passed around our club.

    If not you can ride everything except Kwaremont and Koppenberg which is not the end of the world
    We're in danger of confusing passion with incompetence
    - @ddraver
  • pebble2
    pebble2 Posts: 3
    I managed to snaffle an entry through Sports Tours :)
    Right kit choice, my Trek Crossrip with 28mm Conti GP4000 on Racelight rims, compact gearing.
    Lets hope its not as wet and cold as last year, maybe even get to ride up some of the major climbs instead of pushing up. But biggest hope is I dont rip off my rear derailleur on the top of the Koppenberg and push it to the finish :)
  • pebble2
    pebble2 Posts: 3
    Ok, I'm looking for some entries not for myself but some friends who somehow mucked up the registration process, any help appreciated
    Thanks
  • rc856
    rc856 Posts: 1,144
    Morning,

    Nearly there! Does anyone have experience of trying to park near the Lindestraat in Oudenaarde?
    As we have to be on the shuttle bus by 0515hrs and have an 8 mile ride in from Kruishoutem, we're looking at making the most of our time and wondered if we could drive in easily enough?
    Don't want to drive but then spend half an hour trying to park etc

    Cheers

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