Flanders 2017

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Comments

  • Beatmaker
    Beatmaker Posts: 1,092
    I'm really looking forward to his now, it looks like the weather might be on our side too!
  • kiteloopy
    kiteloopy Posts: 94
    like wise.

    I did it a few years ago when I only had one bike and a lot less experience & fitness.
    BMC TMR02 with 23's @110psi.

    Learnt my lesson the hard way and had to cut the ride short. I’m on a GF02 this year with 28's which I used on the Roubaix last year.
    Im anxious but very excited…… Mostly for the Belgian beer on the kwaremont on Sunday.
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    Done this a few times.

    First year on an ally thing with 23mm 4 seasons tyres. Second and 3rd years on a carbon bike with 25mm tyres. Its fine, the cobbles are occasionally bad and some of the climbs get gridlocked, but when you’ve 16000 on the course, you just get on with it… the Koppenberg and Paterberg are always gridlocked.

    The cobbles are harsh, and yes there is around 20Km of them but they aren’t Roubaix cobbles. They are easy in comparison.
  • cruff
    cruff Posts: 1,518
    FYI anyone who's interested in this for next year, I rode a Synapse with 25mm Specialized Armadillos @ 80psi on 52/36-12/25. The cobbles are nothing like as bad as PR - literally like a 1 star sector for the most part, with only a couple of bits of the Paterberg and Koppenberg the equivalent of a 2 star sector. I found the ride smooth and grippy, no hairy moments, even having to slide round nodders walking up the Muur, Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont. Only had to unclip on the Koppenberg after some numpty pulled into the 'fast' (haha) lane to get past someone then found he couldn't power it and just stopped dead in front of me :( - but suspect that it would be a different story in the wet.

    Brilliant event, definitely going back next year but probably only doing the loop rather than the 237 - the 100km of flat at the beginning is pretty pointless, unless you've got a team and want to monster it all day.
    Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
    Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    Same as LBL distance added for the hell of it, much better off to just do the climbs
    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.
  • durhamwasp
    durhamwasp Posts: 1,247
    The year we did it, everybody we spoke to who did the long version, said they'd not do it again, just a boring 3hrs ride to get to the action.
    http://www.snookcycling.wordpress.com - Reports on Cingles du Mont Ventoux, Alpe D'Huez, Galibier, Izoard, Tourmalet, Paris-Roubaix Sportive & Tour of Flanders Sportive, Amstel Gold Xperience, Vosges, C2C, WOTR routes....
  • kiteloopy
    kiteloopy Posts: 94
    durhamwasp wrote:
    The year we did it, everybody we spoke to who did the long version, said they'd not do it again, just a boring 3hrs ride to get to the action.

    Same. I liked the ride but it wasn’t really necessary and at some points very dull. 100k for the sake of adding 100k.

    oh, and it was wet and damn cold. A real energy sapper.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,064
    i'm starting the process of organising my clubs 2018 classics events, LBL is on the cards as hopefully the Amstel will be
    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.
  • ic.
    ic. Posts: 769
    Enjoyed it this year. Good to get decent weather!

    Had to walk on the Koppenberg but I suspect most did, congestion was the problem. The Molenberg was the same which I wasn't expecting but never mind.

    Loads of people riding pavements and gutters to avoid cobbles. At one point on the Eikenberg I was the only person riding the cobbles, 3 or 4 bikes either side riding the smooth tarmac, some of them on mtbs!

    Usual daft moves from people not used to group riding or just thinking they know better maybe

    Overall though it's a great ride. Really well organised. Probably won't be going back now for a few years as other targets out there
    2020 Reilly Spectre - raw titanium
    2020 Merida Reacto Disc Ltd - black on black
    2015 CAAD8 105 - very green - stripped to turbo bike
    2018 Planet X Exocet 2 - grey

    The departed:

    2017 Cervelo R3 DI2 - sold
    Boardman CX Team - sold
    Cannondale Synapse - broken
    Cube Streamer - stolen
    Boardman Road Comp - stolen
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    itboffin wrote:
    i'm starting the process of organising my clubs 2018 classics events, LBL is on the cards as hopefully the Amstel will be

    LBL is the real deal. far harder day than Flanders, though if you are a good climber you'll be fine. I'm not and I do it and love it every year. takes literally 2 weeks to recover from.

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