Great news - they had the route signs up for the race... So I parked on the route between Walers and Arenberg and just followed the signs - the plan was to ride to Orchies about 30k along on the route - which i did. I think it included about 5 or so cobbled sections. So...... Thoughts :
- it's amazing - just to be riding such famous and historic places ... Just like in Flanders i can hear Phil Ligget and Paul Sherwin's voices saying the names of the places i pass (in Flanders at each climb the first thing i would see on the sign was the name... And if i could hear Paul saying..."oh there approaching .... This will sort them out" ... I'd just cringe and wait for the pain !)
- the Trouee de Arenberg (called forest of Arenberg by use Anglos) is amazing... What a majestic, beautiful and peaceful place. And what a bizare place to have a cobbled road run straight through. And the cobbles are rough - but not stupidly rough. It's not bad just for the sake of it, it's rough because stones have moved over the years. I rode the whole thing, over the cobbles... It's do-able (in the dry), but i sure wouldn't want to be at high speed in the middle of a peleton !
- the cobbles here seem crueler than Flanders. Here you turn off a beautiful smooth straight road...onto a cobbled farm track...and wind through 2k's of pain, to end up back on the perfect road 1k from where you left it.... It's just mean !!
- i tried going fast, going slow, holding in tight, hands loose, out of the saddle and seated.... It's all bad... At the end of one section (that i tried at speed) my hands went numb and i couldn't use them.
So.... It's going to be a challenge, and given that it started raining for my 20k ride back to the car and it's now pouring outside... It could be very challenging !
Oh .... And other big news, I ran into a couple of journo's from Gent in the forest of Arenberg. They interviewed me for an article in the paper this Saturday, had me ride around and took a bunch of photo's. Looks like I'll be poster boy for Paris-Roubaix ... I suppose i should have expected it !!
The mine thingy at Arenberg... It stands above everything and you can see it a long way off. Amazing feeling to ride past it.
The entrance to the Forest of Arenberg.... Just amazing !
My journo's - i'm thinking i might need Cadel's minder from the tour to keep the paparazzi away after the article is published !
The view both ways from the centre of Arenberg
Without the yellow route signs, there is no way you would be able to find the route !
A sector they've worked on to keep the route intact
Some arty shots on Arenberg (on my way back in the light rain I cut back thorough the Forect of Arenberg)
Excellent to see your taking the race seriously and doing recon on the route. It looks brilliant. I wish I was there. Keep the reports and photos coming of roads and bikes, less waffles please.
ReplyDeleteI have one more training ride until B2B, not quite RB, especially since the dirt section has gone. Then its tapering.
Raced with the Waratahs on Sunday - came 6th sprinting from quite a way back - the sprint is developing as are the bike handling skills - some dude two bikes in front crashed and I had to take avoiding action - bunny hopping came to mind but I managed to steer around. Touch wood that will be as close as I get. Hope it doesn't rain for you at the weekend. I think just watching PR will be amazing let alone doing it.
Do you have double taping on the bars - will you?
Was out at Eastern Creek on Monday but not on my bike - in a V8. New respect for Serena's dad.
il falco
First - the cobble roads really do look like giant waffles! Second - Falco, what's wrong with waffles???? Third - you look fantastically happy baby, that pic of your face near the cobbles brought tears to my eyes. Fourth - I'm going to brag all day about having a cycling pin-up boy for a hubby! Fifth - god I wish I was there.
ReplyDeleteOh...and sixth - that second last pic sent shivers down my spine. Eerily frightening and exciting at the same time.
ReplyDeleteHey Mikey; why am I not surprised to find you surrounded by journos, teams and in front of cheering crowds! If only you had Greg with you...
ReplyDeleteGreat pics. I see there's plenty of grass for The Chicken to aim for when he gets there. Give my regards to Gossie and tell Heinrich and to go "full gas" and don't listen to Vaughters.
Great comments.. Thanks guys.... Falc - no doble tape.. With the lower tyre pressure.. I ran 80 front and 90 rear it's not a jarring feeling, it's more of a snacking, I think that's why holding on tight seems to help a little. I ran 100 psi in Flanders but let some air out of the front when i realized there's so many cobbles. Definitely helped, and no punctures yet. Way to go with the waratah's. And had a feeling you might be in the v8 soon.
ReplyDeleteSuoergal... I think you said it all... And today I'm definitely trying more waffles !
Genbee - off to the sheldeprijs today.. Will try to avoid the journos !!
Sheldeprijs!...Go Michael Matthews
ReplyDeleteMy editor tells me the word is "shaking" not "snacking" though I was trying to do that as well... But you really can't eat of drink on cobbles... Got to keep those hands on the bars !
ReplyDeleteHey Mike...looks fantastic! So, wot's the bet on this weekend's P-R winner?...hard to go past Sparticus??
ReplyDeleteYou like Flemish life?
Cheers
Mark C
The powers that be at rogenSi have arranged for the chicken to do 10 more days of training using all his language skills so he may be a bit late for the start -if he's nit there in time for Saturday can he find somebody to ride with on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteWaffles are ok I guess but now I've had a 'snow egg' from the quay - they are pretty special.
ReplyDelete