Cluster Events: Paris Roubaix and Tour of Flanders... all in one day!

Some days... you just wonder ...what did you do to be so lucky... today was one of them! (We've had so many on this trip).

MissP called it a day out... and Wonderboy and I grabbed our bikes and the car and headed north west. That's right, to all things "Spring Classic".

First stop was the Arenburg Forest... sacred ground for cyclists, and the key sector of Paris-Roubaix. Its hard to describe... and I've tried before in this blog. It's a beautiful forest with an amazing ancient road running straight through it. It's like something out of Lord of the Rings. And then.. there's the pave... the cobbles. They are so rough.. It's hard to imagine how the pro's make it through with a bike still in one piece. I explained to Wonderboy the day the Chicken watched Paris Roubaix here. Amazing. After much giggling and racing on the Pave we headed out in Paris Roubiax land for lunch and then back through the Forest. Super cool!

After this we headed to the Roubaix velodrome. The location for the finish of the race. Wonder boy and I did 1/4 of a lap before we were explained that it is "interdit" - forbidden. Truth is.. I did read the sign.. but what a thrill to be riding on the velodrome (I didn't get to do this last time).

Next... we headed to Belgium to "Flanders" - to ride some of the great climbs of the Tour of Flanders (Ronde von Vlaanderen to the locals). First we did the Aude Kwaremont, the 2 repeats of the Paterberg (2nd time to get some pics) and then 2 repeats of the Koppenberg. These climbs are amazing... big cobbles at 15-20%... its tough but so much fun!

Wonderboy gave the day 3 gu gels of approval! (I think that's about the equivalent of 2 pigs trotters from MissP, but I'm not sure!).