The quest for miles reaches new heights... or depths...

I would suggest strengthening the legs and core for flanders is the key if you can't get out on the bike as much as you like.

The ability to roll over a large gear on the cobbles is the key, i.e. having strong legs.
Once your leg strength has gone on the cobbles it doesn't matter how aerobic or anaerobic fit you are although obviously the more fitness you have the better. Once the legs have gone on the cobbles that's it your cooked and things get disproportionally harder.

No what you want is muscular strength to churn over a big gear and aim to go as fast as you can over the cobbles. So you see hitting the gym and training those leg muscles when the cold wet weather is with us in the UK might be just want you need to do, rather than mile after mile of wet cold and flu inducing training.

Yes you need to get in enough miles on the bike to know you can achieve the distance but really because flanders is so flat (relatively) you only have to put in max effort on some of the bergs.

Those that know how to ride within themselves and that can pace their effort usually go well at Flanders. It's about taking it easy to start with and gradually picking up the pace. The finish usually has the wind behind you so it is a super fast finish especially if you get in a bunch.

"Recover on the flat non cobbled sections go fast as you can on the cobbles."

I can't recommend the event enough.
If you have never taking part in the Flanders event you should.
Most can do this event even if they aren't fit. Go for the middle distance if you haven't done many miles in training, The middle distance has the majority of the cobbled sections in it.

Now if you were talking about training for Liege Bastogne Liege that is a totally different case and those that are not fit for liege should be very scared.

I might get some. Do they come in carbon too?

Sitting at my desk at work...pedalling furiously but getting nowhere fast...? Sounds like a metaphor to me!

Shit, the years gone fast, April 1st already!!!!

If you're truly a sucker for gadgets, how did you manage to pass up on the digital version which will tell you how many calories you've burned. http://www.betterlifehealthcare.com/view_product.php?prodID=6341

If you can provide a useful answer to that, it could be the most valuable thing I read all day.

Haha! Brilliant! Don't worry about Flanders - you'll be fine. I was knackered by the end of the full fat version, but I made it round just fine and I wasn't (and am still not) all that fit!

Would a cadence and speed meter work on them though ?

Riiight. That'll be why you hear of loads of not-quite-pro cyclists using them during their day jobs then.

Sounds like a one-way ticket to RSI and locked up hip flexors, but you're welcome to guinea pig it for us...