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Paris-Roubaix Challenge – cobbled roads in the UK?

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  • November 28, 2011 at 9:32 am #14544
    David Else

    Last week I accidentally entered the Paris-Roubaix Challenge – a mere 90 miles of mud and cobbles next April.

    So now I’m looking for cobbled roads in the UK to do a bit of training on – and to get a feel for the bumps. Anyone got any suggestions? I’m based in the Southwest, looking in the region roughly bordered by Bristol, Gloucester, Swindon, Salisbury, Shaftsbury, Radstock.

    I know about some of the cobbled hills in central Bristol, the Cobble Wobble hill in Frome, Gold Hill in Shaftsbury, but ideally I’m looking for longish flattish sections of cobbles. (And I know British cobbles aren’t the same as French pave', but you’ve got to start somewhere…)

    Any suggestions for cobbled roads, or maybe just rutted roads that replicate pave', much appreciated. Thanks.

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  • November 29, 2011 at 9:09 am #658047
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    David Else

    This is all very useful. I
    This is all very useful. I really appreciate the responses.

    With some of my buddies (also training for Paris-Roubaix) I have indeed been riding on bridleways and byways recently – notably some all-day jaunts up and down the off-road sections of the Fosse Way and Ridgeway. But these routes are mainly loose gravel, compact stones, chalky mud or wet grass. It can’t harm the training of course, but I think they’re simply not rough enough to give a feel for the aforementioned EVIL CHUNKS OV STONEY DETH.

    Mat – I will investigate the Salisbury Plain perimeter road. I have ridden across the Plain a few times on the Imber road that is usually closed to the public – and some of that is broken concrete and quite rough. If the perimeter road is like that, then it will be pretty handy, as you say.

    Failing everything, then I’m off down the tool hire shop to get a pneumatic drill to sit on, as recommended by shollin. If it doesn’t help for Paris-Roubaix, at least I can send the video to Jackass.

    November 28, 2011 at 11:11 pm #658045
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    shollin

    If I was you I would sit butt
    If I was you I would sit butt naked on a pneumatic drill for a few hours…give you some idea how tender you will fell after the ride. I’ve watched some videos of the Paris Roubaix, one where the guys saddle fell off…Couldn’t make up my mind if he was better off without it to be honest! Good on you though, one hell of a challenge. Best of luck 🙂

    November 28, 2011 at 10:03 pm #658043
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    mattsccm

    When I say gravel I mean
    When I say gravel I mean stuff thats 3 or 4 inches across and hard packed. If I can I’ll find some grid refs.

    November 28, 2011 at 9:58 pm #658041
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    Rob Simmonds

    *coff*
    *coff* :B
    http://road.cc/content/feature/34113-good-vibrations-ronde-de-vlaanderen%E2%80%A6-and-cobbles-paris-roubaix

    I can’t think of anywhere that would accurately replicate the EVIL CHUNKS OV STONEY DETH that cover the P-R route, although a turn around the cathedral close in Exeter would be pretty close. Not in your patch though and the tourists might comment. You might like to try some rough off-road bridleways, that might be reasonably close.

    November 28, 2011 at 8:19 pm #658039
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    Simon_MacMichael

    Mat Brett wrote:David, it’s

    Mat Brett wrote:
    David, it’s not in any way cobbled but there’s a perimeter road around much of the Salisbury Plain military area. It goes on for miles and miles and it’s rough. It’s good training for cobbles. Just make sure the red flag isn’t flying or you might cop a stray bullet.

    Yeah, 20-odd years ago you’d definitely have been advised to steer clear when I was on the range 😉

    Mat’s obviously too modest to mention it but you’ll also want to read his experience of hitting the Paris-Roubaix cobbles with Team Sky earlier this year.

    http://road.cc/content/blog/34295-hitting-paris-roubaix-pav%C3%A9-team-sky

    November 28, 2011 at 8:16 pm #658037
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    Mat Brett

    David, it’s not in any way
    David, it’s not in any way cobbled but there’s a perimeter road around much of the Salisbury Plain military area. It goes on for miles and miles and it’s rough. It’s good training for cobbles. Just make sure the red flag isn’t flying or you might cop a stray bullet.

    November 28, 2011 at 8:09 pm #658035
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    David Else

    This is great stuff,
    This is great stuff, guys.

    @giff77 – when you say ‘up here’, where do you mean? I used to ride in the Derbyshire/Yorkshire/Cheshire area and still often venture back to those regions.

    mattsccm – the Forest of Dean is certainly within striking distance. Gravel roads are a different beast, and not really the right prep for Paris-Roubaix, I think, but those stretches of rough rock sound like they might be something like. Can you provide any more pointers on locations?

    @Fringe – thanks for the link. It’s making me feel so much better. Especially the picture of the bleeding hands.

    November 28, 2011 at 6:30 pm #658033
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    Fringe

    have you read the cycling
    have you read the cycling inquisition blog post about riding the cobbles. funny stuff.

    http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2010/04/paris-roubaix-race-ride-and-ernest.html

    November 28, 2011 at 4:56 pm #658031
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    mattsccm

    I doubt there are many
    I doubt there are many worthwhile cobbled sections of roads left. Why not bring the bike across the river. Many of the graveled tracks in the Forest of Dean have got large stones as a base. As the gravel has worn away over the years you can find long stretches of solid but rough rock. Riding them is definitly an aquired taste and skill on a road/cx bike.

    November 28, 2011 at 4:44 pm #658029
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    David Else

    Thanks guys. Keep ’em coming.
    Thanks guys. Keep ’em coming. Much appreciated.

    As part of my research, today I went along the canal path east of Bath. Usually, I seek the smoothest course by weaving around and avoiding the rough stony sections. Today I just charged across the top of the stones in my biggest gear. Nowhere near as bad as French cobbles, of course, but a taste of things to come…

    November 28, 2011 at 4:43 pm #658027
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    giff77

    Shame you didn’t live up
    Shame you didn’t live up where I am, there’s a few unclassified roads I get to use that the surface is totally beat up. I get to cover climbs, flats and decents on these, getting a bit hairy in places and still no signs of resurfacing, 😀 but sure sorts out the arms 😉

    November 28, 2011 at 2:52 pm #658025
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    Simon_MacMichael

    Just thinking… if you can
    Just thinking… if you can identify any old tracks leading to farms near you that haven’t had a fresh coat of tarmac in decades, that might help you. Likely to be nice and quiet too.

    November 28, 2011 at 2:49 pm #658023
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    Stumps

    Try any of the inner city
    Try any of the inner city roads in England, there are so many pot holes it feels like cobbles. 👿

    Only joking, there’s none i’m aware of in the North East but if you’ve got a mountain bike some of the forest trails are good to try in the winter as they get quite rutted. Whatever you try good luck with the race !

    November 28, 2011 at 2:42 pm #658021
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    Fringe

    Long Drove just of the A39
    Long Drove just of the A39 near glastonbury isn’t cobbles as such but is very beaten up tarmac and benefits from very little traffic. one of my favorites in the winter (gets muddy too). 😀

    November 28, 2011 at 2:39 pm #658019
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    Simon_MacMichael

    Not near you, but
    Not near you, but incorporating the cobbled Rotherhithe High Street into my daily commute back when I worked in London did wonders for my balance as well as keeping my arms nice and toned 😉

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