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Tour of Flanders

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  • October 31, 2013 at 11:34 pm #20138
    dunnoh

    Just entered. Really excited. Just need to get in training now. Any advice gratefully recieved

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  • January 10, 2014 at 10:40 pm #761755
    0
    tombourne

    I did Flanders last year and
    I did Flanders last year and spent the weekend with Jean Marie Wampers, a Belgian ex-pro who won Paris Roubaix in 89 when men were men and all that. His advice was don’t get too close to anyone’s back wheel on the climbs. This saved me on all the climbs. People just stop dead. Leave a couple of wheel lengths and you can get round them, too close and you’re stopping too! It’s what cycling is all about.

    January 10, 2014 at 2:09 pm #761753
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    gvn

    I have also signed up with
    I have also signed up with some mates and very excited to go do this…

    From reading the posts, I notice that there will be much overcrowding on the climbs..

    Can this be avoided (to some extent) if you start at 07:00 when it opens? Or does the bunches end up being so big that overcrowding on the narrow climbs are unavoidable?

    I’ll be taking on the 140km – anyone out there have a route profile for this particular route showing when to expect the climbs.

    Thanks

    January 10, 2014 at 8:34 am #761751
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    Yorkshie Whippet

    sorebones wrote:Yorkshie

    sorebones wrote:
    Yorkshie Whippet wrote:
    Look out for me, I’ll be the one flying up the pave only to collapse at the end gasping, no, pleeding for mercy at the end of each. #o

    There’s a couple of places on ebay that do “permenant” covers for speedplay’s For the price I might invest.

    I’ve seen those advertised but was hoping to hear some user feedback before taking the plunge.

    Sorebones,

    I took the plunge and got a set of the covers. Well worth it in my opinion. Simple pull them over your cleats, click into place and go. Considerably more grip than the metal plate, they are hard so grip on steep wet slopes is limited but still more than without. As they add more height bit awkward when walking, but soon get use. Not lost one yet, (touch wood) and can not see how you could loose one in use. Not noticable when on the bike. A cheap fit and forget improvement.

    November 23, 2013 at 5:42 pm #761749
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    monty dog

    90psi! Forget that, get down
    90psi! Forget that, get down below 5 bar for the sweet-spot in terms of grip and comfort – run the biggest tyres you can fit, simple. Rode the old, full-course version a few times, including one that was over 300km due to a navigation error at DePanne!

    The watch comment is good – the vibrations cause the winder to abrade your skin and stings-like-f* if you get sweaty. Likewise, get some decent quality padded mitts and break them in properly – don’t wait to 150km to find there’s a seam sawing-away on the inside of your thumb.

    My favourite climb is the Oude Kwaremont – if you can sustain the power all the way, it’s an awesome feeling. Koppenberg is too much of a lottery, there’s too many people walking.

    November 17, 2013 at 12:06 am #761747
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    middlering

    I’m riding too, 3rd year in a
    I’m riding too, 3rd year in a row. Have even signed up my partner this year for the short course.

    From my experience:
    90psi versus 120 psi won’t make much of a difference on the cobbles., but that 120 might mean fewer pinch flats. However, if it’s wet, all bets are off.
    Long flat cobbled sections are much harder than those revered cobbled climbs. Probably also why I always find Kwaremont more painful than Paterburg.
    In the saddle climbing is better than out of the saddle. Either way, go in the highest gear you’re able to push for that incline, but not too high to make you stall. I ride most climbs on my spring rides in saddle, just to train myself not to get out of sale just because it’s a short step climb.
    Finally, steak, beer, frites, coffee and dame blanche. I usually load up on them to make the trip a net validity gain despite the rides 🙂

    Enjoy training for it 🙂

    November 12, 2013 at 9:42 pm #761745
    0
    Jonny7C

    jobless wrote:Don’t wear a

    jobless wrote:
    Don’t wear a watch.

    echo the above – make sure any lights/computer/bottles are well secure.

    I wouldn’t worry about lowering tyre pressures, being a tad more uncomfortable for a day easily wins over repairing multiple pinch flats.

    As for the climbs, don’t come over all British if you want to ride to the top of the Koppenberg. You will need to shove and shout. A lot. Otherwise you’ll be stuck in the snake of walking riders.

    November 12, 2013 at 12:16 pm #761743
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    jobless

    Don’t wear a watch.
    Don’t wear a watch.

    November 12, 2013 at 9:04 am #761741
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    Blackhound

    You will have a great time,
    You will have a great time, did it a few years ago on the old course. I am a poor climber but I only walked on 2 climbs both times because of mass of riders in front of me rather than because I was unable to. The climbs can be steep but they are mercifully short. Think it was Paterberg and Koppenberg that got me.

    Ran 90psi and a 25mm tyre up front. Also make sure your bottle cages are tight – there was a mass of bottles over the road on first cobbled section.

    November 11, 2013 at 5:09 pm #761739
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    sorebones

    Yorkshie Whippet wrote:Look

    Yorkshie Whippet wrote:
    Look out for me, I’ll be the one flying up the pave only to collapse at the end gasping, no, pleeding for mercy at the end of each. #o

    There’s a couple of places on ebay that do “permenant” covers for speedplay’s For the price I might invest.

    I’ve seen those advertised but was hoping to hear some user feedback before taking the plunge.

    November 11, 2013 at 4:09 pm #761737
    0
    Yorkshie Whippet

    Look out for me, I’ll be the
    Look out for me, I’ll be the one flying up the pave only to collapse at the end gasping, no, pleeding for mercy at the end of each. #o

    There’s a couple of places on ebay that do “permenant” covers for speedplay’s For the price I might invest.

    November 11, 2013 at 2:18 pm #761735
    0
    southseabythesea

    I’m going to swap over my
    I’m going to swap over my speedplays for MTB pedals and where my off rode shoes, even with covers on I think walking up hill (hopefully I don’t have to) maybe very difficult at best.

    November 11, 2013 at 1:26 pm #761733
    0
    sorebones

    I’ve also entered for next
    I’ve also entered for next year – excited and nervous in equal measures. I am considering tubeless tyres / wheels for my next all-rounder set, would this make sense to help run lower psi and avoid pinch-flats?

    It seems like cafe covers for my speedplay cleats might be my first purchase!

    November 10, 2013 at 10:30 pm #761731
    0
    FreeTrainerSoftware

    Remember also to see the
    Remember also to see the Flanders museum http://www.crvv.be/en/ You can get a Leffe there also (ask for the double & you will get the slightly more tasty brown version).

    November 5, 2013 at 12:56 pm #761729
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    Megacountax

    smudge wrote:Leffe!
    +1!

    smudge wrote:
    Leffe!

    +1!

    November 4, 2013 at 4:51 pm #761727
    0
    smudge

    Leffe!
    Leffe!

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