Paris-Roubaix

dd74 · 04-11-2010, 03:17 PM

Watching it on Versus now. Brutal!

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

Sweet, I just watched a DVR'd Flanders from a few weeks ago where Cancellara solo TT'd to a win, much like he did at Paris Roubaix in 2006.

dd74 · 04-11-2010, 03:31 PM

Cancellara just broke away; left Boonen in the dust. The man is a monster.

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

So it sounds like a repeat of Flanders? Cancellara first, Boonen second?
I have mucho admiration for any hardcore solo TT'ers, but I'd like to see Boonen lay off the Coke, party a little less and win a little more.

BGCarrera32 · 04-11-2010, 06:15 PM

I remember when Johan Museeuw of Mapei went down a few years ago on the pave' and split his knee cap in two. Totally psychotic race...

dd74 · 08:56 PM

"Spartacus" may be the new Armstrong. Now I'm really curious to see how he'll do in the TDF, though it's still only April. Cancellara has the TT skills, but can he climb? I dunno.

BTW: Thor Hushovd was 2nd, Tom Boonen 5th.

look 171 · 04-11-2010, 10:53 PM

now that my screaming kids are asleep, I am going up stairs to watch it with a giant tub of ice-cream, cookies, and lot-a-beer

I really wish Tom Boonon would fly the flag for Belgium in Roubaix. I am a traditionalist, I always want a Belgain to win Flanders and Roubaix. What, the days of Museeuw or De Valeminck are no more? Can't wait to see it.

T77911S · 04-12-2010, 05:14 AM

who won?? i did not realize it was on. )(*&*(*&%*&^%*&^%*&^(*&**)(*)

hincappie??

dd74 · 04-12-2010, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T77911S

who won?? i did not realize it was on. )(*&*(*&%*&^%*&^%*&^(*&**)(*)

hincappie??

Cancellara won with over 50 km to go to the finish. Hincapie wasn't even close.

Garp · 04-12-2010, 09:44 AM

Great to see that this gets coverage Stateside. I too like to see a Belgian win the one day Classics but Cancellara really deserves his victories.
Perhaps the weather has to be a lot more hostile in order for Belgians to have a chance. BTW, this year's TdF will have a stretch of cobblestones.

Quote:

This is unquestionably one of the highlights of the first week of the race, and a major first for this stage start and finish. Cobblestones haven’t been negotiated on the Tour since 2004. There will be 7 cobbled sectors over a total of 13,2 kilometres, including the Haveluy sector, only ten kilometres from the stage finish. The finish line will be located at the entrance to the notorious Arenberg Trench, the legendary backdrop to Paris-Roubaix.

Quote:

What can you say about Arenberg that hasn’t been said a million times before. For many people – fans and detractors alike – this is the essence of Paris-Roubaix. Despite the fact that it’s still nearly 100 km from the velodrome, there is always incident. This is the point where – because of the extremity of the surface – the favourites start to put the hurt on to the also-rans, and hopefully on to each other. Discovered by former Tour winner – and local boy – Jean Stablinski, and introduced in the 1968 race (the first “modern” edition), it’s been a fixture ever since 1983, except for in 2005 when it was decided that it was too dangerous and had to be repaired.

Because of the shelter given by the overhanging trees along its length, and because of the underground aquifer that is reputedly very close to the surface, the ground here never seems to fully dry out. Coupled with the subsidence that hundreds of years of mining can cause to the area, this is one of the most unbelievable roads in the world. In recent years there have been a number of serious incidents here that have put its use in jeopardy, most notably in 1998 when Johann Museeuw fell and smashed his kneecap just a week after his dominant third victory in the Tour of Flanders, causing the organisers to run the course from the opposite end so that they wouldn’t hit it so fast.

Until a few years ago, it was possible to ride along the mud at the sides, amongst and even behind the spectators, but the organisers have now put barriers along the length of the Trouée to prevent this. Now everybody gets to experience the seventh level of Hell!

The race hits this secteur at the end of a long straight road out of the picturesque old mining town of Arenberg so they’re generally travelling at speeds of up to 60 km/h. On dry days all they have to cope with is the fact that it seems to be surface with randomly sized stones, arranged in an uneven and seemingly random way. If it’s wet then the stones will also be glacially slippery. It slopes gently downwards for the first few hundred metres allowing riders to maintain, or even increase their speed, before levelling off and sloping ever so slightly upwards for the remainder of its length. The unevenness of the surface makes this slight gradient seem a thousand times worse.

There are always crashes here, because everybody wants to be near the front at this point. Mud on the cobbles – churned up by race vehicles, and often deliberately by the thousands of fans who always come here – makes it all the more treacherous.

They don’t give this one five stars because of its soft bathrobes!

Talewinds · Talewinds's Garage

It amazes me how Cancellara can TT the last 10 miles at 30mph flat.
And on top of that average 26mph for the entire event!

T77911S · 04-22-2010, 06:00 AM

iv got that picture of hincappie up at work. he got sick after that from the mud he drank. when i was watching, i could not figure out why they did not use those water bottles that have the cover. but perhaps it would not have mattered that day. what an awesome picture.

ckissick · 04-22-2010, 06:21 AM

Once while on a bike tour of Europe I came across a stretch of cobbles outside of Bruges, Belgium. I spent most of the few miles trying to find the right speed to minimize the jarring. I was only able to achieve a certain level of major discomfort, and wondered if I would ever be able to have children.

Garp · 04-22-2010, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckissick

Once while on a bike tour of Europe I came across a stretch of cobbles outside of Bruges, Belgium. I spent most of the few miles trying to find the right speed to minimize the jarring. I was only able to achieve a certain level of major discomfort, and wondered if I would ever be able to have children.

I love the sight but I hate the feel of cobbles.

look 171 · 04-22-2010, 04:41 PM

Garp,

What's it really like riding over the pave? I have never done it here because there's just none. I have ridden over some smooth river stone imbedded in concrete somewhere. Feels like my fork's going to break. Back when I was riding a lot, I use to take a pull up front and purposely run over the rough and broken section of the road just so I can shake em' up a little. I immediately get a lot of screaming in the back. I go for the water to rooster tail up their face to clean up their snot too. My favorite had to be Flanders. One day, when I grow up, I will see it in Belguim. When I was in Italy and France once in early April, I really was hoping to see some racing even crit, but there weren't any. I was thinking people would be riding and training through out the cities. But again, none. Too bad. Saw a couple of guys in Spain, that it.

dd74 · 04-22-2010, 10:03 PM

I'm sure Cahuenga Blvd from Barham south to Lankershim can give you an idea of riding over cobbles.

Anyway, it isn't the cobbles that will kill a pro cyclist's body, its the E-coli as is stated in this thread:

Serotta Competition Bicycle Forums - Lance Armstrong withdraws....

look 171 · 04-23-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

I'm sure Cahuenga Blvd from Barham south to Lankershim can give you an idea of riding over cobbles.

Anyway, it isn't the cobbles that will kill a pro cyclist's body, its the E-coli as is stated in this thread:

Serotta Competition Bicycle Forums - Lance Armstrong withdraws....

Oh no, that's not bad. I like riding on roads like that. I even like it when the machine digs up the first layer of road right before they resurface it. It shakes the guys up a bit right behind you.

dd74 · 04-23-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Oh no, that's not bad. I like riding on roads like that. I even like it when the machine digs up the first layer of road right before they resurface it. It shakes the guys up a bit right behind you.

Yeah? Well, I partially blame Cahuenga Blvd. for the fact that I may now have a damaged headset on the Ridley.

I can tell you this wouldn't happen to an old school steel race bike.

look 171 · 04-23-2010, 10:56 PM

How could that be? Was it not mounted or tighten up correctly? I have beat up old school head sets before because I wanted it perfect and actually left it too loose. You know, when you have it set up on the stand its perfect without any play, but after the first or second ride, they reset itself and become a little loose and if you hammer on it long enough, they too will get damage. I think that's what happened to your headset?

dd74 · 04-23-2010, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

How could that be? Was it not mounted or tighten up correctly? I have beat up old school head sets before because I wanted it perfect and actually left it too loose. You know, when you have it set up on the stand its perfect without any play, but after the first or second ride, they reset itself and become a little loose and if you hammer on it long enough, they too will get damage. I think that's what happened to your headset?

Don't know what happened. For the first 200-300 miles, all seemed fine. But now it's become downright embarrassing; the thing squawks and squeaks like a goosed goose.

On my steel bike, the headset is just loose (again

), though supposedly the LBS tightened it down so hard that "...it will never loosen."

Uh huh...

So, when you get your Ridley, all I can say is go with a Chris King headset and forgo the Full Speed Ahead version.