Albertina's post Paris-Roubaix sojourn into Flanders
by Albertina on Apr 15, 2009 8:26 AM EDT
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PrintI'm not trying to induce more jealousy, really I'm not, but I feel compelled to share with you all my experience of cycling in Belgium. If anyone ever tries to tell me that Belgium is the most boring country in the world ever again, there will be hell to pay for the poor soul; Belgium is paradise, utopia, Heaven on Earth. Everywhere you look there are cyclists, on their own, in big groups, serious ones, recreational ones, and they are all so friendly! We stopped at a cafe and everyone in it was wearing lycra. There is bike porn at every turn. The general public actually know about more than just the Tour de France! Even the old grannies in the hotel lift went all giggly at the mention of Tom Boonen. And, they have CYCLE LANES! Like, proper ones, miles away from the road, and when you have to cross a road, cars give way to you! As a Londoner, this is the most amazing thing I have experienced all year! I'm sold. I want to move to Oudenaarde. Like, now.
But before the cycling could begin, there was Podium Cafe socialising to be done. Enter CycleGirl! There was food, there was wine, and there was gossip. Seriously, what could be better?
The following morning, off we went to an innocuous little village called Melden. Here it is. But you see that thing in the background, that big hill? That is called the Koppenberg. You may have heard of it.
Surely this thing can't be hard? I mean, it's only, what, 22%, on frickin' cobbles!!
My (male) friend made it up at the second attempt:
I made it up too. On foot. I felt fine for a while, and was rather impressed with myself, and then, l'ouch. Stupid gradient+cobbles=nemesis. And once you stop, you really really cannot get going again. Here I am reaching the top. It even looks as if I'm cycling!
I was a little depressed that it beat me, but next year I'll be back and I'll do it if it kills me! Coming down the other side was much more fun :-)
We then headed into Oudenaarde, or the edge of it at any rate, and stopped for some tea (did I mention that we come from England?). A friendly cyclist, one of the many, took our picture. I apologise for the black socks. I accidentally didn't take enough white ones.....
We then found this lovely cycle path which went on for miles and miles and miles:
Who is this Tom Boonen character of whom the locals speak?
As we know, all good things must come to an end. We had a train to catch and had to kiss goodbye to Utopia. We packed up with heavy hearts and went home.
And so, here I am sitting at my desk. I feel lethargic. I don't want to be here. I think I might have left my heart, and my brain, in Oudenaarde.......
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Uhmmmm...
“Enter CycleGirl! There was food, there was wine, and there was gossip. Seriously, what could be better?”
I’m not going to start a Bennalanche here, but…
Oh my, I've just fallen in love with Roger De Vlaeminck's sideburns.
I was so going to post my pic here
But … i’m keeping it for my post… but i’m thinking there may be a new lanche… coming soon…. hehe
"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"
Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009
I like that Bianich - is it yours or did you rent?
Very nice account Albertina, but we need much, much more information about race day :-)
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
Oh - gotta go look them up :-)
Love the downtube on that bike – looks like my Cannondale.
"I didn't look for him and I didn't see him. If you base your race on another rider, most of the time you lose."
Tom Boonen
You've branded your downtube Cannondale?
Is that what the kids are calling it now-a-days? Their downtube?
Dude... why WOULDN'T Thor ride the chicken?
love that
that ground level photo of the cobbles with koppenberg in the background. bravo!
and thanks for the account
But I've infringed my own fashion rules!
I didn’t think it would be so warm, so imagining I’d be wearing tights all weekend, I took lots of black pairs and only one white….the shame…..
just don't let it happen again
Black socks with tights all winter (all of you Cali people can just STFU), but as soon as the shorts come out? White is right. (Gosh, now I feel lIke I should bust out in a rendition of Sweet Home Alabama or something.)
:-( I feel so awfully embarrassed!
It’s the first time in my life I had committed such a grave cycling offence. Do you think I will be forgiven by the gods of the bike?
I'm thinking, being british
and going to the Koppenberg to ride gives you plenty of points on the plus-side so I’d imagine them being very lenient..
Moreover, it is my opinion that Alejandro Valverde is an asshole who should not be allowed to compete in bikeraces right now.
Black socks with tights?
This is totally acceptable in my view. Especially if the weather is not so dry.
But with shorts, white is better. Unless your team leaves you no choice in the matter. Sigh.
Oh I'd go as far as to say that black socks with black tights are entirely necessary.
Hence why I took so many. Then it was too warm for tights…woopsy!
Thank for sharing. My daughter saw your post and said,
“Mom, you have to go to Europe and do that.” I agree.
In 2 years
but I’m thinking I’ll be on the Muur…
Yeah
plus it’s likelier you’ll see the decisive move. I had entertained thoughts of trying to do both Koppenberg & the Muur, but I seem to recall somebody saying here that that’s pretty hard to do (as opposed to Arenberg & l’Arbre).
However, I’m anticipating going more than once in future years…
yes. She tolerates my cycling talk and watches occasionally actually knows who most of the riders are.
by ZoeRochelle on Apr 15, 2009 10:01 PM EDT up reply actions
I guess nobody will see this but...
HA!
by plinytheelder on Apr 16, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Is this some secret PdC version
of Rock, Paper, Scissors?
my wife has a 34 on the back and has slowly (SLOWLY)
climbed many great climbs (Alpe, Ventoux, etc) always with a smile
Gearing is the secret to cycling
But she only does these climbs to tolerate me ;)
formerly known as cyclingchallenge
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