2011-04-02 - Tour of Flanders 2011

Entries now open (entered yesterday). Following Paris Roubaix last year, this is my focus for next. Anyone doing this...

Suffering last year in the Trouee d'Arenberg!

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cough http://www.lfgss.com/thread40445.html cough

I predict the mergatron.

Last post 6 April 2010 - new thread for new year! Although I'm sure that doesn't grant me immunity from the ire...

Anyway link here:

http://sport.be.msn.com/cyclingtour/rondevanvlaanderen/2011/eng/inschrijven/

It depends on how grumpy the mergatron is today.

Which distance are you planning on doing?

Registered for full distance. Did the 173km Paris Roubaix due to lack of training, felt I cheated for not doing the full distance - although all stretches of pave covered. Feel I really ought to do make amends this time.

I did the short route for this in '09 with sister and friend. all on hybrids. all 200% unready (first long ride (>5miles) in 10 years. loved it. now im better equipped im definately thinking about doing this in 2011.

still dont reckon ill get up those bleedin' cobbled hills at the end though.

reckon if i do it, i will go for the middle distance.

Bought myself a Concorde in PDM colours, circa 1989 - so feel it deserves a trip to it's spiritual homeland. Middle distance seems a popular choice from people i've spoken with.

Middle distance has all the highlights without the 100 km slog around western Flanders before it.

Hmmmm, this is something I've been considering for a long while now.

Do it! It's a fantastic event.

Very interested in this, ridden most of the route in bits on holiday there a couple of years ago. Is generally a hassle to sort out solo transfers/hotels etc though? I doubt my club will be doing a group trip unfortunately...

Do it! It's a fantastic event.

If I said "I'll have to check the finances" you'd know exactly what I mean....

^ if you do the 140km distance its a loop starting and ending at the same town. For the full route you can get the 5am transfer bus with your bike from there to the start. Makes it much easier dealing with campsites or hotels.
I did it in 09 with a mate. He left at god knows what time to ride out to the bus, I had an extra hour in bed and did the shorter route...
Either way its f'ing awesome.

signing up for 260km.. today

(note to self.. must order extra handlebar tape, locktite all bottle cage bolts, order replacement arse..)

What bikes do you lot ride this on? Me and some friends thinking of doing the 150km ...

Hmmmm, this is something I've been considering for a long while now.

do it! cost us a bit over £300 with sportingtours last yr. not too bad as it includes bus to ghent, 3nite accommodation and bus ride following the pros the following day.

What bikes do you lot ride this on? Me and some friends thinking of doing the 150km ...

rode my regular carbon road bike. the bike held up ok, bottles stayed in place and wheels survived. even an old set of gp4000s got me through without a puncture or any major slip.

What bikes do you lot ride this on? Me and some friends thinking of doing the 150km ...

titanium or steel road bike.. more comfortable and forgiving..
..suggest that you don't take your best bike for this ride regardless of distance..
and assume the worst that could happen like buckle a wheel or crash on the cobbles which are less forgiving..

zie je daar.. mijn vrienden

I rode an aluminium bike with aluminium seatpost with aluminium wheels and 24mm Vittoria Pave tyres (that i'd forgot to let down from the 120psi over pressure I'd inflated them to before leaving in case I couldn't find a pump and wanted some pressure headroom).

Tour of Flanders is awesome.

Paris-Roubaix will take some convincing before I do it again.

cough http://www.lfgss.com/thread40445.html cough
I predict the mergatron.

I think in this case, if they're bigger classics or likely to be heavily posted to, a separate thread is ok for each year. Kinda like the yearly Dunwich threads. I've renamed both threads. Let's see how it pans out.

My prediction failed to take into account the mergatron's love of all things Flandrian, but specifically the beer.

:-)

do it on your best bike wearing rapha, don't stop on the climbs not even for fat kamikaze germans

My prediction failed to take into account the mergatron's love of all things Flandrian, but specifically the beer.

:-)

No, what you've failed to take into account is that it opens up the possibility of more threads to post his Flanders-riding pictures in. ;)

Oliver - you're right of course. I shall humbly desist from posting photographs again and join with other members in doing so. Hangs head in shame at my shameless self promotion...