2012-04-20/22 - Flanders shenaniganza

There for the duration of the Games, I'm sure - I think me and him might be going on Saturday before we re-create past glories in Exmouth Market, if you know what I mean?

Care to join us Al?

sounds like a great plan poots..

Al x

Eyyyy! Love it when a plan comes together! Will be in touch :)

more deets here..
i fancy my chances against big phil over 500m.. as well as reliving the messy weekend of flanders shenaz again.. ha

http://road.cc/content/news/62636-eddy-merckx-rides-london-brussels-ahead-opening-belgium-house-and-cycling

then tapas for the kings and queens of the stuntbikeyness of olympic stadium fame xx

Are we planning on noon on Sat then Al? Or a bit later?

I am excite about tap-arse. I've never drunk sherry so this is clearly a good time to be introduced to it I reckon.

Was wondering if we could all go to one of the big screens afterwards to watch the track events - or find a sympathetic pub showing it - or Look Mum, natch.

Hmm...may suggest this elsewhere ; )

http://road.cc/content/news/62636-eddy-merckx-rides-london-brussels-ahead-opening-belgium-house-and-cycling

Did he take this route? But serious question, I just drew this up has anybody any advice for route from Calais to Bruxelles please?

http://www.bikemap.net/route/1748233

any route through belgium would be good.
but heading into bruxelles will be a bit meh
good luck ludwig

Thank you. What about this?

http://www.bikemap.net/route/1758330

Oooo if you're going by Oudenaard there is a wonderful Belgian chicken restaurant that a spicy breast with a sweet sauce delight hidden in it. Recommend!

Oooo if you're going by Oudenaard there is a wonderful Belgian chicken restaurant that a spicy breast with a sweet sauce delight hidden in it. Recommend!

'The Americana'. Well good.

Jam packed with flavour

^only available on sunday's Ludwig.. plan your trip around this belgian delight..
just don't go for the samurai sauce its a bit forrin..

^only available on sunday's Ludwig.. plan your trip around this belgian delight..
just don't go for the samurai sauce its a bit forrin..

The samurai sauce is great for sqweaky chains. And they serve beer with your chicken dinner!

Pro tip: when you roll up hungry after lots of cycling, don't go for the "large" portion unless you're fully confident of being able to eat your entire body weight in chips.

oh the memories! :-)

This sounds all very delicious. Thank you. It is very doubtful so that I will make Oudenaarde by lunch time.

Ludwig,

recommend after Oudenaarde, that you aim for the Koppenberg and on to the epic Muur at Geraardsbergen highest point in Flanders for a few handstands followed by Bosberg, pick up your route from Ninove

Looks good.

http://www.bikemap.net/route/1762970

Was thinking:

Three day trip to Lille. Just bring bikes on three eurostars on a friday morning = a dozen people. Rent a place similar to the farmhouse we stayed in, and do loops going south, east, west on each of the days. It would avoid the hassle of travelling with the van, having to meet / catch up with people, dropping gear off, etc, so we'd have more time in the saddle, and if we got the first three eurostars we could be set up by midday on a Fiday, then get the evening ones home on a Sunday. Would it be too late for late September I wonder? Any thoughts?

Don't know, but hippy is affirmative

You could do Calais to Brussels in a day, it's only 200k. I did Dover, Calais, St Omer (V2 rocket site), Lille and Villenueve d'Asq are a bit shit, Mons and Charleroi I don't recall, Tournai was nice or you could go more direct through Ieper/Ypres is an important WW1 war memorial town (Menin Gate, trenches), Kortrijk/Cortrai (i can't recall but I went through there).

Trains from Cologne to St Pancras on 3.9. are €70 and if you like to do scenic €50 to Ostend. And you see the Ardennes on Sunday.

Ludwig, if you want WW1 history call in at Talbot House, Poperinge.. Menin Gate in Ypres is a bit meh..

http://www.greatwar.co.uk/ypres-salient/museum-talbot-house-history.htm

Kermess in Oudenaarde. Actually Kermess everywhere in Flanders.

last 2.5 hours of E3 with Russian commentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n5rkzhT5As

Flanders squad might recognise some of this route...