2010-07-02 - Paris Roubaix Ride

I'm planning to ride the Paris Roubaix route next year with friends and thought it'd be great if others from here would like to join or give some wisdom on the route equipment etc.
*
It's very early stages of planning, but the idea would be:
*
Evening Eurostar to Paris
Ride to Compiegne
Stay overnight in Compiegne
Wake up early
Ride the Paris Roubaix route
Maybe even ride on the velodrome for the full experience (I have no idea if this is possible and if it is we may not arrive in time)
Ride to Lille
Eurostar back to London (I might actually go via Amsterdam on the way home)
*
I'm not intending this as a tour so at most I'll have a saddle bag with the essentials. Any extra luggage would only make the ride more uncomfortable.
*
I'd like to keep*a reasonable*pace but have no idea what average speed can be maintained over cobles on that sort of distance. Something equivalent to 16mph on English country lanes.
*
I'll be reccying the route in late March or early April, albeit over two or three days, as part of a tour of Europe. So I'll have a much better idea about the fine details then.

I'll be living in Amsterdam next year and would love to do this.

Lets start a list then.

Anyone considering joining the list should know that this will be nightmareishly difficult and will require stamina, technical ability and suitable equipment.

1. Ste5
   
2. Tomasito?
   

The proper sportive is in June 2010. I will be on that. You get to ride on the velodrome and have requisite road closures, feed stations etc.

Don't forget the route signage too, Clive. That's invaluable given the circuitous route the race follows.

ste5, have a word with pj(pj) I think he's still on the forum, though now based in bristol, he did what you plan to do this year, said it was awesome, was hoping to do it with him next year. Drop him a pm and he should be able to help you with the planning, go with you..

Andyp

Actually, the greater part of the route signage is with yellow painted logos and they should still be visible in July. The route can change slightly from year to year though. The biggest problem would be farm traffic on the pave which does not happen on the sportif. Also on the sportif, you get your kit carried. a 160 mile ride with baggage is tough. 30 miles of pave with baggage would be frightful.

I did consider the sportive, and it does sound awesome. But I think i'd like the sense of adventure etc. having to find your own way, not knowing exactly if your on route and doing it unsupported.

Farm traffic is bloody annoying though.

If you intend to do it in one day, good luck !! Check out new post !!