2011-04-02 - Tour of Flanders 2011

I think Oliver was referring to a certain Australian gentleman, built for comfort rather than speed.

Ooh, sorry my mistake! Always take the site as being rather tongue in cheek in any event.

I think Oliver was referring to a certain Australian gentleman, built for comfort rather than speed.

Indeed. I thought quoting Andy on the Margetub Mergatron made it obvious.

Although it's nice that Big Fatal has outed himself, too. :)

Entered the 260 km monster. Must do more miles, slightly bricking it. Looking forward to watching the pro's doing there thing though.

Entered the 260 km monster. Must do more miles, slightly bricking it. Looking forward to watching the pro's doing there thing though.

if you are in London join me (us) for training sessions after christmas starting in richmond park with the fireflies, later heading for some hills to add a little bit of interest and endurance (surrey hills, north downs and chilterns) and perhaps some cyclocross in too..

also treat the 260km sportive as one long training session when it comes.. it'll be an epic ride for sure, but it is mostly psychological, just need to keep a small squad of riders going for support and moral.. band of brothers mentality..

we'll organise pitstops / foodstops in there too, to keep spirits up, planning to ride among the Sky Velo team with a few fireflies.. get beered up on sunday, mega hangover monday.. return back to blighty god-like..

cheers Al

but it is mostly psychological

this^
i was lent a garmin so could count down the km's to go, i ended up riding solo for the last 50-60k and broke it down to shorter distances and "only 3 more hard climbs to go'
saved my huge energy gel for just the right time to see me over the Kapelmuur, Bosburg (taken in the big ring) and Geraardsbergen then it's downhill all the way to Ninove.

i should take my garmin, but i tend not to read it towards the end of a long ride though.. so after KOTD this year.. i mistakenly left the damn thing on, heading back to london on the train.. ruined my average and top speed recordings.. doh

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

Damn right.

I think Oliver was referring to a certain Australian gentleman, built for comfort rather than speed.

I will comfortably beat you, this is true.

#alltalknoaction #egoisnotadirtyword #ineedawee

if you are in London join me (us) for training sessions after christmas starting in richmond park with the fireflies, later heading for some hills to add a little bit of interest and endurance (surrey hills, north downs and chilterns) and perhaps some cyclocross in too..

also treat the 260km sportive as one long training session when it comes.. it'll be an epic ride for sure, but it is mostly psychological, just need to keep a small squad of riders going for support and moral.. band of brothers mentality..

we'll organise pitstops / foodstops in there too, to keep spirits up, planning to ride among the Sky Velo team with a few fireflies.. get beered up on sunday, mega hangover monday.. return back to blighty god-like..

cheers Al

Kind of you to offer Al, you sound like a man with a plan. I appreciate your encouraging words too. Id have been happy to meet up for some miles but I'm in Scotland. I have been cyclo x-ing but the season up here is very short, finishes mid December.

Distinct lack of road miles and motivation at the minute, once the snow has abated I will start racking them miles up.

okay Merak, good luck with training and the snow!!, i am currently looking for accomodation in Oudenaarde.. we (London based lot) plan to hire transit van go via eurotunnel or ferry to ostende friday lunchtime.. i have people from antwerp joining us..

zie je daar.. mijn vrienden
Al

My PA's father will be doing the full monty, as he has been doing year after year. If you see a 73 year old nutter fly past you lot on an Eddy Merckx, please say hi to him!

And all the best to you all that's participating.

secured hostel type accommodation in Kluisbergen nr Oudenaarde 40min train ride from Brussels.

hostel is 11.50euros per night and we have one dorm sleeps upto 12.. you must bring sleeping bags / sheets,
breakfast not included, i have a few spare places. PM me if you are interested staying 1st / 2nd april

The Outsider cvba
Hoogbergstraat 7

1. Kluisbergen
   
   

http://translate.google.com/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=nl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moerashuis.be%2Findex.htm

cheers
Al

So,

Who else is going to this, and how are you planning on getting there?

http://www.sportstoursinternational.co.uk/cycling/tour-of-flanders

@cheesecake.. PM me if you want to join us.. see earlier post^ planning eurostar to brussels, some of my team driving over with bikes..

..i'm just sorting out access for the 260km early start. no disrespect to sportstoursinternational, they took us (fireflies) across the alps last summer, but prefer to go independent this time.

Al

Good review of this sportive in this week's Cycling Weekly.

Good review of this sportive in this week's Cycling Weekly.

needs to HTFU. i only had to walk one climb as it really was a sea of mud over 20% gradient cobbles, one or 2 managed it but one slip and you are never going to get going again.
all the other climbs were rideable if you used your head by hanging back at the bottom to create a bit of a gap in front of you to avoid fat germans, remain seated, look where you are going and shout at the fat germans when they get in the way.

seated climbing FTW

260km sportive entry fee 22 euros (paid)
eurostar £34 each way (booked)
bike carry on eurostar £30 each way (booked)
hostel 11.50 per night (booked)

the best bit is that you can ride to St Pancras and wheel bike onto the train, no bag or box required, might even ride to Oudenaarde (stay) from Brussels friday morning.

10 weeks remaining, i can't wait..

Good price on the Eurostar there. There bike carriage seems to have increased by £10 each way though?
That's freakin tempting, actually.

booked eurostar seats a month ago..

join us hippy..

outbound
London St Pancras to Brussels Midi
fri 1st april 2011 dep 08:27 / arr. 11:33 train no. 9120

homebound
Brussels Midi to London St Pancras
sun 3rd april 2001 dep 20:29 / arr. 21:33 train no. 9163

was £69 return when i booked it on 05 dec

Good price on the Eurostar there. There bike carriage seems to have increased by £10 each way though?
That's freakin tempting, actually.

yes the guy in baggage apologise about the increase.. but when you add it all up, not alot of money for a weekend in flanders esp if you've been there before and don't need the sportstour assistance.. which means you spend more on beer, girls and food...

Al

damn did i just say girls.. should have read bike parts..

eurostar tickets include travel to another station in belgium. so you can train it to ninove or wherever your hotel is.

we've staying in Oudenaarde, where all the action is on Sunday, abit further on from Nivove..
also depending on numbers probably book vans to take us to the Bruges start..