2012-04-20/22 - Flanders shenaniganza

if you are canadian or from the US, recommend you get some travel insurance cover for the trip.
and you may have to fill in the usual entry forms for belgium and return to UK. as border controls on eurostar are tighter than tite..

EHIC cards are still free - just make sure you apply via the actual EHIC website and not some 3rd party 'agent' website. Your card should take around 10 days to arrive after you've applied, and you only really need your NI number (your nationality isn't an issue)

Here is the proper website: https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do

holy fricking shit.. http://beermapping.com/maps/maps.php?m=belgium

I wonder how much of this excursion we're going to be able to remember.

But I think the beer is less full of additives there. Or maybe it's just the smaller glasses that limit the damage. Anyway, we spent pretty much 12 solid hours drinking cherry beer (kriek?) after a rowing race in Brugge last year and there were remarkably few casualties. That I can remember.

Am so excited about this - thank you so much to Al / Bernie for knocking it into shape. Only thing I am slightly dubious about is the cobbles. If the little bit through Wapping to the Captain Kidd spooks me, then cobbles + hills definitely ≠ happy cycling

Maybe we could have a pre-ride re-run of the London Classic route from last year? About 40miles of riding around London including hills and pave sections. We could prob fit some beer in too.

Katie. the cobbles will be around oudenaarde mostly. and we will encounter them on a couple of climbs, and some stretches of country lanes. the climbs will be short and steep, the muur is long tarmac road climbing thro the town and very steep at the end with cobbles... there is a knack to riding cobbles on the flat.. you aim for the crown of the road, not the gutter or where the car wheels loosen the cobble setts.. stay in the saddle and ride fast.. on average the cobbles can last 150 metres. secure bottle cages or anything that rattles, double tape your bars, 25mm tyres if your frame / brakes allows and 80psi is the preferred solution. oh and you'll get a tour embroidered badge as a souvenir, and will have earnt your belgian spurs :)

A

Maybe we could have a pre-ride re-run of the London Classic route from last year? About 40miles of riding around London including hills and pave sections. We could prob fit some beer in too.

Brilliant idea! Training our legs and livers ...

Al - will do all of those things - but the fear is the fear!

conquering the cobbles is the path to cycling nirvana.. then climbing the cols of the alps..

do you have a national insurance number?
do you pay taxes in the UK?
are you entitled to NHS treatment here?

if yes, then you should be entitled to a EHIC card, check with your GP

yes, yes, yes
but I went through the forms and checked the "Who can apply" part and it says if you're not a UK, EEA or Swiss national, you can't.
For me it's probalby fine as we have travel insurance with our bank anyway.

chris, don't assume anything, please find out from your bank.. any excuse not to reimburse you for medical bills (could be +£10,000s), because you didn't tell them you were 'riding a bike in a foreign country' may be an expensive lesson.

it probably won't happen, just for peace of mind

#nevertrustabank

i only say this because a colleague at work, competed in the new york marathon 2004.. he collapsed and needed medical assistance etc.. ended up with a bill of £3,000, despite having travel insurance.. the race was not covered :(

whilst we are not competing in a race or we have no insurance cover associated with a sportive or professional cycle tour co.. therefore a gap / risk in our activity, which everyone needs to be aware of..

i'll say no more on the subject, except you need to bring a bike helmet (another insurance issue) :)

some suggestions for sew-on badges..
see you on wednesday at belgo centraal squadra-linas x

1 Attachment

• flanders_badges2.pdf

some suggestions for sew-on badges..
see you on wednesday at belgo centraal squadra-linas x

Top work mister. The one with the attendees names on is a bit special.

Er. Something you're trying to tell me? I've paid my deposit and everything ....

oops sorry KT Bee.. i'll have to make a bigger badge.. i think i missed bothwell as well :(

I don't think Kevin was very impressed at his name being truncated either.... :-)

anyway, see you all tomorrow!

epic fail on my part, this was a quick sketch
i've also forgotten how to wrap text to a shape :(
nice font though

http://jyanet.com/fonts/1411.gif

bernie should have bike transport costs sorted soon, early next week
it'll include van hire, fuel for 500 mile round trip and ferry crossing..

we will divided this among 12 riders

Something to sew the badges to...

http://www.lfgss.com/thread78941.html ?

Something to sew the badges to...

http://www.lfgss.com/thread78941.html ?

i'm chest size 40" :(
great idea though
A

That's the second time I've been kicked off the list!!1 You people are going to leave me behind at the station or something, like poor old Paddington Bear :(

ha bothwell i needed to get a reaction, you were at least a day late
are you still joining us for supper at belgo centraal tonight?

1 Attachment

• flanders_badges3.pdf

That's more like it!

Heading Centraal-wards now

nice supper last night.. many questions and good discussions, we need to do another one soon there are +80 beers available and need to book some group rides. As a few of the team only have single speed or fixed i will probably do the same and leave others to go with gears if they feel more comfortable with it. i love pain btw

jaRyder also made a good point, our badge should not be mistaken for the Vlaams Blok, so may go for a different colourway and symbol