2013-05-04/05 Ardennes Liberator Tour

Are you lot all taking road bikes? Fuckity fuck I haven't got a geared bike that's remotely suitable for riding on. Hrm.

Lovely part of the world, have fun.

La Chouffe should be your first beer.

Thanks AndyP..

Bothwell get your geared bike sorted please, or ride SS..

Gah. Can you fix the first map link please, Al? It's just a link to your profile, so I can't see the map for day 1!

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/177121822/

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[URL="http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/177121822/"][/URL]

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Jealous. At a wedding that weekend.

Oh. Yes. Thank you. God, my brain. I even read that post earlier and thought "how useful!", and it STILL fell out of my head.

Jealous. At a wedding that weekend.

No worries, Andy Schleck is our bridesmaid..

Ok, I am off to see Denver at On Your Bike on Saturday where he will give my errant Crosscheck a proper talking-to ("you've let Brixton Cycles down, you've let Surly down, you've let Shimano down, but most of all, you've let yourself down") and making it rideable again.

It does mean I won't be able to make your Fireflies-based training ride but tbh you nearly killed me with that same route only a few months ago so I am now wise to your dirty, hilly, tricks.

What size frame do you ride? I have a 56cm Raleigh in 531c, and 9spd Ultegra that I need to get built up at some point. You'd be welcome to borrow it for this if you liked?

(or OLC if you're interested)

i don't expect anyone to get crucified in the ardennes region.. but hill training is essential.. as is beer drinking, eating wild boar (non veggies only), dumps in the forest.. its da rulez ;)

I might be interested in this. I've been wanting to ride in the Ardennes for some time-I've driven around there in a car wishing I was on my bike.

Famous Eau Rouge corner at Spa when it was still public road? I really enjoyed that.

Just for the record, there'll be no bombing down any descents for me. I reckon I climb faster than I descend. And that's not a high benchmark...

What size frame do you ride? I have a 56cm Raleigh in 531c, and 9spd Ultegra that I need to get built up at some point. You'd be welcome to borrow it for this if you liked?

(or OLC if you're interested)

OLC's more likely to fit - I could ride a 51cm at the biggest! Cheers, though.

The problems with my Crosscheck are mostly stem-and-setback-related, but no amount of fiddling from me seems to have resolved either. It's like trying to measure a cat's legs, either the legs are 2cm long if it's pretending to be small and about a foot long if it's stretching. When we rode in Italy last year I had the hoods pointing up to space to try to get some relief from the stupid reach. A professional fitter will see me right, though. I'll be sure to stop off at Borough Market afterwards to make up my beer and boar quota in lieu of panting up Toys Hill, obvs.

i don't expect anyone to get crucified in the ardennes region.. but hill training is essential.. as is beer drinking, eating wild boar (non veggies only), dumps in the forest.. its da rulez ;)

But I already told you I'd be at a wedding.

ardennes liberators update

1. almac68 - tripadvisor
   
2. bernie - patron saint of beers
   
3. hats - slag tuneselecta (van)
   
4. esstee - co-driver sprint king
   
5. braker - tuneselecta (road)
   
6. bothwell - needs to get bikefitted
   
7. OLC - hero if he rides this geared
   
8. clubman - seasoned pro
   
9. branwen - white jersey contender
   
10. brian - the landlord
    
    
    

dumps at a wedding

1 Attachment

Bothwell you'd be very welcome to borrow my road bike - if the langster fits then (in very unscientific theory) the allez should too.

No excuses now!

What size frame do you ride? I have a 56cm Raleigh in 531c, and 9spd Ultegra that I need to get built up at some point. You'd be welcome to borrow it for this if you liked?

(or OLC if you're interested)

that would fit me. but i would feel very cheeky if you were building up a bike you hadn't even ridden and i was borrowing it. i think bernie has a spare road bike he has offered for the trip

i don't expect anyone to get crucified in the ardennes region.. but hill training is essential.. as is beer drinking, eating wild boar (non veggies only), dumps in the forest.. its da rulez ;)

i can't make this weekend or fit in any significant riding between now and the weekend of 27-28 April sadly. but i'm in good form for hills as it is. will definitely ride that weekend to build up stamina

We are Max'd out at ffaulty towers guesthouse now, with 10 awesome riders...

Epic times await..

that would fit me. but i would feel very cheeky if you were building up a bike you hadn't even ridden and i was borrowing it. i think bernie has a spare road bike he has offered for the trip

Well the offer is there, would be good to have it to spur me on building it (and have ridden the frame for 2 years as a conversion, and the groupset for 5+ years, so it'd only be in this build that it'd be new)

What a place this forum is :)
If it's built up by the last weekend in April to allow for a practice spin I would gladly take advantage of your generosity

Lovely part of the world, have fun.
La Chouffe should be your first beer.

Great choice.

You wouldn't want a beer gut hampering your racing though. Better hand it over.

In my attempt to shorten route on Saturday and trace LBL.. Hill profile just went meh..

Bothwell you'd be very welcome to borrow my road bike - if the langster fits then (in very unscientific theory) the allez should too.

No excuses now!

Just because we both own Langsters doesn't mean they're the same size :p I think you're only a little bit taller than me, though. I may take you up on this if I'm still not happy with the XC but we'll see how the fit goes first. Thank you!