Classic Clothing...

Saw this...

... and though of those looking forward to hot tarmac. Just a small matter of the cross WK then the classics before summer heat.

Oh yes, cross then cobble. Music to our ears.

We're going for a ride...

Simply put, we're* going for a loop around some of Cheshire's finest secret spots, unpaved, gravel, broken and a healthy dose of cobble (at least 10 sectors of cobble squire!). A leisurely pace for a few hours soul riding. Catchups and laughter mandatory. Join us if you fancy it, 30 - 40 miles, a couple of hours or more. Social.

Were riding through Romiley (here) at around 10.30 a.m. Two cafés there if you're coming along, grab a coffee keep an eye out for us.

Last word. I have a petit Arenburg, proceed with caution. Lightweight carbon equipment may quake with fear, dress your bicycle accordingly.

*(we - Me, Crossjunkie, Mark Sportsart)

Come On!!!

More of the same, apologies if you're scouring the net for Roubaix content and you've seen it already. Absolutely loving the opening shot from this footage, Hoste's bike bucking yet flowing at the same time. A glorious surface to race on.

More good stuff here and here.

I've no intention to for this blog to become Lotto centric, come on Quickstep, show your guns!

Yes, Yes, No, NO...

This is what I'm talking about. Pre Roubaix sabre rattling courtesy of Tim De Waele who has some of the best photos around. Check out the photos here and consider:

A. How unified and strong Team Saxo look

B. How disorganised some of the other teams look.

C. The Saxo rider's crash. WTF! How did it happen?

Sunday can't come soon enough.

Tell me it isn't true...

Well looks like they've done it.

Canyon gives Gilbert's bike the Kasseiklassieker makeover.

So that's it then, Gilbert's hopes of a win scuppered by a bike that looks as heavy as the stones it's being ridden over and as welcoming as the chipped, stained, earthenware mug that you invariably find in the barren cupboards of holiday accommodation the world over (and have no choice but to drink from as coffee in cupped hands is a difficult proposition).

Apparently the bike will be auctioned after the race with Gilbert undoubtedly glad to see it go with the relief you also feel leaving the stained holiday crockery behind and returning to your much cherished drinking vessels.

More pics here. Surely it's a spoof, come on, tell me it isn't true.

Hell of the Nothing...

Now this is what I'm talking about, although it's an old clip.

It looks like Hoste and Lotto's opening salvo's are damp squibs, so COME ON THE REDS (even though you're in a god-awful green and white kit).

Wonder if Canyon will do anything special for this years Roubaix? If so can you please produce a spare one and send it to be tested in the Hell of North Cheshire...Please?

Pretty Please?

SuperRouleur No.1 ...

Fyxo consolidates itself as a place of continual inspiration.

Words don't do this man justice.

Sean Yates giving the pavé payback. If you ever had the opportunity for this man to barrel past you you'll understand. The paintings of both Turner and Martin where probably based on the aftermath on the road after Sean having Rouleur'd through.

Prolly has Merckx Mondays, we should have Yates years.

Now where did my Motorola longsleeve go?

Leif Hoste we love you...

You can do it we know you can.

Could this rendition of the cobble classics be a triumphant parade for Mr. Hoste, another bridesmaid affair or a gentle wimpering into obscurity?

Unfortunately I'm inclined to think it may be the two later choices.

Whatever happens you can't beat the fly eyed, pointy elbowed riders pre-ride style (although some beg to differ). As mentioned before I'm a sucker for the whole theatre of the cobble training ride, the leg warmers, overshoes and Sprezzatura.

I supposed it's a case of form over function, whereas raceday is seriously function over form. After all, victory is everything (especially to a baying crowd of Flandrians).

So, if all's lost Leif go out in a blaze of muck and bullets, kicking and screaming...

...actually better not.

It may be a monopoly moment.
Go straight to jail, do not pass go, do not collect 200.

Seperated at birth, Jacques Brel, Leif Hoste, Jacques Hoste, Leif Brel

This post was brought to you by 'Here Come the Belgians favourite Belgian riders supporters club'...maybe we might have to shorten the name it ain't too snappy... and the roadside banner will have to be as long as the carrefour de l'arbre

A Sunday in Hell...

...or half of the north.

A quick Sunday tap around the lanes of north Cheshire.

14 sections of cobble/Kassein/Pavé (28 in Roubaix - half [hell] of the north...get it?). Some brutal others relatively smooth. Some with one line (deviate at your peril), others with a multitude of characterful jolts and jiggles. All to be taken as quick as you can muster.

My route actually bears more resemblance to a Belgian classic rather than the all out drag race of Roubaix. I have just enough bergs, with a decent enough percentage to make them thigh burningly torrid.

The downside...Distance. Check the average length of a sector of cobble in a cobble classic and you're looking at a couple of km average (I'm guestimating here), whereas I can only offer a distance of 500 - 750 metres at the most.

Am I downhearted? No. Do I get a buzz and tiny insight into what it actually takes to race over this surface. Definitely.

Ronde Van Oost Lancashire

The Belgians Semi-classics have tantalised our tastebuds and we're getting pysched for the monuments.

Prior to it all, we're going riding. Brainchild of Alan 'Crossjunkie' Dorrington a pre-RVV loop to get you in the mood. Here's Crossjunkie's take on it all;

"...the feel and cobbles of a Spring Classic, with some beautiful North West countryside thrown in for good measure.

Come and join us on April 3rd - all are welcome. It is fair to point out that both routes are challenging and require a reasonable degree of fitness, though the Achtervolgers group will miss out some miles and a fair amount of extra climbing from the full route without foregoing the Flandrian feel. We are running it as a 'Gentleman's and Ladies' ride and will ride together and look after each other in time honoured fashion, though I suspect there may be some action on the climbs....

Further info here:

Cue sheet

Route desciption

Disclaimer: This is a social ride, not a competitive event. All riders participate entirely at their own risk and liability."

See you there then. Double bartape wrap optional.

Anticipation...

I love this time of year.

The full winter kit, the final sabre rattling rides, the anticipation for the fireworks on our behalf.

Quickstep hit the cobbles first, while it seems Lotto have left Gilbert behind.

What's next...

Our cold season is over, well it would be if someone had told the weather gods.

Our cross season is finally over. We've raced hard, slipped & slithered, crashed, broken bike parts yet never had broken spirits. Best of all we've laughed hard and had a great time. I'll try and recap some of our experiences over the next few weeks and posts.

So here's looking forward. The Classics.

I'm genuinely excited. I've suffered a couple of weeks of post cross blues, luckily reinvigorating myself by putting together a single speed to train on through the foul weather, just a little nod to the training tactics of our all time heroes. Add to that the discovery of Roubaixesque country lanes (yes, cobbles) and I'm primed for the spring.

So to something that's inspired me. It maybe an old clip but the monochrome kit and hard riding have given me inspiration for my own single adventures, especially on the uphill at the breakdown (minus the downhill jellyleggedness).

Checking in...

Hello!

I'm still here, don't worry, don't fret, I haven't handed in the key to the blog rental, it's just that it's veldrijden season and we're veldrijding. Don't believe me? Check out some great photos here and race reports here. Whilst I'm obviously chasing form both in the legs and lungs (come on lungs don't let me down) I'm pleased to see my path to facial austerity coming to fruition.

A little bit of a round up post rather than thorny issues...although is this the beginning of one? I have an angle I wish to pursue in another post, ON YOUR LEFT!!

Great videos on Andy Waterman's blog, at last as an English speaker you get the inside story. Oh and while Andy's a Stybar fan I think I root for Albert... Does that allow us to dress in supporters club jackets, heckle each other and throw beer on our opposing rider (or rubber chicken at Stybar's chicken wing)?

Cobble addicts need to check Geoff Waugh's photo's here. Then sit back in a semi comatose state of euphoria until the next hit*... or spring. It's not far away (don't say that I'm enjoying cross too much) and apparently Lars Boom's focusing his effort on the classics. Does my Boom/Boonen showdown seem closer to reality? *Arenberg - a two hit process. The bike hits the cobble, you hit the ground.

Pavé blog have a kit. Cool Eurostyling at work.

Have a look at the 'flick through' of embrocation mag no.4 Undeniably makes me want to buy it... or figure a way of scaling the video whilst maintaining resolution to have a read.

Back home.

Simon Nurse (future HCTB rider) is promoting his race in Cardiff this weekend. Apparently the speed has gone up this year so bring the nitrous or pray for rain.

I'm putting some artwork together for Chipps at Singletrack mag for the Todmorden cross (3rd Jan) watch out for the artwork, then be there to see the craziness.

Team HCTB are soon to have some apparel...well t-shirts to be exact and if there's enough demand beyond the team bus, we may release the design for general consumption. We may also have beanie hats, but they seem to cost a fortune, so we may not. I'll keep you posted by posting, but not by post as they're on strike - I can post but it won't be delivered. OK?

Velocake slink into my bloglist. Cake + Kernow + cycling = class.

There it is, I'm spent and now need to call upon Blackalicious to round out this post with wordsmithery beyond my lowly apprentice like skill... while I return to the artboard.

Seconds out....

In the red corner of the Belgium superteams, here's the Lotto boys on their Roubaix training ride. If you weren't impressed with the blue corner, hopefully this will give you spirit during your summer training miles.



I must admit I have a soft spot for Lotto, especially Hoste (always the bridesmaid). Van Petegem always looked better in red too. Great to see Gilbert win a stage in the Giro, hopefully he will have a better Classic season next year.

Waiting....

"Cobble, Cross and Classics are life.......everything before and after is just waiting." Steve McQueen (kinda)

One grand tour down, 2 more to go, turning the cyclist into spectator. Here's Quickstep to help you keep your motivation for the snap of autumn/spring weather.

Resistance is Futile.

Beer post, couldn't resist it.

Cycling fans, supporting the classics and race sponsors since...

...well, since Carrefour de l'Arbre really.

Torque Wrench

Focus your attention on the riders, no not the bicycles, the two up Mavic support bike. Then lets consider pressure.

The roads your about to ride are tight, littered with street furniture, transition from cobble/kassien/pave to tarmac to dirt runoff from tractor usage.They alternate from spectator lined to spectator deluged. The weather also plays its hand. Sun creates choking dust storms, rain delivers a surface that must be treated with respect and a reduced lean angle.

Imagine being closed down by a breakaway group and having to pin the throttle as you round a tight Amstel Gold corner (where upon being confronted by a concrete planter full of flowers). Imagine being at the front of the main group in the Arenberg as the hammer goes down and the tempo rockets, while you're caught by the barriers. Pressure.

Of course some of the motorbike cavalcade have been riding these routes for years, but imagine being the new boy. Pressure.

Notice the pillion on the bike has no gloves and holds a wheel in each hand. The photo was shot in glorious sunshine but the temperature was arctic. Imagine travelling 259km, at speed, holding bare metal with no gloves. Either this guy has skin made of leather or is tough as. Or both.

Pressure: With the Classics drawing to a close, time is running out for the stars of the field to return a result. Will the Cunego/Valverde/Evans/Schlek's of the peleton consider their seasons floundering if they don't record a victory.

Pressure: Will the team owners and sponsors be eyeing their team lists if positive results aren't forthcoming.

Pressure: If results aren't forthcoming for the big hitters is the focus (and stress) placed on the Giro & Tour

All Gent wrong

Gent - Wevelgem. I tried for hours to tap into a live feed and failed by the process of geo-restriction, finally ending the race following a live ticker - which doesn't quite have the same cache anymore.

Boasson Hagen, a young talent's moment of glory ruined by a horrendous kit design.

Apparently doesn't know much about cycling history, which I find shocking as I've been a student of every sport I've participated in. Or is it because our rose tinted view of cycling past gives us something to romanticise about?

Anyone for Sunday in Hell?

Here come The Classics

Photo: Here comes my brother.

The most inspiring, powerful and sometimes brutal races start this weekend with the Het Niewsblad (Previously Het Volk). The sight of the Quickstep and Lotto powerhouses training on the cobbles is enough to send a shiver down your spine and looks like it'll be a slug out between the two teams. If you feel the Tour of California was largely overhyped, the spring classics should be enough to restore your faith.

I think there's a live feed here Sporza.be... although my language skills are of the talk louder and point variety. Great clips of past races in the multimedia section too, powerful camera work in the Lion of Flanders clip.

I'm tipping Lief Hoste to win, although I'm going to tip him for every race this spring until he manages to win one.