RvV & Paris-Roubaix sportives 2016

dancrowley

Hey guys.

With the disappointing news that the Race the Ras event is changing the number of stages, I feel the need to fill the gap it has left in my 2016 goals list. Enter the Spring Classics and a week of madness.

I am going to ride both the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix sportives in April. I'm just curious if anyone on here has done this before, and can recommend how best to do it...? Which operator to use, if any, etc.

Any equipment recommendations are also welcome.

Cheers!

nak

Flanders sportive is very well organised, no need to go through a tour company. Accommodation is booking up now though, same goes for PR.

Biggest tyres you can fit on your bike - two of us used 26mm Specialized Turbos for a wet, mucky Flanders this year and had no issues. Shout on the climbs to let people know you're coming through and they should let you past. The standard of riding was high (good bike handling) - didn't see any crashes. We stayed in Kortrijk and got the train to Oudennarde.

I'll be using bigger tyres for PR next year.

benneca1

Remember peeing al fresco beside the road will not be tolerated on the spot fine and a big one at that

Harrybelafonte

Orgaise yourself. Stay in Gent and cycle out to Oudenaarde to sign on night befre, then cycle out again in the morning to race. Train home. Not sure I'd do PR the same week. I couldn't sit for 24 hours.

ptr_84

dancrowley wrote: »

Hey guys.

With the disappointing news that the Race the Ras event is changing the number of stages, I feel the need to fill the gap it has left in my 2016 goals list. Enter the Spring Classics and a week of madness.

l. I'm just curious if anyone on here has done this before, and can recommend how best to do it...? Which operator to use, if any, etc.

Any equipment recommendations are also welcome.

Cheers!

I've my name down for paris roubaix this year, aparantly it'd best to fly to Brussels and get train to roubaix, but ive not got flights booked yet.

What's the story with race the ras?

dancrowley

ptr_84 wrote: »

I've my name down for paris roubaix this year, aparantly it'd best to fly to Brussels and get train to roubaix, but ive not got flights booked yet.

What's the story with race the ras?

I need to look into booking things, pronto, it seems!

Re Race the Ras, it's being downsized, apparently. I was only going to do it if it was going to be the full 8 days.

midonogh

dancrowley wrote: »

I need to look into booking things, pronto, it seems!

Re Race the Ras, it's being downsized, apparently. I was only going to do it if it was going to be the full 8 days.

I would recommend that you book the Paris Roubaix bus transfer ticket first if you intend doing the long route. It only costs about €10. Check your hotel accepts bikes, the first one we booked didn't (tired of people coming i. With mucky bikes I would expect).
There is a good thread on here where everyone shared tips from PR

ptr_84

I had a quick look and couldn't find much advice re transport or accommodation. If possible could anyone recommend a hotel that's bike friendly?

dancrowley

ptr_84 wrote: »

I had a quick look and couldn't find much advice re transport or accommodation. If possible could anyone recommend a hotel that's bike friendly?

This is what's pushing me toward booking via a tour operator, where all these issues have been sorted and it's a case of "just turning up".

nak

ptr_84 wrote: »

I had a quick look and couldn't find much advice re transport or accommodation. If possible could anyone recommend a hotel that's bike friendly?

Have always found B&B owners accommodating - the other guests in the place we stayed for Flanders were doing the sportive too and we were able to leave and pack our bikes in the hallway. Also nice to be able to choose what you want for breakfast.

Staying in an apartment for PR in Lille as it works out cheaper.

PringleDemon

Have a look at staying at the Holiday Inn Gent Expo . We have stayed there a few times and a lot of the pro teams use this as their base for the entire week . There is a tram service nearby that will take you into the centre of Gent for only a few €.

midonogh

We booked hotel morphee which let us keep the bikes in the storeroom. We drove to the start, other hotel residents took a taxi as the roads were very busy for cycling. Despite being a cycling Mecca roubaix has some very busy uncyclimg friendly roads

midonogh

Don't think you need a tour operator for PR. It's very well organised and there are loads of hotels in the area between Lille and Roubaix.

midonogh

If I was doing both sportives I would drive across. Roubaix is only 90mins from Calais. We drove last year

ptr_84

Did anyone fly over from here? If so how did you get to roubaix? Train from brussels?

Harrybelafonte

Flew to Brussels, train to Gent. Tram to Hotel. It's really not that difficult to sort. Bar my bike disappearing for 18 hours after landing

ptr_84

Harrybelafonte wrote: »

Flew to Brussels, train to Gent. Tram to Hotel. It's really not that difficult to sort. Bar my bike disappearing for 18 hours after landing

Was that for Rvv? What about PR? Ever done it?

Big Mig

I did Roubaix last year with Sports Tours International. Once you get there they look after everything else. Can't fault it really. They'll also take you to see the race at various points the next day! Next year there's a pickup from Brussles which is real handy travelling from here. Baxters Cycling Tours are another option. Went with them years ago and never had any problems either.

redmaxi

I done PR this year. We flew to Brussels and hired a car. Stayed at the Ibis Lille Villeneuve d'Ascq Grand Stade (in Villeneuve D'Ascq). It all worked out very well. Villeneuve D'Ascq is only a 20 min. drive from Roubaix. We booked the bus transfer from Roubaix to the start. All very well organized and easy to follow, it meant an early start alright but this was not a problem. Parked at the velodrome in Roubaix. Hotel was only €42/night and they had breakfast ready for us extra early. No problem with a bike in the rooms. Great experience.

ptr_84

Fir anyone that done PR before, in terms of neutral service, I ride campagnolo. . Will this cause problems in ev ed nt of mechanicals?

dancrowley

Big Mig wrote: »

I did Roubaix last year with Sports Tours International. Once you get there they look after everything else. Can't fault it really. They'll also take you to see the race at various points the next day! Next year there's a pickup from Brussles which is real handy travelling from here. Baxters Cycling Tours are another option. Went with them years ago and never had any problems either.

Thanks for mentioning the operators, Big Mig. Yeah, I'm looking at Sports Tours International; they offer the ability to do both events, watch the pros do both and also squeeze in Scheldeprijs. "Can't fault it" is what I wanted to hear. Thanks!

dermabrasion

I got a mechanical in PR last year. Punctured just before the pave began, but could not remove the inner tube as the valve washer was cross-treaded.Needed to cut the valve. Anyway, the neutral service van took about 15 mins to arrive, but it had the basics. i.e. tools. As far as having campag, I doubt they carry anything other than cables and tubes. If you bend a derailleur (for example), I'd say your in the bus.

dancrowley

dancrowley wrote: »

Thanks for mentioning the operators, Big Mig. Yeah, I'm looking at Sports Tours International; they offer the ability to do both events, watch the pros do both and also squeeze in Scheldeprijs. "Can't fault it" is what I wanted to hear. Thanks!

And I'm in! I've booked the whole whack via Sports Tours International.

When does the excitement I'm currently experiencing transform into pure fear? :pac:

Matt Bianco

Booked trip over for PR with some clubmates independently and from reading through accounts both man and bike take a real pounding. I have stock Shimano R510s at the moment but will be upgrading to Zondas or equivalent over the spring - has anyone any experience or advice on how the Shimanos should hold rather than trashing a new set of wheels on the pave?

calistro

I'd stick with the 510's, rather wreck them than the Zonda's. I rode it in 2012 on Shimano 500's with no issues. Double tape your handlebars with as much cushioning as possible.

Matt Bianco

Thanks for the advice on wheels and tape. How did you fare in 2012 - were conditions OK?

calistro

Dry and windy, but that was the one in June !.....it is ran by the Roubaix Velo Club and proceeds go to maintaining the cobbles. It's on every 2 years, 209km with 55km's pave, thinking of going again this year.

Entry fee was €24 and something like €35 for the bus collecting you & bike from Roubaix at 2am in the morning to the start in Compiegne. 4 check points/food stops along the way, finished in the velodrome.

dermabrasion

Matt Bianco wrote: »

I have stock Shimano R510s at the moment but will be upgrading to Zondas or equivalent over the spring - has anyone any experience or advice on how the Shimanos should hold rather than trashing a new set of wheels on the pave?

I ran R510's with 25ml Gatorskins at 7bar. The wheels handled it no bother. Gatorskins slid around a bit when it was we (i.e. I slid off the crown of the road). I had one puncture, nothing to do with pave.
Would recommend 28ml if i was to go again.

Matt Bianco

dermabrasion wrote: »

I ran R510's with 25ml Gatorskins at 7bar. The wheels handled it no bother. Gatorskins slid around a bit when it was we (i.e. I slid off the crown of the road). I had one puncture, nothing to do with pave.
Would recommend 28ml if i was to go again.

Great to hear about the sturdiness of the Shimanos - didn't fear for them although broke three spins on a flat Audax in December which raised my alarm!

I am running Conti 4 Season 25s at the moment but was looking at buying these based on size and side wall protection

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vittoria-pave-cg-open-clincher-road-tyre/

Matt Bianco

calistro wrote: »

Dry and windy, but that was the one in June !.....it is ran by the Roubaix Velo Club and proceeds go to maintaining the cobbles. It's on every 2 years, 209km with 55km's pave, thinking of going again this year.

Entry fee was €24 and something like €35 for the bus collecting you & bike from Roubaix at 2am in the morning to the start in Compiegne. 4 check points/food stops along the way, finished in the velodrome.

I had seen that and great to see the grassroots movement into the preservation of the Pave (I might revisit that statement in mid April!) but opted for April due to holidays and the option of seeing the pros the following day.

crumliniano

Matt Bianco wrote: »

Great to hear about the sturdiness of the Shimanos - didn't fear for them although broke three spins on a flat Audax in December which raised my alarm!

I am running Conti 4 Season 25s at the moment but was looking at buying these based on size and side wall protection

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/vittoria-pave-cg-open-clincher-road-tyre/

I got those Vittoria Open Pave CG's (25) for RVV last year. It was very wet and they were remarkably grippy on the cobbles. Very happy with them. Also, I ran my Mavic Ksyrium SL's and my mate had Zonda's. No issue on the cobbles. Zonda's are pretty tough. PR cobbles may be less forgiving than the RVV ones though.

dancrowley

So, the bulk of the stuff I need has arrived:

Wiggle stuff:
Dhb toe cover overshoe (It might be chilly...)
Spare Vittoria Pave 25mm clincher
Torque wrench set (everything to be tightened down ahead of the cobbles)
Campagnolo Chorus 12-27 cassette (for them climbs)
Campagnolo Record 11s chain
Castelli Arenberg mitts (bit of extra padding)
Several Conti tubes
Topeak mini DX Master blaster pump with gauge (gauge will allow me to be at the required pressure)
Elite Ciussi gel bottle cages (should keep my bottles from flying!)
Lizard Skins DSP 3.2mm bar tape (won't be double-wrapping the bars. this stuff is cushy enough)

The Cycle Clinic stuff
Wheelset, 32F/32R, Campag Record hubs, Sapim race spokes, 2x27mm Vittoria Pave tyres and latex tubes

Anyone else signed up for the bergs and the cobbles?

07Lapierre

I did the Flanders Sportive last year... Very well organised event. I recommend you get to the start EARLY! 16,0000 cyclists on narrow roads, combined with narrow cobbled "bergs" means your never alone! Walking uphill on wet / muddy and slippery cobbles is "an experience"! Enjoy!

07Lapierre

Oh and watch out for the "street furniture" on the run into the finish! the bike lanes are separated from the road by two foot tall plastic poles.... Easily missed if your in a group of cyclists doing 50k back to Ooudenard!

dancrowley

07Lapierre wrote: »

I did the Flanders Sportive last year... Very well organised event. I recommend you get to the start EARLY! 16,0000 cyclists on narrow roads, combined with narrow cobbled "bergs" means your never alone! Walking uphill on wet / muddy and slippery cobbles is "an experience"! Enjoy!

07Lapierre wrote: »

Oh and watch out for the "street furniture" on the run into the finish! the bike lanes are separated from the road by two foot tall plastic poles.... Easily missed if your in a group of cyclists doing 50k back to Ooudenard!

Cheers for the advice! Everywhere I look, I read about how the event is very well organized. I'll be looking to head off early, alright. I'm doing the full distance (227km) so i'll have a nice ~100km of a warm-up before hitting the slopes

07Lapierre

dancrowley wrote: »

Cheers for the advice! Everywhere I look, I read about how the event is very well organized. I'll be looking to head off early, alright. I'm doing the full distance (227km) so i'll have a nice ~100km of a warm-up before hitting the slopes

The Full 227klm! Good man!

dancrowley

07Lapierre wrote: »

The Full 227klm! Good man!

It'll be an experience, anyway! I'll watch the pros do it the next day, then have a few days of leg-loosening spins before preparing myself for riding the Paris-Roubaix sportive the following weekend... :pac:

07Lapierre

Do go to the RVV Museum in Oudenarrd (Closed Mondays) well worth a visit and a nice café too. The Canal Bike path to Ghent is also a nice spin....its eh...FLAT!

https://www.strava.com/activities/280172929

dancrowley

07Lapierre wrote: »

Do go to the RVV Museum in Oudenarrd (Closed Mondays) well worth a visit and a nice café too. The Canal Bike path to Ghent is also a nice spin....its eh...FLAT!

https://www.strava.com/activities/280172929

Ha, that is pretty flat! Living in Qatar, I'm quite used to the flat landscape and the wind. Good prep for Belgium!

I'll be visiting the museum, alright. Its part of the package of the tour I'm going with. There's a brewery visit too...

Would be nice to meet up with some other Irish riders who are tackling the route(s).

nak

We were able to ride pretty much all of the bergs - there are meant to be two lanes and if you shout (politely) people walking will let you through. Lots of people made the mistake of getting out of the saddle on wet cobbles so ground to a halt. Hopefully it will be warmer than last year.

This will be my first time doing PR, so looking forward to it.

dancrowley

nak wrote: »

We were able to ride pretty much all of the bergs - there are meant to be two lanes and if you shout (politely) people walking will let you through. Lots of people made the mistake of getting out of the saddle on wet cobbles so ground to a halt. Hopefully it will be warmer than last year.

This will be my first time doing PR, so looking forward to it.

I'm looking forward to seeing how i'll be feeling once I hit the bergs. Being where I am, I rely on the wind for the resistance and plenty of work on the turbo. That being said, there's no cobble setting on the turbo! :pac: (now there's an idea for Zwift to latch on to!)

Are you doing PR with a group?

nak

dancrowley wrote: »

I'm looking forward to seeing how i'll be feeling once I hit the bergs. Being where I am, I rely on the wind for the resistance and plenty of work on the turbo. That being said, there's no cobble setting on the turbo! :pac: (now there's an idea for Zwift to latch on to!)

Are you doing PR with a group?

No, with my husband (wedding anniversary cobbled classics trip is becoming a bit of a tradition).

dancrowley

nak wrote: »

No, with my husband (wedding anniversary cobbled classics trip is becoming a bit of a tradition).

That's quite the tradition!

Matt Bianco

Has anyone who was based in Lille in previous years got any recommendations for routes in the area for spins in the days leading up to it? Ideally looking for a couple around the 80 & 120 km marks.

ptr_84

Sure the koppenberg is only up the road.

ptr_84

Anyone that's doing PR fancy a boardsie meet up and forming our own wee pelaton

dancrowley

ptr_84 wrote: »

Anyone that's doing PR fancy a boardsie meet up and forming our own wee pelaton

I'm up for that.

ugsparky

Going to watch this year and take it all in with a view to doing it next year ... goodluck to all the boardsie's doing it - hope the weather is kind ... not sure where we'll head for Sunday morning ... train from Bruges to Oudenaarde and then shuttle bus to one of the villages ... hoping to get a few autographs on a jersey ... have a friend in Bruges trying to get me a few passes ... 100th RdV so should be class ... Cancellara trying to go out in a blaze of glory ... maybe Boonen

ugsparky

Going to watch this year and take it all in with a view to doing it next year ... goodluck to all the boardsie's doing it - hope the weather is kind ... not sure where we'll head for Sunday morning ... train from Bruges to Oudenaarde and then shuttle bus to one of the villages ... hoping to get a few autographs on a jersey ... have a friend in Bruges trying to get me a few passes ... 100th RdV so should be class ... Cancellara trying to go out in a blaze of glory ... maybe Boonen

dancrowley

ugsparky wrote: »

Going to watch this year and take it all in with a view to doing it next year ... goodluck to all the boardsie's doing it - hope the weather is kind ... not sure where we'll head for Sunday morning ... train from Bruges to Oudenaarde and then shuttle bus to one of the villages ... hoping to get a few autographs on a jersey ... have a friend in Bruges trying to get me a few passes ... 100th RdV so should be class ... Cancellara trying to go out in a blaze of glory ... maybe Boonen

A part of me hopes the weather isn't kind...

nak

dancrowley wrote: »

A part of me hopes the weather isn't kind...

It certainly wasn't last year. Didn't mind the rain, but it was very cold.