La Flamme Rouge **off topic discussion**

I left it for about 5 years.

Not the easiest question to answer.

First off I found it a brilliant and very welcoming event, with all types of cyclists and bikes taking part.

There are three lengths, 170km, 145km and 70km.

The longest follows the last 170km of the actual race, whereas the other two are loops from Roubaix.

Logistics wise the long end to end route is a pain. I heard cleats down the hall in hotel at 3am as lads were getting ready to get bus to the start line; any regret about not doing a the long disappeared there and then

We chose the shorter 145km loop which has about 20 sectors of cobbles as against 30 or so on long route.

If you are going to have an issue its not with elitism, the distance (assuming you can do some bit of training before then) its going to be with handling the cobbles.

On the 145km route the first cobbles we met was the Arenberg; which is a 5 star sector was quite the introduction to cobbles. I was part of an official club who only ride bothrins/back road and we were all very comfortable on bad surfaces/off road but I don't think i ever experienced anything like that initial shock of hitting the Arenberg and going wtf are we doing here.

Arenberg cobbles were damp to which didn't help. So much so I had my mind made up I was cycling back to Roubaix minus the cobbles if the threatened rain came. As it turns out it didn't and after that we had an absolute ball.

We did it in 2018 and I used a nice tyre which measured 30mm or so and wide, at the time rims, so not near as tough as doing it on 23mm like the pros in Kellys time. Modern bikes with wide clearances and tubeless tyres allows for lower pressure again which is a big help with grip, comfort and control.

The best advice I got was from @Mefistofelino here who said to ride the cobbles like intervals i.e. as fast as you could. I did and it was some craic although, after 20 intervals I was in some heap by the time we made the velodrome.

If your health allows just do it. Best cycling event I ever did. Avoid gobsh!tes on mountain bikes especially with 800mm bars!

In case of a collarbone or the like get EHIC before you go!

https://www2.hse.ie/services/schemes-allowances/ehic/apply/

Does anyone know why non club member CI membership is higher than being a club member? I've recently transferred out of a club and noticed my renewal is now €20 more expensive. Seems a very strange tiering to have.

Yeah I did consider that as a reason. First time renewing as a non club member so never saw it before.

Got me whistle 'n flute on for the cycling Ireland dinner and celebration. Selfies with Ben Healy and Lara Gillespie hopefully.

Anyone else goin?

Anyone know where the thread on workplaces being cycle friendly went?

Yep, he was banned for a rather racist remark in a thread unrelated to the cycling forum. A nasty bit of work, with no interest whatsoever in cycling, just causing trouble.

Anybody manage to hit the holy grail of 20K on the bike in 2025?