Ronde van Vlaanderen 2014 sportive

[TheFungle]

http://www.sport.be/rondevanvlaanderen/2013/eng/

I really fancy entering this next year, either as a solo effort or with a few of the lads from work, has anyone on here done it before?

UK sportives really don't anything for me and certainly none have the history or stature of this one.

[anonymous-user]

could be tempted, need to get something epic ticked off before pablo junior arrives!....

[option click]

Yup, I'll be riding this with some mates.
It's becoming a yearly boy's weekend away; we did the Paris-Roubaix Challenge earlier this year

We'll be riding the sportive, watching the pro race and then having a couple of days of general riding around, smashing over some cobbles in the Arenburg forest and riding the Muur and Koppenburg.

I enjoy these rides so much more than the UK ones, not least because they're much cheaper and there seems to be a friendlier atmosphere.
In the spirit of N+1, I now have a dedicated 'classics' bike

Edited by option click on Thursday 31st October 12:24

[nickd01]

I've done it twice, I always do the medium route as the longer route is a lot of windy & flat riding at the start and not much fun. Stayed in Brugges and got a lift down to Ninove for the start. Well stocked feed stations, cobbles are fine to ride and it's a great ride.

Let me know if you need more detail on anything.

[TheFungle]

nickd01 said:

I've done it twice, I always do the medium route as the longer route is a lot of windy & flat riding at the start and not much fun. Stayed in Brugges and got a lift down to Ninove for the start. Well stocked feed stations, cobbles are fine to ride and it's a great ride.

Let me know if you need more detail on anything.

Are the cobbles likely to smash a bike to bikes or are they more akin to what you find in the odd town centre over here?

[nickd01]

TheFungle said:

Are the cobbles likely to smash a bike to bikes or are they more akin to what you find in the odd town centre over here?

No, all the major holes are filled as the pros race it on the Sunday and they wont like big holes! Some of the downhills can get a bit jarring but going up is obviously much slower - stick to the gutters as they're smooth or sit behind a big Belgium rider as they just tend to shout everyone out of the way! Worse thing is stopping on the cobbled climbs, it's hard to get going again.

I've seen carbon wheels, tubs - all sorts and not many mechanical issues. Use new tyres pumped up hard to avoid any pinch flats and you'll be fine

[TheFungle]

nickd01 said:

TheFungle said:

Are the cobbles likely to smash a bike to bikes or are they more akin to what you find in the odd town centre over here?

No, all the major holes are filled as the pros race it on the Sunday and they wont like big holes! Some of the downhills can get a bit jarring but going up is obviously much slower - stick to the gutters as they're smooth or sit behind a big Belgium rider as they just tend to shout everyone out of the way! Worse thing is stopping on the cobbled climbs, it's hard to get going again.

I've seen carbon wheels, tubs - all sorts and not many mechanical issues. Use new tyres pumped up hard to avoid any pinch flats and you'll be fine

That's good to hear, would seem not to use the 'best bike' on an event such as this.

[nickd01]

TheFungle said:

That's good to hear, would seem not to use the 'best bike' on an event such as this.

I used my training bike, as I was treating it as a training ride and still wanted the comfort of my training bike and not the more aggressive geometry of my race bike.

Also, transporting in / out of car & hotel and had no idea if I could leave it somewhere secure. The weather isn't always great; so I felt the best bike deserved to stay at home.

[Slacey]

Yes, entered today. Will be my first time riding this one

[Jimbo.]

Oh. Hell. Yes.

Cheaper, better organised, more fun and harder than most/all British events. Nothing comes close. NOTHING. I'm all over it.

EDIT: The first time you hit the cobbles, you'll wonder what the bloody hell's going on!

Edited by Jimbo. on Thursday 31st October 18:19

[Jimbo.]

nickd01 said:

I've seen carbon wheels, tubs - all sorts and not many mechanical issues. Use new tyres pumped up hard to avoid any pinch flats and you'll be fine

I'd beg to differ re. tyres pumped up hard. It'll ride horribly, ping everywhere on the cobbles and should it get wet, slip everywhere. Maybe even in the dry. I ran 25mm Open Paves at about 85-90psi last year and didn't have any issues at all.

[itsnotarace]

Registration opened today, booked with 3 friends

http://www.sport.be/rondevanvlaanderen/2014/eng