Paris-Roubaix On A Fixie!

If you've seen Paris-Roubaix on television or even ridden some of the cobbled sectors of the course you'll know why the 260km cobbled classic is often referred to as The Hell of the North.

I've never ridden any sections of the cobbles but from what I've read and seen on the television it looks like one needs excellent bike handling skills as well as having enough stamina and power to drive over the cobbles without falling off and getting seriously hurt.

Now try to imagine how difficult it might be to ride the course on a track bike with no brakes. I'd never considered the idea of anyone attempting such a feat until I read about a guy who plans to do exactly that on 6th June 2010.

It's a fascinating idea and one that I'm sure with gather much exposure as the big day draws closer. Apparently the guy who is doing the ride (sorry I don't know his name yet) is also looking for partners, presumably to accompany him on his crazy adventure.

For more information about his project including details of the bike he's using and footage of him cycling a section of the cobbles click here.

Thanks to Richard at Urban Hunter for giving me the heads up on this one.

Hanover Velodrome

See here.

I love this photo of the beautiful wooden velodrome in Hanover, Germany. Hanover holds particular significance for me as it's the city I fly into with Betty whenever we visit her parents who live a short distance away in Hameln.

I haven't yet visited this velodrome but will search it out when I'm next over in Germany and have a little time on my hands. I'll be sure to take a few snaps when I do and post them here.

Livestrong Time Lapse

Chris Boardman Finishes London Marathon

Britain's Chris Boardman finished today's London Marathon in a time of around 3 hours and 19 minutes. In an interview he said he had pretty much given it all he had and that after 20 miles he was struggling with the ankle he broke in the 1995 Tour de France.

In the previous year Boardman won the prologue time trial becoming only the second Britain after Tom Simpson ever to wear the yellow jersey. He also clocked the fastest ever time with an average speed of 55.152 kmh. On his day not even the mighty Miguel Indurain could live with him.



On a different note, as I mentioned yesterday, today sees the 5th East Midlands International CiCLE Classic (Rutland - Melton) being raced. I have a feeling viewers of British Eurosport may well be treated to highlights of the race at 6.10pm (GMT) since it is a British Premier cycling event being shown.

Planes, Trains and Bicycles

View from the aeroplane. Please excuse the reverse pretzel letters in the bottom right hand quarter of the picture. I was eating a pack at the time and they must have reflected in the window.

It's good to be back in the UK after a week working in Ohio. I arrived home just this morning on the 'red eye' flight. I understand why it's called that now. Apologies in advance if this post reads like a confusion of different sentences but I really don't know whether I'm coming or going after having had zero hours sleep!

Although I didn't get a chance to spin the pedals last week I did manage to fit in four 5 mile runs which went some way to combating the number of very tasty burgers I ate. I've arranged to head out with James for a three hour ride tomorrow. Should be interesting considering the lack of sleep. Thankfully James hasn't ridden for a while so hopefully we'll be sensible and just take it easy rather than trying to turn the screw on each other like we normally do.

Going back to the subject of running, tomorrow sees the 28th London Marathon taking over the capital's streets, maybe they'll be fewer cars on the road, hurray! Unfortunately Paula Radcliffe won't be running, the world record holder broke a toe last month. Kenya's Martin Lel will be looking to win the race for a record fourth time having broken the course record last April with a time of 2:05.15. Superhuman is a word that comes to mind when I think about times like that.

Back again to cycling and Liège-Bastogne-Liège isn't the only big race happening tomorrow. The East Midlands International CiCLE Classic or Rutland - Melton will be taking place relatively close to Nottingham, where I'm orginally from. Although Rutland -Melton is only in it's fifth year it is fast becoming one of the most popular events in the British cycle racing calender not only attracting the best British teams but also a number of riders from Europe including former Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt. The popularity of the race is due to the variety of roads used. They range from wide roads through to narrow farm tracks reminiscent of those to be found in the Spring 'classic races' in northern France and Belgium. You can find out more about the race here.

I'm off to bed.

Tous à vélo

Tous à vélo ! from Jeff BARRE on Vimeo.

Flèche Wallonne 2009

Davide Rebellin (Diquigiovanni) won Flèche Wallonne for the third time today at the tender age of 37. Rebellin previously won the race in 2004 and 2007.

Andy Schleck (Saxo Bank) finished second with Damiano Cunego (Lampre-NGC) finishing off the podium in third place.

All eyes will now turn to the final race of the three Ardennes classics, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, which takes place on Sunday 26th April. Highlights of the race will be shown on Eurosport at 5pm (GMT).

Drop Sequence

Affordable bicycle inspired art by Anthony Cozzi, seen here.

Roubaix Shower Room

Pedro Horillo demonstrates the thousand yard stare in the shower room of the Roubaix Velodrome. Photo: Tim Kölln

Paris-Roubaix has finished in the Roubaix Velodrome since 1943, apart from 1986-1988 when it finished on the Avenue des Nations-Unies. Unlike most races where riders head straight for their team buses, when riders finish Paris-Roubaix it is tradition to head for the shower room. For those who have never ridden the race getting cleaned up in the shower room is almost a 'rite of passage'.

The shower room is made up of open, three-sided, low-walled concrete stalls. On each of the stalls is a brass plaque commemorating a past winner. It is in these stalls that the riders can finally start to unwind by washing away the dust and grime of the day.

As the pain lessens the chosen few can again start to contemplate riding The Hell of the North.

"When I stand in the showers in Roubaix, I actually start the preparation for next year." - Tom Boonen, 2004

Progressive Law Change For London Cyclists

The Evening Standard reports on a request by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to allow cyclists to legally cycle through red lights when turning left. Read more here.

Also see here.

No Saddle

Seen here.

Klunkerz

1977. This photograph was taken in Fairfax by Jerry Riboli before the start of the first cross-country"Enduro" race, promoted by Alan Bonds. From left, Fred Wolf, Wende Cragg, Mark Lindlow, RobertStewart, Chris Lang, James Preston, Ian Stewart, Charlie Kelly, Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze, Eric Fletcher,Craig Mitchell, John Drum, Roy Rivers, Alan Bonds

Around 1989 to 1990 I bought my first mountain bike, I think I had maybe 5 or 6 in total over a period of 10 years. I still own the last mountain bike I bought, a Kona Lava Dome, it’s all steel frame and fork doesn’t make for the lightest bike in the world, actually compared with my Wilier Izoard, it’s a tank! But it was fun to ride and although in semi retirement it still makes an occasional appearance as my pub bike.

The favourite mountain bike I owned was a Marin, although I can’t remember the name of it was pretty high spec for the time (XT throughout) with oversized silver aluminium tubing and purple forks, it was a real looker.

Like many people the mountain bike craze got me back into cycling. I hadn’t really ridden bikes since I was a young teenager. It was the mountain bike that re-ignited my interest in bikes, which as time passed became a passion. During the mid-eighties and early-nineties it seemed like everyone wanted a mountain bike. They were the coolest type of bike to own even if they never saw an off-road track or mountain. All it took was to swap out the knobbly tyres to slicks and the mountain bike was ready for the streets.

As you can probably gather I do have fond memories of my mountain biking days which all came back to me after watching Klunkerz.

Klunkerz is a documentary movie about the people who invented mountain biking back in the 1960’s and 1970’s and how they turned a local underground bike scene into the global commercial success seen to this day.

One speed bikes being pushed up a hill prior to a race

The movie starts off by introducing the different characters that were to play a big part in the evolution of the mountain bike. Those characters came from wide ranging backgrounds, from hippies to road racers and include the now elder statesmen of mountain biking, Gary Fisher, Joe Breeze and Tom Richey. All of them headed to the hills around Marin County, in California, to race their 50 pound (that’s 50 pounds in weight!) 1930’s and 40’s Schwinn Excelsior bikes or Klunkerz. Actually, prior to fitting gears to the bikes, most of the early years appear to have been spent pushing these heavyweight bikes up the hills before being able to race back down.

1978 custom built Breeze #2

By the mid-70’s the hand modified bikes featured drum brakes and gears. Around the same time downhill racing had taken off at the now legendary Repack. It wasn’t long before Joe Breeze and others started building custom off-road bikes for a small clientele base. However, the seed was sown and the small scale production gradually increased as demand snowballed.

The movie goes on to talk through the difficult transition from small scale business into large scale production and the effects this had on the original players and their relationships with each other.

I found this movie absolutely fascinating. To see how such a small scene blossomed into something so big reminds me alot of how the hip hop music scene developed from a similar small scale scene in New York in the early 1970’s into the huge industry it is today.

This movie deserves to be in my cycling movie top ten. If I put together a new top 10 Klunkerz will probably feature in the top 5 and if you see what other movies I have in there at the moment you'll know that's praise indeed.

The Klunkerz DVD costs £22.50 plus worldwide shipping and is available at Urbanhunter.biz.

Upgrade

Shimano Dura-Ace Rear Mech

When I bought my De Rosa Neo Primato frame and forks I took most of the parts off the old Cannondale R800 and fitted whatever I could onto the De Rosa with the intention of gradually replacing and upgrading the old parts.

The latest upgrade is a brand new 9 speed Shimano Dura-Ace rear mech. This will replace the current Shimano 105 rear mech. I have to admit that although the 105 mech is around 8 years old and has been very well used, it is in fact still fully functional. All of the 105 components I've used have lasted for a long time. It's a very robust groupset and, I think, worth every penny.

Why spend more money on Dura-Ace? Well, not only does it look good but if it works even better and lasts even longer it's got to be worth the money especially if your able to pick it up a few quid cheaper like I did on Ebay.

I have two other major Dura-Ace components to replace before I'm done, they are a chain set and STI levers.

A Ride With George Hincapie

It was such a shame to see 'Big George' puncture at Paris-Roubaix. He was up near the front and looking strong with a couple of team mates in support then bad luck struck yet again, he got a flat, couldn't get the damn rear wheel off and by the time his mechanic finally fitted a new wheel the race was lost, again!

George Hincapie is one of my favourite riders, he's got great style and looks so cool on a bike (he also does a great job looking after and leading out for Mark Cavendish). I hope he'll return next year for another crack at the Hell of the North.

If like me your a Hincapie fan you may be interested to know there's a documentary on its way all about his life. For a little taster take a look at the trailer below.

Steep

Seen here.

Boonen Makes It Three Wins At Paris-Roubaix

I'm up in Nottingham at the moment visiting my parents. I headed out this morning into the beautiful Nottinghamshire countryside on a 110km ride with my uncle and some of his friends. It was the first time I've ridden that far this year and it showed. Although the people I was riding with were older than me, some more than 15 years older, I suffered after about 70km finishing at the back of the pack. It also didn't help that I've consumed far to much beer over the last couple of days. Anyway, it was great to get out and put in some decent distance. I'll be heading out again tomorrow for a couple of hours before driving back to London. Lets call it a recovery ride. I'll use the inspiration I just gained from watching an immensely entertaining Paris-Roubaix to help me along if my legs start hurting.

Tom Boonen rode to his third victory in the Queen of the Classics putting him in some very special company. Eddy Merckx, Rik Van Looy and Johan Museeuw are among the select band of seven riders to have also won the race three times. Check out the final kilomtre of today's 2009 Paris-Roubaix below. Oh the glory!

Heaven or Hell?

There's an interesting article in today's cyclingnews that asks whether Patrick Lefevere's Quick Step team can repeat the domination at the 1996 Paris-Roubaix by Lefevere's then Mapei-GB team.

The 1996 Paris-Roubiax saw Mapei-GB take 1st, 2nd and 3rd with Johan Museeuw, Gianluca Bortolami and Andrea Tafi in that order. Fast forward to today's modern incarnation, Quick Step, who will be fielding Tom Boonen, Stijn Devolder and Sylvain Chavanel. It isn't beyond the realms of possibilty to imagine the three of them riding into the Roubaix Velodrome together ahead of the rest of the peloton with arms held aloft in triumph.

Check out the Eurosport footage of the Mapei-GB team do just this back in 1996 (it gave me goosebumps watching it). It was heaven for Museeuw and his teammates that day. Will it be heaven of hell for Quick step on Sunday? I can't wait to find out!

Are Cyclists Viewed As Public Enemy No.1 By Other Road Users?

I don't know about you but I have experienced many situations over the years where other road users have taken exception to my use of the road. In most cases these experiences have amounted to nothing more than a heated exchange of words. I say most as I can remember one occasion many years ago where a car chased me by actually mounting the pavement to follow me. I can laugh about it now but at the time it was pretty scary. By the way I did manage to escape. However, for many cyclists it is no laughing matter having encounting far worse than I ever have. Check out an article written by Helen Pidd over at the Guardian for more.

The Muur van Geraardsbergen

Devolder drops Quinziato and Quick Step teammate Chavanel on The Muur

Fans Cheer on Devolder as he reaches the top of the The Muur

The Muur van Geraardsbergen (Wall of Geraardsbergen), also known as Kapelmuur, Muur-Kapelmuur or simply Muur is the sixteenth of seventeen hills included in the current Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders).

First used in 1950 the Muur is possibly the most famous hill due to the chapel that sits at the top. It is the Chapel surrounded by fans with only the cross peaking over the top and the riders passing by with gritted teeth over the cobbles that makes it such an iconic image. If there is one image that can encapsulate the race better than any other it is this one.

At 90 metres high and 475 metres in length with an average gradient of 9.3% and maximum of 19.8% it is neither the highest or the steepest of hills but by the time the riders reach the Muur they will have battled over 249 cobbled and hill strewn kilometres. Many will be on their last legs but for the chosen few it is a place from which to launch an attack.

This is exactly what Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) did for the second year running with devastating effect. At 16 kilometres from the finish Devolder powered away from Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) and team mate Sylvain Chavanel (Quick Step) to take the win.

Well done to Britain's Roger Hammond (Cervelo TestTeam) for finishing a respectable 13th. Hammond will be a dark horse bet for Paris-Roubaix next Sunday.

Before then all eyes will turn to Gent-Wevelgem on Wednesday. Expect Britain's Mark Cavendish (Columbia-Highroad) to feature strongly.

Wiggins Makes It A Double Double For Britain

Wiggins time trials to victory

On the same day that Mark Cavendish (Columbia-Highroad) made it a double by clinching his second stage victory in two days (see yesterday's post), time trial specialist Britain's Bradley Wiggins (Garmin-Slipstream) took the victory in stage 3b (De Panne - Koksijde - De Panne (ITT), 14.75km) of Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde (Three days of De Panne).

Having narrowly missed out on victory to Alberto Contador in the recent Paris-Nice time trial stage it is good to see Wiggins back on the podium demonstrating what he does best. Wiggins won with a margin of 20 seconds over second place rider Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil). Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) showed he's no slouch in the time trial by taking third spot.

Cavendish held on to the green jersey to win the points competition ahead of Frederik Willems (Liquigas).

Looking Good

Seen at Prolly

Lovin' this magazine cover from the February 1975 edition of British magazine International Cycle Sport. Sadly the magazine is no longer in publication.

The cover photo is of, in my humble opinion, the two greatest cyclists ever, Eddy Merckx and Jacques Anquetil. After looking at the photo I quickly realised it couldn't have been taken in 1975 but must have been from a number of years before. Merckx rode for Faema between 1968 and 1970. Anquetil rode for Bic between 1967 and 1969, his last team before retiring. Also Merckx is wearing the world champions rainbow jersey which he'd won the previous year, 1967, therefore the photo must have been taken in 1968.

The photo is symbolic of the transfer of power, like the passing of the baton, from Anquetil who would have been around 34 years old to Merckx who was around 23 years old. Anquetil had won all of the grand tours including the Tour de France 5 times and the Giro d'Italia twice as well as winning a number of other stage races and classics. Merckx was on the upward curve, not yet at his peak but already a world champion and classics winner including Milan-San Remo twice, yes not yet at his peak!

1968 was a good year for Merckx he destroyed all rivals in the Giro taking the overall, mountains and points competitions as well as winning Paris-Roubaix for the first time. Anquetil wasn't the rider he'd been just a few years before. His final victory came in 1969 in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.

Legends!

Cavendish Again!

Deja vu, Cavendish beats McEwan for the second day running

That's right Briton's Mark Cavendish (Columbia-Highroad) has won today's 112km stage 3a from De Panne to De Panne to beat Robbie McEwan in a re-run of yesterdays sprint for the line.

"I did it last year, I thought I could do the double again this year," he said. "Robbie was coming off my wheel, it was closer than yesterday.", said Cavendish.

Cavendish will start this afternoon's time trial defending the green sprinters jersey.

It's looking likely that Cavendish will give it his all in next Wednesday's Gent-Wevelgem classic since he has been able to gage his form on the sections of De Panne that are also used in Gent-Wevelgem.

Cavendish Winds Opponents

Cavendish beats Robbie McEwen to the line

Britain's Mark Cavendish (Columbia-Highroad) notched up another victory in yesterday's 219km stage between Zottegem and Oostduinkerke in the 33rd KBC-Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde (3 Days of De Panne).

There were high winds in the coastal city of Oostduinkerke creating dangerous conditions for the bunch sprint.

"At one point, I nearly said, 'I won't do this [sprint]', as it was really, really dangerous," said Cavendish after the race.

However, he did do it and in true Cavendish fashion finished in front of everyone else including veteran sprinter Robbie McEwan (Team Katusha) who came second.

There is talk of Cavendish being a threat at Paris-Roubaix but I would suggest he may not yet have the experience to overcome the major players in the Hell of the North especially since one of those major players is team mate George Hincapie. Hincapie has done such a fantastic job leading out on numerous occasions for Cavendish during this season that I'm sure Cav will want to do all he can, if he starts Paris-Roubaix, to repay Hincapie for his services.

Honorary Lion

Simpson lunges for the line ahead of De Filippis

The 93rd Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) will commence this coming Sunday 5th April. If you didn't already know this is the biggest Belgium classic in the racing calender and if you know how fanatical the Belgium's are about their cycling you'll realise it's going to attract hundreds of thousands of excited fans to the road side for a glimpse of local favourites such as Tom Boonen, Stijn Devolder and Leif Hoste.

Many years ago, 48 to be exact, another local favourite won this race. However, this local favourite wasn't from Belgium, he was an Englishman named Tom Simpson (Rapha-Gitane-St Raphael-Geminiani). Simpson lived and raced in Belgium for a number of years and was taken in by the locals as one of their own.

1961 saw Simpson win the Tour of Flanders stylishly in what was an exciting race. (Incidentally there hasn't been another British victory in this race since.) Simpson got into an early break with Rik Van Looy (Solo) then was joined by 4 other riders including team mate Jo De Haan. Race favourite Van Looy was expected to do well but disaster struck for him on the climb of the Kruisberg where he crashed heavily. He tried to continue but had to abandon in Zottegem.

As the breakaway entered the closing laps of Wetteren Simpson jumped away with Italian Nino De Filippis (Carpano), however, De Filippis was known as being faster in the sprint so Simpson had to think of a way to outsmart him. Simpson started the sprint with about 1km to go with the Italian sitting on his wheel. At around 300m Simpson eased off a little, with De Filippis thinking Simpson was finished he jumped past on the right. Simpson immediately switched across to the Italians right. The Italian looked over his left shoulder thinking he had the race won, saw there was no Simpson at which point Simpson lunged past on the right to take the biggest win of his career and his first ever classics victory.

It was at this moment Simpson became an honorary 'Lion of Flanders'.

Screwed

I found this x-ray of Lance Armstrong's fixed collarbone on twitter.