Velominatus: Bill
Order: Level 3 Velominatus
Location: Heidelberg, Germany
Social: Website
Lifetime cyclist, dabbling in ultras and triathlons . Watching LeMond's 1986 victory parade in Reno after following the race in the papers really got me going. Year-round commuter living in Germany, grinning throughout winter. The worse the weather, the better the ride.
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March 29, 2013 – April 8, 2013 // Lille, France // Event Details // Book Now
The Hardmen. They inspire us; we aspire to be one among them. They are the solitary voice among the thousands in our heads that tell us to keep pushing when all the others tell us to stop. Their long shadows look on in approval as we pull on our cold and wet weather gear and head out into the elements to ride.
Every serious Cyclist is a hard man or woman; it comes with the territory. But to be given the title of Hardman, one must be more than just tough. The Hardmen stand out among the rest as the ones who ride over the savage, jagged cobblestones of Northern Europe with a souplesse that is possessed only by those riders who thrive in the most torturous of road cycling’s domains: The Cobbled Classics of Northern Europe.
Velominati has partnered up with Pavé Cycling Classics, based in Northern France, to offer the chance to walk where Giants tread and pedal through the trench of Arenberg and up the devastating cobbled steeps of the Koppenberg and Kapelmuur. To pedal with the Pros during their reconnaissance of the Paris-Roubaix route.
As if that isn’t good enough, we offer the opportunity to do all this with Johan Museeuw, the last Lion of Flanders.
Velominati’s Keepers Tour: Cobbled Classics 2013 will be hosted and guided by the Velominati Keepers in partnership with Pavé Cycling Classics over nine days in April during the most sacred time of the season, the week when de Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris Roubaix are held. The trip is all-inclusive and covers lodging, meals, energy drink, energy bars, and sag support. Bikes are available and included in the price should you wish not to bring your own.
The friendships forged over the 2012 edition of Keepers Tour with 9 days of riding the cobbles of Flanders and Northern France, drinking the best of Belgian beer, and eating the finest French cuisine leave an indelible mark on not only the Keepers, but all those who attend. Cycling has that ability to bring people together, and we count ourselves very blessed to have met such a great bunch of souls who we are proud to call our mates.
For 2013, we have trimmed the fat and added a bunch of amazing treats for you. Not only will we be riding the Pavé du Nord, the steeps of Liége and the Kasseien of Flanders, we will be doing it with a very special guest; The Lion of Flanders himself, Johan Museeuw. Last year we had the pleasure of an afternoon with Johan, riding some of the Gent-Wevelgem route and enjoying a few beers after. This time, you can witness firsthand how to float across the stones of Arenberg and charge up the Kapelmuur from the master… how many cyclists are able to say that?
Take this unique opportunity to be part of an experience that everyone attending will never forget, or regret.
Provisional Itinerary
- Friday : Pick up midday, travel to gite and get bikes setup
- Saturday : Paris-Roubaix with Johan Museeuw (last 150km)
- Sunday : Watch de Ronde van Vlaanderen at the Oude Kwaremont
- Monday: Visit the Roeselare National Bicycle Museum & go for an easy ride around Kemmel
- Tuesday: Liège-Bastogne- Liège with Johan Museeuw
- Wednesday: Track riding at the Eddy Merckx Velodrome in Gent then watch the GP Escault (Scheldeprijs) pro race
- Thursday: Paris Roubaix reconaissance ride with the Pros
- Friday: Brunehaut brewery visit and meet with Pro Team (Omega-Pharma Quickstep or AG2R)
- Saturday: Ronde Van Vlaanderen with Johan Museeuw (150km)
- Sunday: Watch Paris Roubaix at three secteurs (Valenciennes, Arenberg, l’Arbre); optional stay at gite on Sunday night
Price: 3990€, All inclusive price includes rides with Johan Museeuw, accommodation for 9 nights, breakfast, lunch, dinner, beer, wine, insurance coverage, sag support, Pavé’s custom Cyfac rental bikes (upon request), exclusive V-Lion V-Shirts, exclusive Keepers Tour V-Pint, exclusive V-Mussette, and Pavé Cycling Classics jersey. Plus swag from our sponsors.
At this time we are accepting reservations for the full Keepers Tour, and now we also include weekend and daily packages. Once the reservation is confirmed, we will collect a 20% deposit with the balance due upon arrival in Lille.
Attendees should be comfortable riding in groups and be able to ride 150km several times in a week at a 28-30kph pace; some groups may elect to go faster but these are non-competitive rides. There will be lots of cobbles, and lots of short, steep climbs – sometimes both at the same time, so prepare yourself accordingly. We will usually have sag support, and riders who are unable to keep up may be asked to climb in the car. Or to Survive on V.
Booking
There is a problem with our booking form; please email tours@velominati.com to register.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.
Event Details
Loading Map....Date/Time
Date - March 29, 2013 - April 07, 2013
12:00 AM - 12:00 AMLocation
Gare de Lille FlandresCogal Details
Route Details
Ride Classification
@Bill's posts:
@Bill's posts:
The improvement in technology was immediately telling. Number of times falling over at a stop sign, unable to get a foot disengaged from the pedal: Clip era: 3 Clipless era: 3 »
@Bill's posts:
@Bill's posts:
Well, I picked well. »
@Bill's posts:
VSP PICKS: 1. Vos 2. Armstrong 3. Arndt 4. Hughes 5. Cooke »
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VSP PICKS: 1. Cav 2. Greipel 3. Boonen 4. Sagan 5. Farrar »
@Bill's posts:
Great finish to LeTour. I was wondering how it was all playing out. But I was busy in the stands at Hockenheim, watching Fernando Alonso take the race, from pole to line, in today’s Formula 1 race in Hockenheim. A good day of racing. »
@Bill's posts:
FIIK. But it will be fun to see a few turn themselves inside out and a few explode. Once I get home from my flat-as-a-pancake 16km commute. VSP PICKS: 1. Sörensen 2. Voeckler 3. Froome 4. Pinot 5. Scarponi »
@Bill's posts:
Frackin’ no evening recap for Eurosport today, so it’s just a reread of the ticker. So a complete crapshoot for tomorrow, not being able to see how they all looked. Not that it would matter with my picks. Beer me. VSP PICKS: 1. Nibbles 2. VdB 3. Casa… »
@Bill's posts:
@snoov Reports of Greipel dislocating his shoulder in that first crash. You can’t discount the fact that he was able to horse his right shoulder through the sprint while protecting his left. As someone who’s genetically disposed to a loose shoulder (lef… »
Frack! With Stage 7 being just two hours down the road, we were looking forward to standing on the slopes tomorrow and screaming. Unfortunately, the creeping crud has worked its way through the house. But no matter. The damage was done today. »
@brett – we had a good laugh yesterday while thinking of you. At the start area in Liege, we were standing on one side of the barrier and Jasmine Van Summeren was directly on the other, just inches away. She was telling one of the other wives/girlfriend… »
I’ll be rocking the KT t-shirt tomorrow for Stage 1, but the profile won’t allow for a good crazed fan TV shot. So that will have to wait until next Saturday’s Stage 7. Fronk, if you Fed-Ex the flag, I can work it in next Saturday’s feed. VSP PICKS: 1… »
@Bill's posts:
@Rigid Outback cars have Roo bars on because Kangas tend to fly across the roads unexpectedly. Having lived in the Outback for a couple of years and used my Roo bar on more than a few occasions (not that they help much, since the bastiges will turn and… »
@Bill's posts:
VSP PICKS: 1. Gesink 2. Valverde 3. Kreuziger 4. Cunego 5. Leipheimer »
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Looking alright. I’m sitting tight. »
@Bill's posts:
I had forgot how large the US is. Until last week’s quick jaunt into the heartland. o.O »
@Bill's posts:
Yikes. Phinney with a dropped chain. Dropped faster than me off the back… »
And this morning reminds me why I should stick to the German and Belgian beers. There’s an odd sensation behind my eyes, fueled by the Leinie. »
@RedRanger Don’t be. I’ve got a cellar with racks (24x .5l bottles) of German and Belgian beers, plus a few oddballs — Asahi Super Dry or the Czech Krušovice. The Leinenkugel reminds me why I have racks of German and Belgian beers. »
@frank Since I don’t brew my own, I get mine at a store. Isn’t that the preferred method? The Germans know how to make their beers. But they also appreciate other beers. It’s not difficult to not only get the easy beers (Belgian, Irish, Czech, etc.), … »
Why does this feel so wrong? Sitting in Germany, drinking an American beer, watching the Giro d’Italia being held in Denmark. At least it’s a Leinenkugel. »
See no reason to include Grimpelder in this lineup. VSP PICKS: 1. Scarponi 2. Basso 3. Kreuziger 4. Rujano 5. Pozzovivo »
There was the Velominati flag on the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. Same spot as last year, but looks like Frank decided to mount it to the barrier. Good call, since I’m sure William is cursing the rapidly dwindling supply of Malteni – “Fur fook s… »