Let’s just say the barrel of the guns has overheated and they won’t work for a short while until they are rested and cooled down.

This is the solution – Keepers Tour next year?

9/15 on todays quiz which seems to have a classics theme to it! My best yet!

http://www.cyclingrevealed.com/trivia/triviaindex.htm

Yeah, I bounced back last week with a 14 and today with a 13 compared to two weeks ago when I had my ONE pointer showing.  Have you reviewed your answers form November yet?  Fun stuff to read the answers at the end of each month and learn from them!

http://www.cyclingrevealed.com/trivia/triviaindex.htm

A little excerpt from what I personally filmed two weeks ago at the Paris-Roubaix Espoirs (the one for the elite category).
https://vimeo.com/43400707
Paolo

Awesome job! Loved it and looking forward to more.

Who’s got my V Musette?

On the plus side, the pints are magnificent.

@Chris

@brett
That’s awesome, when do we get a full translation? World media domination beckons.

I think the headline reads “fuck off you stupid Americans”, said in an Irish accent with a French twist…

Highlight of the trip:

William in his sing-song voice: Alex, Alex, Alex…Aaaaaalex?

Alex: Oui?

William: FOOOK OFF!!!

or “when we offered free beer we didn’t realise there would be aussies and brits with the septics”

@Flying Crowbar

indeed, there’s only so much bar taping that people will watch.

@brett
That’s awesome, when do we get a full translation? World media domination beckons.

I think the headline reads “fuck off you stupid Americans”, said in an Irish accent with a French twist…

Here’s a bit from the local paper last Sunday…

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The full article for those with sufficient time and inclination is available here: http://wine-economics.org/workingpapers/AAWE_WP104.pdf

Those more time-constrained may find the abstract sufficient: “The present-day border between Belgium and the Netherlands traces back to the separation of the Low Countries after the Dutch Revolt (1566-1648) against Spanish rule. The capacity to finance war expenditures played a central role in the outcome of this conflict. Excise taxes on beer consumption were the single largest income source in Holland, the leading province of the Dutch Republic. Beer taxes thus played a crucial role in financing the Dutch Revolt which led to the separation of the Low Countries and, eventually, the creation of Belgium.”

So now you know.

Still so stoked to have been part of the first weekend, then looking at all you guys did after I left, just over the top… Great event.

@Chris
Yeah, I think only Moser won it three times in a row.

Chris – sweet as photos! Love the shower heads/chain one & the King Kelly plaque. I didn’t realize he won it three times in a row!

Very nice group shots at the pave markers as well. All of you look to be having the time of your lives!

Kelly only won it in ’84 and ’86, Marc Madiot took it in ’85. They just put a dash between each of the years.

Very nice group shots at the pave markers as well. All of you look to be having the time of your lives!

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@chiasticon
C’mon…if you ride in the big ring all the time you could have guns that look like these….

possibly. but i believe the “big ring” you’re referring to there would be the bigger of the chain ring and the cog, as that’s certainly a track bike.

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2012/04/the-lion-of-flanders/

TGIF everyone! Time to get wound up for Paris-Roubaix. People keep mentioning easter; I keep reminded them that Sunday is far more important for another reason.

another wet white line crash
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmmRd3wbS7Q

@gaswepass
indeed, a car hit him, he is out with a broken calf bone. comeback in Tour of California (13-20 May)

@wiscot
Shower stall photos…um, no one should be subjected to that

They would be in the top shelf, plastic-wrapped edition.

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@Mikael Liddy

Last Sunday I was quite amazed by the clumps of photographers that were positioned right behind the finish line. The riders really had to swerve around them, and you could see that Boonen only had one fist up, as he had to use the other hand to steer his bike around the groups of photographers. What would have happened if it were an all-out, head down sprint?

Well without having seen the footage, only photos, I wonder whether this might be the problem combined with wet weather & the slippery sponsor’s paint @Vin’cenza refers to.

Not sure if anyone caught the end of the GP Scheldeprijs yesterday but it appears there was a pretty nasty crash after the finish line involving the photographers (again). Apparently Rouleur’s photographer Taz Darling got cleaned up & is in a pretty bad way, more here.

You’ve got to wonder how long it’ll be before the photogs are removed from the finishing straight, I know it means no more of the awesome head on photos of the bunch galloping towards the line but these accidents seem to be happening more & more…

Terrible news — the white surface logos are serious trouble. Last years Tour took down a rider coming thru a turnabout as he merged across the fresh white line.

Last Sunday I was quite amazed by the clumps of photographers that were positioned right behind the finish line. The riders really had to swerve around them, and you could see that Boonen only had one fist up, as he had to use the other hand to steer his bike around the groups of photographers. What would have happened if it were an all-out, head down sprint?

@Cyclops

@RedRanger
My right arm looks like that…

And your left arm is skinny? You know what they say about men with one arm that’s disproportionately stronger than the other…
.
.
.
they do a lot of arm wrestling.

They row in circles too!

You’ve got to wonder how long it’ll be before the photogs are removed from the finishing straight, I know it means no more of the awesome head on photos of the bunch galloping towards the line but these accidents seem to be happening more & more…

But shouldn’t there be a diet story? Like…

“LOSE 16 POUNDS IN UNDER 4 HOURS WITH JOHAN MUSEEUW”

Rain Predicted For Roubaix

Oh OH OH!!!!! Our wishes may be granted!

Some muddy PR action here

Mud everywhere except on arms and bike! Still the shiny bits shine through!

@RedRanger
My right arm looks like that…

And your left arm is skinny? You know what they say about men with one arm that’s disproportionately stronger than the other…
.
.
.
they do a lot of arm wrestling.

@RedRanger
My right arm looks like that…

You’re referring to your Photoshoppin’ arm, yeah?

At news stands everywhere…

Genius! You’re scary good at the photoshopping! You could have added the headline “Exclusive shower stall photos”

At news stands everywhere…

This is beyond gold. Platinum. Titanium. Diamond. Carbon fiber. Merckxian proportions. All of the above.

I just can’t hear all these comments over the sound of the AWESOME.

also, riding in the big ring all the time… yea, not gonna do that either. not only do i not see myself climbing the local 20% gradients with that, but i also don’t like replacing my chain, cassette and chain rings due to the abnormal wear caused by using a terrible 53×25 chain line

You left out “knees”.

I don’t know what would blow me away more – standing a few feet away from the PROs as they blast by, riding with the Lion of Flanders, or riding such historic routes. All would be magnificent.

@kyle
+1 for me – I used to do four hour rides on a just a gel or two and water. I did lose a good bit of weight when I was riding like that, but my performance always suffered and increased significantly once I started filling one of my bottles with some sort of calories (either a mixture of Maltrin QD and an electrolyte drink, or some Maltrin mixed with a little soy protein)

Good, good… (Emperor voice) 2 gels, 2 bottles — and FRS chews. FRS (beyond calories) works to keep the legs “fully operational” !!

there is something to be said for approach though. if you’re riding hard all that time, you certainly need the calories in order to keep doing so. if it’s a more casual ride, you need less. i have a riding buddy that eats a ton on rides and complains about his weight. he rides hard frequently thought. i told him to eat less and ride more casually a few times a week, just like he did when he started riding and lost a bunch of weight. i know that a four hour ride may qualify as that same approach for a pro, but not for me.

also, riding in the big ring all the time… yea, not gonna do that either. not only do i not see myself climbing the local 20% gradients with that, but i also don’t like replacing my chain, cassette and chain rings due to the abnormal wear caused by using a terrible 53×25 chain line. again, pro’s can accomplish those gradients in the big ring (and probably in a 53×19, 53×17 or higher even); they also have a team of mechanics and unlimited, free bike parts. i do not.

Freakin’ brilliant mate!

@wiscot
@Ron

I’m in agreement. Two hours without eating is my limit. On longer rides I need to eat each hour stating with the second hour. Do I need to eat more pre-ride?

I’d be interested in what Museeuw eats before a four hour ride, if he eats nothing during it.

I’m in agreement. Two hours without eating is my limit. On longer rides I need to eat each hour stating with the second hour. Do I need to eat more pre-ride?

@Ron

As for this “no food on riders under four hours” – is that no food or no calorie intake? I can ride for four hours with no caloric intake, but my body performs a lot better if I take in some calories, in the form of gels, when I’m going over two hours.
Two and under, nothing. Over two, I take in calories on the hour mark. But, that’s just what I’ve found to work for me.

I can do 2 hrs on a bottle or two, but four? No way. That’s 100kms for me and I’m sorry, but I’d need something in that time or I’d be so dead by the end. Must be why I’m not a pro. For 4 hours I’d take two gels, an oatmeal to go and go through 3 bottles.

I used to think the same thing. Interestingly rode the RVV sportive (135kms) last Saturday and only got through about a bottle and a half in 5 hours. I was surprised about this. No doubt helped by temps not getting above 10C. The real plus was I didn’t need to stop to pee the whole ride or else I wouldn’t have kept it under 5 hours (4:59:24). As for food, got through 2 Torq gels, a Torq bar, a small yoghurt covered cereal bar collected at a feed and a waffle (the latter eaten in two halves once in the lead up to Kwaremont and then following descent from P’berg). Seemed just about right, although I think I timed the waffle less well than I could have, should probably have got it down a bit sooner. I know a chap who has been out riding with Miller in Girona, he was very surprised at how little water they take with them.

As for this “no food on riders under four hours” – is that no food or no calorie intake? I can ride for four hours with no caloric intake, but my body performs a lot better if I take in some calories, in the form of gels, when I’m going over two hours.

Two and under, nothing. Over two, I take in calories on the hour mark. But, that’s just what I’ve found to work for me.

I can do 2 hrs on a bottle or two, but four? No way. That’s 100kms for me and I’m sorry, but I’d need something in that time or I’d be so dead by the end. Must be why I’m not a pro. For 4 hours I’d take two gels, an oatmeal to go and go through 3 bottles.

Two and under, nothing. Over two, I take in calories on the hour mark. But, that’s just what I’ve found to work for me.

Who got that close to Pipo and Boonen’s bikes?

Keep up the fun, the cycling, the memory-makin’ guys.

And I’m going to turn my sadness over not making this one into a positive – between now & the next one, hopefully next year in Italy?, I’m going to put myself in the right position to make sure I’m on it!

Now back to work so I can get my own Wednesday ride in. Too bad it won’t be over cobbles in Belgium.

Is the fish pic just a red herring ?

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@roadslave
Ach! I am going to stick my head in the oven… can’t believe I missed that opportunity!!

And your oven is electric!

Only one photo from today given a) my balls-up in loading yesterday’s photos; and b) the virtual tumbleweed blowing across the ether. But this is not just one photo. This is the Lion of Flanders. At lunch. In our gite.

There’s a bit in Ocean’s Eleven (or Twelve, or Thirteen, I can’t remember…) when Danny Ocean (George Clooney) turns to the ‘baddy’ and says “You shook Sinatra’s hand… you should know better”…. well, I think that applies to all of us today: because we have ridden with Museeuw. I’ll never complain about a headwind, or a steep climb, or running out of sprockets on my rear cassette again. Because I rode with Museeuw.

VLVV

We are completely humbled by your experience.

I also got payback last night with a 3 hour delay leaving Brussels thanks to striking French Air Traffic controllers. Seems like karma is paying me back for leaving after just the weekend. I guess a little of a good thing is not enough.

Enjoy the rest of the trip guys! Great to meet you all.