Categories: Belgian Affirmations

Belgian Affirmations: Kapelmuur

There isn’t a lot about a climb several kilometers long ending in a sustained 20% cobbled gradient that communicates ‘Attack’ and/or ‘Respond’. Certainly not when it comes after 240 kilometers with only 20 left to race. Nope, I’ve double-checked the calibration and used a control-case: the only reading I’m getting on the Pain Gauge is the needle dropping all the way over to and past ‘Survival’.

Here we have Roger De Vlaeminck containing a vicious attack from Freddy Maertens on the hardest bit of the climb, giving more than a little bit of insight into why we refer to these guys as Hardmen. On an unrelated note, I find it to be a crime beyond articulation that the Kapelmuur won’t feature in this year’s Ronde van Vlaanderen; but that won’t stop us from riding it during the Keepers’ Tour; we’re all about history and tradition. I want to keep seeing this scene repeat itself over and over. After all, if a joke is funny once, it should be funny a thousand times.

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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King Clydesdale says:

Dec 1 2011 at 5:02 pm

@Buck Rogers

@King Clydesdale
Hey man, simu-posting! Your post is a much better post than mine!
Getting ready for the 200-on-100??? :)

I had the best ride of my short time on the bike the other day. An 80 km group ride in which I pushed the pace multiple times. I even took the lead on the climbs, my riding partners were highly perplexed. I on the other hand, was in bliss.

I think in my attempts to loose weight I had cut back to much on food. The ride was post thanksgiving, and being such I had indulged. So now I know that if I'm well fed for the ride, I stand a better chance. However in the meantime I'll be continuing to cut down enough to keep bringing the weight down. I'm approaching the 90 kg mark (I started the summer well over 110 kg). My goal by spring is to reach 85 kg. Working hard since I really want to join you guys.

Of course I'm supplementing the bike time with some classroom study. I recently found out that many of the film versions of the works can be found on youtube. I'd seen A Sunday in Hell before, but not some of the others. (I would go and pay for them but after paying the bills this week I have 20 bucks and an empty fridge, and I need to go to the laundromat).
Bianchi Denti says:

Dec 1 2011 at 5:29 pm

@frank I think you're allowed to be in the lowest gear on the Kapelmuur, right?

I certainly fucking hope so, 'cos that's what I'll be in!
I'm picking that we'll spend an hour or two on the Kapelmuur, recreating this photo over and over again with different participants and spectators. If any locals are watching us, they can have free tickets to the gun show...
xyxax says:

Dec 1 2011 at 5:41 pm

@King Clydesdale
Well done. You'll soon have to drop "Clydesdale" from your title.
frank says:

Dec 1 2011 at 5:50 pm

@Bianchi Denti

@frank I think you're allowed to be in the lowest gear on the Kapelmuur, right?
I certainly fucking hope so, 'cos that's what I'll be in!
I'm picking that we'll spend an hour or two on the Kapelmuur, recreating this photo over and over again with different participants and spectators. If any locals are watching us, they can have free tickets to the gun show...

I was also thinking about doing a hill ITT up the Muur. Agonizing, but fucking cool as shit. CAN. NOT. WAIT.

@King Clydesdale
NICE!!
frank says:

Dec 1 2011 at 5:54 pm
minion says:

Dec 1 2011 at 7:58 pm

for the classics don't some riders use larger inner rings? 42 tooth and up (If possible?) Boonen and Cancellara's lowest gear might be a lot larger than standard.
Bianchi Denti says:

Dec 1 2011 at 8:06 pm

@minion
@minion

for the classics don't some riders use larger inner rings? 42 tooth and up (If possible?) Boonen and Cancellara's lowest gear might be a lot larger than standard.

I think most pros use a 42 inner on Roubaix. My old Mino Denti steel bike sports a 42/52 combo on Superbe cranks. Great on the flat, I'm sure, but not the Wellington hills.

My secret Cobbled Classics fear is that I'll be presented with a hire Cyfac sporting a 42:21 smallest ratio...
Jeff in PetroMetro says:

Dec 1 2011 at 8:17 pm

@minion
Back in the Dark Ages, we all ran 42x52's or 53's. The front derailleurs weren't happy running bigger spreads.

Having seen the modern pros on YouTube, they look like they're spinning 39s on the hillier classics. Some of those guys spin like they're at the velodrome. Cancellara being one of them.
drtyrm says:

Dec 1 2011 at 9:02 pm

@King Clydesdale

@wiscot

@Marko
Hard to believe that Freddy never won one of the monuments!

Ever since I watched A Sunday in Hell

On a lark I google'd the aforementioned movie and it's available in its entirety on YouTube. See you in 1hr 32min.
itburns says:

Dec 1 2011 at 11:13 pm

@Bianchi Denti

@frank I think you're allowed to be in the lowest gear on the Kapelmuur, right?

I certainly fucking hope so, 'cos that's what I'll be in!

Definitely what I will be in, I'm just hoping that I'm also still riding instead of laying on my side in the cobbles with glazed eyes.