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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mcsqueak says:

Dec 2 2011 at 9:45 am

I should clarify: Given a good ride of 3-4 hours (or more!), you could be possibly burning half a day or more of your normal intake, and I don't think most people's bodies are built to handle that without consuming some sort of fuel for their bodies to use while riding.
DerHoggz says:

Dec 2 2011 at 9:48 am

@Buck Rogers

My '80 or '81 bike has a 53-39, so they were around at least by then. Suntour components.

I've lost about 10kg since the beginning of the semester, hoping to go to like 72kg, currently 77kg.

Is it possible to have too high of a cadence? First ride on my school's spinning bike since they got cadence meters, and I was spinning over 120rpm just normal going. Not sure quite what, as it maxes at 120. 105rpm is like my climbing cadence I guess, feels unbearably slow.
DerHoggz says:

Dec 2 2011 at 9:50 am

@mcsqueak

I can only go like 2hrs at a time because I'm too broke to get any sort of energy replacement going on. Also since I am just wearing athletic shorts. Kit is first on the Christmas list.
Buck Rogers says:

Dec 2 2011 at 10:18 am

@DerHoggz

@mcsqueak
I can only go like 2hrs at a time because I'm too broke to get any sort of energy replacement going on. Also since I am just wearing athletic shorts. Kit is first on the Christmas list.

Yeah man, I totally remember being broke in high school and college and TOTALLY envying those guys that could afford a powerbar for their training sessions and races. I would have an apple and a banana in my back pocket, literally, as my parents were broke as well and could in no way/shape or form help me buy stuff like that.

Nothing wrong at all with having a PB&J sandwich stuffed in your pckeet either. Hell, I still do that if I am doing over four hours. Or those cheap frozen burritos. Microwave two of those and bring them in a plastic bag. Tons of cheap ways to fuel on the ride while on a rough budget!
mcsqueak says:

Dec 2 2011 at 10:23 am

@DerHoggz

How do you feel at the end of two hours? Do you feel good, or do you feel drained?

I don't want to say it can't be done or not eating won't work for some people, but I've done 3-4 hour rides with very little food replacement (just some energy drink in the bottles at the start, but nothing after that) and I just start to feel crappy at the end. When I fuel right it's my legs that are tired, but I don't have that crappy feeling from not eating. Something as simple as a clif mojo bar is usually good for a 70-80k ride for me in conjunction with throwing some energy drink in the bottles before I leave, but refilling with plain water along the way.
Tartan1749 says:

Dec 2 2011 at 10:35 am

@mcsqueak

And that damn Brooklyn kit is so full of awesome. I must procure more than the simple cap I have now.

That short sleeve jersey is on sale @ realcyclist for $55 right now. B&W as well as red, white, and blue. I'd go for the B&W myself.
Buck Rogers says:

Dec 2 2011 at 10:40 am

@mcsqueak

I should clarify: Given a good ride of 3-4 hours (or more!), you could be possibly burning half a day or more of your normal intake, and I don't think most people's bodies are built to handle that without consuming some sort of fuel for their bodies to use while riding.

Well, I am a Doc but know about jackshit about nutrition. At least they did not teach me anything about it in med school! But, this i know, you can burn your daily total calories on a 4-to-6 hour ride. I burn around 600 to 750 calories an hour when riding hard. Never hold back on food while riding if going over two hours, in my opinion. It will actually hurt you. starts to break down muscle in a bad way to get calories.
RedRanger says:

Dec 2 2011 at 10:53 am

@DerHoggz
I'm a big fan of clif gels. About .99 cents each. Ill use 2 an hour on rides more than 2 hours. It adds up I know but some times you can get deals on it.
Kyle says:

Dec 2 2011 at 10:57 am

@DerHoggz
My standard riding food is peanut butter on whole grain or raisin bread & two bottles, the first one with water and second with energy drink and a pint of chocolate milk when I'm done riding. I may take a couple of granola bars if I'm too lazy to spread the pb on the bread.
frank says:

Dec 2 2011 at 11:20 am

@DerHoggz

Is it possible to have too high of a cadence? First ride on my school's spinning bike since they got cadence meters, and I was spinning over 120rpm just normal going. Not sure quite what, as it maxes at 120. 105rpm is like my climbing cadence I guess, feels unbearably slow.

Yes, everyone can ride at too high a cadence - its the point at which you lose power, but that number is different for everyone depending on the Magnificence of their Stroke. Also, spinning is very much in vogue still, and it seems to work for lot of people.

In the 80's and 90's I was a spinner, now I'm a gear masher. The thing is, my cadence has never changed; I ride best in the 75-85 range, and always have. In the 80's and 90's that was spinning. Now its not, because everyone loves riding up at 90-110.

Just do whats right for you and whatever makes you go fastest. Try to be somewhat analytical about that, too, because what *feels* good or fast is not always actually better or faster.