Omloop het Nieuwsblad is fast approaching on March 1st, Strade Bianche goes off the next weekend; finally, ladies and gentlemen, we have a season. For me the racing season really has to start in cold, wet Europe. I like the Tour Down Under just fine, I watch it, but it’s too early, too sunny and too hot to signify the start of the racing season. The races in the desert, though I’m sure they are windy and tough, hold no interest for me. Camels and embrocation do not compute. The endless speculation about Faboo’s lack of perfect February form only means every reporter is bored and has no real stories to write.
The most interesting thing about the racing in the Middle East was seeing that Tom Boonen is whippet thin and ready to bring the pain in 2014. Knowing that Boonen is back lets me sleep better at night. He is lining up for Omloop, his team is ready to rumble on the Taaienberg, all is right with the cycling world. Please let it rain, but don’t let Tommeke get hurt.
I need to see some racers with every bit of wet weather gear on, riding into a hell storm off the North Sea. Cold and wet and in Belgium; that is the way we start the season.
The other thing that is great with the cycling world is the Strade Bianche the following week. A gravel race for the professionals? The race is new, not even ten editions have been raced, but it seems so right. San Gimignano to Siena, rolling up and down across the Tuscan countryside, many secteurs of white gravel, this is a stroke of Italian genius.
Another reason to be excited is Peter Sagan. The wheelie poppin’ curb jumpin’ bad boy comes into this season a year wiser. He has watched both Fabs and Tommeke ride away from him in different editions of the Ronde but they aren’t getting any younger and Sagan is only getting better. The younger generation of riders would like to topple the reigning twin kings of the Spring Classics but Boonen and Cancellara are still there because they are the two best Spring Classic riders of their generation. They aren’t going to go without a battle.
If no one breaks bones in the feed zones or gets infected elbows, this all portends a beautiful spring.
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@Rob 25+ mm tubulars, lower pressure, more souplesse in your pedal stroke.
@all thanks for all the advice. I've never had a problem really with flats once I learned to actually steer around potholes or bunny hop over, but think I'll pick up a set of vittoria pave to see the difference. Everyone says bigger is less rolling resistance anyways....
I know the smoothness of my stroke surely isn't great with the 53/39 putting me at a cadence of 40-50 on the steep sections but it is what it is. All you can do is barely touch the handlebars, lean back, and be thankful you spent time on the rollers and have good balance to hang on as you start slipping and sliding. Think the only other real difference between myself and the others is it seems like alot of the guys really try to carry as much speed as possible into the hill. I normally maintain my flat speed of 27-28 and just try to carry that as smoothly up the hill. I think the quickest ones are maybe even sprinting beforehand so that they don't have to apply as much power on the hill itself?
@Beers There was some good advice in there, but I couldn't help but wonder how much time you've spent on Belgian cobbles :) Yesterday wasn't that bad, but you know these nutters have 30% cobbled climbs? With holes between cobbles like on the sections to Roubaix.......like you have to walk your bike down hill unless you enjoy face planting on pavé. Yesterday was good fun as I've learned to let go of my American ego and just do the best I can, plenty of flandrians walking those climbs so you are in good company if you can keep smiling.
@Rob
Absolutely yes on the notion of more mo' at the bottom of a cobbled climb, then try to keep that momentum going by spinning up the climb. Also, I believe the 25mm tire, run at 5.5 bar would improve traction too, more rubber gripping the stones. Lastly, and I only know this from our local
@Mike_P What a photo !! Wow !! And that may rep well and proper racing and certainly I cannot help but be much impressed but I have to admit, that that is racing I'd prefer to watch than participate. I contrast the start of the season in Belgium with the start of the season in Alabama. Our little local muni park mtn bike race to kick off the state series was in blue skies and sunshine and perfect temps and perfect trails = little mud and little sweat. Might not have made for impressive pictures of hard men but sure was a blast. RC
Excuse me......
Strade Bianche has such an awesome finishing stretch, and the whole top ten came in one at a time. Great jump on the steepest section for the win.