Fastidious naked-ass bitch slapping required for ‘kim’ ^

Don’t twead on me!

Get a car and stay in hotels. For Merckx sakes, man, you’re civilized.

Tweed. Duh.

I’m reviving this thread to boast that the VMH and I have just booked a flight to Brussels for two weeks next April!
Plan is to take in Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold and Fleche Wallonne. Getting a springbone just thinking about it!
I’ve put in for the ballot for the Amstel Gold sportif and will do something leading up to Fleche. Unfortunately arriving to soon before PR to ride on that route prior but will look at doing something after.
So…general tips anyone?
Current dilemmas are: hire a bike there or bring #1 from Sydney?
hire a car and stay in hotels or hire a campervan?
tweed coat or goretex?
I should mention the VMH is not a cycling disciple (yet) but is a sport nut and likes beer…

AWESOME!!! So awesome!!! Man, I am soooooooooo jealous! No matter what you’re going to have an unforgettable time.

Amstel and La Fleche both repeat sections of the route so we’re more likely to stay in one spot. I’m a bit nervous about flying the bike over but finding it harrd to get good leads on bike hire…

@xyxax

@Marcus
“Seriously?”

Stop being so confusing.

frank:
@Marcus

On the basis of this last performance I am seriously considering buying some of those nose tape things that Gilbert (and Klodi?) are still persisting with. There must be something to them?

Don’t those look cool? Ulli used one, too. It doesn’t really matter if they help, does it? I’m getting me some.

Just thinking about how that would ruin my tan lines that my Jawbones have left on my face make me cringe.

why the hell couldn’t Oscar push and come in at 5th? he cost me an extra point.

@xyxax
Would it make it easier for you if we used italics for “non-serious” comment?

Yes, someday! My other bike is an old steel beast, so it’s not really rain suitable and I don’t want to rust her out prematurely. Someday someday someday…

One of the best things in the life of a Velominatus is having a #1 bike and a rain/everything else road bike.

I too used to only have a #1 and riding in the rain was fun, but the entire time I was out pedaling I’d be fearing the hours of meticulous cleaning. It put a damper on the riding having that in the back of my mind. With a dedicated rain bike I don’t mind the rain at all. The bike gets cleaned, but not as often as the #1.

Good luck on the day when you too have a rain bike; it’s an awesome upgrade.

That said, I think they look goofy and evoke a unseemly need for a placebo effect. But, by definition, they do not detract from Gilbert’s looking Pro.

On the basis of this last performance I am seriously considering buying some of those nose tape things that Gilbert (and Klodi?) are still persisting with. There must be something to them?

Don’t those look cool? Ulli used one, too. It doesn’t really matter if they help, does it? I’m getting me some.

xyxax:
@mcsqueak
Hmmmm. I know what you mean. My current bike is less than a year old. But it will probably take 12-24 months to nickel and dime for all the components of any frame I get now.
That said, I am considering a Van Dessel or a Moots, like Pedale, but only if he takes the photograph.

With pleasure!

Scuba Steve:
Dam you Leukamans… 7th… 7th? C’mon man get on the podium already! costing me valuable Prestige points you douche bag!
Can I click DISPUTE on my results simply becuase I’m bitter that Franky and Baden Cooke didnt get near the top 5?

I’m with you Scuba, big L faded to 7th, I was gritting my teeth with him.
Still this race was a crap shoot and other than the pHil we’re all guessing.

Oli Brooke-White :

Nate:@Pedale.ForchettaKeep it up, Pedale. I’d rather hear it and be envious than never hear about it.

Same here!

Ditto. Particularly if it comes with photos …

Marcus :
Given that PhilGil did much of the chasing in the last 10k and then exploded like he did, I don’t think there is much different any of the final selection could have done […] how effing good was he?.

“Anyway, as a top favourite it was my responsibility so I pulled too.” THAT good.

Nate:
@Pedale.Forchetta
Keep it up, Pedale. I’d rather hear it and be envious than never hear about it.

Same here!

@Buck Rogers
It’ll be like grade school where everyone gets a prize just for competing so one doesn’t end up feeling like a loser with a need for a trench coat, semi-automatic weapons and a spectacular ending.

Just sayin…

xyxax :
@frankPerhaps a little syringe icon for the person who gets the most points by riders under investigation/banned for doping?

Now THAT’S a great idea! Totally made me laugh!

Oli Brooke-White :
Great ride by Gilbert, but he can’t be considered anything near Sean Kelly until he a) rides Paris-Roubaix (preferably winning it) and b) finishes top 5 GC in a GT. He certainly is vying with Cancellara for current King of the Classics title though…

Yeah, I was still overly excited and impressed when I posted that comment. But, that being said, he races STRONG in the Spring AND the Fall and just has the feel of a Hardman of old, at least to me. He embodies the spirit of Kelly more than anyone in the peloton these days, except maybe Jens V, and he also wins. Just love the guy!

Moots are cool. Pretty popular around here for ‘cross. Would you get a Ti frame?

Minion :
Mid pack position consolidated. Water Bottle anyone?

I’ll have a bottle thanks…

Oh god, I don’t even know. It’ll be a few years before I have a few grand extra to spend on another bike. My current ride is a Felt so I can’t exactly complain, other than it currently weighs 19.5 lbs. Something sexy with soul like a Bosberg would be nice.

What are you looking at right now?

Time to go to the Candy Store?

Yeah it’s not even so much the rain, but also knowing that I’ll have to spend almost as much time cleaning my bike as I do riding. I don’t have a rain bike so bike #1, which I like to keep really nice, also serves as my ‘rain bike’, meaning I have to clean the crap out of it for an hour after a wet ride. Eventually this bike will be a dedicated rain bike when I get something nicer.

Why on earth did I have Horner in there? He didn’t even start this race. I am always behind the ball on these VSP things and fill them in while falling off to sleep, I guess. You west-coast bastards with your time delays.

RE: Ryder
He came in 2nd! 2nd-to-last! Shame that.

Ok yeah, the first rain after the summer here is like that… people forget how to drive (which always shocks me, given I’m in the Pacific NW), and 2-3 months of oil comes up off of the streets. The only thing you have to remember is not to turn sharply when your wheels are over something metal, or the thick paint they use to mark lines and such, as that can get slick.

I had a great ride in some rain yesterday too, after I got tired of waiting to see if it was going to clear up or not. It’s amazing that “starting” a ride in the rain seems like a PITA and takes a bit of mental fortitude, but if it rains during a ride then it’s actually sort of refreshing. I’ll pick the sun any day, but the rain isn’t too horrible. It also means that one of the routes I like to take will be refreshingly clear of other folks.

@frank
Great!
One time I had too the Stroopwafel, they were very sweet, thanks for the photo I’ve forgotten the name.

For something (almost) completely different
I’ve really enjoyed the girl on the podium with the beer coasters dress!

So yes, I think my Sunday will be great as well.

is not fair at all. You lucky man! Hope it was a good time.

Both Schlecks do. Watching them descend is a clinic on what not to do.

So many climbers are so terrible going down, always amazes me. You’d think with all that practice going uphill, they’d occasionally venture back down the hill and get some experience descending. What, do they get airlifted off the top of mountains until race day?

I’m back from my Sunday group ride, today Madonna del Ghisallo. It’s just started the Italian coverage…

You’re really not playing fair, mate.

@frank
I picked Rodriquez for third place, but I didn’t get any points.

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If you disagree with any of the points you got, you can dispute your score by clicking the “dispute” link next to the result you don’t agree with. That will put it in a queue where we will have a gander at it and see if we mapped the result incorrectly (or – and this is really, really stretching the realm of possibility – there might be a bug in the logic that calculates the score. I know. Never happen.

And yes, Ol’ J-Rod is just waiting to piss hot. Only a matter of time (besides, he’s Spanish and successful, of COURSE he’s doping! :)

@Netraam
Breuckelen to be exact. Get me Beatrix on the phone!

@Mikeweb
Isn’t it pay-per-view?

Gerrans got third??? How did I miss that? Awesome.

OK, last question: am I the only one who thinks J-Rod is the perfect example of a dood who will get stuck with a doping ban?

@RedRanger
Probably watching the race, doing a race or sleeping.

Schleck has blown his load early, surprisingly Freire is still there.

OK< now on Eurosport. cheers