Here comes the Belgian style guide (Issue 1)

Just like every good blog (or magazine) we'll tell You what to buy, what must-haves You'll need to get along with your 2010 team kit. So no need to look for that Vogue Homme (Does it still exist?) Just stay with us!

The most important question of a style guide is:

How much money can I spend on goodies? The latest shoes, custom high end fabrics, etc so say 500 GBP. Hold on, didn't Duncan say something about being not elitist? Damned, no Raffa, Assoss etc....

So here we go style guide economy:

Polish your existing 2006 Sidi shoes, replace heel and cleats, 12 GBP

Foska drink bottle, 4 GBP

CSC gloves NOS at Prendas, 4 GBP, or 3 for a tenner (only XL available)

Bar tape (last years print), 6 GBP

Galler chocolade bar, 1 GBP

Sun protection ...just kidding there is no sun, because if there would be sun, there would be no chocolade bar, logic!

A total of 27 GBP or 30 Euros.

Preview:

In the next issues we will discuss topics like:

- Can a member of the Belgians wear a yellow jersey?

ROSSO CORSA...

If you were thinking of joining the team now's your chance. We're putting an order together for Summer Kit and were going RED.

Items available (supplied by Champion System) are:

Short sleeve jerseys: £38.50 + postage

Long sleeve jerseys: £45.00 + postage

Gilets: £37.00 + postage

Summer Caps: £8.00 + postage

Short and warmers are your own choice as long as they're black.

Remember once you buy a jersey, you're on the squad with access rights to blog to your hearts content.

If your interested drop me and email at herecomethebelgians@gmail.com and I'll forward you an order form.

Orders close 5.00 P.M. Monday 26th April

Amstel Bronze - a different point of view

Preperation is the key. So what comes to Your mind if You think about Netherlands? I mean apart from football hooligens, famous Rabobank riders like Rasmussen or Thomas Decker? Correct, water, plenty of it. I prepared myself in the evening before my trip with some Sushi.

Just in case if Velocake should spy on us: use 250 g fresh salmon, 250 g sushi rice, 50 ml rice vinegar, 2 g of Wasabi paste, 30 g shrimps plus some sheets of dry seeweed and prepare accordingly.

From Maastricht to Valkenburg should not be such a long travel. (BTW, Crossjunkie can You see the cobbles?)

So it took one hour to get from Aachen to Maastricht, some more time to find cobbles. If You start from the town centre travel to the North. I said North, not North-West, because than You'll end up in Belgium. Guess how I found out about a short cut to get my Belgian energy bars even on a Sunday before 1 pm. Later keep to the East following A 2 signs, well not too closely, otherwise You'll end up on the motorway. After a while You'll be in Valkenburg.

Small ring, climbs? Nonsenses. This route is flat as a pan cake.

Of course one can ride up the Cauberg, and wait for riders without navigation system like this typical dutch rider.

And wait and wait, some time later....and even later .....

Imagine how navigation could save this race, instead of 256 km, just a 12 km race!

Inside the Ronde Van Vlaaderen (tourist version)

What did I do? Signed in per Internet, paid some 13 € to be a part of the story. Having done no training miles so far I went for the short 75 km version.
April, 3rd just another Saturday with unstable weather. Waiting in Brussels Zuid for the next train. Had one "Energy bar" with the label "Praline intense" as breakfast. Already running one hour late due to Thalys service delay... (Look carbon frame, DA 7400 group set, Brooks saddle, Vittoria Pave tubs on Campa Lambda rim)

Warm up 10 km to the start in Ninove, the first 30 km were a nice up and down, than things started to get serious, cobbles. And it turned out the problem on the cobbles was not uphill but rather downhill. The shift of weight onto the hoods caused the steering bar to turn downwards. Yeah, good old 1990 Dura Ace stem requires extra long 6 mm tool. With support (Bedanket!) of a Flemish I managed to get my bar up again.

But things got harder Leberg, Berendries, Tenbosse and than this sign "Geraardsbergen".

Yes, this means Muur-Kapelmuur. Above shown is the place where humans start pushing and Cancellara starts attacking. This is about 20% uphill and once people in front of You get off the bike You run risk of losing momentum and pushing yourself. So at least I got two pictures of the Muur.

The finish in Ninove. RVV is not a race with timings, basically it is about the hellingen, where one can/has to go full power. Most run on small streets, major street crossings will be temporarily blocked for the cyclists.
Church 100 metres behind the finish line, so one can take the time (14:20). Another 10 km roll-out to Liederkerke train station for the return.

After the race is before the race: Retro Ronde end of June 110 km.

So this was actually just a test run for the Old Look frame with DA 7400 8-speed.

The spirit of the Ronde

Last year in the village of the RVV: Frituur, Hamburgers, beers .....

So how about your breath afterwards? Do not worry, there is a solution:

The new energy bar with Menthe. Really clever those Belgians.....

So problem solved, let us enjoy RVV or RVOL