Belgians ride Cumbria 4th july

The last in our trilogy of esoteric and proto-classic rides is this Sunday, 4 July.

Phil Malcolm has crafted a worthy cobbled and rough lane ride around some parts of Western Cumbria you are unlikely to have seen before.

Meet 10.30am in the carpark of Cockermouth Sainsbury's CA13 9QF. Phill will guide you to the free car parks nearby and is organising the after ride food and Belgian beer requirements at the local pub.

Expect the unexpected - don't miss it!

Belgians watch the Brits

Pic: Ian McVety http://www.flickr.com/photos/40814262@N08/sets/72157624376597504//show/

Supremely challenging, relentless, savage, brutal - the pundits had a field day describing the course for the British Road Race Championships. And it was everything they said it would be.

Except these were mine and Mark's local roads, our Sunday morning ride territory, our training grounds in a tucked away corner of East Lancashire. We like to think of them as challengingly hilly, good for a workout, and beautiful to boot. It seemed a little harsh to describe them in the same language as a war zone, but that is not to underestimate the attrition of multiple laps and an unusually hot summers day.

We rode through green lanes, unmarked roads and leafy byways to get to our viewing points to watch the Womens race. Halted for an hour after a slightly predictable (narrow, bumpy, technical descents + big nervous bunch = ????) but rather nasty crash, there was less viewing time available for me, and half the number of laps for the riders.

No matter, it was a simply superb race, uncertain right to the end and full of gritty and stunning performances from the main protaganists. And a worthy winner too.

New Kit!

OK, who's been out in theirs so far?? I was too giddy not to this lunchtime.

Duncan has excelled himself, as ever. It's not as easy as it looks getting kit designed in concept, through the ordering process and out the other end into production without it looking like..... well, some of the less successful club kits out there. Or even some of the pro team kits......

Bold and stylish for all pieces, my particular favourite is the gilet which I think is going to become a staple part of my wardrobe on all but the hottest rides.





A somewhat more professional picture set may be threatening soon to replace these amateurish contributions........

Here come the Belgians Style guide: Interview with the designer

>Mr. Astle, Your new 2010 design is just
>out. In respect to the 2009 design the 2010 has a more aggressive
>impact with a bold Black/Red colour combination. Do You think Red and
>Black will soon replace the current Blue/White trend?

No, long may the blank white (with one additional colour if you're lucky) pro identikit reign. To compound that, Forza to the faux Tron-esque body panels sported by HTC Columbia, they look wicked. Or so the local five year olds tell me. Then again who wouldn't want a six pack on the outside while they can hide a keg (I prefer a Firkin) underneath.
Being serious though there definitely needs to be a separation between the PRO ranks and the grassroots racer and they're very helpful in providing a plethora of kits we have no intention of copying. It's good to look better than your heroes, especially when you're getting dropped.

>How would You rate the impact of
>British designers like Vivian Westwood and Alexander McQueen on Your
>work?

They would have played a greater influence had I got the kit designs inspired by them to actually work.
The Westwood bondage bibshorts were a failure as once you tried a cyclocross remount and threw your leg the other tended to follow; leaving you standing on the other side of the bike and not actually going anywhere! The prototype with the bondage bibs attached through the frame was an oversight with the test rider* unable to part with his machine.
The McQueen helmet made out of glass and angel wing feathers was light and aero in the windtunnel but could only withstand one impact on a rainswept, mudstrewn parcour. The UCI wanted to ban it though as it was thought to be performance enhancing via it's shock factor.
The British Designer that has had the most influence is Wayne Hemingway, with his championing of 'middle aged' fashion staples and second hand store style. Therefore for winter 2011 we shall mainly be wearing cardigans of varying shape, sag and knit, in combination with comfy slippers from select indoor market stalls.

*Didn't know we had a test team did you...He didn't know either.

>Some people compare Your design with an
>old Assos design or the Belgian Lotto design.


I'm happy to be compared to both entities and would prostrate myself with gusto (if that's possible) before the high priests of Assos, the saviors of the cycling kit world.


I'm also available as flannel boy to Leif Hoste should his last minion need respite. I also know a good hairdresser should big Phil Gilbert need one (and I think he does).

>Rumours are out about about a collabo
>with Paul Smith for the 2011. Would You like to comment on that?

I can't really comment at the moment ( no comment means no collabo, I don't do stripe at the moment) but in the near future it's all about punk rock DIY. Expect to see some more clothing projects inspired by the glorious world of European road racing (for once I'm being serious here).

>Would You consider going back to an
>English or European supplier for the 2011 design.

I'd happily throw my (our) lot in with any manufacturer who can offer me product, pricing and confidence in their product...Who am I trying to fool I'll throw money at anyone that can make me compromise my highly developed morals via the means of private jets, deposits in secret bank accounts and life lived the Tiger Woods way!

>What sets Your design apart from other
>teams is the limited availability, which says „Members only“, so
>no chance to pick up a jersey at Harrods for an example. Will You on
>the long run set up a store in Savile Row with custom fit for members
>only?

I've seen it and it's the future. A combination of cyclist's grooming with bespoke tailoring. Have a leg shave, hot towel and massage while our capable tailors measure you (to the left sir?) for your sartorial elegance. Oh, suits you sir!

>Thanks for the interview. Can I have my
>jersey NOW.

Mostly Mary Townley

Here's the juice on mine and Mark's mid week adaption of the classic off road Mary Townley Loop, part of the Pennine Bridleway and traversing around East Lancashire and Calderdale's finest hills:

7 hours out and about - 6 1/2 riding time

Temperature - 24 degrees, wind - nah. It felt hot. Damn hot.



Liquid intake - insufficient leading to a begging at nearest house water incident.



Chips and mayo? Oh yes.



Leffe on draught? Passed up, just.

Getting lost and having an inadvertant but pleasant adventure? De riguer for this sort of thing.



Suitability of cross bike for a mostly off road and rocky 50 miler? Adequate but a little harsh on long stretches of uneven packhorse sets with 65psi.



Longest stretch of cobbles ever ridden outside of Flanders? Up from Watergrove Reservoir, near Whitworth, nearly a mile long, in the middle of nowhere and going nowhere. Bizarre.



Tan/dust lines and salt stains on clothing? Guaranteed.

Here come the Belgians Style Guide:Tour de Swiss

Gruezi! What is the Swiss most famous for?

a) Chocolate b) Cycling wear?

For a reason I could not find historic chocolate but I found three jersey. One was made by Swiss people, one was made for a Swiss team, one was designed in Switzerland.

Although we did not get an invitation to start the Tour de Swiss I decided to do a pre-ride of the final stage of this years edition: the ITT Liestal-Liestal. I packed my ITT travel bike with more Aero spokes than anybody else. 64 spokes manufactured manually. Also with Aero saddle!

Also I packed my old travel guide I found in the late eighties in a dust bin close to an etape village, there it says Liestal is about 10 miles to the south-east from Sandoz and Solvay, sorry of course I mean 10 miles south-east of Basel. (You can tell from the name Solvay this is an older travel guide as the company was renamed in 1991)

Basically this ITT is a power course: From 330 metres a 10 km uphill to 530 m followed by a 15 km downhill. First section to Hölstein is just pure power on a wide street. In Hölstein turn left in front of this building.

Just in case your team car broke down, stop and go to the bakery and refill your water bottle as well. While still refilling my bottle a Swiss guy turned into the street. So I took up the pursuit and clawed back most of his advantage on a false flat. Almost got him, a left-right combination showed up, which was a) rather steep and b) had some orthogonal lined surface. (Most likely this will be the one place someone will use the small ring) So I lost some ground did not manage to catch him on the following false flat before the downhill started. Hmm, a Swiss guy dropping a Belgian, in an area of fine mechanical production...hmm dèjá vu.

Anyway the downhill to Sissach was fine, wide roads and chain all the way to the right, just pure power, most likely one will see 55-11 used. Hopefully the riders will be allowed to use the motorway and not end up like me in the last century.

So in total everything fine? Well almost. Instead of bypassing the first village Bubendorf I went through and so after 5 miles I was told being in the wrong valley. But no problem the lady said, just turn left in the village. So I will include two views the riders will miss on race day: like a complex rubbish sorting system or the church in the valley below you, as the climb from Reigoldswil to Oberdorf is much steeper than what is used in the ITT.

Are still with me? Fine. Of course Switzerland is not about chocolate or clothing or silly mountains. Forget about all that. It is simple the five letter word: MONEY. Special accounts, donations to the ...well You know, what I'm thinking about. At the finish of the ITT in Liestal there are banks so you can pay in the money just earned. The reason I turned right INTO Bubendorf could be related to a note in this travel guide: bank in village centre.

Have You ever asked Yourself why over sized stems where invented? That picture should give You an ides, just call it improved capacity. Also most riders use metal stems, because in an X-ray picture the metal should absorb enough energy that the notes can not be detected. The minimum is the Ritchey Composite, having at least some metal inside.

Final note: a reliable source told me it is not true that Cervelo will use Platinum inside the new frame project to meet the UCI weight limit for Carlos S., although that would have explained the proposed price. This info might also explain a 200$ drop in price for Pt during the last four weeks.

First post in Belgian

For my first post I thought I'd write about something I did for the first time yesterday, but a little background information to start.
I live in York and as Duncan said work as a mechanic in my LBS, it is my first season road racing but have been riding road bikes for a few years after starting on a BMX as a kid and moving on to fixed gear too. I was born and bred in Bradford, where my parents still live, in a small village called Tong (famous for it's garden centre and not much else).
So, yesterday I found myself with a few days off work and growing tired of the same old training routes I decided to ride back to my parents for the weekend. Setting off in the afternoon I went through Tadcaster and on to Boston Spa before making my way in the little lanes to Otley. All familiar roads to drive on but I'd never ridden them before. The big challenge was always going to be climbing out past the Chevin, a thought that had been with me since York. I chose the old chevin road, what a climb! It was 39x26 all the way, seated and just tapping it out. I made it up with legs burning and sweat pouring. From there on home there wasn't one bit of flat road, I almost got to thinking how riding in flat York had made me soft before I realsied I was a short downhill stretch from home.
While I'm back there'll hopefully be time to go see the Yorkshire Summer CX event at Temple Newsam on Sunday. Might have been riding it myself but my cyclocross bike hasn't turned up yet, but I will be ready for the Autumn and my first off road races. I'll be trying to do as many of the Yorkshire events as work allows and maybe the odd journey across the Pennines if the mud looks too good to resist.

Travels and travails in Roubaix

Gary is a 'Belgian' through and through. OK so he seems to sport a bewildering array of 'other' jerseys, eschewing the classic monochrome look for the most part, but we will forgive him for that - he's one of our own at heart.

I had the privilege of riding the Flanders sportive 2 years ago with Gary (far left) - he's one of those lithe, lean effortless type riders packing a climber's genetics and the technique to match. He dropped me on every climb and rode the hardest cobbles with style and grace when all around were losing theirs. If they had any to start with. Impressive stuff.

Come to think of it, that Flanders trip was a proto Belgians affair really, with Winkie making up the trio, and all now signed up Belgians members.

Gary went off to complete his double of Classics monuments last weekend with possibly the hardest one day ride on the globe for amateurs - the Paris Roubaix Sportive.

Here are some of his random recollections, preceeded by the text I got on Sunday night after he finished:

Oh. My. God. Words can't describe how hard that was. Torrential rain, blazing sun, had it all.

- Seeing Rob's quick release open after a particularly bad section of pave. Scary.

- Riding all of 100 yards on Saturday and wondering whether I'd be able to finish that section never mind the whole thing.

- The detritus of bottles, tubes, pumps at the start of the Inchy pave.

- Researching who Jean Stablinski was/is.

- Looking back at the Arenberg trench and getting shivers down my spine. That was mainly the cold, but it was exciting too.



- Seriously considering the possibilities of dying in the thunder and lightning in a northern French industrial estate.

- Thinking that the pave couldn't get any worse and then hitting the l'Arbre section and almost ceasing any forward motion.

BUT...

- That moment of turning into the velodrome and onto the track... was possibly the greatest cycling moment I've ever experienced. The only slight scare was when I went way high on the track and for one second thought I might go skidding down the banking after hitting one of those ads.

I didn't. It was f*cking ace.

The use of the big ring and an inscrutable expression riding through the chaos of the Arenberg have been duly noted. Chapeau. We shall call you Flahute. Like it says on our new jerseys. I think.

How to combine three into one

Having missed Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Belgium as well as the 100 miles of nowhere of the Fat cyclist, I decided to do all three at the same time, of course such an effort takes a special jersey:


So to get the 100 miles I decided to do Aachen-Liege-Aachen. Taking the N 68 in Eupen, than the N 629 into Goè, I entered the track of the Tour of Belgium final stage. So my first climb was the third of the TOB: Côte da la Gileppe 2.6 km with 8%.


Nice wide street with a view unto a lion in far distance. After the climb I reached Jalhay with an old style Delhaize.


Turning right I followed the N 629 towards Tiège, after a sharp downhill with 10 % on a rotten street, more potholes than anything else. So I learned a new word "Route deformee", in general I found the streets to be more rough than in Flandria. The Côte de Surister is the next climb of the TOB nice climb through a forest just 1.2 km at 7%.


In Tiege I changed for the N 640 for Polleur, turning left to Theux. In Theux turn right in the N 62 and I know there was trouble ahead. It felt like the 11% climbing up to that left turn. Côte de Theux was used in the TOB as well as in LBL. But after the corner was a small downhill a false flat and than a climb worse than the pictured one, steeper and three times as long. After Mont Theux both races turned south but I rather decided to stay on the N 62 towards Liege. So the next climb was a softer version of Côte de Theux: Straight uphill to a turn, but this time without a nasty surprise, the climb continued in curves for about 1 km to Beaufays. There turn to the right for the N 30, which I think is used in LBL but from the other direction. The N 30 took me straight into Liege.


I decided to stop for a rest in front of the newly build long distance train station. Hoping the return would nice and easy going and I could put the carbon wheels to good use, little did I know. The temperature was rising all the time and the valley of the N 61 did not provide much shadow and it seemed like my legs were softening at the same rate as the chocolade from this supplier:


Around Verviers I was using more water for cooling than drinking, because it seemed my stomach was not too pleased of luke warm water. Somehow I made it back to Eupen for a stop at the Delhaize for a cold Cola and cold water. It seems like the Cola worked for my stomach and I made it back to Aachen on time to get the train.

Having finished my 100 Miles of Nowhere for 2010 I can now switch back to my Jacques chocolade jersey, having learned aero wheels are no good if your national Elite distributor fails to return a failing Nanogel bottle within three months and You overheat, because at 30°C water won't stay cool in a normal bottle for long.

Belgians Go Cumbrian- Reconnaissance

Took a glorious June day off work today in order to provide you lucky souls with a sneak preview of some of the best (read: "worst") roads awaiting you on your trip North. The whole thing took me about 5 hours at a brisk training pace, with some hammer applied on a couple of hills. 5 miles along the coast into an evil headwind aside, it was a great trip out, if we get the weather we had today, we'll be laughing.

First up is Merks lane, coming at only 3 miles into the ride:



The Muur der Scale Hill (note where the top is in relation to the bend... Steepamendous!):


The "Mini-Mollenberg":



This next one is a lovely climb and gets even steeper shortly after this point, I didn't want to ruin the surprise so no pictures of that bit, the back wheel was slipping up here...


The lane that the craggy-faced Belgeaphile who used to run my former club dubbed "Paris-Roubaix Lonning". The surfacing gets even worse after this. I Lost a bottle down here today getting chased by a dog, just for an extra frission of danger:



Finally, the start of the Silloth Pave:


Enjoy! There's loads of bits I was having too much fun riding to stop and take pictures.

Family...

As we wait with baited breath for our new kit to arrive (not long now as I do a little dance to the lords of far east manufacturing) I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce some new team members. Some names you won't know, some names you might. I think we may be in the process of becoming a family, as our blog worlds converge.

So here goes...in no particular order.

First up is Philip Malcolm. Cockermouth (Cumbria UK) resident and soon to be organiser of our next ride around the seldom used lanes of Cumbria. Seldom used because they're a harsh ride I suspect.

Ben Rathmell...or Paper Thin Ben in his blog alter ego. Rider, Racer, LBS worker and photographer. See convergence - I told you so.

Next up are two Gents from across the pond. Michael Fox of Tallahassee, Florida and David Watts of Charlotte, North Carolina. Two Gents that like to ride and hopefully will give us an insight to Stateside riding.

Welcome also David Watts of Solihull. Expect to see a HCTB stickered Uncle John around the Birmingham area - I know...I need to send him the stickers.

Finally welcome Mike Mulroy of Velocake fame. A manchester expat now living in Cornwall with a love of the bike, good coffee and good cake. A kindred spirit.

So there we go. Told you we're becoming a family.