Formed in June 09, Here Come the Belgians is a non-elite anti-team celebrating all things cross, cobbled and Belgian.
Seeking a different experience to the traditional cycling club, its aim is to harness the energy of a vibrant internet cycling community with grass roots racing and riding based around Cyclocross and Spring Classics. There is no race programme in the style of a racing team, more a collection of individual experiences through rides and racing, in whatever location a member may be, that all can share in and contribute toward.

Friday, 14 January 2011

30 Jan - Something in the Soft South?

http://www.cxsportive.com/

So, it's the New Year and the 'Cross season is all but over, so what next?

Well, Spring Classics come to mind and this little taster promises to whet your appetites. I guess it'll make a change from the turbo and DVDs.

Halfway between Reading and Oxford, on the edge of the Chilterns, 80km on mixed roads/tracks.
Not too testing, no real Bergs or Muurs but a nice easy leg stretcher on pleasant lanes and tracks. It's my weekday 'patch', the roads are of true Flandrian quality and the off-road sections will be test your bike handing, albeit for only a few 100m at a time. If you squint a bit you could almost be on t'other side of La Manche.

Plenty of flinty gravel on the lanes and if it keeps raining like it is now 'gloopy' would describe the off-road going, along with polished roots to keep you on your toes (or put you on your backside).

Tyre (and tube) choice could make or break the day.

Hope to see some other Belgians there, I'll be in the brand new strip, can't see it staying that way for long.

John
Posted by John Elkin at 06:00

3 comments:

  1. smilerbiker14 January 2011 at 07:48

    It's on the same day as one on the 'Chiltern Classics' but I'll
    probably be there.
    I should also point out that Rapha will be running the second 'Hell of the North (London) sometime in April. 100Km of road with twenty sectors of 'gravé' free beer and frites at the finish as well as coverage of the PR.
    Finally for the Shandy boys, don't forget the BORC. I'm crossing the 132km distance.

    ReplyDelete
  2. russell15 January 2011 at 10:00

    Looks great, off snowboarding that weekend though.

    Did the Rapha ride last year and the Beer was very good!

    HONCing this year.

    ReplyDelete
  3. John Elkin28 January 2011 at 09:36

    Failed to get into the HONC, u to my elbows in the works of a Seat Ibiza on the 3rd and by the time I remembered (about 11:00) all the places had gone! Had a grumble about how postcode priority should work (I live in Chelt) then got together with a bunch of mates who also failed to get in and arranged an alternative on the South Downs.

    Woodcote should be good, had a quick flick out yesterday to test the bike and recce the trails, all drying nicely and not too claggy just now.

    ReplyDelete

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