Big doings in the bike world this week. It’s COBBLES TIME!
If you don’t follow pro cycling, we’re into the exciting one-day spring classics as riders come off a couple of early stage races and get geared up for the big ones this summer (including, of course The Tour). The great thing about the Tour of Flanders — which happened yesterday — and Paris-Roubaix — scheduled for this Sunday — is the terrain: looooong stretches of cobblestone paths.
If you’ve ever ridden a road bike, you know that’s more than tough. As in, I would not stay upright.
Flanders is a Belgian race — 258K this year — that includes some awesome cobbled hills, while Paris-Roubaix is in northern France near the Belgian border. It’s also called Hell of the North.
These races are a blast to watch because there is a lot more visible strategy than you might see in a stage race, as riders only have one day to take the title rather than a week or more. You’ll also see sprinters and other specialists contending for the overall win. And these two in particular are interesting because of the courses.
Here’s a fun video from Trek — sponsor of the new Leopard Trek squad — not only because it’s about bike technology but also because it features Fabian Cancellara, a Swiss rider and world time trial champ who won both races last year.
Unfortunately, he got beat out yesterday, but I still have a not-so-secret athlete crush on him because he’s a badass. Europe in Spring 2012, anyone?
Speed Laces, Amazing Races 
oh man, watching these cobblestone races makes me hurt in my crotch. these guys are tough!
Posted by katie | April 4, 2011, 1:19 PMMy bike commute takes me through Georgetown, which either means cobblestones or M Street at rush hour. It’s pretty much a toss up on which I hate more. It’s either fall down and have to walk my bike, or stay upright and ride with terrible traffic (which also sometimes leads to me walking my bike). These guys are hard core.
Posted by amy | April 4, 2011, 1:38 PM