Kit review: Testing out Alpkit bike packing bags in Northern France and Flanders

As we move into the summer months I begin to think about trips that I will make with my bicycle, particularly as I now have some relatively new luggage carriers on my road bike.

Last year I invested in some bikepacking bags from Alpkit. A branch of the Peak District-based shop opened in Kingston, South London last summer so I made a trip over there and bought some gear.

In the past I have tended to go old school, using a rack and panniers. That still works for my old-style sturdy cyclocross bike which has a rack attached to the rear stays of the frame. But when it comes to the road bike that tends to be more of an issue. A seat-post rack has worked in the past, but you can't use it on a carbon-fibre seat post. On those seat posts where it is suitable there is still a risk of the rack working itself loose and the panniers move around and knock into the wheels.

The popularity of bikepacking has meant there are lots of different bags for use, particularly for long-distance touring on- and off-road.  

So I finally took the plunge and modernised my gear. For the saddle, I bought the Koala 13L saddle bag, as well as the Kuoka 13L handlebar bag, and Fuel Pod top tube bag. Although it's called a saddle bag, the Koala saddle bag doesn't attach directly onto the saddle, but slides onto the Alpkit Exo-rail, a dual rod that fixes onto the saddle. Attaching the rod requires a bit of jiggery pokery as you have to detach the saddle, loosen the nuts, fix the rods between the nuts that hold down the saddle and then tighten. A longish Allen key is needed for this, to be sure that the Exo-rail is firmly secured. The Alpkit shop assistant helped fit the Exo-rail, but it was a bit of struggle for him, as he only had a short Allen key.

Exo-rail fits under the saddle by attaching it to the nuts

Alpkit bikepacking system in practice

Once the rail was fitted, the Koala bag could just slide onto the rail very easily. The bag was great for carrying a couple of changes of clothes and my cosmetics for the weekend. Then to close the bag it was just a case of rolling it closed and tightening the side straps, before sliding the bag onto the Exo-rail and fastening the straps onto the seatpost. The system made for a secure fit. 

The Kuoka handlebar bag was a straightforward fit. That is more like a tube shape bag so for that, I just put in more clothes and some soft shoes then rolled closed both ends of the tube, before closing the clips that keep the folds tightly closed. As my bike is a small size, with slightly narrow handlebars it is important for me to fold the bag down small so that it can fit between the handlebars and doesn't block the movement of the gear levers and brakes. I guess I could have bought a smaller bag, but I want to be able to carry as much as possible!

As for the fuel pod, that fits snugly on the top tube, and I found really hand for carrying snacks. Having this carrying system really gave me piece of mind, and I looked forward to my first trip with them, which was to go abroad. Okay, I could have tried the bags out on a ride around South London, but I really wanted to feel like I was on a proper adventure. 

So I made good use of these items when I headed out to Northern France and Belgium for a long weekend. After driving down to Dover on a Saturday afternoon in early July, I parked up and boarded the evening ferry to Calais. The following day was spent cycling along the coast from Calais to De Panne (Belgium), via Dunkirk, then inland to Ypres, and onwards to Lille. 

Picking up the traffic-free Véloroute from Dunkerque to Bray-Dunes

The terrain was mainly on tarmacked surfaces, with lots of cycle paths. Part of the ride went along a disused railway line from Dunkirk to Bray-Dunes, close to the border with Belgium (known as La Vélomaritime: Eurovélo 4, or Véloroute du Littoral). Google map suggested that the path could take me right into De Panne via cycle path that passed through a camp site. On enquiring with the proprietor, he said that there was no cycle path. "There's constantly talk about a cycle path from here right into Belgium, but it is just talk," he said, with a thick Northern France accent. "It's pie in the sky! Your only way into De Panne is along the road." So I guess that was just Sat Nav fail - but not a terrible one, as the campsite looked quite pleasant. 

The road into De Panne was not very busy, and once on Belgian soil I was on a segregated cycle path when riding through De Panne, apart from a short section where I went onto a boardwalk to reach the seaside in this buzzing town. It looked a lot brighter and dynamic than what you see during the grey weather during the cyclocross or Classics season. It was quite sunny and even warm.

De Panne beach

Riding through Belgium I was frequently on segregated cycle paths. There was no choice but to be on the cycle paths as it's illegal to go on the road if there is a cycle path available for use. To get to Ypres (Ieper, in Flemish), after passing through some back streets not far from Koksijde, my route then took me onto a long canal towpath, interspered with bridges and beer gardens, to the Lo-Reninge area. It was pleasant to have these little areas for a break as the path was very long, very straight and very flat, with a slight breeze. It wasn't the most exciting bit of riding, but it was perfectly safe and there were quite a few families and groups of friends out on Sunday bike rides along this path. 

The path was generally smooth, but there were a few rough sections, as well as cobbles on some of the roads, which made me imagine taking part in a Spring Classic.    

Although everything on the bike was jolting around, I felt confident that the bags were in place and nothing would be falling off.

Onwards to Ypres, which was a very stylish looking town. I had picked a good day to go there as there was a mini fairground and a music festival taking place. 

So in the main square where I took my snack, visitors were serenaded with alternate world music and techno music from a nearby stage - quite an eclectic mix - especially when sung in Flemish.

Up to this point my ride had been on flat terrain through the Nord region of France, and West Flanders region of Belgium. When heading back into France, my route took me into the French-speaking Wallonia area where the terrain became undulating, with more varied flora and a feeling of familiarity as people spoke a language I could understand.

My re-entry back into France was somewhat unceremonious, as I rode along a small residential back-street in the back of beyond, near a Armentières, famous for its World War I war graves. This rough road, which was in fact not much more than a bumpy dirt track was signalled as a cul-de-sac, though there was access with a bicycle over a mini bridge. It was on the other side of this, and near a motorway, that a small sign showed that I was in France, and I noted that the registration number of the cars changed to the French format.

Ypres main square

Around an hour later, after riding along some quiet secondary roads, I was in the northern Metropole of Lille. Again, there was a buzzing atmosphere, partly because it had been a glorious summer's day, and I also imagine the buzz of welcoming the Tour de France in a few days' time.

My day-long ride from Calais to Lille, via Belgium had been very straightforward and pleasant. The bikepacking bags had survived - or at least I think I did. The final part of my journey on that Sunday was a local train from Lille to the picturesque old town of Saint-Omer, where I had a hotel booking. Bear in mind that old town means lots of cobbles. And in Saint-Omer there was no shortage of that. So once I had crossed the bridge over the canal, the bike bounced along the pave practically all the way up to the main square. As the hotel receptionist showed me to the store room where I could leave my bicycle, I heard some rattling in the saddle area. I removed the Koala saddlebag to see what was going on. To my shock the Exo-rail came off the saddle at the same time, and the saddle came loose! Oh dear. I guess, that's what happens when you don't use the right Allen Key to secure the saddle.

Luckily the following day I managed to ride the bike (albeit out of the saddle as there wasn't one to sit on!) down to the local Decathlon sports shop. The bike mechanic very helpfully put it back together using a heavy duty Allen Key and his own strength. It was a two-man job as I had to hold the saddle in place as he tightened the nuts. 

Saint-Omer, cathedral square

He hadn't heard of Alpkit and hadn't seen such an elaborate bikepacking system like this before as the Decathlon bike packing bags don't include any rails for the bag. He still believed that the Alpkit was a good system, but it was just a case of making sure that the screws in the saddle were properly tightened. So luckily, I was able to continue my planned cycle ride along Stage 3 of the Tour de France, back to Calais, where I could pick up the homeward ferry.

It was a fun weekend.

Once back home in London, I raised the issue with Alpkit customer services, and they very helpfully sent me a new rail and screw in case there was any further problem with the Exo-rail. I have since used it on other trips - for a ride to Paris, and in my local area in London and I haven't had any problem. So I look forward to doing more rides this year with the Alpkit bikepacking system. 

Pros: 

Weatherproof - kit stays dry in light rain

Easy to close and seal the bags

Fits tightly to the bike with little lateral movement of the bags

Exo-rail makes it easy to fit the Koala saddle bag onto the bike

Fuel pod is easy to reach while riding along

Cons:

Exo-rail is quite fiddly to fit; ensure that it is tightened properly with a firm and a good length Allen Key

Kuoka handlebar bag may be obstruct the brake/gear levers on small-sized handlebars; ensure that the bag is folded down small

Overall score for all items: 8/10

Related posts

Memories of bike rides in Argentina - Part 2

Eastern suburbs of Paris by bike

Short ride along the High Peak Trail

My Cycling Year So Far - Tour of Flanders

Belgium Bound

Cyclist central at Oudenaarde

Another high point of my year so far has been my trip to ride the cobbles of the Tour of Flanders. It had been a few years since I last cycled this event. The last time I rode this Spring Classic was in 2007, and had a great time there. I hadn't intended to to leave it this long before going back again.

Since the time when I last rode it, they had moved the start and finish from Ninove to Oudenaarde, and they had reintegrated Koppenberg, which had been removed from the course for refurbishments.

Apart from that, the atmosphere, fanfare and zeal of all the racers was just as present as ever.

Away from industrial Asse and now in Denderleeuw

I travelled to Flanders by Eurostar to Brussels and then cycled from there to Oudenaarde. The route I took was nothing to write home about, as it passed through some industrial areas around Anderlecht and Asse.

It was only after Denderleeuw that the landscape began to look like the pretty Flandrian scenes that we see on television. I guess when you do these types of rides you get to see places as they are - warts and all.


Word on the street - cycling on Belgian roads

The road conditions were okay. Getting out of Brussels was easy enough. Even though there were bike lanes I still needed to be careful as vehicles would still park in the bike lanes. Some of the bike lanes were so narrow that on occasions you were riding in the gutter, so it was better to ride further out from the kerb, in the flow of the traffic and on a decent road surface. You also need to be careful of crossing side roads, and make sure that cars aren't turning across your path.

In short, riding through Brussels was not bad, but it was not this cycling paradise that people claim is so much nicer than riding along streets the UK. People can be too quick to say that cycling in Europe is better than cycling in the UK. My experience is that in all countries you get good bits and not so good bits. You get good drivers and careless drivers everywhere.

Once into the Flandrian countryside I was on trunk roads that had cycle lanes which was great, though bear in mind that on many side roads that were not trunk roads there are no cycle lanes, the roads are not especially wide, so the conditions are no different from riding on a minor road in the UK.


Riding up Koppenberg

Some local riders at Koppenberg

After a pleasant 40 miles I arrived at my lodgings which were just outside Oudenaarde, and around the corner, literally from Koppenberg. That area was quite busy as lots of folks were practicing it ahead of the cyclosportive and before the crowds arrive. It was a good opportunity to chat to various folks - who seemed to have come from everywhere. Of course there were people from the local area, but there were folks from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, even a group from South Africa.

Saturday was the big day, at least for we amateurs, so I rode the three miles from my bed & breakfast to reach central Oudenaarde, from where I began my ride.

As I was a little late getting up, and I knew I would  need to be back in time to see the professional women's team presentations, I decided to do the 74km option. That wasn't an easy ride though, because it still included around 14 bergs. The tough challenges of Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, and Koppenberg were included, with the latter being tackled barely 10km into the ride.

Koppenberg didn't fail to disappoint, It was a 15-20% gradient, with cobbles everywhere, and crowds of other riders. Being on my cross bike meant that I felt more comfortable in my riding position, and the tyres offered that bit more cushioning - quite important for my 50-year old bones!

For me, it was just important to keep a good core stability, stay relaxed, hold my line, and be ready to shout "on your left/on your right" very assertively.

The tactic almost worked, but then a woman in front of me, who seemed to be riding well, fell over. She was Italian and her cycling buddy had been shouting words of encouragement to her [Dai, dai] and she seemed to be feeding off that, but then suddenly, bang! She hit the deck, and I had no where to go, so had to dismount quickly.



That was a bit annoying as I was near the top, and thought I had conquered the beast. In my bloody mindedness I walked back to almost the bottom of the climb and decided to attempt it again. The area was quite thick with riders and spectators, and a few people offered to give me a push as I remounted my bike. Then they all shouted Allez, Allez as I strained to get up the climb for a second time, through gritted teeth. This time I did it, and felt like I had won the Tour of Flanders!


Feeling old after Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg

This gave me the confidence to cope with the other bergs to come. Our route didn't include Geraadsbergen or Kapelmuur/Mur de Gramont, but we had enough to be getting on with. Oude Kwaremont was not so steep, but it went on for a long time, and the cobbles seemed sharper and disordered compared with other bergs, so it was a bumpier ride. It was definitely the area to be though, as a spectator as there was loads of pumping music, and a massive beer tent of the same name, and loads of people who seemed to already be on the way to getting drunk.

A word of warning - the descent from Kwaremont is lovely and fast, but then you round the right-hand corner and you are met with this steep cobbled uphill. That was Paterberg. I could have stayed on the bike, and quickly tried to find my low gear, on the hill, but I didn't have the legs to cope with the change of gear. So I just dismounted and manually changed gear in order to comfortably tackle the ascent. Once again, it was a case of being mindful of the folks who were dismounting on the hill once they ran out of gears, as well as those who chose to walk in the middle of the road. This climb felt as steep as Koppenberg, but was not long. However, I still felt quite tired after the previous exertions, so it was harder work for me.

Feeling happy after riding Paterberg (and Oude Kwarement too)

It was a relief to have been able to do those tough three bergs, as well as the other ones. I just had to put my head down and hurry back over the remaining 15 or so miles to get to the finish line. My lack of fitness began to show, and I felt quite tired. A few people past me, and I wanted to jump on their wheels, but I didn't have the strength to hold their wheels. So I just rode back at my own pace.

It was just great to see the finish line, knowing that I still had the ability to ride even the tough bergs.

A good day out in Flanders

Flanders is a great place to be when the bike races are on. At the lovely place where I stayed, Enjoy B&B Today, there was a group of Irish guys, and some Italians from Turin as well. Around Oudenaarde and the surrounding area there were also lots of people from the UK, and I recognised jerseys from local clubs like Kingston Wheelers and Dulwich Paragon. There was a large contingent from my club, Penge CC, though I travelled separately from them. It was good to bump into Dougie Fox and other riders from Crawley Wheelers. I don't get to talk to them much when I'm in London - so it was just ironic that it took a cycling event abroad to get us to sit down and have a chat with them over a beer! But that's what the Tour of Flanders does.

Feed station at Ronse, where you bump into people you know

Related Posts
Tour of Flanders ride 2007

Mallorca vs Flanders

Surviving the Paris Roubaix cobbles

Annaleena does Paris Roubaix in winter

Mallorca vs Flanders

I am thinking about where to go for cycling in early April. I've narrowed it down to two possibilities - Mallorca and the Tour of Flanders. Now many might think this should be a no brainer decision. Why choose to go to some windswept rainy plain despite the lure of sea, sun, and lots of interesting climbs! Well, in fact, the decision is not so clear cut:

Mallorca

This is a training camp, essentially with cycling buddies/club mates but the island is awash with club cyclists in the Spring and some roads will have the atmosphere of an unofficial cyclosportive

Good quality riding on lovely smooth roads, with picturesque climbs and amazing switchbacks

Riding ~ 100km every day and up to 1500m climbing will definitely make you fitter

Great atmosphere in a cycling mad country

The chance to the see the pro racers training - catch one if you can!

No need for the longs - you can ride around in short sleeves and shorts


Lovely beaches and a chance to lounge by the pool

Tapas, Sangria, Cerveza



With £sterling on its knees a holiday in the Euro zone could be rather expensive

High chance of topping up the sun tan - low chance of rain

You might bump into Raphael Nadal!

A language that people can vaguely make sense of


You get to mix with cyclists from all over Europe - largely British, Irish and Germans!










Tour of Flanders

This is a high profile cyclo sportive which comes with all the fanfare - an event village, timing chip, feed stations, beer tent, goody bag and finishers certificate

Good quality riding on cobbled bergs (hills) and flat windy plains - definitely makes you stronger

Cobbles are tough! Riding even just 140km at pace over them will make you fitter.

Great atmosphere in a cycling mad country

No hassle of lugging a bike onto the plane or having to dismantle and rebuild it

Quaint town squares and a chance to lounge in stylish cafes in Brugge


Waffles, mussels, and a plethora of Trappist beers

The chance to see the pro racers racing - catch one if you can!

With £sterling on its knees this could be expensive, but it's only a short trip

In 2007 temperatures were over 20 degrees and the sun shone - at least the temperature change on your return to the UK won't be a shock to the system!

You might bump into Lance Armstrong!


Flemish is not completely Greek to us - which British club cyclist actually speaks in Spanish while in Mallorca?



You get to mix with cyclists from all over Europe - well, largely Belgians, French and Dutch!



As you can see, there's not a massive difference in terms of what the final outcome is - in both cases you end up fitter and stronger, and with more memories to add to the photo album. So what it really comes down to is which is more important to you - being able to go out in short sleeves or not having to go through the palava of preparing your bike for air travel - oh, and how important it is to have the piece of paper documenting that you were there.

I've still got time to decide, but right now I think the Kappelmuur is winking at me!

Wanna do the Tour of Flanders ?

1. You don't have to enter the race well in advance. In fact you can enter on the day, though you'll probably pay 25 euros instead of the early bird price of around 15 euros.

2. As this is not a timed cyclosportive it doesn't matter what time you start. Anytime between 7.30am and 10am is ok, though setting off early gives you a clearer run up the bergs.

3. Take clothing with you for all weathers. This year was good as it was fairly sunny, but the weather can turn quite quickly.

4. Most people ride the shorter 140km distance rather than the full 260km, so you can get to "sample" the bergs without it having to be an epic ride, or without you feeling that you were that much of a wimp !

5. The long ride starts in Bruges main square. The organisers lay on an early morning coach to take riders from Ninove to the start in Bruges. If you don't want to use that you can catch the train, though services will be better from Gent in the early morning.

6. Train services between the key towns of Gent, Bruges, Geraadsbergen, Aalst, Oudenaarde, Ninove etc are reasonably good. Belgium Railways take bikes, though they charge 4 euros to carry them.

7. Aside from the whole biking thing there are also the sights.

Bruges is pretty in a quaint, twee sort of way. It's awfully touristic and pretty expensive, though worth the trip so you can get the T-shirt.

Gent is less touristic, more lived in and down-to-earth. It's got 3 picturesque church squares, and a nice canal with Belgian beer gardens along the edge. We particularly liked the Patershol neighbourhood. An arty neighbourhood with character and good quality restaurants that have locals in rather than tourists.

OK - so rendez vous next year !

http://www.b-rail.be/main/E/

http://www.rvv.be/2007/eng/deronde/index.html

My Ronde van Vlaanderen by Him Indoors

Just got back from a weekend in Flanders.

Tried to do the sportive but a cold blew up the day before so I had to pull out.

Surprisingly it was still a good trip.

For what it's worth here are my musings on the race.

What is it about the Tour of Flanders?

Even though the name makes it sound like a stage race, it's only a one day race.

People say it has cobbles but there’re nowhere near as many or as rough as Paris-Roubaix. People say it has the "bergs", 18 of them but in reality most of the climbs in the Surrey Hills are longer and higher.
Sure, it has the famous Muur but even that's a walk in the park compared to the likes of Tanhurst Lane at the back of Leith Hill.

What the Tour of Flanders has though is Belgians, Belgians everywhere, mad about the race, mad about their riders and this alone makes the race stand out from everything else at this time of year.

The day before the main race almost 20,000 of them took the course, most doing the 140km version which covered most of those "bergs".

There was a definite non-competitive spirit as the weather was good and the course is not seriously tough.

Some groups blasted up each hill, then waited and regrouped before spinning over to the next one.
Others trundled along at a steady pace happy to mentally tick that box at the top of each climb.
More than a few were on normal situpandbeg street bikes with a basket on the front and I even spotted two families carrying young children in child seats.

More of a festival than a sportive then.

Race day itself came with all the usual trappings, at least in Belgium. Crowds lining the streets, mobs lining the climbs, but what really brought home what the race meant was the Belgian television coverage after the race.

So picture this, a Belgian gets beaten by a half a wheel in a sprint for the line. Two minutes later the coverage shows a close-up of the same rider sitting on the ground up against a crash barrier trying to bury his head in his hands while half a dozen microphones and cameras were stuck in his face. Cut to the studio where his teammate had barely taken his helmet off but he had already been nabbed for a sit-down interview. Hunched over the desk and speaking through a bad case of helmet hair he was already giving his opinions on the race.

I didn’t understand a word he said but his pain was obvious especially when he was asked to review a replay of the sprint. Wincing continuously, he started shouting “turn, turn” and hitting his head off the desk as his teammate’s cadence slowed 20 yards from the line and the winner came past.

You couldn’t make it up, pure drama.

Flandrien hors d'oeuvre !!

Saturday

I woke up bright and fresh, ready to take on the main challenge of the day. However, my heart sank when Him Indoors announced that he wouldn't be riding. He felt too ill and his cold had gotten into his chest. Wise decision, but it was still disappointing, especially given that we had decided to do this back in January, and he had actually done the training for this. So I was going to ride for the both of us, and make sure I claimed all the goodies/memorabilia there for him so as not to lose out too much.

Breakfast was a fairly busy affair. Most of the guests at the hotel were cyclists - and not just amateurs. The newly formed Tinkoff Credit Systems team (featuring Tyler Hamilton) was there. Their riders were up at the crack of dawn just to do their training ride. Speaking to the team manager the previous day, he commented on how crazy it was for so many of us to turn out for the cyclosportive. "How can 15,000 people get to ride through those narrow bergs ?? Incredible !"

I'd originally planned to leave the hotel at 6.30am -ish, but ended up having to wait until after sun-rise as I didn't have any lights for the 12km ride down to Ninove. Once at the PTI, the event HQ, I was met with a lively atmosphere, including music and commentary. There were various exhibition stands selling anything from sportswear to bikes to sports fuel. Everyone had come out on show, it seemed. Lots of riders were actually signing up that morning to do the race. Because the weather forecast was looking good (in contrast to last year) many people had made a last minute decision to do the cyclosportive.
This swelled the number of participants to around 18,000. But nevertheless the organisation still seemed to roll on smoothly.

After alot of faffing around on my part, I finally made a move to the start line just before 9am. I'd been running around trying to get my control card stamped before leaving the event, until I discovered that this wasn't necessary. There is no designated start time. Some start as early as 7am - others as late as 10am. Unlike other events that I do, this is not a timed event. The challenge is to get through all the bergs.

The group I was with sped through the streets of Ninove, passers-by looking on, admiring our courage (or lunacy) at taking on the challenge. Police escorts stopped the traffic as they waved us through junctions and roundabouts. I was the only woman in my group, and was an object of curiosity to the other riders. They were effectively road racing along at around 40kph and I was still mixing it with them ! There were jerseys from various European countries - France, Spain, England, Holland, and of course Belgium.

Very quickly we were out of Ninove and into the Flanders countryside - the road twisted and dipped a few times, then climbed only very gently. Essentially it was a fast flat ride. I made the most of the tow I was getting from the group, as I needed to save my energy for more important matters later.

In fact important matters began earlier than I'd realised ! After 30km, the road narrowed and became very twisty. We then did a sharp right hand turn and suddenly we were on the Molenberg. Not having been able to anticipate this, many people were caught out in the wrong gear, and needed to dismount. Also I realised that being in a group right up to the start of the berg brings the inconvenience of being caught in very close to other riders, which was a bit unnerving as some of them wobbled alot while climbing the cobbles. One guy who had to dismount suddenly fell into me - luckily I managed to stay on my bike. Although Molenberg was not the most difficult berg, I still found it a challenge simply because it was the first cobbled section, and a bit of a shock after having spent the last hour speeding along smooth roads. And if I thought this was hard, there was more to come later.......

In the Land of Beer, Merckx and Cobbles !!

Thursday :

So the train pulled in at Brussels, and shortly afterwards we were on a local train to Haaltert, near Aalst. Once we were off the train we just needed a few minutes to remove our bikes from the bags, assemble them and start the short trundle over to the Ibis Hotel, Aalst. We couldn't have asked for a more seamless journey !

Friday :

Him Indoors wasn't feeling too good, and the original plan had been for him to get lots of rest ahead of the big day. However, the weather was so lovely under the bright sunshine, and it seemed a shame to spend all day in the hotel room. So we decided to do a "short" ride to Geraadsbergen, and recce the last 2 bergs - the Bosberg, and the infamous Muur.

Riding through the Flanders plains seemed so effortless. There were special cycle paths for us to ride in, and specific cycle lanes at junctions with traffic lights for cycles - not just a cursory affair with cars parked along it, like you get in London. Furthermore, the terrain was pan flat - which made it hard for me to believe that we really were going to be riding up 2 climbs, never mind 18 ! In fact it was too flat - at moments it was like staring into miles and miles of emptiness. This was the epitome of bland. Surely someone could have stuck just one hill in there to spice the view up a little !

Then we arrived in Geraadsbergen. Famous last words - the road gradually began to elevate, as the cobbles became more and more consistent. There was also a growing buzz in the air as we reached the main square. Lots of bicycle bunting, music, and cyclists hanging around in anticipation of something eventful. Some pro cyclists from the Liquigas Team even rode by, fitting in their last minute preparations.

Once in the main square we didn't need to look hard to find the Muur. Lots of signs showed which way to go, and many cyclists were going that way. I began to feel a sense of nervousness. I remembered the words of a local man we chatted to at the hotel about the Ronde van Vlaanderen. "You won't get up the Muur - or at least not the first time you try it. Maybe the second or third time." I could feel the ground getting steeper and bumpier as I prepared myself for a painful moment. I ground away in my lowest 32 x 27 gearing, as I rounded the corner and the gradient rose to 20%. Passers-by cheered me on as I heaved and panted, determined to give it my best shot. Thankfully the road levelled off, and I was able to take a breather before tackling the final 13% ramp. Being able to see the Chapel, which marked the end, and the encouragement from drinkers at the nearby pub, gave me the strength to go for it. I made it up the Muur on my first attempt. Wow !!

I was so pleased I'd done it. This had emboldened me and given me confidence. I even did it again. This time with a harder gear. Recce-ing the hardest part of the ride certainly made me feel excited about doing the cyclosportive and all the other bergs. I was actually looking forward to the next day !

After hanging back to chat with other cyclists, and taking photos etc we then headed homewards via Bosberg (piece of cake) and Ninove (the start town) where we stopped to carbo-load with a plate of spaghetti. Our "short" bike ride ended up being a long day. We did 60km and alot of meandering around, what with taking phots, riding the Muur a few times, and trying to find a cash machine that actually worked (!!).

When we returned to Aalst we wound things down in preparation for the big day to come. Him Indoors was beginning to feel that bit worse, and realised he might have overdone things. We had an early night.

http://www.rvv.be/2007/eng/deronde/index.html

Flanders here we come !

I now have all my stuff packed and ready for the trip. Clothing, including waterproofs for the famous liquid sunshine - check. Energy powders/gel - check. Basic tools - check. Glad rags for when I get out to celebrate on the Saturday night - check. Oh, and of course the bicycle. I wasn't sure which one to use, but I finally decided on my cyclo cross bike. I've put on 28mm Continental Gatorskins, provided to me care of Him Indoors. I've been told that gel bar tape is not necessary for this ride, as the cobbles are still tame compared to Paris-Roubaix. I've checked that the brakes are in order, the bottle cage doesn't rattle, and most importantly, that the granny ring works. There's no point in wearing racing shoes as it's guaranteed I'll have to walk at some point - at least on the Kapelmuur. So I'm using Shimano SPD's.

I can't say It's going to be a competitive ride for me. I haven't done any specific training for this. Just a few long rides - in fact it'll be the first time I'm riding 85 miles this year ! I've only been doing 60mile rides ! Hope my legs don't protest too much. I will be relying on the road racing training I've done and a winter of cyclo cross racing to get me through !

Anyway I'm sure it'll be a good craic. Mixing with cyclists from far and wide, having a beer. A number of people I know from London are going - some doing the mammoth 260km (160mile) epic. I'll spare them a thought as I wake up at 6am on Saturday morning, knowing that they've already been up more than 2 hours and are just starting their ride !

It is still possible to enter - they are taking entries right up to tomorrow. Check out
http://www.rvv.be/2007/eng/deronde/index.html

Of course there will also be various interesting sights in that part of the world. The bustling activity of Brussels, the quaintness of Ghent, and the beauty of Bruges.

The story continues on the 2.13 from Waterloo.

Countdown to Flanders

In just over 3 days I'll be tackling the first of the major European cyclosportives - the Tour of Flanders. It's not talked about quite as much as L'Etape du Tour, or La Marmotte, but it's definitely up there as far as amateur cycling events go. And with over 15,000 competitors it promises to be a real cycling jamboree ! Or at least that's what I imagine.

It'll be my first visit to this "classic" event, so don't know exactly what to expect. Previous cycling events of this type I've done took place during the height of summer in some really scenic alpine area - in France or Italy. The drab exposed plains of Northern Belgium in April doesn't quite have the same ring ! Also the use of the word "classic" in this sense means riding against a strong, cold, head-wind through driving rain, over steep cobbled roads (bergs) all day long, or until you reach a point of despair !

I may only be doing 140km, but I will still be covering the famous "bergs" - all 18 of them !

Anyway, my biggest task at the moment is getting to my hotel in Aalst. We are not going with any fancy tour companies or taking the car. It'll just be the Eurostar to Brussels, followed by another local train.

I've got my bike bag and panniers - hopefully everything will be compact enough to fit onto the luggage racks of the train, and officials won't be telling me to send the bike as a registered package. I will just need to get to Waterloo early to bag the best luggage spot ahead of the rest of the other Easter weekenders.

So why do this when I could be relaxing in London, or planning a getaway to much sunnier climes ? Well, it's the challenge I suppose. The chance to ride in a famous cycling event, while testing out my fitness. The ambiance is good, with riders from all over Europe (and beyond) taking part. The day after the cyclosportive, on the Sunday you get the chance to watch the pros show us how it's done (or not - as the case may be). And of course the excuse to sample good quality mussels and chips with one of their 57 varieties of quality beers !

On with packing ......