Sometimes sealed roads aren’t enough for your road bike. Everyone who has followed cycling racing has witnessed the epic nature of the Spring Classics and Monuments of the sport. The cobbled climbs of Flanders, the trenches of northern France and the Strada Bianca of Italy, these all have produced epic wins, appalling weather, career defining crashes, the nearly men, the bike breaking battles and a spectacle that is unrivalled. For me, it was Andre Tchmil’s win at Roubaix in 1994, after a titanic struggle through mud, rain, crashes and cobbles that drove home the true nature of riding and racing.
I did try and encourage others to join. I cajoled them, by mentioning that non-attendance would, in the words of Fender from Robots, show that they were made of a rare element called Afraidium, it’s yellow and it tastes like chicken. Didn't really work. I threatened some, that didn't work. So just the faithful joined me (except for a couple of non attendees who had genuine, certified domestic Don't Ride Today orders)
We set off on the appointed date, a frosty morning, and thoroughly enjoyed 4 ½ hours of bone chilling temperatures, grand views, epic unsealed roads with no traffic and a sense of satisfaction that will take some shifting. No accidents, no incidents, no mud (damnit). Doris didn't crash as she thought she would, Doug regained his scarred memory from an earlier venture over similar roads, and we all came out smiling and wanting to go back for more.
Hell yes!
This is what it's all about.
Photo c/- Mike T.
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