Tour of Flanders 2011 - Going to the Race

[stafke]

you can see them 4 of 5 times but dont go to places many people are like Bruges or the hills , go to the small towns where they passed ; look to the site ( rvv.be) and look for the right places , you need some time between 2 places

 

[L'arriviste]

Yeah I'm really looking to that week. Loving all the tips n' tricks on this thread. Forum members need to meet for beers.

OK, here are my picks on the important matter of liquid refreshment.

Let's start with the cities:

Brussels

Drink...

* Moeder Lambic, Place Fontainas
St Gilles was the wrong end of town for me, so I love the location of the new Moeder Lambic. Modern décor, subdued lighting, fantastic tap selection. Can't recommend it enough.

* Delirium
Yeah, it's a bit of a tourist hell and sometimes the beers are too cold. But the sheer size of the bottled selection (+/- 2000) is unique in Belgium, if not the world.

* Atélier
Smoky and not very central but if you live here for a while you get to know the special places.

* A La Bécasse
A good, central place to visit if you like gueuzes and lambics. It's a bit touristy but it works.

* Nüetnigenough
Centrally located on the edge of the gaywijk. Small but good selection and a good place to eat.

* Honourable mentions:

Archiduc - really a late-night (5am), jazz on the rocks sort of place (not a beer joint) but a microcosm of the intelligent world drinks here, from Canadian novelists to Australian saxophonists.

A La Mort Subite - old school kriek/lambic joint, quiet and elegant. I don't love it like some people, but I go there now and again.

Buy...

* Biermania
City shop run by an Iranian guy called Nasser. Expensive but accessible and has a pretty good selection.

* SBS (Special Beer Service)
Not the best part of town and rather B2B-oriented, but probably the biggest in Brussels.

* AB Drinks, Winksele
About 20 minutes' drive from BXL, close to Leuven. This is my handel of choice.

Brugge

Drink...

* 't Brugs Beertje
Of course, a visit here is mandatory. But if you can even get inside the door on race day you deserve a medal!

* Cambrinus
Reminiscent of an English "family" pub (and all that goes with it). Tiny toilets but the location is pretty easy to find and the beer menu is impressive. Which is why I've been there more than once.

* De Kelk
A little off the beaten path but those who know Brugge will know that's a good thing. And it's worth the walk because it's full of local colour instead of yobs and tourists.

* In de Bierboom
Don't know it myself, but people rave about this place. If you go, let me know how the experience was.

Buy...

* Bacchus Cornelius
Overpriced for tourism but the selection is good, especially for the rarities.

* Biertempel
Good place to go if you're new to beer purchasing. A bit expensive though.

Gent

Drink...

* Waterhuis aan de Bierkant
Easy to find, good selection and excellent serving temperatures. Which is very important

* Kaffee Hopduvel
Haven't been myself yet, but they say it's really nice in a strange sort of way and the selection is excellent.

* Dulle Griet
A bit cliché but central location and a good beer selection.

* Het Oeverloze Eiland
More of a café than a bar but close to the Patershol. Easily my favourite hangout in Gent and you can take the ladies there.

Buy...

* Hopduvel
Probably central Gent's best handel, reassuringly industrial. Location well hidden.

* Dranken Geers, Oostakker
A few kms out of town but very helpful, excellent layout and good on rarities. I like this place a lot.

Other, less well-travelled spots

* Ninove: Eetkaffee Multatuli (for the nice omelettes!)
* Roeselare: De Zalm (for the local, Rodenbach-influenced tap selection)
* Sint Lievens Houtem: De Pikardijn (for the friendly locals)
* Enghien: Le Rembrandt (for a good watering hole on the francophone side of the bergs)
* Gooik: De Cam (for a lovely slice of Pajot life in the definitive Pajot village)

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Gent

Drink...
* Kaffee Hopduvel
Haven't been myself yet, but they say it's really nice in a strange sort of way and the selection is excellent.

I heard it's property of Amadeus now, so also a great place to eat Spare Ribs (All you can eat for €14)

Other, less well-travelled spots

* Sint Lievens Houtem: De Pikardijn (for the friendly locals)

I love this place, large beer menu, great to drink some refreshments after a training ride with friends, but also a good food menu, with some great beer dishes

 

[craig1985]

I'm going that's for certain.

 

[The Amateur]

We are a group of guys going to RVV and PR each year.

I would recommend staying in Brugge for RVV. You can catch the presentation and the start in the morning and still have ample time to get to the helling(s) of your choice. The wife will find a beautiful medieval city to explore and there are plenty of cheap bed and breakfasts. In my opinion Gent and Oudenaarde are also viable choices.

Should you go to Brugge try the bar "De Garre". It has some very nice beer (one of the best tripples I have tasted) and an even better atmosphere. It is situated near the central square in a very small alley.

We normally go to one of the early climbs (haven't found the perfect sport yet) and then Geraardsbergen where you can catch the race on a big screen at the foot of the hill while enjoying a beer. We used to drive between the hellings but you really need to know your way around if you are to catch the riders. For me getting a few beers while watching the race with hundreds of fans and the atmosphere at the top of Kapelmuur are the way to go.

Renting a road bike can be somewhat tricky. I at least have not found a place yet. Maybe someone in here can point me in the right direction?

We have also tried going with a camper (motorhome). On the plus side you can bring your bike, you always have food and beverages but I would not recommend trying to catch the peloton on more than one spot. The driving has to be very "interesting" in order to keep up let alone find a parking spot.

- The Amateur

 

[Anonymous]

We are a group of guys going to RVV and PR each year.

I would recommend staying in Brugge for RVV. You can catch the presentation and the start in the morning and still have ample time to get to the helling(s) of your choice. The wife will find a beautiful medieval city to explore and there are plenty of cheap bed and breakfasts. In my opinion Gent and Oudenaarde are also viable choices.

Should you go to Brugge try the bar "De Garre". It has some very nice beer (one of the best tripples I have tasted) and an even better atmosphere. It is situated near the central square in a very small alley.

We normally go to one of the early climbs (haven't found the perfect sport yet) and then Geraardsbergen where you can catch the race on a big screen at the foot of the hill while enjoying a beer. We used to drive between the hellings but you really need to know your way around if you are to catch the riders. For me getting a few beers while watching the race with hundreds of fans and the atmosphere at the top of Kapelmuur are the way to go.

Renting a road bike can be somewhat tricky. I at least have not found a place yet. Maybe someone in here can point me in the right direction?

We have also tried going with a camper (motorhome). On the plus side you can bring your bike, you always have food and beverages but I would not recommend trying to catch the peloton on more than one spot. The driving has to be very "interesting" in order to keep up let alone find a parking spot.

- The Amateur

Ronny Assez has a shop in Oudenaarde. He's a really nice guy and can hook you up with a bike.

http://www.asfra.be/contact.php

The house beer at De Garre in Brugge is probably the best Tripel I have ever had. Cookies next door is interesting if you like beer that tastes like a ginger snap.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm going that's for certain.

Did you get signed up for Roubaix? I think there are spots still available...

http://www.parisroubaixchallenge.com/

 

[The Amateur]

Thank you

It will be very interesting to climb the Muur myself. Hopefully I can get the time this year.

 

[il_fiammingo]

Thanks for all the advice. Some great stuff here, and I'll definitely contact a few of you with more questions when I've had a chance to absorb what has already been posted.

As for staying outside of Brussels or riding the sportive the day before, this is a bit of a compromise vacation with my wife. I get to see the race, she gets a week of tourist/sightseeing stuff in Brussels, around Belgium, and maybe to Paris on the train for a day. I might be able to ride the sportive, but I think I would rent a bike for that (I expect it would cost more to pay the highway robbery fees most airlines charge for bikes, but I'll look into it).

Pff, Brussels, nothing to see there. Did you know the oldest Manneken Pis is in Geraardsbergen (Grammont) and not in Brussels?

 

[il_fiammingo]

Just wondering, short of camping, what is the cheapest way of staying during during the Classics period? As long as the place has a roof, a bed and somewhere I can safely store my bike and a kitchen, then TBH I'm not fussed at all.

You can try http://www.wambashoeve.be/ a reasonably priced farm at the descent of the Muur to the Bosberg.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

Pff, Brussels, nothing to see there. Did you know the oldest Manneken Pis is in Geraardsbergen (Grammont) and not in Brussels?

Brussels is a great city (and i don't mean Manneken Pis), but even most belgians don't know that...

 

[il_fiammingo]

I heard it's property of Amadeus now, so also a great place to eat Spare Ribs (All you can eat for €14)

Mmmm spare ribs...
I prefer the "Crowned Heads" though.

 

[cyclingfanatik]

I'd rate Brugge quite a bit higher than Brussels but all things considered I would much rather skip the entire event and see the finish of Paris - Nice, Giro or even the Milan - Sanremo than be in Belgium.

 

[craig1985]

For those who know more about this, will riding over the cobblestones do anything to my carbon frame? My housemate who works in a bike shops reckons I will crack it.

 

[il_fiammingo]

For those who know more about this, will riding over the cobblestones do anything to my carbon frame? My housemate who works in a bike shops reckons I will crack it.

Normally it won't be any problem. Pros ride carbon frames in Paris-Roubaix as well. Ofcourse these are high end carbon frames.
Another factor is your weight. A friend of mine weighed +-110kg and loved riding cobbles on his 3500€ Kuota bike. He ended up having a little crack in his frame. If your bike has a weak spot, it might crack if you keep on riding cobbles during every training ride.
But for the occasional trip on Flemish cobblestones (which are in fact quite decent ones in comparison to PR), you don't need to worry.

One thing you certainly don't want to use on cobbles are high profile carbon wheels. Not because they'll break but they takes away all the comfort. Low profile aluminium wheels absorb the shocks best allowing you to handle the bike much better.

 

[craig1985]

I ride an Orbea Onix and I'm 77/78kg.

 

[El Pistolero]

I don't live too far of Geraardsbergen, so of course I'm going.

The dilema: the Muur or the finish at Ninove?

 

[auscyclefan94]

Do they put screens along the course so people can watch the race before and after the race has gone through one's viewing point?

 

[L'arriviste]

Do they put screens along the course so people can watch the race before and after the race has gone through one's viewing point?

In certain places, yes. Usually on the Vesten in Geraardsbergen, for example.

 

[US Patent Exploding Cyclist]

I have to send a big thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread, with the tools you've given me I was able to convince the wife that this trip was "necessary".

So now that I'm going how bad will I feel if I land April 1st at 7:55am, and ride the 260km sportive the next day?

Any recommendations on shipping vs. checking the bike?

What is the rider support like?

I know Scott SoCal had a thread on his experience, I'll have to try and dig that up.

Thanks again.

 

[Anonymous]

I have to send a big thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread, with the tools you've given me I was able to convince the wife that this trip was "necessary".

So now that I'm going how bad will I feel if I land April 1st at 7:55am, and ride the 260km sportive the next day?

Any recommendations on shipping vs. checking the bike?

What is the rider support like?

I know Scott SoCal had a thread on his experience, I'll have to try and dig that up.

Thanks again.

If you can go a day earlier you should. Remember, you can pick up your cyclo packet the morning of the ride in Brugge, but you will be better off if you pick it up Friday in Ninove.

I checked my bike through. Flew Virgin from LA to London and the British Air from London to Brussels. No problem with the bike what-so-ever.

Rider support for food and drink is good. Mechanicals? You are more or less on your own. I think there is a broom wagon but (luckily) I never saw one.

 

[il_fiammingo]

I have to send a big thank you to everyone who contributed to this thread, with the tools you've given me I was able to convince the wife that this trip was "necessary".

So now that I'm going how bad will I feel if I land April 1st at 7:55am, and ride the 260km sportive the next day?

Any recommendations on shipping vs. checking the bike?

What is the rider support like?

I know Scott SoCal had a thread on his experience, I'll have to try and dig that up.

Thanks again.

The real question is: will you be able to eat spaghetti at 5AM the day of the sportive?

 

[Papparrazzi]

Museums

... I did the Ronde museum in Brakel and ...

So there are 2 Ronde museums in the area? I have been to the Oudenaarde one. Didn't know about the Brakel one.

 

[L'arriviste]

So there are 2 Ronde museums in the area? I have been to the Oudenaarde one. Didn't know about the Brakel one.

Whoops, sorry! Yes, it was Oudenaarde of course! I was in Brakel earlier that day.

 

[Papparrazzi]

Ah, glad i didn't miss one .

Brakel has the roundabout with that massive pile of bikes in the middle