Tour of Flanders 2011 - Going to the Race

[on3m@n@rmy]

This is my first thread, and I'm new here. I searched, but I didn't find anything right on topic.

First one's a charm. Great thread and input by all. And I'll be dipped... a cycle tours guy latched onto this one

 

[flyor64]

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.

I've checked my bike many times back and forth between the US and Europe.

I believe it's still a bit cheaper than shipping it, plus you have the bike "with" you and sometimes one gets lucky and meets a very nice person at the counter and gets the bike checked for free or cheaper than stated on the website. This still happens pretty regularly.

Bike box from you LBS works fine if you don't have a re-usable box. My LBS even packed it for me on a number of trips...

Of course you can rent really nice high end bikes in Belgium too. I've heard they'll even help with the fit. Price-wise though I'm not sure which is cheaper. (there's a cycle tours dude on this very thread who can help you if you're interested in going this route...)

 

[cyclingfanatik]

I've always checked my bike as luggage from the US to Europe. Everything is so much cheaper in the US you'll want to stock up, but dont bring any CO2's, those arent allowed on flights. Most airlines don't charge for international flights, but you might get nicked for local connecting flights. Customs in eurozone is a breeze too. Make sure you get a hard or (soft if you're a risk taker) and the wheels that will be appreciated when riding on public transport.

 

[newrider]

What a great forum, with good ideas. Going to RVV & PR staying in Oudenaarde.
Would be interested in getting together for beers too, I'll keep an eye out.

 

[levanho]

Now that this years route has been published has anyone changed their mind on where they'll be watching the race? Seems to cut back and forth a lot more, opening up opportunities for catching it in multiple locations.

http://rvv.be/rvv/elite-men/roadbook/google_maps.rvv

Does anyone know if there is a big screen in Oudenaarde or the locations of any others other than in Geraardsbergen?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

What a great forum, with good ideas. Going to RVV & PR staying in Oudenaarde.
Would be interested in getting together for beers too, I'll keep an eye out.

This exactly.
Plus it will be really interesting to see how a drunk El Pistolero reacts to a Boonen win....

 

[Anonymous]

This exactly.
Plus it will be really interesting to see how a drunk El Pistolero reacts to a Boonen win....

Don't know about Boonen winning but The Muur was a helluva lot more fun when Devolder won compared to Cancellara.

If you like an epic party, pray for a Belgian to win.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Not if your Dutch. The Belgians somehow become very hostile against us when it's about cycling, especially if they are winning (WK cyclo hoogerheide...). No idea why. They must be jealous because we're better at almost everything else. Especially sports

 

[The Hitch]

This exactly.
Plus it will be really interesting to see how a drunk El Pistolero reacts to a Boonen win....

Get someone to describe to you how you reacted to Gesink winning Montreal

Also im not sure Pistrollero is old enought to drink

 

[flyor64]

Slightly OT since I'm looking at PR, not Flanders but...

Has anyone used Graham Baxter Sporting Tours?

Comments, positive or negative?

ETA: I'm looking at this one:
Paris Roubaix 4 nights

 

[luckyboy]

Woo, just reserved a hotel in Kruishoutem for 4 nights. Just a few km from the first hill of the race

 

[craig1985]

Get someone to describe to you how you reacted to Gesink winning Montreal

Also im not sure Pistrollero is old enought to drink

Even if he was, I would sooner mover to Libya than have a drink with El Pisto.

Nah seriously, if I can meet the famous durianrider, I'm happy to meet (almost) anybody.

 

[Havetts]

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

The dilema: the Muur or the finish at Ninove?

Reading back this post makes me chuckle uncontrollably.

 

[Chuffy]

If you want to do some pave (or kaissen, if you're a fussy linguist) then I can heartily recommend these guys - http://www.cyclingpave.cc/

I was with them for RVV this year and it was fantastic.
They even have their own Malteni beer.

 

[Anonymous]

Woo, just reserved a hotel in Kruishoutem for 4 nights. Just a few km from the first hill of the race

Booked our annual spring home in Brugge

Are you going to do the cyclosportiv? If so, maybe you, me and Chuffy can meet up at the base of the Koppenberg

BTW, did anyone else notice the date for the 2012 Paris Roubaix Challenge? On the website is says April 1st... which is the day after the RvV cyclo and the day of the RvV.

I hope this is just a mis-posting because I really want to do that event again.

 

[Der Effe]

Not if your Dutch. The Belgians somehow become very hostile against us when it's about cycling, especially if they are winning (WK cyclo hoogerheide...). No idea why. They must be jealous because we're better at almost everything else. Especially sports

Partially true. When Lars Boom won the Cyclo Cross World Championship next year (in Hoogerheide) the Belgians hired like 30 extra cyclists just to get Boom in the fences. They don't like being beaten by 'us' in cycling (can't see why, it almost never happens ) and they don't like our beer. Theirs is better by a zillion lightyears but it was funny to see a Belgium costumer research showed Belgians like Heineken better than Stella Artois, Maes or Jupiler .

Anyway, I've been to Belgium quite a few times and only got **** from people/witnessed hostility maybe 2 or 3 times. I think a Belgian in the Netherlands would witness annoying comments way more often. Most people are very nice. I mean not just in general but when you're talking about cycling as well. Some even admit to like some Dutch cyclists (Lars Boom most of the times) and like to talk about cycling with someone as passionate as they are. It highly depends on your own attitude how people act as well, in my opinion.