Hi jobob - sorry about the PM thing. I only actually discovered it about 3 weeks ago! I've been a member here for over a year and never knew it existed! I think my email address in viewable on my personal profile so drop me a line on that any time you like and I'll see what I can do.

Thanks for the link to cyclingnews.com. Good tips there. For Paris-Roubaix we usually go over just for the day on an early ferry from Dover. In the past we've taken a bbq and cooked burgers and sauages on the road side, along with all the Belgiums, but the weather is either freakishly hot, or freakishly cold. The previous year couldn't have been more different. It was rainy & freezing cold and I tried to warm my hands on a waffle.

Flanders is also great. We generally go with a group and ride the randonee the day before. This year my friend and I are going for the 87 mile route with 15 lovely climbs. (Shudder...)

On the day of the pro's race we usually park up nearer the end of the course and take our bikes. That way you can ride round all the lanes and get to see the race in several different places. You can get there quicker and get to spots that are just too jammed up to get cars through.

Then we head down into the nearest town, find ourselves a nice bar with a beer and a TV and watch the end. This is normally followed by a mad rush to get back to Calais before the ferry leaves.

Ok - here's the swing back on topic. (ish) The other year, at Paris-Roubaix we saw Freddy Martinez looking exhausted near the back, so my bf yelled 'GO ON FREDDY! ' at the top of his voice and Freddy even managed a half smile as his went past.