Anyone watching the races?

[papaver]

[endurancerider]

So much for George Hincapie. But what a race for Tom Boonen! Wow those guys are so tough!

[jobob]

Paris-Roubaix was excellent.

[Zen]

Why are they allowed to stand right on the path ?
i would think with a path that narrow it should be taped off.

And those two stupid girls crossing the last (not th e ceremonial part) section of cobbles
They got some learnin' to do.

[Zen]

But what a race for Tom Boonen!

That would be BIG Tom Boonen

[papaver]

Why are they allowed to stand right on the path ?
i would think with a path that narrow it should be taped off.

In a weird way that's what makes cycling so popular. They can touch their heroes.

And as for Tom Boonen: 2 x Tour of Flanders, 3 x Paris-Roubaix, 1 x World Champion... hmmmm... we can't complain.

[endurancerider]

And those two stupid girls crossing the last (not th e ceremonial part) section of cobbles
They got some learnin' to do.

I'm with you! They almost messed up his race!

[Becky]

We just found out the we get Universal Sports since we upgraded to digital cable (Comcast). It's awesome- we got to see the women's cyclocross world championships the other night! I can't wait to actually watch the Giro, rather than the dumb clips shows that Versus does

Go to http://www.universalsports.com/fls/2...ind-on-tv.html to search for it in your area.

[Possegal]

I knew nothing of this station until reading this thread - and there it is, channel 207. How much cycling have I missed, I wonder.

[Becky]

I knew nothing of this station until reading this thread - and there it is, channel 207. How much cycling have I missed, I wonder.

DH and I are in exactly the same boat! We only found out about it this weekend when a coworker told us about it

[papaver]

Tom Boonen had a nasty fall today at his last race. Together with Greg Van Avermaet and Robbie McEwen. Petacchi won.

[Christopher]

I am AT the races, and they've been fantastic! Last Saturday I rode in the amateur Tour of Flanders, and let me tell you that riding those cobbles is even harder than it looks!

Aw, respect! We were in Flanders last week and rode a few kilometres of the cobbles and some of the hills (Koppenberg, Paterberg), couldn't get on with the cobbles at all with the pain, shaking and blurred vision, and iffy grip when going too fast. Will try again next year, we might spectate at all three races and maybe do the amateur Ronde, I'll get a sacrificial bike built up for it.

Missed the ToF and G-W, but managed to see Paris-Roubaix, we had a good spot right before the end of the Tranchee d'Arenberg, think my head is visible in one or two of the photos in Monday's l'Equipe. I really do not know how the pros go that fast over the cobbles. So exciting with the helicopters, the cheering, the flags etc. There are barriers set up there to stop idiots getting in the way of the riders, as Pozatto was saying after the race. Terrible news about the motorbike going into the crowd tho (12 hurt, three seriously).

[papaver]

The best way to ride over the cobble stones is to ride really fast and hold your handlebars very loosely. Funny enough I'm one of the very few who really loves riding those cobblestones. They give me wings...

And about the accident: the last three victims will be leaving the hospital by the end of this week.

[Christopher]

Doesn't going fast over cobbles damage the bike? But I guess that is the only way to do it, we were working hard but barely moving!

oh thanks for the news re the accident victims, that's good to hear.

[papaver]

Doesn't going fast over cobbles damage the bike? But I guess that is the only way to do it, we were working hard but barely moving!

oh thanks for the news re the accident victims, that's good to hear.

you can only put 5 - 5.5 bar on the tires. That helps a lot.