Paris-Roubaix Challenge Advice

I have done the P-R cyclosportif - the one in the summer - twice, both times in dry conditions. Obviously it is more likely to be wet and slippery at the Challenge in  the spring, so that might change my advice:

Unlike most others, I don't push the wide tyres bit: I used 28 mm Contis which have a narrow profile (although you need a good 28 mm to guard against punctures from the side). Even though I have a dodgy back which feels the cobbles, that was OK for me, albeit with a long wheel base titanium bike. I also didn't go beyond 10psi less than I normally have: 90 front and 100 back ( I am quite heavy).

If it is dry you could get away witha  normal road racing bike with 28 mms, but otherwise with mud I would suggest a bike with more clearance: a sportif type bike like the Specialised Roubaix or a titanium bike, preferably with a touring type longer wheelbase.

It depends whether you are concentrating on the pave or the smooth - the latter takes up more time as well as a much longer distance: if you are concentrating on the pave with super wide tyres (some people are now using MTBs!) then it is going to be harder on the smooth tarmac.

I would recommend going in a group: one of the local clubs rode socially on the tarmac and went for it on the pave. As others say, it is best to push hard on the pave to get it over with! Ride at your normal cadence, try and go for the crown of the pave or by the sides if there are no puddles concealing the depth of the holes.

Allow for the fact that the scenery is quite bleak and can get to you after a while. And finally - although I have been saying that you can use narrowish profile tyres (although don't go narrower than 28mm Contis) and can use higher pressures than normal - believe me, you will never have experienced anything as brutal as the Paris-Roubaix pave - Tour of Flanders doesn't touch it!

Also this is on the Road.cc site today

http://road.cc/content/tech-news/219015-tech-tips-riding-cobbles
 

Hey

I cycled the full course 2 years ago.

My bike set up was a standard roubaix with the following changes

Roubaix - gelled bar tape

28mm Vittoria Pavé Tyres  (you cant get these now) at 75-80psi

Go tubeless if you can  (for this years cobbled adventure i have 28mm Hutchison Sector 28

A chain catcher

Elite Aluminium bottle cages  (carbon or plastic arent springy enough

Di2 Climbers buttons

For me only diff was

Taped wrists - from wrist and about 4" up forearm - not too tight to cut off circ

Velcroed sewn in to pockets on my jersey

Two pairs of gloves. Long fingered and mitts

Single pair of shorts... a few people wore double shorts. I tried it before I went. Too uncomfortable for me.

The year we did it was rain and strong head winds

Cobble tips from me

go over them as fast as you can - slower becomes a chore and i guarantee the ast few section wil be slow

Give yourself space - you need to let the bike go where the cobbles take it....and you need to be aware of other cyclists. Let them do their thing and don't worry about them.

Strava shows I hit the first cobbles at 18mph. Full of bravado and adrenalin. That didn't last but it was an awesome feeling.  The sounds of bikes clattering. Bottles flying. Riders puffing and panting and gasping at the shock of it.

Eat after every cobble sector. Each sector is like a sprint (even if you aren't sprinting yourself)

Arenberg is amazing. The approach gets the hairs on your neck bristling.  As we looked at the entrance from the top of the road, a fellow rider said to me quietly. welcome to hell....then set off.

There are one or two sections where you barely get 30 seconds then you are on to the next.

All I can say about arenberg is be careful. The damp conditions in 2015 made it pretty treacherous and I was disappointed I could only crawl through it due to numerous stops and starts along the length of it.

Enjoy the day. Enjoy the flat and enjoy the velodrome finish.

As my riding buddy said.

What is there to worry about. It a flat 100 miles..with a few bumps along the way.

Let me know if you have any other questions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXWhEmeuxM

Do anything to soak up the vibration - wide soft tyres, thick bar tape, decent gloves.

If I did it again then I'd also try  compression wear and tape up fingers, wrists and quads.

Innocuous things that can vibrate or move around like labels in clothes or worn cleats can be very irritating after hours of cobbles, so sort them out beforehand.

Syrup waffles and flat coke (cola) with orange juice kept me going all the way.

Take quite a few inner tubes and also an emergency tyre.