Road Cycling - What do you think of Paris-Roubaix.

I was reading of the recent ROubaix race in last edition of Velonews..Guess, it is a race I would like to witness. (As an observer.) I am one opposed to torture..To do this race,- 1) I would have to be preparred.2- Complete the race with someone else's bike.. I have a thing for the majesty of bikes.To ride Roubaix is dissing a bike...That is a sacrilege...Certainly not on my bike.
If I were qualified as a pro rider of course.. So why do we do it..It is too tortureous.? I know endurance and perservance...But this is Hell, as it is called.
Why do we do it..Street bike racing is on a road..That is not a road..
IS the purpose of Roubaix to show the endurance of the rider or is it a bike demolation derby. Are Any other races incorporate aspects of Roubaix.? Would a mountain bike be more appropriate to the needs of ROubaix.?
Does not seem a pre-requisite for any of the other big rides...They are bike races not bike demolation derbys...Would you be a competitor on your prized Trek? Woud you be a competitor at all?

hell if i was good enough, why not? Roubaix shows why our bikes are worth the money we pay (they're strong and tough..most of them anyway), and why cyclists are not just skinny guys in fairy suits.

Altwegg..The money I put in my bike is why I would not do that.Climbing thru the Pyreenees.That is enough challenge, I would think.

So why do we do it..
One word: TRADITION.



Woud you be a competitor at all?
On the 13th of June, there will be a cyclo'touristic' version of P-R. If it weren't for my (girlfriend's) holiday plans, I would have certainly joined my cycling buddy and have had a go at this CLASSIC. Competetive? Don't think so, because I do not master the pavé very well (slows me down, breaks my rhythm, castrates my legs and what's between them and debilitates the brain), and there's some 50 km of it :eek: . My friend thus will have to suffer his way through alone. But since he is an acknowledged cobbleslayer (also according to the Flemish colleagues whom we have met on Belgian cyclosportif classics), I trust that he will do fine. In any case, he will earn massive respect!

bruco. What does this kind of pave do to your bike.. I would have to do this on a mountain bike..My wheels aren't cheapos...I would be thinking of what new wheels I would have to replace them with every KM.

roger de vlaeminck [who won four times] said that one wins p-r by managing luck. bernard hinault called the race a circus. gilbert duclos-lasalle said that it was the ultimate test of a racer's strength and skill. it is like survivor on a bike in picardy in the spring. it is a great race. it's not about the bikes, it's about the men who ride them.

bruco. What does this kind of pave do to your bike..
Agreed, cobbles are rough on your bike, but not necessarily lethal. If it is not raining :eek: , you don't crash too hard :eek: , and you are otherwise lucky :D , chances are that your precious road bike survives the onslaught intact.

I have only done two-and-one-half cobbled 'classics' so far ('De Flandrien', 'E3 Prijs', 'Omloop Het Volk') but did not have any major issues. My wheels (Mavic CXP33, three-cross 32-spoked) stayed sort of true and none of the other components suffered. Except (as posted elsewhere) my brittle bottle cages (Tacx Tao).

For P-R, I would take 25mm tires (Conti Gatorskins or something similar), instead of narrow ones, and would not inflate them too fanatically. Further, I would make sure that my bottles stay put in the cages (difficult, but perhaps not impossible): it's irritating and dangerous to other riders to have your bottles flying around. Of course, I would check all bolts etc. prior to the ride.

understand that some people see the bike (much) differently than you. for instance, i see it as a tool. it's a nice tool and all, but still just a tool for me to use. i'll ride it till it breaks and then get a new one. if it breaks b/c of riding, it's served it's purpose admirablly. sounds to me likeyou put the bike on a pedestal. i've got no problem w/ that, just know i(and probably others) don't put it up there. that seemed to be your main complaint w/ p-r. as for the damage to the riders, i would point out that just about all sporting contests cause momentary damage/pain/whathaveyou to the participants. i don't know of anyone who has died in p-r (anyone?). so, you know, if it doesn't kill you, ....

I did buy the T shirt from Adventure Cycling. "The bicycle noblest invention of mankind.".Was that not a quote from Samuel Clemens? If I could do something like the P-R ride, think I would not take a top of the line bike.. We are supposed to take care of our expensive toys? Think I learned that as a kid.
Just sounds riskier than I am accustomed to.. It must demonstrate cycling finesse...But, Dont see that being incorporated in the TDF, Vuelta, Giro..Just, that is what I expect to normally see in road racing.