Museeuw Factory

Early Tuesday morning Jack and I rode 35k away to Lokeren. The Museeuw Bikes factory is there and Jack needed a crack in his old frame repaired.

An hour later we stumbled upon the factory in the industrial area of Lokeren. I had been out that way before to see a stage of the Eneco Tour.



Jack spoke with Franjia, one of the owners, and then we headed back to talk to the mechanic.



They had just moved to the location so they were still getting set up. The mechanic said they could repair it. Then, he took me into the conference room.



Oh hey, what are you guys doing there??



Amstel Gold Race (1994) and Tour of Flanders (1998)

This was cool too. It's the bike on which he won Paris-Roubaix.



And the best victory salute ever.



Franjia told us all about their new carbon frames. They’ve begun using flax in them as well. Yeah, flax, the grain! He said it’s more absorbent than carbon. You can see it in these two frames.





They also had a flax wheel they were working on.

I was pretty impressed with the factory. I figured they were just rebranding generic Taiwanese frames. Au contraire, it looks like they've got some pretty innovative design going on.

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Gent-Roubaix

Monday.

Originally the plan was to ride down to Roubaix, stay the night, ride the Arenberg Forest, stay another night, and ride back home. Time was running short though so I decided to just go down for the day.

I woke up around 8 and was out the door by 9. I took the canal down to Deinze and then continued on to Kortrijk. Shortly after leaving Deinze I was passed by a guy in a Milram kit. I came to my senses soon after and passed him. Then, he passed me again. This time I asked, “Whereyagoin’?”
“What does that mean?” he asked as I remembered they don’t speak American here.
“Oh, where do you go?”
“Kortrijk.”
“Cool, me too” I replied.

We chatted all the way to Kortrijk. His name was Miguel and he was a barber with his own shop. I told him how I loved going to the barber but there aren’t many back in the U.S. He had good stories about seeing PROs out on the canal during the Spring Classics. He also said Stijn Devolder and Niko Eeckhout lived nearby.

He asked how I planned on finding my way so I pulled out my list of cities. I’m not sure if it was this or his enthusiasm for the journey, but he decided to take me past Kortrijk to the first signs for Roubaix. He thought going all the way to Roubaix would be too far but he wanted to make sure I didn’t get lost. He had never seen the velodrome.

Miguel took me within 11k of Roubaix. We stopped to exchange emails and asked a shopkeeper to take a pic of us.



We spoke to the shopkeeper in French-Wallonia at last! As expected, a wonderful French bakery was around the corner.



Twenty minutes later I was in Roubaix. Ian had told me the city wasn’t very nice but I didn’t believe him. The city was dirty and there was lots of broken glass on the bike paths. I almost got ran over twice. Both drivers waved after, so that makes it okay…

I pulled over at a bus stop to see if I was close.



Voilà! I was close. A few minutes later I spotted it.



It was amazing, really, but seeing it through the fence wasn't the experience I was hoping for. I rode around the other side to see if I could get in.



I was waiting for the guy to run me off but he just ignored me. Well, when in Roubaix…



I started riding around the track. The banking is steeper than it seems on TV. The ends were pretty steep and I felt like I was going to slip off. The only other track I’d ridden was Hellyer which is only slightly banked.

I stopped and lay down on the grass. I couldn’t put words to it; the place was surreal. Lying there I could feel the history.

Ten minutes later I got up and rode around a few more times before leaving.



Across from the track there's a club called Au Pavé.



I rode along the main road which is the last stretch before the velodrome. I didn’t have a map of the route otherwise I would have ridden to the nearest cobbled section. I think it’s about 15k away though.

After a while I turned around and headed back home. Along the way I stopped off at the bakery again.



I got home a few hours later.

My return ticket to Belgium is April 1st. Next time I go to Roubaix it’ll be to see the race…

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Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen

Friday.

The Flanders Championship was happening near Ardooie so I headed over. I was familiar with the area because I rode out there for the Eneco Tour.

I got to Ardooie about two hours later. People were already set up on both sides of the road.



The mechanic from Quick Step was there gluing tires.



For some reason they had a Cervelo on top of one of the team cars.



I rode along until I came to some volunteers. They said it was five euro to enter the city center. I told them I’d come back and rode off to mull it over.

After a good mulling I returned and paid my dues. Then, I headed toward the Start.



The betting was already under way in the city center.



This guy asked me who I thought would win. I said I thought Baden Cooke had a good shot since he’d won it twice. He thought it was going to be a Rabobank rider. We were both wrong.

On the bottom board he had the odds for the upcoming Worlds. All the bookies had odds up for both races. If I were a betting man I’d put my money on Cunego.

Shortly after I stumbled upon the Start.



Minutes later they were all fighting for starting positions like Cat 3 phenoms.



The gun went off and the race began. I rolled back to the other side of the course. Once there I followed in the Belgian kermis tradition of riding the course in reverse. The course was 10k so I figured I’d get some more k’s in while I watched.

Ten minutes later the lead cars came through. I rode up a bit further to catch them at the roundabout. A guy waved at me to get off the fietspad (bike path). Yeah, like they’re going to come on the bike path.

Seconds later they came through.



I moved off the bike path just in time to get out of the way. They were using every inch of road available. A Skil-Shimano rider crashed but got back on and rode off.

I continued around the course. The next lap a break had formed with Mancebo amongst others.



The fans were out in force on all sides of the course. There were also beer tents set up at several points. I came to a 1k cobbled section.



The trick with cobbles is to keep it in a big gear and go as fast as possible. If you do this they’ll still rock you, but less.

I rode around the course a few more times. I stop off to catch them come through a neighborhood.



I love it. Right down some suburban street. Notice the kids on the trampoline in the background.

On the other side of the course I notice this Lone Wolf awaiting the peloton.



I watch a bit more before deciding it’s time to get out of dodge. I’m getting hungry so I look for grub. There are frites near the Start but they don’t have Samurai sauce (spicy mayo) so I skip it. I end up with something much less appetizing.



It’s some sort of fish jerky which in theory is nice. However, it’s riddled with bones and just doesn’t cut it. I decide to head to Brugge instead of back to Gent. Along the way I stop off for some proper grub at a grocery store.

Brugge is about 20k away so it doesn’t take that long to get there. Brugge is a really beautiful city.



I go to this café I like and order a cappuccino. Bam! I hop back on the bike and head home. Belgium’s been good to me.

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De Pinte Kermis

Wednesday.

I wake up at the farm. Andrew left on Tuesday and Staf told me to move out of the apartment. Andrew will definitely be missed. He helped me get set up here and we had a lot of fun together.

The farm is pretty pleasant. There’s a nice yard with some chickens and roosters in the back. There’s also a bike stand and other necessities…



After getting around I head outside to find this in the lawn.



“There were girls man! You missed them!” Jack says.

Ian, one of the coaches, works for the Great Britain team and some of the girls came over to drop off the car.

Peter, another Brit, is there. He mentions Rock Racing is doing the GP Wallonia. He says that Fred Rodriguez used to live here at the farm. I go get a paper to see about the GP Wallonia route.

On the cover of Het Laastste Nieuws there’s a headline about Staf [team owner]. It only mentions his first name. I ask Ian about it and he says everyone in Belgium knows him. Small world.

I plan on cleaning my bike up a bit but the race is beginning soon. I woke up with a sore throat a few days back so I just plan on watching. I take my race license just in case.

We roll about 10k over to De Pinte, a suburb of Gent. The barriers are set up along main street with the usual carnival rides and games.

We pull off at the bar where reg is at. A photographer takes Steve’s pic and then mine. He says it’s for Staf. Then, he asks why I’m not wearing a Kingsnorth jersey. Thanks guy, rub it in.

Steve heads in to reg. Well, when in Rome… I walk to the back of the smoky bar and pay my eight euro.

Freddie has the team car parked nearby. I ask him about a jersey and he lets we wear an XL one that’s in the back of the car. When I go back over near reg the guy takes my pic again.

I roll around a bit before heading to the start. There are about 70 or 80 of us there. I see a Quick Step development rider.

The race begins. We head through the first roundabout and into a tunnel. The feeling is surreal. I’m in the middle of the pack barely pedaling as we speed downhill into the dark.

After we leave the tunnel we’re on a one lane road. I try to stay in the middle of the road because the edges can get a bit sketchy. We go through a few roundabouts which go smoother than expected. Then we head up a Belgian hill (overpass).

The pack gets pretty strung out on the straightaway. I fall off a bit but get back on. We head over a few more hills. The circuit is 10k and we’re getting close to Start/Finish. We go over one more overpass and I fall off.

I finish the lap and do another on my own. The follow car runs parallel to me pushing me to go harder. I think of grabbing onto the side mirror.

My second time through I hear “Jaraat Streebin. End of Race. Thank you for coming.” I pull off the course.

After a bit I roll over to the team car and have a seat. An old man comes up and asks me for my bottle; it’s a Team Type 1 that I got at Fitchburg. He’s got a Cofidis and an Ag2r bottle. I offer to trade but he’s holding on to those. I offer him the Team Type 1 bottle and a Sea Otter one I have for eight euro. He shakes his head “No!” [All this bargaining is being down in the universal sign language and a handful of English words.]

“Okay” I say. I relax in the chair as he paces back and forth.

I think about how great it is to have these fans around; the old men and women who live and breathe the sport.

I wave at him and offer the bottle. He takes it happily and trades me for a retro “Performance” nutrition bottle with neon coloring. He says he’ll walk around, come back.



I grab my camera and head back to the course. I get there in time to see Jack off the front going into the tunnel.



I watch for a bit then see Yevginey off the back with another kid. I head back to the car and Steve’s there. We ride around the course in reverse for a bit before going back to the farm.

Steve mentions it’s weird me not stopping off at the apartment. I tell him I miss the big shower there.

“Yeah, but the shower at the farm, it’s famous, lad. Jeremy Hunt, Roger Hammond, Fred Rodriguez-they all showered in it!”

I’m not sure this will make me any faster but it’s worth a try.

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Let the Cross Begin!

Sunday.

Around noon I headed out to see my first cyclocross race. It was overcast and chilly so I wore an extra layer. On the way out it sprinkled a bit but never rained. The rain would have been better for cross but I was content to ride in the dry.

I got out near Erpe Mere and headed toward where I saw the signs earlier in the week. Along the way I spotted these guys.



Not sure what was going on there but I waved and carried on. I got to the signs and continued on. After a bit I realized they weren’t actually leading me anywhere.

I saw a road bike parked outside a bar so I stopped. They had a cross race on the TV and there was a guy wearing a Quick Step hat-good signs. The bartender ushered me outside and pointed me in the right direction.

Along the way I chatted with some other riders. I asked them about the race.

“Cyclocross?” I asked pointing in the direction I was going.
“Uh” he replied.
I repeated myself thinking maybe he didn’t hear me.
“Ah, see-klo-cross! Yes, that way!” he said.

A few minutes later I was getting close. I started to see parking for the race and people walking on the side of the road.



Ten euro later I was in like sin. I put on my shoes and jacket then followed the crowds.



Shortly after I started seeing these vans I had heard about with riders on the sides. This one is Bart Wellen’s.





I went to the Start/Finish knowing I’d have time to come back.



This was going to be amazing. They had the full setup. There was the frites truck, the bratwurst trailer, a waffle stand, and of course...



I peeked my head inside to see a scene straight out of the Alabama State Fair. It was a large tent filled with tables, a bar, and lots of cross fans. There was even country music playing!

I bought a list of the riders and headed over to the course.



Just in case the other beer tent wasn’t enough, they had one in the middle of the course.



I should say a thing or two about the fans at this event. The first thing that comes to mind is your average NASCAR fan, minus the 4X4 truck. The average fan here comes complete with a hat or jacket stating who they support, jeans, and of course a Jupiler (Belgian equivalent of PBR).



Don’t forget the flag…



I continue to walk around the course. I stop off at the pit area.



There aren’t many bike exchanges being made since it’s dry out. I keep walking. At certain points they have crossings guarded by race volunteers.



Walking around in my kit with my road bike arouses suspicion. The fans look at me as if I’m wearing a pink leotard. They all give me a twice over. Next time I’ll lock my bike up and pack some jeans. Even then I don’t think I’ll fool them.

I come to a bar on another part of the course. It’s called the “Cross Saloon” and well…



I keep walking around the course expecting to get to the end but I never do. It stretches on and on, up hills, down hills and through the woods. Eventually I head back to the team area where the riders are warming up.

The scene is more laid back than at a road race. There aren’t as many people crowded around the riders and no one is begging for autographs.



The PROs have some really sweet bikes. A lot of them are riding Stevens and most of them are on Dura Ace.

It’s not just the big names that have their own vans. The other guys have their own vans and trailers too, they just aren’t as nice.



I walk around a bit more before heading back to the Start/Finish. It’s frites time!



Minutes later the race begins.



I begin walking around the course. After the first lap Niels Albert is ahead by at least 30 seconds!



I come to a massive hill and watch the guys come up it for a while.



No one is even getting close to Albert. I find another hill to watch them come up. On the speakers I hear “laatste ronde” meaning “last lap.” I’ve yet to get a good pick of Albert so I focus. Here he comes!



The PowerShot saves the day! After that I got a few more good ones.

This guy had the vampire pain face.



This guy was my favorite. He always had the smiling pain face.



A few more of the guys came through and then the race was over. I trekked back to the Start/Finish. The bike washes were already in progress.



I put my cycling shoes back on and headed out. On the way out I noticed Lorenzo Messine’s trailer. I need to get one of these.



I got home an hour later. Belgium’s been good to me.

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