Bike set up for Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix

The key to getting over the cobbles is power. You need to be able to keep your speed up so you’re clipping over rather than bouncing off the cobbles. Maintaining a high gear will help you to keep your power up and not spinning out when your rear wheel slips.

Here are a few other things I’ve found make the ride easier:

• Metal bottle cages folded in for an extra tight grip so you don’t lose them on the first sector
• Gel inserts under your bar tape makes it easier to hold your bars loosely and guide rather than steer your front wheel
• Regular double (not compact) chainset is better for keep the power up over the cobbles and then cruising at a decent speed on the flat sections
• Handmade 32 spoke wheels with spokes at 80% tension help absorb the vibrations
• Near new tyres, 25mm front at 90 psi, 28mm rear at 80 psi
• Bigger seat pack for tubes (x3), patches, tyre boots, tyre levers, CO2 cannisters, multi-tool, chain link and gear cable
• Top tube box for extra bars or gels if you’re doing the long route as relying on unfamiliar feed stop provisions might see you visiting the toilet more often than you want to
• Laminated pavé list for easy reference along the route helps you prepare for what’s ahead
• Metal bike frame although carbon is bound to fine as long as you don’t crash

Anything I’ve forgotten?

About these ads