Thurday's race in Jonkershove-Houthulst was the first one where we noticed betting going on. They are pretty darn well organized. Registration closes 15 minutes before the race, but by the time the riders roll to the line everyone in the crowd has a printed sheet with a list of entrants -- not sure how they get this done. Then at the cafe where we register, two guys write down all the riders' names on a whiteboard and post the "morning line." Mitch did well on Tuesday night, so they had him at 12 to 1 on the first lap, the rest of us were at 20 to 1, which is the longest shot they will give you. As people get pulled (or in my case, flatted out), they erase names from the board and lower the odds on everyone else. At one point Mitch was 8 to 1 and Ryan was up to 10 to 1 -- that was when they were in the lead group of 14. Sadly, 6 guys attacked and got 30 seconds or so, and Mitch and Ryan's odds started heading in the other direction ... ultimately, Mitch came in 11th and Ryan came in 13th.
My plan for paying for this trip: 100 euros on Ryan at Sunday's criterium. BOOM.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Comments
I changed the settings on the blog to allow anonymous comments -- Sorry Ms. Meyer if you couldn't post earlier.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
First impressions
Ok, so we haven't been the best bloggers, but with no internet at the house and a very full schedule of racing, it's hard to get word to the outside world.
Thoughts about bike racing in Flanders:
1) There is an incredible reverence for bike racers here that you really can't explain. When I needed a twist tie for my frame number, I asked a little old grandmother who was waiting for the race to start on her front steps. She literally ran inside to get one, and her whole family was thrilled to have helped me out. When you walk into a bar to register for a race, all the heads in the room turn towards you and watch you come in. After the race is over, little kids run down the street after the winner just trying to be near him. During the race, someone from every single house on the street is watching, and at every bar dozens of old men sit around drinking beer and watching the race. People just love bike racing and bike racers.
2) Riding here is like no place I've ever been. Every single road either has a full-size dedicated bike lane, or is so small that it is basically a bike path. There are miles and miles and miles of tiny rural lanes between the fields, and you can reliably get anywhere in the country on a road no wider than a dinner table. On top of that, there are signposts everywhere marking a network of bike routes that you can follow by writing down a series of numbers (23, 45, 56, 6, etc) and navigating from node to node on the network.
3) Beer is good, plentiful, and cheaper than water. Literally cheaper than water. In Bruges, we paid 1.75 for a glass of water, whereas a Jupiler will only set you back 1.20. Westmalle triple will run you $9 at the Rose & Crown in Palo Alto, but for that price at the supermarket here you can get a case. At 9.5% alcohol, that's a pretty good deal. Scarily, the guys (OK, mostly Gavin) polished off said case in less than 12 hours.
4) Racing is really, really hard. This won't be the first or the last blog to say this, but, shit, the hammer goes down about 2 minutes into the race and does not let up for the next 70 miles. These guys can make a pan-flat race break into groups of no more than 5 every single time. Attack, attack, attack, attack.
5) Racing is really, really well organized and really, really, cheap. There are about 6 officials at registration with bar code scanners for your license and embroidered polo shirts. The roads are always full closure, police and ambulance and officials always follow ahead and behind the race. There is a marshal at every corner (OK, he's usually a 70 year old guy with a little round yield sign on a stick, and he's usually drinking Jupiler in between laps, but he's there). We pay 3 euro to enter each race. No more of that $30 velo promo nonsense. Tuesday's race paid 50 deep despite only 48 starters, and every one of the 50 laps was a 20 euro prime. Mitch won one!
6) We might not be contending for the win yet, but we are pretty competitive. On Sunday Gavin survived for 55th out of 132 starters. Tuesday night, Ryan and me were in a 6 man group with the Belgian elite national champion. Mitch made the winning break of 9, and we have photo evidence of him trading pulls in between a QuickStep rider and said Belgian national champion. Thursday afternoon, in another 70 mile kermesse, Ryan and Mitch made the winning group of 14, ending up 11th and 13th. Typical announcer quote: "dutch dutch dutch dutch dutch Parn-esse Rye-ann de Amerikan dutch dutch dutch dutch USA Meetch-uh Truk-suh dutch dutch dutch dutch dutch"
Thoughts about bike racing in Flanders:
1) There is an incredible reverence for bike racers here that you really can't explain. When I needed a twist tie for my frame number, I asked a little old grandmother who was waiting for the race to start on her front steps. She literally ran inside to get one, and her whole family was thrilled to have helped me out. When you walk into a bar to register for a race, all the heads in the room turn towards you and watch you come in. After the race is over, little kids run down the street after the winner just trying to be near him. During the race, someone from every single house on the street is watching, and at every bar dozens of old men sit around drinking beer and watching the race. People just love bike racing and bike racers.
2) Riding here is like no place I've ever been. Every single road either has a full-size dedicated bike lane, or is so small that it is basically a bike path. There are miles and miles and miles of tiny rural lanes between the fields, and you can reliably get anywhere in the country on a road no wider than a dinner table. On top of that, there are signposts everywhere marking a network of bike routes that you can follow by writing down a series of numbers (23, 45, 56, 6, etc) and navigating from node to node on the network.
3) Beer is good, plentiful, and cheaper than water. Literally cheaper than water. In Bruges, we paid 1.75 for a glass of water, whereas a Jupiler will only set you back 1.20. Westmalle triple will run you $9 at the Rose & Crown in Palo Alto, but for that price at the supermarket here you can get a case. At 9.5% alcohol, that's a pretty good deal. Scarily, the guys (OK, mostly Gavin) polished off said case in less than 12 hours.
4) Racing is really, really hard. This won't be the first or the last blog to say this, but, shit, the hammer goes down about 2 minutes into the race and does not let up for the next 70 miles. These guys can make a pan-flat race break into groups of no more than 5 every single time. Attack, attack, attack, attack.
5) Racing is really, really well organized and really, really, cheap. There are about 6 officials at registration with bar code scanners for your license and embroidered polo shirts. The roads are always full closure, police and ambulance and officials always follow ahead and behind the race. There is a marshal at every corner (OK, he's usually a 70 year old guy with a little round yield sign on a stick, and he's usually drinking Jupiler in between laps, but he's there). We pay 3 euro to enter each race. No more of that $30 velo promo nonsense. Tuesday's race paid 50 deep despite only 48 starters, and every one of the 50 laps was a 20 euro prime. Mitch won one!
6) We might not be contending for the win yet, but we are pretty competitive. On Sunday Gavin survived for 55th out of 132 starters. Tuesday night, Ryan and me were in a 6 man group with the Belgian elite national champion. Mitch made the winning break of 9, and we have photo evidence of him trading pulls in between a QuickStep rider and said Belgian national champion. Thursday afternoon, in another 70 mile kermesse, Ryan and Mitch made the winning group of 14, ending up 11th and 13th. Typical announcer quote: "dutch dutch dutch dutch dutch Parn-esse Rye-ann de Amerikan dutch dutch dutch dutch USA Meetch-uh Truk-suh dutch dutch dutch dutch dutch"
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
The origins of THE BLOG
Here's how this blog got started...
Date: December 6, 2007 11:37:19 AM PST
Ryan also suggested, and I support, starting a blog about the event. I think some people would read it...
Seven months later, here it is! So, who's wearing the helmet cam for the kermesses?
Date: December 6, 2007 11:37:19 AM PST
Ryan also suggested, and I support, starting a blog about the event. I think some people would read it...
Seven months later, here it is! So, who's wearing the helmet cam for the kermesses?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
good eats
I can't wait for some Flanders (not french, they just spoke french) Fries with Mayonnaise, yummm!
Monday, June 16, 2008
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