Paris Roubaix Challenge, April - what to expect / prepare fo

[TomNeilson]

I'm prepping for my first ever long route sportive in Europe the Paris Roubaix sportive.

I've checked out strava segments (a closing lap in the famous velodrome looks amazing btw- can anyone do it in <27 secs? ) and i thought this guide was useful, but I was hoping to get some first-hand tips / experiences from any members who have ridden Roubaix?
Aside from making sure that everything is very well attached to my bike , what else should I prepare for?!

Thanks
Tom

[redeye]

prepare for every muscle in your body to feel like it is being torn off the bones

[RonK]

Do you really want to subject your bike to that kind of punishment?

One of my acquaintances came back with the downtube of his Ti frame broken.

[roller]

Aside from making sure that everything is very well attached to my bike , what else should I prepare for?!

I did this a couple of years ago, such a great day (we got really good weather, I think that helped).

Be prepared to:

go as fast as you can over the cobbled sections, it's the best way to deal with them, save your energy for them, put it in a big gear and smash those pedals.

have cold weather cycling gear with you, you might not need it on the day but it could easily be 1C

If you're doing arenberg prepare for the craziest ride of your life, no words can really describe it, it's like a rollercoaster.

If you haven't been on a velodrome before don't get too stressed about how steep it is, just get your speed up and you'll have no problem with it.

Beers at the finish line are 1EUR, so have a few coins in your pocket.

And if possible use someone else's bike - it will get really dirty and potentially damaged.

[lukebartlett]

Hey, are you doing it in 2017? I'll be there too. I'm going to try and rent a bike there, with insurance... hahahah.

[roller]

Hey, are you doing it in 2017? I'll be there too. I'm going to try and rent a bike there, with insurance... hahahah.

I did it with these guys: https://www.sportstoursinternational.co ... challenge/

Price was great, accommodation was good and the bike I hired from them was top notch, plus on race day they got us to 2 cobbled sectors and then the finish.

As I was already in France I skipped the bus ride from/to England - but as I was on my own it made sense to do it with a tour group and the cost was pretty reasonable, met some great people who I still keep in touch with now.

[Madrider]

I did this sportif ride this year with my wife

We were part of a Bikestyles tour which was very good, expensive, but were staying in nice hotels and the guides were really good
One of the guides was a Soigneur from the Dutch Lotto Jumbo team.
Chasing the race on the day, with satellite TV's in the vans was fantastic and being in the velodrome watch Matty Haymond win was the best

We were dropped off at the sector prior to the Arenberg (#21 I think) and rode just over 100km and 21 sectors (approx 35km of cobbles) to the velodrome.

The velodrome is not at all steep so you wont have a problem riding it although with the crowds I doubt you will have an opportunity to have a crack at any records

We rode hire bikes which were Cannondale Synapse running 105 & 25mm tyres which were fine but maybe would've been better with 28mm tyres

As previously advised ride the cobbles as fast as your skill and/or fitness level and crowds will permit, the smoothest part is usually the middle or the edges (dirt)

At the end my backside was fine but my hands were quite sore from holding the bars, my grip may have been too loose

[Rex]

I completed it this year also.
Had a blast. Took my full carbon bike with carbon clinchers and they performed and held up great.

Hands were very sore, especially through Arenberg which is a whole world of hurt.
Took weeks for the pain in my hands to pass.

I was in the Velodrome when Matty Hayman won the next day also.... incredible moment.