I'm not doing anything today. I goofed around with the fixed bike for a while to see just how much more seatpost I needed and whether I could get away with using the post I already have and still get proper fit. There was no way. As it is now the post is well beyond its maximum exposure and it needs to go up another 2 or more cm's. So, I ordered a new, longer post tonight. I may have to eventually get a new stem too. It's low too but it may be good enough to live with.
News Item of the Day: The parcours of next year's Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) was presented earlier this week in Brugge, Belgium. The race will be run on April 3, starting once again in the popular West Flemish city of Brugge and following a traditional route. It will head out to the coast at Oostende before turning southeast, passing through Gistel, Lichtervelde and Kortrijk (new for this year), then turning more easterly to visit Harelbeke, Kruishoutem, Zwalm and Zottegem, then looping back to Oudenaarde to start the hill zone. There are 17 climbs, starting with the Molenberg (km 143) and including the Kwaremont, Paterberg and Koppenberg. The finale has been made a little tougher with the inclusion of the Valkenberg (km 224) after the Berendries (km 219), followed by the usual Tenbosse (km 230), Muur-Kapelmuur (km 240) and Bosberg (km 244). As it has since 1973, the finish will again be in Ninove-Meerbeke after 256 km of hard racing.
The Ronde will feature a number of flat cobbled sections as well. The major difficulties are the 1700m section at Doorn (km 111), 2400m Paddestraat (km 131), 3000m Mater-Kerkgate (km 148), 2100m Mariaborrestraat (km 187), and 2000m Haaghoek (km 210).
The changes to the Ronde are not radical, although there is enough variation to keep the connoisseurs happy. As usual, the development of the race will be determined by the riders, with the winning break going on the Muur or perhaps the Bosberg.
Viewpoint: Flanders is probably my favorite spring Classic. Paris-Roubaix has the reputation and I love to watch it especially when it's sloppy. Roubaix is pancake flat though. Flanders has cobbled climbs and adds that little something extra. Sometime I'd like to have the chance to ride the Muur or the Koppenberg.
We almost went to Belgium after watching the Alpine stages in the 2003 Tour. If we had gone, I would have definitely done those cycling monuments.
News Item of the Day: The parcours of next year's Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) was presented earlier this week in Brugge, Belgium. The race will be run on April 3, starting once again in the popular West Flemish city of Brugge and following a traditional route. It will head out to the coast at Oostende before turning southeast, passing through Gistel, Lichtervelde and Kortrijk (new for this year), then turning more easterly to visit Harelbeke, Kruishoutem, Zwalm and Zottegem, then looping back to Oudenaarde to start the hill zone. There are 17 climbs, starting with the Molenberg (km 143) and including the Kwaremont, Paterberg and Koppenberg. The finale has been made a little tougher with the inclusion of the Valkenberg (km 224) after the Berendries (km 219), followed by the usual Tenbosse (km 230), Muur-Kapelmuur (km 240) and Bosberg (km 244). As it has since 1973, the finish will again be in Ninove-Meerbeke after 256 km of hard racing.
The Ronde will feature a number of flat cobbled sections as well. The major difficulties are the 1700m section at Doorn (km 111), 2400m Paddestraat (km 131), 3000m Mater-Kerkgate (km 148), 2100m Mariaborrestraat (km 187), and 2000m Haaghoek (km 210).
The changes to the Ronde are not radical, although there is enough variation to keep the connoisseurs happy. As usual, the development of the race will be determined by the riders, with the winning break going on the Muur or perhaps the Bosberg.
Viewpoint: Flanders is probably my favorite spring Classic. Paris-Roubaix has the reputation and I love to watch it especially when it's sloppy. Roubaix is pancake flat though. Flanders has cobbled climbs and adds that little something extra. Sometime I'd like to have the chance to ride the Muur or the Koppenberg.
We almost went to Belgium after watching the Alpine stages in the 2003 Tour. If we had gone, I would have definitely done those cycling monuments.
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