2018 on the Road Today.

Questions about bike hire abroad and everything light bike related. No off-topic chat please

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ultyguy
Posts: 2332
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:35 pm
Location: Geneva

by ultyguy

coriordan wrote:Amstel Gold Race Sportive. Bloody amazing day on the bike. Spoiled with empty roads, no wind, glorious sunshine and every type of beer under the sun.


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Looks great! Is it better organized now? Had some friends do it a few years ago and said it was a bit all over the place?


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coriordan
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:30 pm

by coriordan

It was amazing. Easy sign on and start, course was well signposted, a few locals on the showcase climbs, brilliant finishing pen and an amazing atmosphere in Valkenberg afterwards. Wierd think is that the only debit card they accept is Maestro, so no Visa or MasterCard which I've never seen before.

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jorryt
Posts: 124
Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2017 10:37 am

by jorryt

coriordan wrote:What time did you set off? Saw a small handful of cars and obviously some other riders. Garmin says I set off at 7.20 (not sure if that is UK time or local time) but generally speaking we were WAY ahead of the bulk of the entrants. We did 145km. It was perfect.
Yeah we started about 8.30 and it was really busy. I think your time is the local one.

It was really well organized. The directions we're clear and the foodpoints we're crowded but there was still plenty left. Combined with the weather it made for a great day on the bike.

Rondje
Posts: 1373
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:46 pm
Location: Netherlands

by Rondje

Sounds like you were lucky with the early start. I always start with a group of friends and we start a bit late (around 9 this time), we usually see people passing our B&B at the first climb while we are still eating breakfast. The result is very busy roads and even overcrowded at some places, but that's part of a successful event. The great weather was a warm welcome after 2 bad years, especially after the horrible weather of last year.

Here a few photos from my ride. Was supposed to ride the 150 (best distance with all the fun climbs) but decided to do the 100 due to previous illness and a little back injury.
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coriordan
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:30 pm

by coriordan

I think it did make a huge difference getting going early just to enjoy the open roads and clear descents. I did have a bit of Friday night fever which meant I was a bit hungover at the start from 1 too many Kwaremonts but otherwise it was great. I decided to pay for the pro photos and I am quite pleased with them

Here's me gurning hard coming up the Keutenberg.

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Ruimteaapjes
Posts: 27
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 3:47 pm

by Ruimteaapjes

On the road again: a nice 69km ride north of Amsterdam. Guess it doesn't get more Dutch than this...

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ms6073
Posts: 4290
Joined: Fri Jul 23, 2004 8:24 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

by ms6073

coriordan wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 4:20 pm
I decided to pay for the pro photos and I am quite pleased with them
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It seems like you might have been overcharged, all kidding aside, looks like it was a great ride with awesome weather. :beerchug:
- Michael
"People should stop expecting normal from me... seriously, we all know it's never going to happen"

Rondje
Posts: 1373
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:46 pm
Location: Netherlands

by Rondje

coriordan wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 4:20 pm
I think it did make a huge difference getting going early just to enjoy the open roads and clear descents. I did have a bit of Friday night fever which meant I was a bit hungover at the start from 1 too many Kwaremonts but otherwise it was great. I decided to pay for the pro photos and I am quite pleased with them

Here's me gurning hard coming up the Keutenberg.

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Nice pictures, rarely see empty Keutenberg pictures! It also seemed you were in a lot of hurt on multiple climbs, was it that bad of a day due to the Kwaremonts? :lol:
Also, was it your first time in the region or at the AGR?

coriordan
Posts: 210
Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2017 3:30 pm

by coriordan

Definitely not a bad day. It's as easy or as hard as you make it and I certainly didn't go out there for a nice flat jolly! Sure there were parts which hurt but I absolutely loved it.

Ive been to Holland so many times but AGR was my first European sportive and it was an amazing experience. My friend rides in Europe a lot and recommends going for the events which have fewer Brits as it generally leads to a more relaxed atmosphere and less general competitiveness so you have more time to enjoy the whole day out, rather than smashing it round staring at the back wheel of a stranger in a grupetto.

Gearing could have been easier (36x28) I agree but I think there may have been some theatrics for the cameraman - plus you can't see how fast I'm going ;)

kingtom
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Location: switzerland
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by kingtom

Typically Switzerland Image ImageImageImageImageImage

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ultyguy
Posts: 2332
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:35 pm
Location: Geneva

by ultyguy

A few more from kingtom’s backyard
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kingtom
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by kingtom

Image The Ibergeregg i'll take this evening on my way back home, i guess. Looks lovely as ever.
I also liked the way to the office this morning. On the second pic, somewhere you should see ultyguy. ImageImageImage

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Kjetil
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by Kjetil

Clean roads envy. Such lovely shots, folks. I have to give you an old shot from 2013, when Focus launched the Izalco Max in La Toussuire and Jered Gruber's face became greener and greener in the luggage compartment of an estate car.

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The Specialissima
Gylne Gutuer, the UCI 1.2 bike race I invented.

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ms6073
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Location: Houston, Texas

by ms6073

Ruimteaapjes wrote:
Mon Apr 16, 2018 4:22 pm
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Is that building leaning to the right or it it just an optical illusion?
- Michael
"People should stop expecting normal from me... seriously, we all know it's never going to happen"

by Weenie


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ultyguy
Posts: 2332
Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 1:35 pm
Location: Geneva

by ultyguy

kingtom wrote:Image The Ibergeregg i'll take this evening on my way back home, i guess. Looks lovely as ever.
I also liked the way to the office this morning. On the second pic, somewhere you should see ultyguy. ImageImageImage

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Touché! You took a nice one back tonight, chapeau. So where’s the 2nd pic? I still need to do more small road searching. I’m only getting out around 7-7:30 so need to have big roads after 9pm for light etc.


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