Comments on: Reviewed: Paris-Roubaix: A Journey Through Hell http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/ It's like reality TV. Except it's real. And there's no TV. Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:21:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: yeagermeister http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-431012 yeagermeister Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:56:19 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-431012 I have this book (but I haven't read it). I love this race (yet haven't been). However, in honor of it, on Sunday my wife and I rode 89 miles (not quite 161) and rode 2 (not quite 18) gravel roads (not quite pave) on the route. I'm certain we had more elevation gain, though. I have this book (but I haven’t read it). I love this race (yet haven’t been).

However, in honor of it, on Sunday my wife and I rode 89 miles (not quite 161) and rode 2 (not quite 18) gravel roads (not quite pave) on the route. I’m certain we had more elevation gain, though.

]]> By: Rocket http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430885 Rocket Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:50:35 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430885 well i stayed up late and wathed the race for a while, the Ardennes Forrest sorted the men from the boys. if any of you saw Stuart O'Grady win two years ago you might remeber that eh explained that it was like a boys own adventure, foreign fields and roads that put the frighteners into you. what a race it is the queen of classics no doubt. i wanted George to grab a victory but alas not to be, he is the next best thing to an aussie well i stayed up late and wathed the race for a while, the Ardennes Forrest sorted the men from the boys. if any of you saw Stuart O’Grady win two years ago you might remeber that eh explained that it was like a boys own adventure, foreign fields and roads that put the frighteners into you. what a race it is the queen of classics no doubt. i wanted George to grab a victory but alas not to be, he is the next best thing to an aussie

]]> By: Matt http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430801 Matt Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:59:31 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430801 Well, I know where Derek Zoolander got Magnum from now. Well, I know where Derek Zoolander got Magnum from now.

]]> By: Mary http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430786 Mary Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:17:52 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430786 I gave this book to my husband for Christmas this year, and promptly grabbed it right back so I could read it! It really was fun to read - and look at the pictures! But, the book also makes me want to go take a shower and have a nap, that's how much it brings you into the race. There is a nasty stretch of road on our regular bike route, filled with bumps and disintegrating asphalt, which we have - of course - christened Paris-Roubaix Road. We are definitely fans of this race! We watched PR on the live feeds online (so much more entertaining to watch a race in languages you don't speak! guessing what they are saying adds enormously to the fun!), then watched the Versus coverage yesterday evening to get the Phil&Paul experience. Between Friday night and Saturday, to get in the right mindset to watch PR, we watched A Sunday in Hell and Hell on Wheels (okay, that one is Tour de France, but still counts as PR prep!). (Umm, that sounds like a lot of couch potato time, but I swear my husband also ran 20 miles, and I hiked 6 and rode my bike for a few hours!) It was a very fun weekend. But, of course, would have been so much better if Hincapie had won (or even ended up on the podium!). Darn those ill-timed mechanicals! They can happen to us all. I gave this book to my husband for Christmas this year, and promptly grabbed it right back so I could read it! It really was fun to read – and look at the pictures! But, the book also makes me want to go take a shower and have a nap, that’s how much it brings you into the race. There is a nasty stretch of road on our regular bike route, filled with bumps and disintegrating asphalt, which we have – of course – christened Paris-Roubaix Road. We are definitely fans of this race!

We watched PR on the live feeds online (so much more entertaining to watch a race in languages you don’t speak! guessing what they are saying adds enormously to the fun!), then watched the Versus coverage yesterday evening to get the Phil&Paul experience. Between Friday night and Saturday, to get in the right mindset to watch PR, we watched A Sunday in Hell and Hell on Wheels (okay, that one is Tour de France, but still counts as PR prep!). (Umm, that sounds like a lot of couch potato time, but I swear my husband also ran 20 miles, and I hiked 6 and rode my bike for a few hours!)

It was a very fun weekend. But, of course, would have been so much better if Hincapie had won (or even ended up on the podium!). Darn those ill-timed mechanicals! They can happen to us all.

]]> By: Mike Roadie http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430770 Mike Roadie Mon, 13 Apr 2009 10:51:14 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430770 Sounds like a beauty. I'll root for Tommie B....again! Sounds like a beauty.

I’ll root for Tommie B….again!

]]> By: Dan O http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430639 Dan O Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:49:29 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430639 It's a cool book. I borrowed a copy from the library a few months ago. Also - don't forget about the 1976 documentary - Sunday in Hell. Well worth checking it. Looking forward to the coverage tomorrow on VS. It’s a cool book. I borrowed a copy from the library a few months ago.

Also – don’t forget about the 1976 documentary – Sunday in Hell. Well worth checking it.

Looking forward to the coverage tomorrow on VS.

]]> By: Clydesdale http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430631 Clydesdale Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:30:36 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430631 I have this book also. Very, very nice, although I can't read too much at a time or I get an irresistable urge to beat myself with a bag of rocks while rolling in a mud puddle. That's the only other way to get as close to the feeling of the race. There are some good clips of some of the past races on youtube. I have to agree with Bjorn4 I'm not sure it's such a great feeling to get hammered into oblivion for 6 hrs and then the reward for finishing first is trying to lift 25lb's of granite cobblestone over your head :-o I have this book also. Very, very nice, although I can’t read too much at a time or I get an irresistable urge to beat myself with a bag of rocks while rolling in a mud puddle. That’s the only other way to get as close to the feeling of the race. There are some good clips of some of the past races on youtube.
I have to agree with Bjorn4 I’m not sure it’s such a great feeling to get hammered into oblivion for 6 hrs and then the reward for finishing first is trying to lift 25lb’s of granite cobblestone over your head :-o

]]> By: Alaskan Dave Down Under http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430618 Alaskan Dave Down Under Sat, 11 Apr 2009 22:13:46 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430618 We're getting the last 3.5 hours live down here tonight on SBS. The usually start just before Arenberg. I'll be recording it. We’re getting the last 3.5 hours live down here tonight on SBS. The usually start just before Arenberg.

I’ll be recording it.

]]> By: Matt http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430610 Matt Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:55:34 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430610 It's gonna be a GREAT race (again)! I will have my fingers crossed for George...hopefully THIS is his year! He absolutly HAS to win this race at least once! Certainly no cyclist is more deserving. And Hilslug...I agree...I vividly recall when his bars snapped off right at the stem that year...he was still holding his handlebars, sat straight up as his bike veered towards the left gutter...and down/over he went. And he was PERFECTLY positioned for the win too...riding strong..it was looking to be his year finally. Such is life...hopefully this time is the one. I will surely be rooting for him! It’s gonna be a GREAT race (again)! I will have my fingers crossed for George…hopefully THIS is his year! He absolutly HAS to win this race at least once! Certainly no cyclist is more deserving.

And Hilslug…I agree…I vividly recall when his bars snapped off right at the stem that year…he was still holding his handlebars, sat straight up as his bike veered towards the left gutter…and down/over he went. And he was PERFECTLY positioned for the win too…riding strong..it was looking to be his year finally. Such is life…hopefully this time is the one. I will surely be rooting for him!

]]> By: Miles Archer http://www.fatcyclist.com/2009/04/10/reviewed-a-journey-through-hell/comment-page-1/#comment-430604 Miles Archer Sat, 11 Apr 2009 15:38:59 +0000 http://www.fatcyclist.com/?p=2299#comment-430604 Sounds like a great book. I will no longer complain about the worst stretch of road in Contra Costa County* and instead pretend it's part of P-R. *bottom part of South Gate rd in near Athenian School in Diablo. Sounds like a great book. I will no longer complain about the worst stretch of road in Contra Costa County* and instead pretend it’s part of P-R.

*bottom part of South Gate rd in near Athenian School in Diablo.

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