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Hell of the North: 11.04.10

By Joe Hall • 18th February 2010 04:56pm • Posted in Events

Yesterday a couple of us from Rapha rode out of north London to recce the route for our Hell of the North ride, which takes place on Sunday 11th April 2010. The night before saw some torrential rain in London so we were a little concerned about conditions as we approached the first ‘sector’. Safe to say, even in the wettest conditions, this will be a lot of fun.

Our homage to one of the great Monuments of the sport, Paris-Roubaix, will be an adventure along the lanes, bridleways and dirt-roads of Hertfordshire. Although it won’t have as much pavé as northern France it will be tough and potentially filthy. Muddy terrain and bumpy 'rough stuff' will be encountered as we celebrate the Queen of the Classics over 100km.

Rapha’s Hell of the North will be a great social ride with a gathering at the finish to watch Paris Roubaix 2010 and enjoy beer and frites.

Absolutely free to enter, more details to follow.

Comments

steven marsh

18th February 2010 07:48pm

Joe, I do hope the venue for the after ride gathering has showers and a very understanding landlord….Looking at that picture lets hope its a bit drier!!

Jon Cannings

18th February 2010 11:32pm

bring it on

Simon Mottram

19th February 2010 07:49am

Steven - we're looking into having a spray washer at the finish…

Steve Seamark

19th February 2010 08:42am

Looks fun, more details coming soon?
Think I may have to tackle it on my Felt Breed singlespeed CycloX bike, it looks like it could trash my roadie.

paul goulden

19th February 2010 08:54am

Oh come on - enter into the spirit of the event. We've got a hell of the York ride, and my best bike is coming out of hibernation for that one. Just put a Mapei shirt on and ride!

Gem Atkinson

19th February 2010 09:15am

hmmm dilemma! not sure my sparkly white bike will be suitable, might be the trusty steel fixed ugly bike :->

cant wait!

Chris Hogan

19th February 2010 10:14am

Where will it start & finish?

Joe Hall

19th February 2010 10:16am

Hi Chris,
Details are yet to be finalised but it will start in north London and finish at a secret location very close to London/the suburbs.

Chris Tree

19th February 2010 11:52am

just looking at this makes me sad :(

Joe Hall

19th February 2010 12:01pm

Why Chris? Don't you like mud or won't you be able to make it? : )

Sean Parr

19th February 2010 01:57pm

Looks fantastic Simon, count me in !

Chris Tree

19th February 2010 03:54pm

I love a bit of dirt.
Other commitments.

But hope to make the real thing in June, so long as my ribs heal.

Matt Carey

19th February 2010 04:24pm

Oh I wish my winter training had gone better than it has, so I could be fit enough to make it! Illness has meant less riding than I hoped. Hopefully there will be video of the best bits on the blog?

Joe Hall

19th February 2010 04:29pm

Matt, it will be a leisurely 100km. It is a social ride more than anything so hopefully we won't see too many people attacking! Get involved.

Slate Olson

19th February 2010 06:16pm

Joe, 100k and gravé do not add up to "leisurely". Certainly there must be attacks, the roads will demand it.

Joe Hall

19th February 2010 06:46pm

Slate, I can recommend to people that if they wish to attack, they can. I, however, will be in my plus fours, smoking my pipe and stopping at hostelries along the way to sample local ales.

tony berlin

19th February 2010 07:48pm

this sounds awesome,really looking forward to it

Joshua Gordon

19th February 2010 08:09pm

Mapei jersey? For shame. Molteni or Brooklyn, please.

Lowell Baricanosa

21st February 2010 07:31am

What a relief, it looks pretty much like today.

Michael Edwards

22nd February 2010 10:34am

What tyres do people reckon will work for this?

Joe Hall

22nd February 2010 10:43am

Michael, 23's will work, but 25's may be a wiser choice.

Steve Seamark

22nd February 2010 04:52pm

Stop teasing us, we need the full details.

Ben Brown

22nd February 2010 04:57pm

What about them Conti 24's, eh? On disc wheels to slice through the mud.

Giles Makins

23rd February 2010 04:54pm

Hell of the North? Near London? Hell of the South maybe, but definitely not North!
Any events planned for the Caledonian Chapter of the Rapha Fan club?

On a separate note, what is the correct term for a Rapha Fan? Rapheur maybe?

Joe Hall

23rd February 2010 04:58pm

Giles, it is north of London so, to us southern fairies, it is North. However, if you travel down with your bike on the train to a central London station, you would still have to ride north to the start of the event. Come on down!

Rapheur is a good one. I believe Raphette has already been coined.

Matthew Randall

24th February 2010 09:10am

When do you think you'll let us know more details?
I'm thinking of travelling down from Hull for this so I'll need to stay over and would like to get something booked. Recommend any places to stay that are ok with bikes?

David Shannon

25th February 2010 05:22pm

The spray washer is most appealing - I'll be coming just for a wash and scrub

Chris Hogan

26th February 2010 04:06pm

I'll see if I can locate a supply of Woolite samples. A couple each should clean the jerseys!!

stephen pond

27th February 2010 12:00pm

hope to come up from cornwall to ride, will it be easy to get back to the start form the finish?

nick threlfall

27th February 2010 06:21pm

Thanks for organising this Joe - really looking forward to it. Got Vittoria Pave on Mavic Open SUPs at the ready…

John Mullineaux

2nd March 2010 10:56am

This is so up my street or should I say of it?

I am riding Paris Roubaix this year and this foray into the North London wilds will be a nice warm up.

Need to think tyres and feel that I should do it on a road bike for authenticity as a homage to the race. I wonder if I can get Conto Gator 28s on my Merckx?

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