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Hell Part Three

By Gem Atkinson • 10th April 2012 03:35pm • Posted in Rides

Returning for its third (and thus far dampest) outing, Rapha’s Hell of the North saw a throng of riders convene at the Highgate village sign-on.

A tribute ride to Paris-Roubaix, the challenging 80km route combines roads, bridleways and farm tracks (oh, and some deep forest and ravine crossing for good measure). Rapha's version was, once again, held on the same day as the pro race, which this year saw Tom Boonen claim his fourth L‘Enfer Du Nord in emphatic style. Cementing his reputation as a genuine ‘légende belge’, Rapha's version of Paris-Roubaix offered a typically British slant on the race that sorts the hardmen from the boys.

No less than twenty sections of what has become affectionately termed “gravè” awaited the hardy riders, rewarded for their commitment to an early start by cruelly grey skies complete with a steady sideways drizzle for the first 60 minutes or so of the ride. Nary a foot was spotted overshoeless, and a healthy coating of mudded road-spray graced most participants backs as the first grave section approached.

I maintained a light grip on the handlebars, eternally thankful of their double wrapping and powering a slightly larger gear than usual. I recalled all the advice extolled by riders about ‘floating’ over the cobbles. Patrick Lefevere famously proclaimed Pozzato to have such finesse on the cobbles one could place a glass of water on the riders back and he would return with the glass completely full. Sadly I probably lacked a modicum of Pippo’s control as I blasted and slipped through the loose shingle, arms aching from controlling and urging the bike upright, my eyes darting around to locate the smoothest line to follow. Bike control became an essential skill, requiring every effort to keep the back wheel skidding out, made harder by the short punchy climbs with the tough stuff underneath.

In the 2010, despite the splendid beating rays of the warming sun promising a glorious day in hell, I had the misfortune to amass an impressive total of four punctures. My tyre choice fell victim to the gravè, forcing an abandon as we limped back to the Black Horse for some big screen race action. Lady luck wasn’t also elected to hurt my companion, his rear derailleur hanger managed to shear off cleanly, deep in the heart of a woodland descent.

With the 2012 version it appeared that truly third time was indeed a charm, with only one small flat between the pair of us for the entirety of the course. We counted our collective blessings, as for the first time in three attempts we rolled into the finish HQ without major incident. Sadly the same could not be said for Sylvain Chavanel over in France, unable to rejoin the select group after suffering a flat in the latter stages of the race over on the continent.

Then the muddied, stomping aspirant rouleurs descended en masse to the Black Horse Pub in Barnet. Traditionally wrapped hot frites and a Belgian beer, along with the accompanying big screen coverage of Paris-Roubaix made for the perfect post-ride tonic. Fatigued hands applauded and spectators cheered in earnest as the tornado sealed a flamboyant win by outgunning every rider in that race. The lycra may have been dampened on Sunday but spirits certainly were not.

Comments

Simon Jones

10th April 2012 04:03pm

Watcing some Paris-Roubaix I see!!!

Richard Knott

10th April 2012 04:45pm

A truly great day out - thanks Rapha!

If you squint then you can see my in the 2nd photo (white helmet) which is the only photographic evidence that I did the ride, or at least attended the start of it anyway, as the event photographer seems to have captured all my riding mates but not me….

Jamie Granados

10th April 2012 05:00pm

A Legendary day….not quite as sunny as we hoped after last year, but a great ride out through Herts, up hill, down dale, round pot holes and through bridle ways until at last…beer and the closing stages of the Paris-Roubaix….what more could you ask for on a Sunday?

justin riley

10th April 2012 09:57pm

THANKYOU RAPHA!!
I got up at 5am, drove 90 miles, rode 7 to the start , completed the course, no punctures but clogged up mudguards, rode with a mate i hadn't seen for 7 years, met some really nice people, applauded Boonen, had a beer and some frites,drove back 90 miles, put my 2 year old to bed and the crashed out.
what an amazing, well organised day. Cheers!

Joe Hall

11th April 2012 10:09am

Wow, thanks Justin - I'm pleased the drive was worth it. Another great day out. Congratulations to all involved.

Benjamin Irwin

11th April 2012 03:36pm

Thoroughly enjoyed the day. Took me back to my days of rigid framed steel mountain bikes when front suspension was too heavy and prohibitively expensive.

Pleased to say my self-built Ambrosio Excellights were still straight and true by the Black Horse!

Thanks to all involved. See you next year.

Mike Pearson

11th April 2012 06:36pm

It was a good day all round, heavier going than the baked-hard surface of last year but great fun, as you'd expect.

I think Justin is selling himself a bit short because I believe he also did it on a single-speed, if he's the gentleman I think he is.

I thought that blocking the route around the water splash was a little bit dastardly, but it did force my hand to ride through it, which worked out OK.

Thanks for organising the ride and for the hospitality of the Black Horse pub.

justin riley

11th April 2012 08:39pm

Hey Mike, your'e right - that was me on the Bob Jackson singlespeed. It's very nice being called a gentleman when my language at times was very ungentlemanly as i struggled along.
The numerous twigs laying around came in very handy for clearing the mudguards.
There's some great pictures on Flickr of the watersplash - just type in Rapha Hell of the North 2012.
Until 2013..!

Jamie Brown

13th April 2012 12:38pm

What type of tyres did you use for this? I've got some 28mm gatorskins which look along the lines of what I can see on the photos, but I'd be all over the place…

Richard Knott

13th April 2012 01:05pm

Dont use 28mm tyres, unless you've got massive clearance on your frame.

I made that mistake and spent most of the ride looking for sticks to pick the mud out of each and every gap it had lodged itself in, otherwise it was like riding with the brakes jammed on for much of the ride…

Gavin Bell

13th April 2012 02:10pm

Lovely day out, even with the rain. I spent most of it smiling. Just the one puncture and that using 23mm lugano tyres. It certainly sharpened up bike handling skills.
Great organisation and paris-roubaix in the pub afterwards was brilliant fun
thanks Rapha

Alan Johnson

13th April 2012 04:11pm

I rode a full carbon bike with 25mm Gatorskin hardshells - not even a sniff of a puncture.

Got to echo what everyone else said - great day out and most definately a challenge!

carl Keen

14th April 2012 09:03am

No punctures the last two years on the crosser. Did it on a road bike this time, left the race bike at home as it was a bit grotty and grabbed the trainer. Five punctures - 23 mm Challenge Criteriums. The free bag came in handy for dead tubes!

Jamie Brown

16th April 2012 09:29am

thanks guys

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