I'm doing the Paris Roubaix challenge thing in a few weeks and I'm looking for long stretches of cobbles in the manchester/lancs area that I can include in a few training rides. Doesn't have to be hilly, but ideally quite a long uninterrupted stretch.
There's loads near me, but nothing much longer than a few hundred metres.
cheers!
terrahawk - has the Islabike arrived ok ?
cheers
it has - today. I've not seen it yet cos I'm at work and it's still in it's box away from 'prying eyes' 
I'm doing that.
but it's a week before the French thing so need something a bit sooner.
it has - today. I've not seen it yet cos I'm at work and it's still in it's box away from 'prying eyes'great stuff, glad it's arrived, cheersPosted 1 minute ago # Report-Post
zip tie some to a set of rollers?
That'll be the Boonen rollers !
Some quick step textured floor lino glued to the rollers to give that "riding on cobbles effect"
Isn't "Swiss Hill" somewhere up in that neck of the woods (although me be south Manchester cheshire to be fair) used to be on the Cheshire cat route
Swiss Hill is a bit smooth and short really.
I thinking long and straight and flat and big-ringy.;-)
only short stretches these days and a few of them but nothing to prepare you for that
I'm going over to do the best bits of Paris Roubaix, the day before we do the tour of flanders sportive.... walking up the Kappelmuur on sunday may be tricky....
terra - tbh there isn't anywhere that I know of, and I'm always seeking out cobbles to break me and my bike on.
I've not ridden the cobbles of Roubaix, but have done Flanders a few times. Nothing really prepares you for the vibration, jellied-vision and pain in the nuts that a long stretch of cobbles gives you.
Last year, I wore Giordana shorts, which have a very comfortable but slightly thin pad. It was just as well the Mrs was already pregnant by that time, as I was convinced they would be the end of my manhood....
walking up the Kappelmuur on sunday may be tricky....
If you're doing tyhe full edition, it will be clear enough to ride when you get there.
If you're doing the short edition, you need to be able to do two things:
1. Track stand
2. Swear in several languages to get the two-abrest walkers out of your ****ing way..!
(Actually, the Paterberg is busier, IME.)
Rooley Moor Road on a road bike it is then 
there's also that bit on the 'big' HTN course that's pretty rough cobbles - past the angry dog farm.
there's also that bit on the 'big' HTN course that's pretty rough cobbles - past the angry dog farm.
Like newly laid tarmac, that is.... 
doing the middle 85 mile one, I was referring to walking up to watch the actual race!
Like newly laid tarmac, that is
By all accounts, as you well know nohing prepares you for the size of the cobbles in northern france, I heard them descibed as 'like loaves of bread' once
Oh, for a short steep try on cobbles (more for the RvVists), there's a short rise in central Manchester that's good for some wet cobbled climbing practice (Jutland St - between Ducie St and Store St round the back of Picc station).
I was referring to walking up to watch the actual race!
Get there early and straight into the beer tent at the top.
Then, once they've been through, leg it to Geraardsbergen, and get up the Muur near to the chapel (you can approach round the back of the Grammont). Once they've passed through there, run down the hill to the main square and watchb the finish on the big screen.
I love classics week (can you tell?).
doing the middle 85 mile one,
Best one, IMO. Full edition is a proper big day out (last year we had heavy rain, incessant wind (obviously), sunshine, mud, more mud, crashes and big sh*teating grins at the end.
Middle one has the best atmosphere with loads of spectators and amazing jammed climbs (Patterberg especially, and Koppenberg). Being hollered at to make it up the Kapelmuur is a pretty special experience. Must be ace for the first riders over in the real thing.
Hophophop..!
the black arrows on hermit hole are one hell of a cobbled climb.
a proper tough hell of the north type climb
It might be a bit far but you could do laps of Chesterfield market square of an evening
Between the park at Ramsbottom and comes out at summerseat
go from carpark at the park - near rangers hut
down the lane with big rocky banks to left hand side
over bridge
continue up past house on right through the trees
look left and on to footpath
down and up steepish bit for 100m
next footpath is all cobbles until you end up in summerseat
Or I could just show you
Also
for the masachistic
walmsley old road (past pub on left where the Nangreaves sign is)up to Nangreaves (lord ragley pub?) - is bumpity bump cobbles for a long way then tarmac than more cobbles - this is a fair incline in parts and a good test up and down
Good luck either way
Oh, for a short steep try on cobbles (more for the RvVists), there's a short rise in central Manchester that's good for some wet cobbled climbing practice (Jutland St - between Ducie St and Store St round the back of Picc station).
Cracking little street, and the Jolly Angler not far away... 
I wonder if my special friend will mind me driving a 500 mile round trip up to Lancashire and back for a quick cycle ride on the day of her birthday? I suspect the answer will be no. The rapha hotn had better be good the following weekend.
Jase - the M65 near Darwen is cobbled... :0)
back of Hare and Hounds to Holcombe
Bury Old Road (near Duckworth Arms)
Rooley Moor Road
Rammy brewery
Lord raglan
Rammy to summerseat
Edenfield to Stubbins
etc lots if you look for it
georges lane at rivvy, if you go from the pigeon tower towards belmont rd its about a mile each way i would have thought, not steep but it will rattle your fillings out on a cross bike.
Done Roubaix a couple of times and as others have said, nothing prepares you for the cobbles. Best I could do was to go out on the cross bike with the tyres wacked right up and find the roughest bits of track and road for six hours. Bedgebury was actually very good to train on. Unlike others, the main pain I got came from the muscles in my forearms vibrating so much. Very painful. Everything else was fine.
ToFl cobbles are not so bad. The only time they get painful is on the couple of downhill sections.
Doing Roubaix again next year. 70 Euros to do the 'Challenge' this year is way too much. Only 15 for the full distance event last year.
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