Time for some recap action from early July. As I mentioned, this was not a "cycling trip," but rather a trip with cycling. Neither such semantic fine points nor my plastered right arm, of course, were going to stop us from renting a couple of moderately serviceable carbon-frame Giants equipped with triple cranksets and setting off in search of whatever adventures the low countries had in store for us...
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| Map-check in the Ardennes. Holy cow: I have wheels named after this place. Soon after verifying that I could, in fact, brake and shift safely, I realized: I don't wanna ever stop riding my bike. |
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| R&R in Florenville. |
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| The loaner helmet (Mango brand) and the clever "race" bottle with flat repair supplies. |
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| Between rides we watched a slightly faster set of riders--here the Massacre in Metz is about to happen on the jumbotron, the sprint (another Sagan v Greipel affair) about to happen to our left. |
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| Ready to ride the last stretch of La Planche de la Belles Filles. |
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| Can't go on, can't go back. We watched the race from this sunny spot. |
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| Stage-watching, or not, in Leuven. |
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| The wine region outside Colmar. A brisk south wind made our northbound rides fast and fun; the hills, farmfields and vineyards made it exceptionally beautiful. |
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| Lunchtime in Alsace. |
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| On...or near...the Amstel Gold course. When the rain hit, we were no more than 100m from a pub with hot coffee and friendly locals. |
If you're ever wondering whether or not you should go cycling in the low countries...I highly recommend it. That is all.
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