The Spring Classics are upon us and we again find ourselves watching in awe at the ease and speed at which our cycling heroes glide over the jittery bone-shaking cobbles of France and Belgium. More and more Brits are heading across the channel at this time of year to test themselves on the pavé of the Northern Classics, and although riding on the iconic terrain may seem a daunting prospect, it really is ‘as simple as riding a bike’, just a little bumpier. There are four main things to focus on when riding over cobbles, and they are: the placement of your hands, the gear you choose, the position of your body and your head.
Hand Placement
This is the most important thing when riding over cobbles because dodgy hand positioning will turn a bumpy ride into a painful one. Over cobbles, your hands should rest on the tops of the bars to minimise the effects of vibration. It is important to stay relaxed, allowing the bike to float over the cobbles and ride through the bumps, so you must not grip the bars too tightly. To dampen the vibrations even further, it’s a good idea to double wrap bar tape on the tops of the bars or invest in some gel pads to be applied beneath the tape.
Specialized S-Wrap Roubaix Wide Bar Tape
This tape from Specialized is thicker, spongier and has superior grip than most so you’ll experience less slip and a significant reduction in hand fatigue. It even incorporates an elastomer gel backing to replicate the double wrapping custom commonly adopted for the cobbles.
Gear Selection
To glide over the stones, you need to have momentum and a lot of it. The best way to build it up is to hit the cobbles in a big gear with a cadence of about 60-70 rpm without easing up. The low cadence is important because it keeps constant downward pressure on the rear wheel which stops it from bouncing around on the uneven surface.
Body Position
When riding over pavé, it is vital that you consider your riding position to prevent jarring through your joints and to keep both wheels from losing contact with the ground. Your hands should be on top of the bars, elbows bent slightly more than usual with your chest in line with your stem. This keeps your weight over the front wheel, giving you more control. To steady the rear of the bike, keep your backside pressed to the saddle with each pedal revolution. The temptation is to stand up over uneven terrain, but that’s one sure-fire recipe for a wipeout.
Look Ahead
As always it is important to have your head up and scanning the road ahead of you. This is even more important when riding on cobblestones because of their characteristic unpredictability. Some parts of the road will be more deeply rutted than others, in some sections the stones will be smoother, and one or two sectors might have gaps in the cobbles altogether. At less than a moment’s notice, the unforgiving pave could cause you to come to grief, so constant vigilance is a number one priority.
Riding over cobbles confidently and efficiently will take a great deal of practise, but as long as you remember hands, gear, body, head it’s only a matter of time before you’re gliding like a plane across the treacherous terrain known as pavé.
(Image credit - Brakethrough Media)
