Abigail Armstrong & David Steele rode this year’s Paris-Roubaix, here’s Abi’s report:

We rode the Paris-Roubaix route on Sunday, though skipped the first 80km of tarmac so we could attack the cobbles with gusto. A vicious headwind tried to stop us in our tracks on the tarmac sections, but we battled on, hooking up with the many groups of other riders, sometimes sheltering, sometimes towing them along. As soon as we hit the pave though, it was each rider in his own battle against the unrelenting bone-juddering, brain-rattling, muscle-atrophying pain. However, we were determined not to take the easy option of riding on the verges this time.

David’s back wheel buckled under the pressure, so that any attempt to ride on his wheel left the rider careering all over the road! By the 50km to go control point, the mechanics wielded their pliers and plucked out three spokes, then forbade David from continuing and offered him the broom wagon. Not one to be so easily deterred, David arranged for our group’s support to bring him a spare wheel, but as we were ahead of the rest of our group, this meant an hour and a half hanging around and scoffing cake.

I had a feeling I’d quit if I didn’t get back on my bike, so I left him to it and set off to try and catch up with a group but unsuccessfully, and I blew, fell asleep at the handlebars and then realised I’d forgotten to eat anything for hours. A Torq bar and a painkiller helped me to the finish, though the cobbles were so painful for my forearms that for the last three sections of pave I confess that I cheated and rode on the grass verges.

By the time I got to the outskirts of Roubaix, the excitement was mounting, so that by the time I reached the entrance to the velodrome, I was preparing for the sprint. I rode up high near to the top of the banking and then sprinted to the line. I had a fair bit of speed on and managed to slip through the marshals to complete a second victory lap!

After receipt of a ksirium wheel, and after a long rest, David breezed across the final 50km leaving other riders choking on dust!

At Roubaix we met up with Chris Reed who’d completed the shorter route, which also included the Aarenberg forest – possibly the worst stretch of cobbles. Well done to Chris for finishing his longest ride ever.

Never again!