The Annual Melburn Roobaix

MELBURN - ROOBAIX 2010

Yes, that's the way they spell it - it's a play on the classic bike race, the Paris Roubaix over the cobble stones of northern France. I know I can be boring about bikes but this Sunday was sooo much fun.

Here in Melbourne, our classic is run over the bluestone cobbles of the back lanes of Melbourne's suburbs and finishing at the old Brunswick concrete velodrome. The above pic is the promotional poster for this annual event - the third so far. It attracts a weird and wonderful group of cycling enthusiasts.

The real classic had been won by the Belgium rider Roger DeVlamnick several times under the sponsorship of his team Brooklyn Chewing Gum. My cycling buddy Dazza and I both have reproduction Brooklyn jerseys and we thought it would be fitting that we ride these in our cobblestone classic.

We even thought of entering under the name of "the Rogers"as a tribute.

Peter (Nancy Boy) and Lawrence were vying for the most interesting couple - I personally thought they would be winners. Kiwi was in charge of directions.

As it happened, Dazza was suffering from a HUGE hangover and forgot his Brooklyn jersey.

The boys, Kiwi (here's from NZ) and Al look over this year's instructions over a pick me up coffee.

It wasn't long before Daggy Dazza lost interest and took in a few ZZZZZZZs

No Aussie event is complete unless there is a beer bar available and this one was a mobile bar.

The cobblestones in the laneways of Melbourne.

And that's me in my Roger jersey.

The finish, just like the Paris Roubaix finishes on the velodrome.

Here we are at the finish with a few friends in the background. from the left - Kiwi, Leaping Leon, Big Al and Daggy Dazza. The old velodrome holds some very special moments for me in my past racing history but being so humble, I can't document them all here................

This couple won the prize for, well the Best Couple. I spoke to them at the velodrome and asked if "in those short sleeve JERSEYS were they FRESIAN in this cold weather?" And that's enough of my COW jokes.

My mate Phil was the "Hat check out chick" looking after our bikes as we enjoyed a few beers.

What a great Sunday we had on the cobbles of MELBURN.