The first time I rode the iconic cobbles of Paris-Roubaix, the legendary pro race in northern France, was in 2016 and I've been in love ever since.
My first taste was a biennial event organised by Vélo Club de Roubaix Cyclotourisme and was 210km that mimicked, in a slightly shorter distance, the route that the men’s peloton tackled at the pro race each April.
I’d turned up in France with an aluminium Specialized Allez and managed to squeeze on 27mm tyres.
A few days before the event, I rode the famous Forest of Arenberg sector: the roughest part of the course with the most jagged, rutted and slippery cobbles, to familiarise myself with them.
It was a baptism of fire and I still can’t quite believe how I didn’t crash.
Over time, however, I developed confidence for cobbles and it’s become an addiction to keep going back.
I rode them in 2017, 2018 and 2019 as part of a different event, the Paris Roubaix Challenge, and returned once more after the pandemic in 2023.
I realised last year how much I’d missed the infectious atmosphere; it’s so different from any other event.
Each edition is slightly different, with some tinkering with the route to include different sectors, but the premise remains the same: flat, narrow roads mixing smooth tarmac with bone-rattling cobbles.
In my first year, I tried to ride the whole thing at a consistent pace, but that meant I was trying to hit the sectors of cobbles with the same power as I was putting out on the road.
Save your energy
I completely cracked on the Carrefour de l’Arbre, the final of the three toughest sectors. You turn the last corner, there’s usually a headwind and you’re on a straight, long, narrow road that can feel as if it lasts forever.
After that, I learned the key was to save energy for the cobbles. Unless you want to go out and chase a fast time, I recommend knocking off your effort on the road and accelerating into sectors, holding that power for as long as the cobbles last.
The faster you travel, the easier they are – it’s about you bossing the cobbles, rather than them bossing you.
You can see the tired riders, they start hanging over the bars and aren’t putting any power down before hitting them. You’re in for a miserable time then.
It's going to hurt…
Rather than floating over the cobbles, you just smash hard into them and it’s going to hurt.
I’m also a big believer in riding the crown of the road, down the centre, as much as possible.
Tired riders will take the gutter, but if it’s a wet day that’s where you’ll find the mud.
Since my first attempt on the aluminium Allez, I’ve made a couple of bike changes. On my second attempt, I came back with a steel bike, but it still wasn’t right.
On my third, I rode a carbon cyclocross bike with much bigger tyres, which made such a difference.
Tyres-wise, I’ve gone from 27mm to 30mm to Challenge Strada Bianche 36mm for the last editions.
I bought a pair that fit nicely in my ’cross bike and Paris-Roubaix is the only place I use them. Even with 36mm on a ’cross bike, I’ll put them up to 80psi.
I’d rather be a bit more bumpy than have to fix a puncture – there’s nothing worse in my book.
I’ve made other changes to my bike setup. The first time you ride Roubaix, you tend to over-grip.
I remember getting to the end of a sector and having to peel each finger off the bar because they were locked into that position, and I also got blisters about five sectors in.
I now tape my hands, wear gloves and double-tape at least the tops of the handlebars, which enables you to rest your hand over them rather than feel as though you’re gripping.
I also always use a saddle bag with a clip and mountain bike bottle cages; Velcro can separate over time and whenever you hit the first sector, there’s always stuff – bidons, saddle bags, jackets, pumps – flying out of pockets, so it’s worth testing your setup on bumpy terrain and making sure everything holds in.
I think even mountain addicts should experience the Roubaix cobbles at least once, whatever condition they’re in.
When you watch Paris-Roubaix on TV, it doesn’t do justice to what a wild ride it is. Perhaps the pros just make it look easy.
Riding the cobbles yourself is the only way to disregard that notion. It’s such a one-off ride, in so many ways. That’s what I like about it.
Some people love it, some hate it, but I think more will probably fall in love with the occasion.