23/11/2022
š„¶ Gripping tighter, I grit my teeth and pray for it to end as I rattle over another kilometre of the famous Paris-Roubaix cobblestones. As I let yet more air out my tires and hop back on the saddle, I start to hear a strange grating noise and realise Iāve gone too far. Thereās so little air in my inner tubes that Iām practically riding the rims in a vain attempt to make the experience more forgiving on my poor joints that are seized up from the long day of riding the day prior! For the meantime, I try to ride as close to the edge of the cobbles as I can, splashing dramatically through every large puddle just waiting to hit a giant rock in the hidden depths of the mud below.
Eventually I reach tarmac and, with the heavens pouring down onto me, I stand at the side of the road desperately trying to open a pump thatās seemingly seized shut from being plugged with mud. After much struggling, and some pathetic attempts at pumping, I decide thatāll have to do and continue on, feeling like a snail might outpace me on the road as I feel the wheels squashing below my weight.
That morning, Iād managed to lock myself out of my hotel for 30 minutes, and didnāt leave until 11am, begrudgingly I might add! Given I entered into heavy rain, the only thing keeping me going was speeding to the nearest bakery. I made it with 5 minutes till closing time to find theyād clearly shut early! More BNās & bars for me š«£.
Honestly, after 30km of mud and rain, the pain in my right ankle and left knee from the day prior became too much and it wasnāt even type 2 fun anymore so I decided to call it a day. I cycled to the nearest station and travelled via Lille, enjoying a damp little exploration of the city before getting the train back to Dunkirk! So āØ much āØ fun š«£š.
