The last couple of summers we've been on long multi week bike rides, but this summer we've had other things on. So nearing the end of Tom's school holidays we were both itching to do something of magnitude.
We were heading over to the North of France for a few days. As we were away with the girls, we were good to disappear for about one day, and originally Tom had suggested that we revisit the Paris Roubaix cobbles.
The talk of cobbles moved over the border to the Belgian 'bergs. I told Tom about the Tour of Flanders cobbles I'd ridden, and Tom reminisced about the time we rode up the Kemmelberg on the Sonder Bikes Tandem back on our French Divide trip in 2016.
Tom joked that we could "Everest" one of the 'bergs, which to be honest I thought was crazy idea. Riding up any of these hills once would not be a problem for us, though Everesting one?
Simon Warren of 100 climbs books fame, has also written a book Hellingen, that lists 100 climbs in Belgium. We had a flick through the book and shortlisted 5 climbs to go and have a look at.
We took an overnight ferry to Dunkirk to arrive early but with not a lot of sleep. The plan was to find a climb on Day 1, ride it on Day 2, and on the 3rd evening of our holiday, meet up with some friends near Antwerp for a drink.
The nearest climb to Dunkirk is the Kemmelberg and that is where we went first.
The Kemmelberg is the highest hill in the West Flanders region. An important vantage point during the first world war. The memorial at the top (the Angel) is to the fallen French Soldiers in the 1914-18 war. At the foot of the Western cobbles is an ossuary containing the remains of 5294 soldiers only 57 of whom are named. A hill with history.
We arrived mid morning, and walked up from the East passing the now empty restaurant Belvedere on the way to the Angel. We then walked over the top to the West.
The West side though steeper in parts looked to be a better option. We left and went to put up the tent at a nearby campsite. We returned later to ride both sides, and our initial thoughts were confirmed.
We had a plan.
Just before 8:30 the following day, we parked the car at the top of the hill.
We were both riding Sonder Colibri bikes. Lightweight carbon frame and forks that would be appreciated on the ups, and disc brakes to control the steep rough descents.
From the road junction where we started the road rose gradually from a gradient of 6%. Heading through the trees the gradient starts to steepen.
Then the gradient steepens further and the cobbles begin.
Then the gradient keeps climbing to over 22%. There is no easy line.
It's not a busy place, but there are walkers, fellow cyclists and cars to avoid at times.
Tom and I have both done Everesting rides before, but this is a whole new level of hard.
The plan was ride 5 climbs and then stop to mark the sheet at the car and eat some food.
Below, Tom grabbing some food after climb number 40.
Neither of us had ridden the bikes before the previous day, but they were proving great for our crazy little ride.
Late afternoon we were greeted by an Instagram follower from Lille, Pascal, who rode a lap with us before bidding us good luck for the rest of our ride.
A short while later whilst grabbing something from the car we saw Kristof ride by. He'd ridden over to see us, and had brought some Twix bars, and Tom's favourite, some Coca Cola. It was good to hear Kristof tell of his double Everest tactics, that is, it wasn't even planned. He just kept on riding.
As the daylight dwindled, so did the number of people.
We were alone.
Then as we climbed our 67th climb, Gunther, another friend turned up at the top of the climb. He'd also ridden over to greet us. Again he rode a lap with us, we chatted and then he rode home.
A little later one of the local residents came out with a bottle of coke for us, and the question.... "How many times are you riding up and down our hill?" I answered 137.
He said someone once rode 79 circuits of the hill I asked why 79. He answered "That's all he could do."
Around climb 80 it came, the thing that we dread on these rides, the lust for sleep.
We nearly collided once on the way up, a moments inattention, or maybe sleep.
We'd stop, eat, drink more coke to try and shake the sleepmonsters. We'd then shiver uncontrollably as we rode back down the hill into the cold night air.
Even though we were past half way I was unsure if we'd get to the end.
Tom was tired, and I was tired too.
We'd sit in the car for a rest and set the alarm for 5 minutes on repeat, to make sure we didn't fall asleep.
If only morning would come sooner. We knew with daylight came salvation. We just had to keep trying.
So after the longest night on a bike ever, dawn came, and like magic, and nearly like we'd had a nights sleep, the want to sleep left us.
6ish in the morning, and Alan Goldsmith, Mike Toyne and Steve Heading called by to cheers us on. Thanks.
Not long after, the guy who'd brought us out coke the night before, made us some coffee.
27 hours in and we are back up to speed. Below Tom on the 22% section of the climb.
What was really cool in the morning was that Kristof turned up again with more snacks, Coke and encouragement. Star!
Then the girls brought us drinks, pastries and sandwiches.
They then counted down the final 10 climbs with us......
.....which we savoured in the sun.
Job done.
Again a big thanks to my wife and daughter, Pascal, Kristof Allegaert and Gunther Desmedt for your encouragement and snacks.
Postscript.
I use a Garmin Dakota which needs a computer and cables to upload big rides like these.So I didn't get to upload this ride until 4 days after we'd finished it. There was always a little niggle at the back of my mind that maybe we'd not completed the 8848 metre target. Not exactly sleepless nights territory, but you get the idea.
Early this morning when I arrived home I uploaded the ride and to my surprise I found out that we'd climbed a total of 10,034 metres.
Tom says that this apparently makes us High Rouleurs ie. riding more than 10,000 metres in a single ride.
Tom is very happy!
The "oversight" was caused by me referencing a segment on Strava that was 9 metres shorter than the actual climb on my phone.
What do they say about poor planning?
Stats. 221.39 Km 10,034m Total time 31:18:55
Tom's Strava - Everesting Kemmelberg.
