Scott CR1 v Paris Roubaix

I was lucky enough to have the loan of a Scott CR1 Pro bike for the recent Paris Roubaix Cyclo Sportive. With a frame 'designed to absorb shock and vibration', I was interested if it would really help rider comfort over such a demanding course.
My first impressions as I collected the bike were of a well specced machine with eye-catching graphics, closer inspection revealed chunky carbon drop outs, and wide flat seat and chain stays profiled to give considerable vertical flex whilst retaining lateral stiffness, this the graphics informed me is Scott Damping System (SDS).
Collecting the bike a full week before the event enabled me to tweak the position, something which took perseverance, as the CR1 has a considerably longer head tube and shorter top tube than my normal bike, however after a few training spins I got a set up which felt very comfortable. Replacing the stock Mavic Ksyriums with handbuilt thirty six spoked Roubaix 'specials' from Victory Cycles, 25mm Panaracer Duro Tyres and adding a second layer of bar tape completed the Pro look.
My initial impressions were that the CR1 really did reduce road buzz, eating the irregularities that are a feature of our roads down here in Kent, consequently I was finishing rides with less fatigue than I'd experience on my Addict. But, and it's a big 'but' how would it fare on the pave of the Hell of the North?"

The first 100k of the P-R are on good roads and other than a slight detour our group stuck together well as we took turns to wind down the kilometres until we entered "Hell". Leaving the first checkpoint at Bohain we felt the tension build as the notorious pave was only 16k away, also and worryingly to me it started to rain, bearing in mind I was riding with metal pins in my elbow following a crash in Ronde Picardie, I was becoming concerned. By the time we reached the first sector at Troisville the roads were awash.

Hitting the cobbles at the front of our group I followed my brother, Richard and keeping to the crown of the road we sped across the broken surface, as the lightening crashed around us. As if by miracle my elbow was fine, in fact everything seemed fine, the tyres gripped and the comfort level was acceptable.

We continued to attack the cobbles and ease off across the tarmac sections, passing dozens of struggling riders on the way, this was a tricky process on the pave, as we had to drop from the raised crown of the road into the flooded gutters, many times I braced myself for the hidden pot hole that would devour my front wheel, fortunately I never found it. We made fantastic progress, Richard generally leading on the rough stuff as we clattered over these historic sectors. In my previous 3 Roubaix's there came a time when I cried "enough cobbles!" However this time it never happened, even the Tranchee D'Arenburg failed to break me, or my bike.

We were now in the area where the true heroes of Roubaix built their legend, and Richard, was building his, I was hanging on whilst he demonstrated his incredible bike handling skills to conquer the cobbles.

Eventually the miles and the cobbles took their toll, I lost the will to overtake on the pave and as we traversed the last three sectors Richard disappeared into the distance, waiting for me as we hit the tarmac again. I was now in full survival mode and gulping down gels and drink in an effort to stave off the inevitable, fortunately we were close to the velodrome and my weary body managed one last rally as the end was in sight. Coasting round the bankings of the famous track Richard and I shook hands, happy to finish a fantastic event.

Soon we were on the bus home sharing stories with our comrades who had battled across those damned roads and emerged from Hell with a better understanding of just how tough the life of a pro is.

Monday morning dawned and I reflected upon the CR1, had it lived up to expectations? My body said "yes", previous Roubaix's had left me with swollen knuckles and aches from wrists to shoulders, this time nothing other than sore legs, only to be expected after 170 miles.

So to sum up the CR1, great bike for less than perfect surfaces, perfect for sportive riders, a bit soft for racing, but that's why they make the Addict I guess.

Bikes of Paris Roubaix

Having recently had discussions about which tyres to use in June's P-R sportive, the question of the rest of the bike came up. If you buy your kit like me using your best carbon machine is out of the question. I've ridden P-R three times now, once as a racer and more recently twice in the sportive.

Ride one was in 1984, kit was pretty standard; Reynolds 531 frame, by Bill Philbrook of Gillingham, Campagnolo Super Record Group Set, 32 spoke wheels Mavic GP4 rims, Clement Paris Roubaix tubs. So how did it perform? Frame held up well, but there were problems; shortly before the first sector at Troisvilles I punctured the front tub, a quick change from the team car saw me racing back through the convoy, sporting a skinny Barum PBW, rejoining the back of the peloton within 100m of the first cobbles, unfortunately my arrival coincided with a huge crash which I managed to leap into, puncturing my new front tyre, service here was impossible, so I rode the flat tyre to the end of the sector before grabbing a second replacement. Now in the laughing group I ploughed on through a continuous drizzle, desperately avoiding the inevitable crashes as the pave took it's toll. My bike continued to suffer, the single bolt holding the saddle stripped from the cradle, leaving the saddle pointing up at a rather uncomfortable angle. The final problem was that my shoelaces undid themselves, a problem which could have been prevented by a little Duck Tape.

So lesson learned, fast forward 20 years or so, to the P-R Sportive 2006, I had a choice of two rides; My Klein Quantum or Trek XO1 cross bike. The Trek won, with a full alloy frame, including forks, it was not the most forgiving, however it did have huge clearances and a generous wheelbase. Mavic Cosmos wheels, 28mm Conti 4 Seasons tyres, latex tubes, gel bar tape, Blackburn Ti bottle cages and 39x53 rings and 12-21 cassette made for a satisfactory mount. My only issue being a puncture when I hit a culvert hidden in the verge as I tried to dodge the cobbles.

By the time the biannual event returned in 2008 I'd upgraded my best bike to a Scott Addict, not wishing to wreck it I decided on the Klein, fat alloy tubes, carbon forks, 1inch alloy steerer, it seemed a good choice, I replaced my race wheels with a 32 spoke pair of Pro wheels, again using 28mm Conti's. It performed admirably with the only problem being a broken spoke in the front wheel, fortunately it remained pretty true.

So what will I be riding this June? In all liklihood it'll be a Scott CR1 with the new for 2010 SDS (Shock Damping System), or the trusty Klein. One thing is certain I'll be using a pair of handbuilt 36 spoke wheels, Ultrgra hubs, and Mavic Open Pro rims, courtesy of my brother Richard at Victorycycles.co.uk. Tyres are still to be decided, probably Panaracer Extreme Duro 25s.