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going to Belgium next months and will have a few days South of Ghent when I want to ride some of the famous cobble sections and take in some of the quiet lanes.
Anybody been? Any route ideas or gpx files would be great?
Cheers
Pop into the Flanders Museum in Oodenaarde, they've got maps and route guides. Nice little cafe too, keep your eyes open cos you often get famous cyclists in there.
http://www.crvv.be/
And buy this book:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hellingen-Cyclists-Belgiums-Greatest-Cycling/dp/0711234027
(other tax-paying booksellers are available...)
Lists all the main climbs and how to get to them. They're all very tightly packed, you can do quite a short route and still fit in a dozen of the famous climbs just by zig-zagging back and forth a bit.
And do a search on Strava, all the main climbs glow when you do a heatmap search!
Yep do the crvv visit and there are at least 5 well signposted routes that set off from there, take in the main famous climbs.
Cheers crazy legs - got that book it's the inspiration for the idea.
Staying just south of Oodenaarde just by the start of the koppenberg. Trying to pack as many in as possible over the two days 40-50 miles each day. Do all the ones below and West of Oodenaarde one day, then all the ones East of Oodenaarde the next day.
Trying to link them by quiet lanes, but wanted to have it all done on gpx prior to going so I can let the garmin 800 guide me round.
Dharmstrong - the 5 routes you refer too that are sign posted are they online at all on a map?
Found the routes - great website and cool museum!
[url= https://www.strava.com/activities/127233130 ]Here's [/url]my Strava activity of the 2014 Ronde 130km route. All the famous climbs are one it, sure you can download a GPX off Strava somehow.
edit - try the Kopparberg beer. It's lush.
Loads of routes and info here:
http://www.liveyourowntour.com/en/cycling/bike-routes/
2015 Tour of Flanders sportive routes which include nearly all of the classic climbs and cobbles:
http://www.sport.be/rondevanvlaanderen/2015/en/parcours/map/#2
(Just be aware that the recent Ronde routes have missed out arguably the most iconic section across the Muur-Kapelmuur and Bosberg).
Oh, and there's also an Oude Kwaremont beer, ABV 6.6%, the same as the average gradient of the climb. Nice enough, not particularly special compared to some of the beers in Belgium, but worth a few bottles as a souvenir.
Ah, that's the one I was thinking of. The Carillion on the edge of the square, just round the corner from the museum and in the shadow of the cathedral serves it, and is a cracking boozer to boot.Oude Kwaremont beer