With the race coming up next Sunday, I found myself taking a look at a whirlwind trip I did up north 12 years ago to ride the cobbles and watch the Paris-Roubaix. At the time I knew the basics of this Monument, but there’s nothing like riding on huge, gnarly pavé to give you an instant appreciation of how hard this race is.
Here’s my blog post from Day 2, where I rode a bunch of sectors and passed Sean Kelly on one of them (in his defense, he was taking a leak at the time):
And Day 3, in which we climbed some famous Tour of Flanders hills and watched the pros of P-R in both the Arenberg Trench AND the Carrefour de l’arbre. I’m not sure this is even possible these days anymore:
The Vicious Cycle 
It’s a great race to watch live. We went many years ago but I wouldn’t want to ride the parcours those pave are brutal.
Something to experience once in a lifetime. Once.
Understandable
Gerry, what a great piece of personal history. I love the photos from your ride……fun to see you “pre-C59”. Thanks.
Thanks, Eric. I would never put the C59 through the Arenberg Trench, by the way. I have too much respect!
This seems like good decision-making on your part! Too risky.