Cycling in Belgium: Beer, Cobbles & Good Times Just wrapped up an unforgettable cycling adventure in Belgium! A huge thank you to Tom and Rob for being incredible hosts and guides, and to Patrick for organizing such a well-run event. It was a perfect mix of epic rides, great company, and, of course, amazing beer. Highlights from the Trip: • Day 1: A gentle shakeout ride to spin the legs and soak in the Belgian countryside. Easy pace, but a few powerful bursts to remind the body what’s coming! • Day 2: Rode the We Ride Flanders Fondo with 15,000 of my closest friends, tackling legendary cobbled climbs like the Koppenberg. An epic experience. • Day 3: Swapped pedals for pints as a spectator at the Tour of Flanders on the Oude Kwaremont. The Belgians sure know how to celebrate cycling—beer, songs, and cheering all day long! • Day 4-5: Explored the countryside with a mix of flat roads, steep 20%+ climbs (made one, walked the other!), WWI memorials like The Menin Gate, and narrow single tracks through farmers’ fields—mapping tech magic! • Day 6: Paris-Roubaix recon ride. Those French cobbles? Brutal. Bigger, gnarlier, and on the flats. Felt like my teeth would shake loose! Trick is to go faster—not easy when the bike feels like it might rattle apart. • Day 9: The Paris-Roubaix Sportive. 95 miles of mayhem, including 33 km of bone-jarring cobbles. Once terrified of crashing, now just worried about breaking the bike! Flew through the sectors, adrenaline pumping. Finished strong, celebrated with a well-earned beer. This trip was everything you could ask for—challenging rides, rich history, incredible landscapes, and even better people. Can’t wait for the next adventure!