Same problem. Different country.

The same issue which tore at the fabric of Paris-Roubaix is happening in our own backyard.

Moreland council plans to replace the charming cobbled pavé alleys with fresh bitumen, forever changing the aesthetic of the area.

The essence of Paris-Roubaix remaining Queen of the Classics was to preserve the back country cobbled roads to ensure it didn't become a pawn in the cycling calendar.

Looks like Melburn-Roobaix will eventually suffer a similiar fate - unless the council is given good reason to preserve this cultural identity. As it turns out, one of the planned sectors for 2012's route is the first to undergo Morelands's permenant cultural plastic surgery.

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MELBURN ROOBAIX

Riding partners

Last year I invited Eddy Merckx and he politely declined. He's already made the trip to Australia this year so as much as I'd love to see the Cannibal pound the pave the likely hood is low. Not even an offering of frites and mayo will get him over the line.

However, there is sure to be a string of high profile ex-cyclists, has beens, could have beens, B-list celebrities, and otherwise cool cats that you'd love to roll alongside this year.

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Rough week ahead

A smattering of cycle related events have been thrust upon thy steely thighs including:

Watch it at FYXO will like minded cycling tragics.

You can also register in person for you and your gruppetto at FYXO for Melburn Roobaix until Friday 13 at which point the internet flood gate will open, and no doubt this site will temporarily grind to a halt. Only time will tell.

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Hell of a week ahead.

Early birds get more than just a worm.

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Not that long ago

Back in 2006 I 'printed out' a flyer for a bike ride called Melburn Roobaix. I stuck it up will blu-tak on the walls of any cafe and bike shop that would let me and of course, I pasted it here.

Word spread, and the night before the ride, some bloke from a radio station I'd never heard of wanted to interview me about the ride. I can remember standing outside gazing at the stars as they asked me questions about the ride, and the last question they asked was how many people would turn up. I replied with 50? Maybe 100 if we are lucky.

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