Mechanicals & I HATE COBBLES! 😡 Attempting Paris Roubaix Challenge...

[@Zyzzyx42]

50 y.o. dude here and hell, I get teary eyed watching the success of women's cycling. Been a big fan of CX for the last 4-5 years, and I usually find there's BETTER racing in the women's field than the men.

[@KatieKookaburra]

YASSSSS aww this comment!! Means so so much thank you for supporting and watching and enjoying women's racing and my videos! x

[@Brentdarley]

I love the women's racing too man. So happy that they are finally getting better treatment!

[@Miekzz]

This probably is one of my favorite videos of you Katie - from seeing you totally transform in your attitude towards the ride and the genuine happiness at the event, the people all enjoying the race and appreciating the riders, and Kate who's a total BOSS of course 💖🧡

[@KatieKookaburra]

Yasssssss thank you 🧡🩷

[@Neilhuny]

Old man here (it kind of matters): the interview with Kate Veronneau wasn't just emotional for you two, it was emotional for many of us, too! I passionately hope that more women get in to cycling, that there is at least equality in numbers of participants, prize money, media coverage, competitors etc Cycling is good for people, good for the planet

[@KatieKookaburra]

Neil.... LOVE THIS!!! Thank you!!

[@breezehillpete]

I went to the 2018 Paris Roubaix with my wife, Lynn, and rode many sections of the cobbles over two days on a tandem. It was fun but ridiculously challenging on a tandem, you need as much speed as possible, something that was difficult to sustain. The Arenburg forest section stands out as being the craziest section to ride on. Sadly Lynn died in 2021 and seeing your video made me reconnect with the excitement we both had riding there. I'd like to book back but I'm not sure I could, so thank you for your video.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Pete (I think from your username that is your name apologies if it's not). That sounds such an amazing adventure you had together - I bet there were so many laughs and maybe a few crossed words hehe. I am so sorry to hear Lynn is no longer with us but it sounds you have so many amazing memories together. I think when you are ready the cobbles would love to have you again. As a little gift to commemorate your time there and of course Lynn, I would love to send you a cap (like one of the ones I was wearing). If you would like one of course. If you do just drop me a message on Instagram or email me [e-mail]

[@jaffamatt]

First video for ages, 5+ years, that’s made me want to get back on a bike. Thank you Katie

[@KatieKookaburra]

Yassssssss Matt get on it!!!! Woop woop. Let me know when you’re done you’re first ride. 🙂🙂🙂

[@jimpeyton1459]

Thanks as always KK. The transition between "I don't like the cobbles" to "I love the cobbles" is epic. By the last set you were brimming with confidence and joy. Really cool to watch. Awesome to see women's cycling advance and begin to thrive. You should feel proud for being part of the movement.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Thanks so much Jim!! 😀😀😀

[@cbenson513]

Women's racing is growing for sure! The quality has been there and people like Kate Veronneau are helping everyone to see that. I'd like to see course parity with the men. The longer distances bring out a even more team strategy and segment tactics.

[@odetocycling]

Probably a sensible idea to choose the shorter route. Well done for getting through the cobbles, headwind and flatness. Roubaix velodrome is such a special place. Got to cycle around it last year for the first time and coudn't help welling up! That's the passion of cycling right there: it's in the soul.

[@stuartsimpson-smith6140]

I’ve not seen many of your videos but I’m really liking them. Well done on this ride 👍.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Cheers Stuart :)

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

I'm a friend of one of the four people who brought back women's professional bicycle racing from the dead. Now to breathe more life into it. Lengthen the races and add more days. Women can and have done it. And the crowds are showing up!

[@mracer8]

What will breathe life to women racing is more even team and more high quality riders in every team, instead of just SDwork and LidlTrek, we need to have 4 or 5 team that can win in every race! having a 15 days tdf or a 200km World Championship won't make racing more exciting or bring more crowds!

[@froose1982]

We were on a little bike packing trip in Belgium/France. Cycled over from Lille to Roubaix to watch the women's race. We were on the last section of cobbles. The speed is phenomenal. Such a good atmosphere with all the people doing the different categories of racing and then sticking around for the peloton. Need more of this in the UK!

[@atmatt]

I have been loving the recent additional coverage and expansion of Women's racing. I am finding it just as entertaining and competitive as watching the men. I really enjoyed this last year's women's cyclocross season as well as the beginning of the road season. @KatieKookaburra, did you ride the velodrome clockwise? Also, thank you for being encouraging for all cyclists! I have gotten back into riding more again in the last year, after quite a few years of poor health and being overweight. Your videos of encouragement have very been very inspiring and helped me focus on my fitness, and not comparing myself to others. I lost over 30 KG this last year and treated myself to a new gravel bike, and am loving riding road and gravel. Thanks again!

[@hawickrfc]

Well done Katie! I did the zwift event, all 148km, in a new personal worst for the route more than an hour down on last year... Changing smartrainer hasn't brought all the gains, indeed I'm averaging 100w down... Anyway, the women's Paris-Roubaix was the best bike race of the year, the dull bit was the 6km stretch between cobbles! I'm seeking out the women's races more on discovery+ as they do tend to be better races.

[@RyanCondon]

Having now watched many of your videos, this one is my favourite. What a great video. How you captured your excitement during your race was fantastic. The passion for women's cycling was also great to see. Bravo!

[@KatieKookaburra]

Thanks Ryan! ☺️☺️☺️

[@glennoc8585]

Mtb riders too. Katie i thought you hate it but you loved it! Looks like fun. That little girl was so sweet aww. The final sprint was great.

[@laurieking8606]

You summed up the Roubaix perfectly, the interview with Kate at the end was the bow on top. Thank you.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Awwww Laurie thank you 🩷🧡

[@MegaSpartan007]

Kudos to you for completing the challenge! It was delightful seeing you enjoying your ride. I did the 145km run. It was painful but worth it. I'm going back next year.

[@robertwissusik4960]

Thank you so much for sharing the experience of riding cobble stone roads. I cant imagine the amount of vibration your body goes through. Great Video. Love it!

[@maxlloyd3740]

Brought the right bike! Gravel bike with big tyres! Fast and comfortable! Last time I rode cobbles it was 25mm tyres and rim brakes! How things have changed!

[@KatieKookaburra]

Ooooof that would be tough but that’s still my choice for road bikes :) love rim and 25s

[@fittonbikes]

Those cobbles look punishing! Great work and so lucky to have good weather, I would dread riding on slippy cobbles.

[@MisslanterneRouge]

Yay Katie, congratulations on completing the pavés, you are a legend awesome ride. Thanks for sharing this with us all. Chelsea c:

[@timcollins340]

😊 Love this. I've really enjoyed women's racing over the last couple of years and I've been a bit worried that Sweetspot's problems will affect the perception of women's racing in the UK. But Roubaix was such a good race and I really hope it will energise the UK audience (didn't Pfeiffer do well!). So glad you enjoyed your experience, Katie - and we need more Kate!

[@kevinlyon9501]

Nice one Katie good choice going with the gravel bike and big tyres.

[@andrewjulian3481]

I did this a couple of years ago. Has to be my favourite ride I have ever done. I have never done a ride like it before. Felt like my teeth and eyes were still rattling for hours after. Was such an amazing feeling once I entered the velodrome at the end.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Awww mega Andrew!!! What did you like most about it?

[@thebikepackingadventurer]

I did that a few years ago on 28mm tyres and my Cervelo R5. I can assure you it wasn’t comfy on Arenburg 😂. I had to hold 400+ watts just to keep moving 😂. Amazing sportive though but it nearly broke me. So many mtb’s riding past chatting. I loved it though and a great run day

[@KatieKookaburra]

I neeeeeed to get back and ride that! That's the one to go to but always another year.... Well done on completing it!!

[@thebikepackingadventurer]

@@KatieKookaburra I intend going over in the summer, and also doing a round trip of Belgian cobble classic climbs. But as it will be outside the event time the climbs should be rideable. It’s crazy busy in flanders classic week

[@brendanwall7395]

Love to see you buzzing, delighted you enjoyed it

[@KatieKookaburra]

Thanks so much! You fancy it?

[@ConorMayling]

Glad you did the event on a gravel bike, not a road bike! Saw Pidcock's photo of his hands covered in blisters and saw that Van der Poel said that road bikes shouldn't really be for Roubaix. But looks super great to try out some day, but definitely be on my hardtail though! And for that end part on women in racing, it's just getting better as there is more races to watch and get hyped for. Especially for the MTB world cup and world champions, the womens MTB cross country racing is very exciting to watch.

[@AntonioDiaz]

Let’s goooo!! Good workkkk

[@nikolausschallhart8654]

:You know the correct smiley emoji for riding over cobbles? --> ::):))

[@jimdubois445]

Always love your videos but loved your excitement for the cobbles!!

[@KatieKookaburra]

Me toooooo!!!!

[@pauljenkins2501]

Well done, Katie. But if it had been wet weather, those cobbles would have been much more tricky! Good to see that you got round safely.....

[@bradsaxton6354]

Great job on the ride. Looks fun in a " sick " way...... 🙂

[@kesharoxburgh4808]

I love your video Katie (the Hell of the North, 🧱🚴‍♀🚴‍♂)!! And yes woman's cycling is so important. 🥰🙏❤

[@jamesmarshall1673]

Great video Katie. Keep up the fantastic work 😊

[@redauwg911]

great video Katie thank you👍

[@stevebarratt6912]

Wow, suddenly I am proud to use zwift and support this initiative.

[@Fictionalwizard]

Excellent video,always enjoy your work!!

[@KatieKookaburra]

Thaaaaank you!!

[@oliverstuart]

The women's edition was more entertaining than the men's this year. In Mallorca we have one of the opening UCI events of the year, a 4 or 5 day set of races. This year it was the 34th running of the event...... but only the 1st of women's version. It was live on Eurosport and I hope it comes back next year and onwards. I took our daughter to see a women's race in France perhaps 10 years ago to show her some female role models that she might want to emulate...... it went wrong and now I'm paying for a horse. Ah well.

[@malcontent_1]

What is the name of that event in Mallorca? I'd like to bookmark it in my mind so I can try to watch it next season (online, from the USA).

[@oliverstuart]

@@malcontent_1 Not sure I can post links here, but its called the Challenge Mallorca, it's usually in the last week of January. Search for Vuelta Mallorca and you'll find it.

[@oliverstuart]

@@malcontent_1 It's called 'Challenge Mallorca' but search for it by it's old name, 'Vuelta Mallorca' and you'll find the site. It's run at the end of January every year.

[@alexanderasdf2742]

Hahaha, nice try though! :D

[@SignorLuigi]

Beginning of video. Katie says, 'I don't like the cobbles.' Middle of video. Katie says, "I LOVE ❤️❤️❤️ the cobbles!" The girl is so predictable. 🙌🎉🥳🤣🤣🤣

[@KatieKookaburra]

Hahahaha you knew I was going to?? Wish you could have told me before hahaha! love it! haha you know me better than I know myself

[@derekschick4880]

Was an awesome race. Would love to be there next year

[@tabottietjen3186]

As a man, I wanted to help support women's cycling so I switched from Trainer Road to Zwift. Hopefully a portion of my monthly fee helps support these women so they can make a decent salary and expand the sport. I love when you highlight women's cycling

[@KatieKookaburra]

Love this!! Thank you 🧡🩷

[@djheadcandy]

More of these on location at races please 👏🙏🏻 this video so much better than the filming done by eurosport/discovery channel about the Paris Roubaix 🎉

[@KatieKookaburra]

Whaaa really?! Thanks I defo like the real life of what it’s like but I’m definitely no commentator. Thank you :)

[@malcontent_1]

It's very cool to see Kate & her Zwift colleagues (among other like Lou & the Internationelles and even YOU Katie) being vindicated.

[@wolfade89]

Did you take the right bike in the end Katie? Could it done on road bike tyres?

[@KatieKookaburra]

You could have but defo a bike with wide tyres - anything over a 32 I think :)

[@DarrenChubb-g7f]

Hi Katie thanks another good video l see you like the cobbles glad you had a go two world champions won the race takecare

[@MrMountainmaniac]

Another fantastic video Katie. You really are such an amazing ambassador for cycling 🙌🙌🫵👍👍

[@KatieKookaburra]

Awwwww THANK YOOOOOOU!!! ☺️☺️☺️

[@vladimirkirillovskiy8056]

Have you tried suspension stems and seat posts? Seems like a nice options for a gravel bike and cobbles :)

[@Jackie_Rosewood]

Awesome video Katie🎉🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@carlpentney290]

I find women's racing as entertaining, if not more so, as the men's now. Chapeau to the ladies, it was a great edition of PR this year, better than the mens where MVDP just totally dominated.

[@Francesco_M.]

We all need women to be stronger in this world.. or, to be more exact, a world that recognize women's strenght and and resilience more. And don't underestimate your own contribution to the cause Katie! You always bring people together and everyone around you greets you with the greatest contentment ! 😁😊 =]

[@scboulder1985]

Fun times! was an excellent race! slainte

[@cosnahang]

5:21 Is that truely a Boris Bike? Mad!

[@davidianwalsh]

Hi, @katiekookaburra what camera do you use to film while riding?

[@KatieKookaburra]

It’s a GoPro :)

[@AndyHale-wh3dl]

Great video Katie, Amy & Kyle also rode it, pity you didnt bump into them for a chat.

[@KatieKookaburra]

I actually saw them after!! Lovely pair of folk :)

[@johnmcnulty1129]

Well done Katie, not a fan of cobbles either, especially when there's a camber & they're wet ! Reckon you've crossed steeper in them there Dales 😁 That women's race was an outrageous finish, could cover the final 6 in a blanket ! ☀️ 🐑🐑

[@teeterboy3]

Loved loved loved this!! Katie, you have to help a Canadian get his hands on one of those Watch The Femmes cycling caps. Where can I order one??

[@KatieKookaburra]

I think you have to be at the event to get one… but I might have one or two I could send you 🙃 you’re in Canada right?

[@teeterboy3]

@@KatieKookaburra Yes. Canada 🇨🇦 The ‘Other London’! 😂 You’d be way more my hero than you already are. To be clear I would pay for one to support women’s cycling if they sold them.

[@teeterboy3]

@@KatieKookaburralet me know if you find one and I can cover shipping.

[@sandgroper1970]

So what is next attempting a challenge ride at like Flanders which combines climbs with cobbles and possible inclement weather..

[@Lewish86643]

This looks so good! Which distance did you do? Did you have to be in by certain time limits?

[@KatieKookaburra]

It was the shorter, 70km :)

[@Lewish86643]

Thank you! Definitely one for my bucket list!

[@ecopennylife]

Looked like a fantastic event 😎 What sort of microphone have you got to record commentary in all that wind?

[@KatieKookaburra]

It really really was!! I literally just use the GoPro mic with a wind jammer over the mic hole. Pretty good isn’t it?

[@brianbaldino3496]

As a bike mechanic I have to say that ride is murder on your head tube, but I think you should reward yourself with Champain, a bubble bath, caviar, and 4 days of deep rest...

[@andygoldensixties4201]

Congratulations, you did very well on the cobbles (I had no doubt you would)

[@KatieKookaburra]

Awww cheers Andy x

[@christophecontant4856]

Well done good vibrations 😜🌞

[@stevenbird1431]

Awesome video👍

[@GoustiFruit]

Somewhere on my roads, there is a 20 m zone with pavement. I HATE it. I have to stop pedaling, stand up to try to absorb shocks, and use the momentum of my bike to reach the end of it.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Where is it??

[@GoustiFruit]

@@KatieKookaburra I get it, you're now addicted, you want to ride them all ! 😀

[@DTeazee]

i hate the cobbles......20 minutes later.....i love the cobbles haha. looks awesome. i wish i could get to such things easily!

[@KatieKookaburra]

I wish I could too - the faff getting here was ridiculous but video coming on that ha

[@denlsgoulden2307]

I'd have thought bigger tyres and lower pressures would be a good idea over those surfaces 🤔😊

[@KatieKookaburra]

I had 40psi. Well I actually had 20psi for first 30km and wondered why I felt so slow 😋

[@skipugh]

My bucket list includes some Paris Roubaix cobbles. So jealous ❤

[@KatieKookaburra]

I will be honest it never took my fancy as I never liked the cobbles... but.. BUT... after riding them and feeling the atmosphere it is one of my fave events because of the sheer variation in the ride! So good get out there and ride them :)

[@skipugh]

@@KatieKookaburra will do, after I recover I’ll hopefully get to try some next year.

[@malcontent_1]

Giddy. Goofy. Classic Kookaburra. 🙃

[@KatieKookaburra]

Hahah 🙂🙂🙂🙂

[@callalys]

Please show your commute athleisure outfits you would wear when riding your bike to work

[@KatieKookaburra]

Riding to work - I would go regular kit maybe gravel bibs with pockets and t shirt or looser jersey and rain jacket :)

[@grahamricketts-bq1ft]

Full distance next year, you must experience Arenberg !!

[@KatieKookaburra]

I knowwwwww right!! But for a cobble hater the full distance was an absolute no go and wanted to be back in time for the women's race but.... now I like them next year?? Rude not to! :)

[@chinabicycle]

I have such a road in my yard)

[@Tara_Masika]

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa I want one of those Zwift caps 😭

[@mracer8]

I am wondering why in this event, the organizer ask the rider to ride in the wrong rotation at the velodrome? (not the race itself, but the fan event)

[@KatieKookaburra]

I thought the same thing... when we went in I thought it would be the other way. I am assuming to finish at the right end to get out.

[@ShawnIsBatman]

Absolutely beautiful

[@burtmabel545]

The women’s race was more exciting than the men’s.

[@CanyonWanderer]

Lol, made me tear up as well (58 yo male cycling enthousiast) 🙂

[@KatieKookaburra]

THANK YOU!!! All the tears 🥲

[@ChrisSpriggs-rj2ys]

Women’s cycling has been more interesting than men’s so far this season 😊

[@xosece]

long live women!

[@janhansen7343]

I would never ride these track with my own bikes😂

[@KatieKookaburra]

🤣🤣

[@vadymvv]

Just get MTB with deflated tires and you have the perfect machine for the job

[@KatieKookaburra]

I think it would be overkill.... I think gravel bike ideal! But year suspension would be nice ha

[@markrushton1516]

Had it been raining it may well have been a different experience.

[@KatieKookaburra]

Yes totally!!!!!

[@252Scooby]

lol I’ll never understand some folk 😮 title says hate cobbles and in the video Katie says I love cobbles! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@KatieKookaburra]

Didn’t watch the whole vid :) I hated them

[@adyjclarke]

It still has glass walls to get through

[@paulfuchs4002]

If you "hate cobbles" why go to all that expense to do it? I would run a lightweight Hardtail mtb with light weight front suspension and fast rolling tyres..then it might be fun...might...

[@KatieKookaburra]

I ask myself the same question… I guess because they are there! Haha. I mean why do we do anything tough ever? The achievement of it? The experience of it? Who knows. But I am so glad I did it!

[@merlings]

Don't poke the bear.

[@markgarrett8963]

just add water i’d like to see if you opinions change ;)

[@KatieKookaburra]

I know they would hahaha. No to wet cobbles!!

[@sharpbends]

Jones bike