A true spring classic 127-mile bike race that covers the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Felicianas. The race starts in St. Francisville, LA, and travels north and west through the back roads of West Feliciana Parish and Wilkinson County, Mississippi. You will encounter a constantly rolling terrain and a few climbs that will test all racers. The road surfaces will vary greatly. You will encounter chip and seal, sandy gravel, smooth-as-glass asphalt, and some roads that are just plain bad. This race is a classic test of man and his machine vs. the terrain and elements. It would be unfair to attempt to predict what type of weather to expect for the Rouge Roubaix. You should come prepared to battle 80-degree heat and Louisiana humidity (it’s worse than Houston). You should also come prepared to expect temperatures so low that your water bottles will freeze. And then again, if the cycling Gods are with us, we will get one of those perfect spring-like days where it will be tough to break a sweat.
Welcome to Rouge Roubaix
A true spring classic 127-mile bike race that covers the good, the bad, and the ugly of the Felicianas. The race starts in St. Francisville, LA, and travels north and west through the back roads of West Feliciana Parish and Wilkinson County, Mississippi. You will encounter a constantly rolling terrain and a few climbs that will test all racers. The road surfaces will vary greatly. You will encounter chip and seal, sandy gravel, smooth-as-glass asphalt, and some roads that are just plain bad.
This race is a classic test of man and his machine vs. the terrain and elements. It would be unfair to attempt to predict what type of weather to expect for the Rouge Roubaix. You should come prepared to battle 80-degree heat and Louisiana humidity (it’s worse than Houston). You should also come prepared to expect temperatures so low that your water bottles will freeze. And then again, if the cycling Gods are with us, we will get one of those perfect spring-like days where it will be tough to break a sweat.
History
Back in 1999, a rider named Jon Anderson got the idea to start a group ride in his old stomping grounds around St. Francisville, Louisiana, West Feliciana Parish, and Wilkinson County, Mississippi. Jon had been riding these roads since the early 80s, as a form of escapism and reflection.
It wasn’t until the early 2000’s that the Rouge Roubaix shifted from being a group ride to a sanctioned event. Racers from all over the Southeast came out for promises of punchy, steep climbs, lots of gravel, scenic roads, and yes, pain. It boasts 100 ish miles, with 30-40 miles of undulating gravel and dirt roads.
This year we are running an open category mass start race on Saturday, March 4th. There will be the option for the full 150km course or an 80km short course. Both are going to be challenging for riders of any ability.
Riders from all over the country will gather in the sleepy Louisiana parish of West Feliciana and set out on a journey that carries them over some of the most horrendous road surfaces known to man.
The annual Rouge Roubaix cycle race has become a cult classic for racers and adventure seekers alike due to its length (~ 100mi), roads ranging from bad to non-existent and some wicked steep climbs and breathtaking scenery - if you have time to actually look around!
(We give away a lot of the stuff we test)
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