In Flanders, a “Koerskafee” or “Fietsbar”, is a THING!
Basically a café or pub with bicycle road racing (“koers”) as its main theme. The decor will be drenched in cycling memorabilia – with pictures and souvenirs and even bicycles of yesterday’s heroes hanging from the packed walls and ceilings. And on the big TV screens live cycle racing will be on loud while top class Flemish beers flow with jubilant banter and typical Flanders’ snacks.
Oh! What a haven of heavenly bliss for any cycling enthusiast! To sit there… for hours…. absorbing the atmosphere… just BEING THERE!
One such koerskafee is Kurt’s BikingBar in Ypres – just down the cobbled street from the Menen Gate.
I have made a few visits and spent lots of time there… (does one need a reason?…when in Flanders…)
And meeting the owner, Kurt Titeca, is a real treat. This guy! Passionate, friendly, knowledgeable, talkative, proud. And really into finding ways of inspiring people to live in harmony with each other. Often with the bicycle as centerpiece… and his polkadot cycling shirt movement – check it out here: poppyshirt.com
And also quite a decent racing cyclist himself, be sure to visit Kurt’s Biking Box. Where there are lots of info about his guided thematic cycle tours… perhaps something for the bucket list.
So if you’re in the Ypres area one day… and you have a spare hour… or two… pop in at the Biking Bar. Sit down, look around… see the colourful walls, feel the calmness enveloping you…. of history… and tradition.
Ask for a Ploegsteert Blond…appreciate the golden colour. Smell the fruity aroma, enjoy the generous aftertaste.
You might even be lucky to find Kurt there… perhaps to hear his jubilant voice welcoming you.
And if he sees your half empty Ploegsteert, his intense conversation might switch from Freddy Maertens (Kurt’s great idol and good friend), to the tragic life story of that massively talented cycling genius: Frank Vandenbroucke…
Oh! And in case you have wondered: Kurt is from the short-white-socks generation… 👌
