The days prior to Paris-Roubaix are the traditional practice and reconnaissance days for the top teams, who ride key sections of the course while photographers, reporters and fans watch.

On Friday VeloNews' Fred Dreier and John Wilcockson headed out to the Arenberg Forest to check out the scene, and Wilcockson, engaging in a little bit of participatory journalism, even found himself helping pound some stakes for crowd control barriers.

Dreier sent in some quick photos for VeloNews.com readers. Be sure to check back later today and tomorrow for more Paris-Roubaix preview coverage and tune in Sunday morning for the live report.