The Rides
The Ride. It is the cathedral of our sport, where we worship at the altar of the Man with the Hammer. It is the end to our means. Indeed, The Bike may be the central tool to our sport, but to turn the pedals is to experience the sensation of freedom, of flight. It is all for The Ride.
The world is overflowing with small, twisty roads that capture our collective imagination as cyclists. We spend our lifetimes searching out the best routes and rides; we pore over maps, we share with our fellow disciples, we talk to non-cycling locals all in pursuit of the Perfect Ride.
The Rides is devoted entirely to the best routes and rides around the world. Some are races or cyclosportives, others feature in the Classics and stages of The Great Races, while others still are little-known gems, discovered through careful meditation on The V. Be warned: these rides are not your average Sunday Afternoon spin; these rides are the best and most difficult rides in the word – they represent the rites of passage into La Vie Velominatus. It is to be taken for granted that these rides require loads of Rule #5, many of them Rule #10, and all of them are best enjoyed in Rule #9 conditions. They have been shared by you, the community. The Rides also features articles devoted to the greatest rides and providess a forum for sharing other rides for discussion.
If you’d like to submit a ride or an article about your own favorite ride, please feel free to send it to us and we’ll do our best to work with you to include it.
[rideitem status=”public” title=”Haleakala” distance=”56km” category=”Grimpeur” url=”http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/50412514″ location=”Paia, Maui, Hawaii, USA”]
Haleakala is simultaneously the longest paved continuous climb in the world as well as the shortest ascent from sea level to 10,000 feet in the world. Though not terribly steep, this is a long, grinding climb that will reduce a strong rider to a whimpering lump.
To put the effort in perspective, this climb is 60km long a an average of 6% with two pitches as steep as 17%. That translates to somewhere between 3 or more hours of nonstop climbing, usually in Maui’s direct heat and often into a whipping headwind that spins around into a headwind no matter which direction the switchbacks take you.
[/rideitem]
[rideitem statuc=public title=”Liege-Bastogne-Liege” distance=”265″ category=”Rouleur” url=”http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58053308/” location=”Liege, Belgium”]
Liege-Bastogne-Liege is not only La Doyenne, the oldest of the Classics, but also represents perhaps the most demanding course in cycling. The 280 km, 3000m vertical route starts with an easy ride out from Liege to Bastogne which lulls riders into a false sense of security; the hills are frequent, but none of them terribly demanding. Into Bastogne, and the story changes on the way back to Liege with 9 categorized climbs in the second half, including the fearsome Côte de la Redoute and the Côte de Saint-Nicolas.
[/rideitem]
[rideitem status=public title=”Paris-Roubaix” category=”Hardman” distance=”265″ url=”http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58052610/” location=”Compiégne, France” guideurl=”http://www.cyclingpave.cc/” guide=”Pavé Cycling Classics”]
L’enfur du Nord. The Hell of The North. The Queen of the Classics. This isn’t a ride over the stones from your local brick-paved roads. You think climbs are what make a ride tough? We’ve got news for you: this is the hardest ride on the planet and it boasts a maximum elevation of 55 meters. These are vicious, brutal stones; the kind that will stretch each kilometer to their full length, the kind of stones that you will feel long after the rattling of the bars has stopped. These stones will change you. Forever.
[/rideitem]
[rideitem status=public title=”Mortirolo/Gavia Loop” category=”Grimpeur” distance=”115km” url=”http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/59027020/” location=”Bormio, Italy” contributor=”Joe”]
The Mortirolo is perhaps the most feared pass in Western Europe, and the Gavia the most storied. Given their proximity to each other, its a wonder why this isn’t the most talked-about ride in Italy. Maybe it is; its impossible to say without being Italian. The loop nature of this ride makes it feasible as a solo escapade, but any ride with the kind of stats this one bears – 3200 meters ascended in 115 kilometers including the viscously steep Mortirolo – is best enjoyed with a riding partner or support car.
[/rideitem]
[rideitem status=public title=”200 on 100″ category=”Grimpeur” distance=”330km” url=”http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/58052808/” location=”Vernon, VT” contributor=”cdelinks” contributorurl=”http://cyclowhat.com”]
“Dumptruck of Awesome” has become the catch-phrase associated with this brutally hard, yet strikingly beautiful 330 kilometer (200 mile) ride down Vermont Route 100. This ride was made popular during the summer of 2011 when Ted King, Tim Johnson, and a local amateur cyclist, Ryan Kelly, documented this ride on film. The ride starts on the Canadian border and finishes on the Massachusetts border. With over 2500 meters of climbing on this 330 kilometer ride, you will need to pack a few lunches to get through this one. Do this ride in the Fall, and the foliage might be beautiful enough to distract you from the horrible pain you will most certainly suffer.
[/rideitem]
[rideitem status=”public” title=”De Ronde Van West Portlandia” distance=”76km” category=”Grimpeur” url=”http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/15276210″ location=”Portland, Oregon, USA”]
A ride that officially “never happens” each spring, this 76 km route charts a course through Portland’s West Hills, paying homage to the European Spring Classics. Approximately 1,800 meters of paved and unpaved climbs are spread throughout the course, with several sections reaching grades of over 20%. More information can be found at Ronde PDX.
[/rideitem]
[rideitem status=public title=”Seattle Master Urban Ride” category=”Rouleur” distance=”130km” url=http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/57732282 location=”Seattle, Washington, USA”]
This is perhaps the most challenging urban route in Seattle, hitting three of the big hills that define Seattle’s topography. The route starts and ends on Phinney Ridge, but hits the climbs of Interlaken and Alder Street/Lake Dell Drive on its way to Mercer Island, before coming back to hit Queen Anne and Magnolia, weaving its way up each of these hills as many times as possible via the steepest route available before the finale to the north via Golden Gardens, Blue Ridge Drive, and Carkeek Park. Panoramic views of the Cascades, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, The Olympic Penninsula and Puget Sound makes this a standout Urban ride.
[/rideitem]
@mouse Awesome….I had to change my desktop background to this one.
@ChrisO Indeed, I have forgotten about the mismatching tyre – alas, the Budgetatus Studentialis doesn’t allow me to swap a tyre before it’s absolutely, completely worn out. It’s not Celeste – it’s a plain sky-blue Michelin – which slighly lessens the sin. A pair of matching black Schwalbe Ultremos await their day patiently, though.
Cool to hear about your race experiences – hope the road-rash isn’t too severe?
@ChrisO
So what happened today? I haven’t seen anything here on on Strava from you. Did you ride today?
Got back on today – didn’t do particularly well but it was not unexpected.
100km criterium / circuit race. Nasty cross winds and two hairpin u-turns. I was sore and nervous and after about 30km I got badly out of position and couldn’t get back.
Finished with a small group at the back. I’m not lanterne rouge but noof far off. Having said that about 20 guys have dropped out.
The two Algerian pro teams are really driving it. They have five in the top ten and will go full bore tmrw I fear.
It’s 170km mostly flat but wind could be brutal.
When I’m back on a proper Internet connection you’ll be treated to a lovely photo of my bruised hip.
@ChrisO Strong work and good luck tomorrow.
@ChrisO
Good effort….keep going!
@ChrisO keep fighting, looking forward to a full report when the race is done.
And relax… just cracked open my first beer (Sharjah is dry) and will be having it with pizza for dinner.
Felt much better today. Still nervous in the big bunch especially with guys coming up on each side and squeezing you back, but I did better today at keeping and regaining position. It was a long 165km stage today – essentially an out and back upside-down L shape with both outward legs having headwind or crosswind. I managed to stay with the pack until about 100km, so at least I didn’t have to fight the wind so much.
We had to do some real team work today after our leader had a crash, swapped wheels and then got a puncture. Long miles with five or six of us chasing to get back on, but we did it. That killed me, but it’s what I was there for so I’m pleased I was able to contribute something. And our leader recovered, finished in the front breakaway and will have a top 10 finish in GC so we’re pretty pleased.
And for most of the 65km home I was with the teammate who helped me after my crash – he was pretty spent today and I was doing 75% of the work so I was also glad to pay him back.
Don’t have full results yet. I think my prediction about holding my own against a third of the field is probably about right, in a way. There weren’t many guys behind me but a lot of people climbed off. We started with 93 riders – I’m probably in the bottom ten on GC but even yesterday we were down to 77 and I would be surprised if we didn’t lose another 10-15 today.
I failed Mission 1 (Don’t Crash) but I achieved Mission 2 (Finish).
It was certainly interesting living the Pro life for a few days, and also seeing how they ride from inside a peloton. As my room-mate, a very experienced track and road racer told me, there’s a massive difference between riding and racing, especially at that level.
I will ask if the Keepers would like an article about something or t’other vaguely related. In the meantime may I treat you to a picture of my hip two days after the crash, and a photo from the start of Stage 2.
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/ChrisO/2012.11.24.14.29.27/”/]
If anyone wants to see more photos (not of my nether regions, although that can be arranged) look me up on FB (Christopher O’Hearn) where there’s an album.
Awesome to follow your progress and it sounds like you can now lay claim to the official title of Domestique….an honour I have to say that I am likely never to attain so Chapeau!
Beer well deserved and pizza even more so…..surely the next race is just round the corner though?
@ChrisO
Good work. Enjoy the beer and pizza – sounds like you deserve it.
@ChrisO Great ride. Congratulations!
@ChrisO well done! That’s quite a hip pic. Looking forward to the potential full write up.
Great work, @ChrisO! Glad you were able to finish the Tour, and it sounds like you made some invaluable contributions to your Team. Top stuff.
@ChrisO Awesome ChrisO, Chapeau!
@Buck Rogers Your riding is far in excess of what I have done so far, your schedule is indeed arduous! But I have also struggled with numb pinky and 2nd smallest fingers, particularly in my left hand. I have had a bike fit, which you have addressed as maybe being an issue.
I can still get it, but I have tried several things that cumulatively have helped. I have the Gel pads under my bar tape, and made sure I applied them right up to the hood covers, for as smooth and level a platform as possible. I have 2 layers of cork tape. My cycling sensei says my handlebar looks like a horses proverbial… Specialized BG Gel gloves, in a tight fit so the pads don’t move around.
But mostly I found that I would get numbness when on the hoods, not the tops, or drops. So I altered my grip by making sure the channel between the pads on either side of your palmis just off the side of the bar, and most of the pressure on the pad at the base of the thumb, through the thumb that is hooked around the side of the hood. Coupled with a couple of flicks of the hands every hour or so, and my hands are far better now.
I found the most trouble was when putting pressure on the pinky side pad at the base of the palm (too much angle in the wrists also), or in the channel between the pads.
Hope that makes sense, and even if none of that helps you, that you get your issues sorted.
Someone should add the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge to “The Rides” Section, being that it is the biggest annual Southern Hemisphere Cycling Event. 153km, 300m variation in height above sea level. look it up here: www.cyclechallenge.com/
@SimonCHulse define “biggest”.
@SimonCHulse
Without even looking at your event I am pretty sure it is not bigger than the Cape Argus race.
And if we start listing everyone’s favourite sportive route then the whole thing becomes meaningless.
@ChrisO i feel dirty when I agree with you.
@ChrisO @Marcus But the Seattle Master(bation, snigger) Urban Ride resides here, unbeknownst to anyone outside of Seattle until posting here, as opposed to legendary climbs like Alpe d’Huez, Passo dello Stelvio, Mont Ventoux that I thought would have been added already.
You are correct ChrisO, the Cape Argus is the largest. Taupo is part of the UCI golden bike with it, and the Dragon ride in the UK. So, I don’t think Simon is off base with his well meaning request. 1650m in 153k isn’t a walk in the park, though the Dragon is better/worse.
Although on the basis of not wanting to include ‘everyone’s favourite sportive’, you could exclude it on the premise that it’s inclusion would lead to requests for the inclusion of the other 7 UCI golden bike sportives.
De Ronde van Vlaanderen is a UCI Golden Bike event, so you might have to leave it out too..
@Beers
Haven’t caught up to the conversation here, but the original idea when launching this particular repository of rides was that people would submit rides/routes to us and we’d post the best ones and it would become a go-to spot to gather the V-Approved rides around the world.
It hasn’t materialized that way, which means that some day the Keepers will have to sit down and compile the list ourselves based on the rides we’ve done; some fo the climbs you mention should be included, though as part of bigger epic rides like Marmot, not individiual climbs. The Gavia-Mortirolo Loop is a good example of what we have in mind (and was submitted by @Joe.)
Its a bit labor-intensive, since the routes are not well-documented on MapMyRide and we have to re-map them manually to follow the routes we deem Keeper-Approved. Hence the stagnation as we always seem to have something more pressing to tend to.
Cheers.
Ok this is my favourite local ride in Hampshire UK. Starts and finishes at a pub (essential) therefore easy to park and obtain “rehydration” at the end, also possible to break the route if time becomes and issue or there is a desire for a cafe stop etc and the loops are or equal distance. Vast majority is lovely country lanes with some short lumps but nothing that will break you….
@franktbh much like the ‘Bikes’ I think the comments are the perfect place for us to put up details of significant rides we’ve done such as the posts from @ChrisO& @Deakus.
And, with that in mind Mikael, I just wanted to let you lot know about how being a reader here has affected me, for I am not a scratch on the contributions, but the prose here has significantly affected how I ride.
I had my first race over the weekend, I learnt a great deal, principally the advice of the prophet – Go fast at the start. In the middle, go fast. And at the end make sure you finish fast.
But reading here, reading of the exploits of legends, most of whom shit more talent each morning than I have in my whole body, and pretty well any article and a lot of contributions, this site directly caused me to do something a bit crazy for me.
I’d been in a group for a good 40k, and had a small climb and 10k of smooth to go. I didn’t have a plan at all for the race, but on the rise I noticed the group was suddenly too slow for me. Pulling wide, I went round, and round, and round everyone. Then I was solo. I looked down and checked, yep, Sur La Plaque. I literally laughed at how strong I felt.
And this was it, the deciding point where I knew being here has grown the meek man I was to something else. The old me would have settled in, been absorbed and sprinted in the last 200m for 1500th place. But no, not today.
Come the top, I was in the drops, chucking it down the gears, and I went for it.
I gave it everything. I was Boonen, I was Merckx, in the drops, punching it solo, shoulder checking the position of the bunch. I got 500m on them, then 1k, and that was it, no more checking, 110%. 7k to go, catching wasps, in the tunnel…
No placing, no trophy. But they didn’t catch me. I have never done something in sport so satisfying. Me, a solo breakaway? FFS! The memory, the pride, I will hold onto in any dark times ahead.
And I have you lot to thank for that.
@Beers
FUCKING.
AWESOME.
That is all.
@Mikael Liddy Damn you Liddy. Quit hanging out with R Neylan. I’m feelling very jealous.
@mouse hehe, funniest bit was one of the other two guys with me had absolutely no idea who she was when we introduced her to him despite the fact that she (quite by accident she claims) happened to be sitting right underneath a picture of herself on the podium at the World Champs.
His excuse was that he can’t get SBS so hardly watches cycling on tele…needless to say the urine was extracted mercilessly.
@mouse
what he said. Chapeau!
Video here looks incredible.
@Beers I doff my cap to you sir and kneel in respect of the guns! Great update thanks.
@Beers
Chapeau mate, chapeau. Glorious.
Don’t do it too often though or you’ll get upgraded !
@Beers
I can’t tell you how much satisfaction it brings us Keepers to read accounts like this. This is why we do it. Thanks for sharing. Truly.
@Beers Righteous.
@Beers
Good work! What happened to the results (no placing) ?
@unversio Lets just say that I wasn’t in a position to win, I don’t have the ability. But the account is true and very literal, riding with those of my ability, I am too self depreciating to talk myself up. I would have said I won, if I had won. It was hard even for me to write it to be honest, worried of the reaction.
But that is what I am saying, this site and everything to do with it grew me into more of a man on the bike than I could have ever been alone. So it was more to show my thanks.
I understand me and my riding may be a disgrace to others if you only knew me. But the pride and excitement I feel even now, on the inside, it wouldn’t have come without Rule V at the end 10k. And the Rule V wouldn’t have come without this site!
@Beers
Completely understood. There are times when it is good (great) just to be a part of the race. Going off the front is your victory. Awesome. Keep it coming!
@Beers
The achievement is in no way lessened by not having a place…if you felt the V then you felt the V and that is all that is required….
Great to read your story, I think the question about whether you placed was really curiosity rather than any kind of benchmark that you should have achieved…
If you showed them your magnificent stroke and stayed away you achieved everything that was necessary that day!
Thanks guys, it means a lot, really. Vid of the finish shows I had 13s on them across the line…
@Beers I am on a really long road right now to come back to USA Cycling next season. There is much work to do. Whether training or racing, I am gonna remember in those critical (act* now*) moments — “what would Beers do?” Then be prepared to stay off the front to the line.
@unversio I am flattered, but let it be known that I look up to riders like yourself. I think of you guys when it is raining for a training ride, my buddy doesn’t ride in the rain, and I don’t have a trainer. And I thought of you guys at the top of the hill…
@Beers Awesome story mate. Vid of the finish you say. Don’t be shy, load it up so we can cheer you in.
@Beers Superbissima!
OMG it’s raining
In Abu Dhabi
At Friday ride time
I literally stood dumbstruck at my door wondering what to do.
It’s not until March, and the date is still tentative, but would anyone in the Seattle area be interested in the Ephrate Gran Fondo? http://rideviciouscycle.com/events/gran-fondo-ephrata/ I’ve not done it before, but it seems like a perfect Spring Classic: 80 miles, half of which is on gravel. Apparently, the top three riders in 2012 were on a road bike, a cross bike, and a mountain bike. It’s about three hours from Seattle so some Velominatus carpooling and camaraderie would be awesome.
@Deakus Nice! My parents live in the New Forest (near Fordingbridge) and for a while I lived in Salisbury so that neck of the woods is very close to my heart (especially as I now live in Seattle). Although riding here is great, sometimes I really miss the lanes. The other day, while reflecting on the fact that I’ve only recently realized that gravel on a road bike is a good idea, I was remembering that winter riding in Hampshire/Dorset was basically just that! One of my favorite roads in the area is going south between Alderbury and Downton but there are just so many to choose between…
@ChrisO, awesome. I spent a short period in the area in July and August – yeah, its the humidity not the heat…or both. Either way, sweet, how was the ride.
@Beers – congrats man. Last year I added a 16th place to my palmares. And I felt like fucking Pantani.
@Beers
Welll done, Beers! Now with that experience and the sharing of it here, you too have become a rider that people here can and will look up too. Inspiring, indeed.
@ChrisO and… what did you do?
@Giles
Just got back, from one of the filthiest rides ever.
The initial reaction was more of a confusion thing – my instinct was to go back in and get rain gear etc until I realised that a) I don’t have any here and b) it may be raining but it is still 24C.
I drove to the start point instead of riding as I normally do, hoping that it would stop.
But it didn’t. The problem with the rain here is that is only happens a very few times each year, and the roads have a huge amount of truck and construction traffic, especially the ones where we ride on Fridays, which are heavily used the rest of the week.
So the road is covered with shit of all descriptions. Diesel, oil, sand and road kill all mixed with anything that leaks, drips or falls out of the thousands of poorly maintained and badly driven vehicles which travel over it each day.
I was wearing my Velominati kit and I am seriously concerned it may never be the same again. We looked like we’d done a particularly muddy Paris-Roubaix. The main danger is slipping on something, but it is also unpleasant to be swallowing road grime for three hours.
@ChrisO
I nearly wet myself! Here in UK it is a bright frosty winter morning, not so cold that the roads would be icy but stunning to ride in. I will enjoy my time in my turbo prison this morning looking out the window and may pass a little smile at you on an Abu Dhabi Rule #9 ride…….somehow that even sounds wrong!
@ChrisO awesome effort, Rule V personified. You are a total badass.
Having been to Abu Dhabi, and Dubai in summer, I cannot imagine rain there at all. I have been caught in crank deep storm water when living in Malaysia and can sympathise. Just think the V-kit may not be same, but man does it have an awesome story to tell….But I hope it recovers.