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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.
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@ChrisO
You mad bastard. Kudos to you – in Doha rain meant the place would stink for a week or more. No drainage meant the roads were flooded pretty quickly.
Great job.
@ChrisO The horror! Seriously though, as much as I like riding in warm rain, the idea of ride in a warm soup of road shite doesn’t do it for me at all.
Not sure it qualifies as Rule #9 though.
@Deakus 63km this morning 40km of which was a two up with my sensei. There was a bit of ice in places where water had been running off the fields but generally OK. Stunning blue skies, little wind (which is a rare mercy around these parts) and two to three centigrade of most of the ride.
Certainly one of those days that reminds you why you do it and just rewards for a couple of hard roller sessions earlier in the week.
@Chris
Whereas I was stuck in misery on the turbo for an hour and low and behold the moment I finish the door bell rings and my overdue delivery from prendas arrives which is the story of Coppi dvd and Anquetil, at least I will have something to watch tomorrow and Sunday!
Wasn’t sure where to post this. Are there any American Velominati living in Holland?
I wish I could have seen this! The Tom Boonen Charity CX race was today. Sagan took 5th, Museew was 14th in the veterans race:
http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/2884/Veldrijden/article/detail/1542606/2012/12/01/Stybar-wint-Boonen-Friends.dhtml
A nice, relaxed Saturday ride? Nope. The grimpeur’s version of a hammerfest – 123km, 3800 of climbing.
Fuck me, what a load of pain it was. I hadn’t ridden with my team (or any group, for that matter) since moving to a new city, but today they rode right next to me. We did all my usual climbs at once, one after the other, regrouping at each summit. My coach hadn’t seen me ride for two months, and was quite surprised when I unceremoniously dropped him as soon as the hammering began. Quite quickly, it turned out I’ve outgrown the group – I was the only one who could hang with our leader, and we dropped the entire group whenever he ratcheted up the pace. Eeep!
@tessar Well, between you, ChrisO and Beers, there is a whole lot of chaining for the rest of us. I felt a bit broken after the morning ride. We will see tomorrow. Up and down…
@tessar
Congratulations. A nice killer ride and sounds like a good performance too. How’s the malted beverage recovery beverage there?
The VMH and I were out on a gravel ride in a nearby canyon yesterday afternoon. On the descent at 42Kph, we almost ran into these guys who were just around a blind curve. We eventually got it all sorted.
@niksch That’s cool in a glad you stopped in time to get a pic sort of way. One of those babies would destroy a front wheel I think. Yet another benie of going where gravé takes us. I’ve had similar encounters with deer, wolf, bear, and moose.
@Sauterelle
By way of a bump….but I guess the lack of an answer is probably a no…it sounds to me as if most of it is the other way round!
Crows nest descent – South Coast – SA
Putting together a winter ride route around Lake Lure, NC. Only issue (not really an issue) is that there is not a complete paved route end-to-end.
@unversio
As we say in software: this is a feature, not a bug.
Oudenaarde,Belgium 3-6 Dec 2012. Temp 3-4 degrees C. Rain mixed with snow. Wind cold and annoying but I didn’t bother checking how many km/h.
@TommyTubolare
Ay, Chihuahua!!
That is a hot bike! Beautifully proportioned.
@Barracuda
Where’s that? Looks like coming down from Range rd towards the Salopian Inn but I’ve only been there once so may be wrong…
@mouse
Cheers for your comment.Really enjoy riding it.
@Mikael Liddy
Crows Nest Hill, back of Port Elliot, 4km climb around 10%
@Barracuda
In the distance is the Murray River at Goolwa and the Southern Ocean to its right
West Head lookout yesterday. Classic Sydney ride. Smooth tarmac, lumpy rolling leading to a pretty nice view.
Note: No snow, moderate temps, blue skies (but a gentle breeze – check the sail boats lean!) Life’s tough.
@Harminator Yep, That beats my photo ……
@Barracuda nice, haven’t done much riding that far south.
@Harminator beyooootiful! My Wednesday afternoon ride was a 2hr slog fest in 35+ degrees…the views of the coast over the city did nothing to help.
@Mikael Liddy Do yourself a favour ….. get down this way …….great riding
@TommyTubolare Holy sh#tballs that brings back some memories. Looks just like the last time I was in Belgium.
@Harminator
I used to race yachts round there. Happy days.
I remember it being a popular spot of cyclists and thinking they must be mad, it’s a bit hilly. How things change!
@Harminator
Blimey Harminator, i looked at your post and took a double-take….
…only difference is that this was taken in the middle of winter.
However, again notice the “No snow, moderate temps, blue skies.”
life is indeed tough!
@xbonesx
Wow. Spooky!
@minion
Good memories I hope.Cheers.
The boys won’t post this, but I will. They got it done this weekend. @gaswepass busted out the MTB today to great effect.
@TommyTubolare
Wow. Those roads look familiar. I saw them from the team car last April. Glad the bora wheels made the ride too. That is one badass bel mezzo. It looks like you had a right proper wet time of it. Well ridden.
Todays commute will deliver that gem of gems, something I commonly refer to as the double headwind day, and precipitation. Ugh..
that was from today’s ride before work.
@scaler911 that’s awesome. I wish I had some snow. I think the 3 days of rain we just had washed away the sand and left pointy rocks On the trails here.
huh, and I thought I found a way to post pictures from an iPhone. anyway, from todays ride
@DerHoggz – will be up closer to you Saturday for the Winter Solstice Ride. Hope to see you there!
Just found out that I’m now leading my cyclocross league by 17 points! If I place in the top 10 in the final race on January 12, I’ll win the series!
http://results.cascadecross.com/events/1053613311/results#race_897856089
@G’rilla
Dude. Chapeau!
Just got back from a ride in the neck of the woods where I do my hill work. This is in the national park, about 450m of up, climbed from four or five different points. I climbed up and down twice, feeling pretty pleased with myself, was cruising home pleasantly tired along the top before the last 10k descent home when a dude on a mountain bike, wearing a suit and tie, passed the other way. I turned my head, trying to figure out exactly how / why, etc this guy got / is doing up here, and a wasp flew into my helmet and stung me on the head. If that’s not a sign from the V, I dunno what is…
From CXMagazine.com
There have been some amazing cyclocross races this week. See YouTube for users cyclocrossable or realcrossjunkie who post 2 hr replays from Belgian TV.
MTB Olympian and XC champ Burry Stander died today after being hit by a taxi. He was barely at the beginning of his career, age 25. Stunned.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/01/mtb/burry-stander-killed-in-carbike-collision_270422?utm_medium=whats-hot
@G’rilla
Yep. Huge loss. By all accounts a top guy as well as incredibly talented.
RIP.
@G’rilla
@Harminator
What a loss.
From Spoke magazines FB feed.
I don’t claim to have reached La Volupte but I had an extremely satisfying ride today – and yesterday as well.
Even though I had a week off over Christmas I figured so did pretty much everyone else in our club group, plus I haven’t been drinking and I didn’t put on any weight, so if I was feeling bad then they were probably feeling worse, which is a good time to turn the screw.
So today I managed two triumphs. First I reached 81.1km/h, not downhill, with the aid of a fortuitously timed cement truck which happened to be passing just as we started a sprint section. Four kilometres at an average over 60km/h. That one should stay on Strava for a while.
Then on the finish I tried an early solo breakaway about 6km out from the finish – there are a couple of small overpasses which are often just enough to drop a few stragglers but rarely decisive in dropping the other contenders, and to be fair it was a smaller group today. But I went for it, got a gap, stayed out and kept going.
All in all a good start to the year. Some nice long rides to shake off the days at home, and my weight is down around 81-82kg from the normal 84-85kg. It will be interesting to see if it continues to fall or reaches a plateau. I have hopes of seeing a 79 at some point, inshallah.
The only blight on my horizon is trying to finish off my master’s dissertation. My advisor could hardly be more negative (I assume he’s trying) and deals only with the form, not the content. When the question of whether a table description is immediately below the table or has one space and should or should not be underlined, becomes a concern then it’s really a sign that you should go home and think about your life. Oh and I use too many paragraphs, which apparently signals an absence of serious writing, when I thought it might help to make the thing easier to read. Apparently that’s of minor importance.
Can you tell I should be doing it now ? Displacement activity – what would we do without it ?
Just returned from a 5 hour mixed road/gravel/trail ride.
Met some mountain bikers on the way. They recognized the jersey. “Great site! I like that one about how it never gets easier, you just go faster.”
Velominati world domination is near!
So the flying squirrel suits and artistic shark whale diving shit is pretty neat but what I really want to know is where the road in the last few shots is. Holy shit that looks like a cool road. Anybody know it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlJ0ATDkxko
@Marko
I think its called the Dragon Wall and its somewhere in China – I’m doing some more legwork on it rather than working or riding my bike. Any CIA operatives out there who can be more accurate please let me know.
@Marko
The young lady featured, Roberta Mancino, doesn’t ride a bike regularly.
However she does sky dive naked.
There has to be some sort of Rule that makes this a reasonable topic of review for the Velominati.