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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Today…I gave up Strava! This is not cold turkey, I still have Garmin Connect but man it feels like freedom not to be depressed by everyone else’s segments. It is funny how you never look at those you are beating…only those who you have yet to dominate and I am afraid the length of the list and the unending focus upon segments, not, the ride have finally broken my chains…
I AM FREE!!
Woohoo, well I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m having a Good Friday.
Third in the Masters category but seventh overall in a decent field of 50 or so riders.
Most pleased that I got into the winning break with about 30km to go and we stayed away. Seven in the break, but we had two in the group and I did the leadout to make sure my team leader had the chance to sprint.
The two guys ahead of me are Youcef, our team leader, who is on his way to compete at the World Masters Championships and Mike, another very good rider who normally competes in the Elite category not Masters.
There were a lot of juniors and young guys in the race today. The local style of racing is just to attack, attack, attack. For quite a while before the break I was just sitting on the front doing an easy 36-38km/h. Guys kept coming up, attacking, getting 50m ahead and then sitting up and we would just keep rolling along past them until it happened all over again, and again. The most impressive effort was two guys who started their attack from the back of the main bunch, and by the time they reached the front they’d run out of puff.
Then with about 50km done and 30km to go I saw Youcef and Mike with another western guy Paul had got a little break. I jumped across without bringing anyone. But what made it work was when one rider from three of the four main local clubs came across. Then everyone worked together to stay away. I lost them on a long descent about 5km from the finish – Mike and Paul are fearless descenders – but got back when the cars came past and I could use them to draft and rejoin the group. Wouldn’t have made any difference perhaps – I would still have been seventh but at least it meant I could be with them at the end and protect Youcef, not that he needs my help really.
That was our last race of the season. It’s the first full season of racing I’ve done – in the past I’ve done events and races but never a whole season of regular racing. It’s been really good and I’ve enjoyed it. Doing well has helped of course but it’s a virtuous circle – a bit of confidence helps you ride better, position better, race better and get better results. And that also motivated me to lose some weight and train better.
My palmares for the season:
One win and two 3rds in the UAE Masters.
Third in Masters on two stages of the Tour of Cyprus, third in Masters overall and Second in Team General Classification.
Happy with that.
@ChrisO Sounds like a very Good Friday and a fine way to end a good season. Chapeau.
@Deakus
To be fair, its a lot easier when the whole team is juiced.
@frank
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, bada-BING! Chapeau!
@ChrisO Incredible riding and thanx for the nice write up. Love it. Good job!
@ChrisO Good race report and chapeau for a fine season.
I don’t think this is what they mean by road furniture:
This may happen to me only once and never again. I find that the helmet had been forgotten — “my helmet” — as I started to unload gear in the parking lot. Without a word (other than calling another rider that had not arrived yet and knew he would answer) went straight away to drive 25 minutes back to “pick up my helmet” and return.
Estimating where the group may be headed as the route routinely changes and based on time being 1 hour later, I drove ahead to another start point. I have used an ability to intercept the group when it is necessary. Once I intercepted the group three times in one ride. Today was going to be different. I rode a clover leaf route that would center on returning to the start point in “Little Mountain”. Little Mountain is like Little Big Man — it’s body is small, but it’s bravery is big. I came back thru LBM the first time and no sign of the group. Headed down “Wheeland Rd” which I think of as “Wheel-Land” to come back around the backside of LBM. No group still.
It looks as though there will be no group today. I am denied the intercept. Start riding towards the original group start point anticipating a possible chase down. No group at all. But I have enjoyed thinking on a good virtual chase all morning. Stopping at the top of what I call “The Gauntlet” (going up not down) the plan changes. I decide that “Yes” there are more kilometers to have by going back towards today’s start point. At this point most everything is turned around — so be it. I ride and ride and ride, ending up just shy of today’s start point for the third time. It was a crazy three leaf clover in the end.
Done. The legs are done turning and now turning just red enough to be considered burnt. The legs still feel good, but feel like they were thinking “is he done?” Duration is right at 4 hours. I ended up creating a good unexpected workout that would typically start where I live — not “Little Mountain”. I missed the group. I missed “my helmet” — never again.
It was a good hard day in the saddle. So my new rule? No group start on Saturday — ride LBM — possibly get the intercept. I would do this crazy clover route again.
Note: I was dropped off in Little Mountain. No car to return to.
@unversio
You at least had your helmet when your ride started. I once discovered that I did not have my beautiful Lazer melon cover on only after I had completed 30km. I worried that I had left it at my last drink station, but at the end of the 60km ride found it sitting happily on my front doorstep.
@unversio
Chapeau…for going back for your helmet!
The rides…the rides. My ride, my first big ride of the Spring/Summer was to be tomorrow. The Ventura Ojai Century. It has now been cancelled as of yesterday. And I quote from thier email amd facebook page….
“We are very sorry and regretfully announce that our ride Ventura Ojai Century for this weekend (dates) has been cancelled. We had to cancel the event because several state agencies just advised us of their request for additional permits which cannot be issued in the time remaining before the ride.”
Which leaves me feeling a little deflated, very much in form ( for a fat old man) and wondering wat route my long solo ride is now going to take me tomorrow. Can’t help but wonder if the whole Boston tradegy has had some part in this.
my typing never seems to improve…
@paolo
do it anyway…
@piwakawaka
It’s a thought but there seems to be no point in drivng over to Ventura for a remote start when here are plenty of long rides I can do from my place. I might find a group ride, there are loads here. I like Gran Fondos and Sportives though, great sense of comradery and it being the first of the year for me, just leaves one feeling a bit deflated being scrapped at such a late hour. Oh well…the weaher looks perfect so whatever happens I’m sure i will be a good ride!
The views were nice yesterday. The elevation was tough. And yes, I need to clean my bar tape.
Nice. Which road is this?
@scaler911 your civil engineers need to collaborate with the boston department. for some reason they believe if there is snow, the roads HAVE to be utter trash
Right heading for the Pyrenees on the 13th of July for two weeks – based in the less fashionable Foix area there are some fantastic cols and quiet roads. Anyone going to be in that general locale about that time? Mrs Engine has said i can have as much as a whole day to myself.
Next weekend I’m doing this with @upthetrossachs http://www.ratraceroadtrip.com/ – are there any Velominati along the route who’d like to wave at us? For that matter are there any Velominati who’ll also be doing it (obviously we’re doing the two day option)? I’ll be the fat one wearing the sacred threads – jacket only – rest is still in transit.
Also I can’t shake a cold – this is my second once since the plague on the Keepers Tour – any Velominati have any advice on how to make yourself feel better. Biggest problem has been that I haven’t been able to Train Properly since the KT.
@the Engine If you’re going to be in the the office tomorrow, I’ll give you a bell at some point to see if your timings are likely to work out.
I hope the wind dies down a bit before then for you.
@PeakInTwoYears
The road off 97 near between La Pine and Sunriver OR that goes up to Paulina Lake, Newberry Crater and the Obsidian Flow. The gate was closed, I ducked it, and did the 20K/ 850M Cat 1 climb. No cars, no people. 100% awesome (except I’m not used to 1900M elevation, since I live at 58M).
@scaler911
I don’t know that particular road, but it sounds fabulous–and like you hit it at exactly the right time. (I’m heading down to the Deschutes in June for a week of flyfishing with a good friend. Warm sun and cool water and big fucking trout.)
Was down in the Santa Cruz area last week and did a Cat 1 climb that was included in last year’s Tour de California, up from Hwy 1 to my daughter’s place in the hills, 700 meters in 11 stewpid-gorgeous kilometers. Probably a good thing I don’t live there–it’d be even harder to find things to bitch about.
Did any other velominati ride the Cheesehead Roubaix yesterday? almost 100kms of roads with 16 kms of gravel. More strade bianche than Roubaix, but who’s quibbling? Great event and drew a lot of riders from around he region. Probably three times as many as last year, but then the weather was much better. A nice touch was a rest stop (that almost everyone stopped at) few supporters with Belgian and Flandrian flags and cowbells on the first unpaved stretch (actually a muddy track).
As always, a fast bunch got away, then it all came back together then broke up by the end with smaller groups forming. All in all, a great ride and event. Kudos to Dave Hanrahan for organizing.
http://belgianwerkx.com/2013/03/cheesehead-roubaix/
@the Engine
I was physically fucked for months following my Roubaix and then 200-on-100 stint. It can take a while to get back to baseline from that, even without sickness. Just keep doing recovery sort of rides and you’ll fall back into form most likely.
@wiscot
No, I wasn;t there but is sounds amazing! This graveling stuff sounds like the bees-knees! I need to do some!
@Buck Rogers Yeah, what’s great is it takes you on roads you normally wouldn’t go on. Also, no-one messes about on the gravel either – it’s full-bore all the way. Pick what you think is the smoothest liner and go for it. Gives us mere mortals a smidgen of a taste of what it must be like to ride Roubaix or Strade Bianche. I can’t speak for anyone else, but the wee group I finished with, everyone was toast. It’s been a hard winter to get base miles in and for many riders, this was their longest ride of the year so far.
Given the very wet spring we’ve had, everything was remarkably dry, but I still rode #3 bike.
@Chris
I’m back – been a long day
Not an epic ride by any means, but I’m not sure where else to post this shot while crossing the 62nd Street Bridge on my commute this morning.
L t Dam, training Mont Ventoux http://app.strava.com/activities/51906822
Col d Ornon and Alp d Huez http://app.strava.com/activities/52088123
@the Engine
Not sure of all the details, but some epic riding by @The Engine and @Up The Trossachs last weekend, check oot the day 1 strava ride HERE
Bike Rental in Maui – anybody have any recommendations? Hoping to drag my bloated carcass up Haleakala but I can’t justify bringing #1 bike for an 8 day vacation.
thanks in advance
Me and @JohnB do 122km with 1500m of climbing and get 1 kudo, while this asshole does 80km and get 46 kudos #nojustice
@strathlubnaig
The site is back and so am I!
Thanks for the kudos – like you said you know you’ve ridden a long way when the Strava map shows the entire country.
Anyone know the cure for a mangina? I seem to have developed one despite the shorts and cream….
True story. Happened yesterday, on the regular Thursday group mtb “ride.” After fucking around for two hours, deciding where to ride and then driving to the trailhead and then standing on our dicks for a while longer, we rode up the Quilcene River trail to a shelter. Where we stood around some more and ate and drank too much. After a bit of that, one of the old stalwarts (seventy-something years old and tough as nails) rides up and says that he heard a cougar about two miles back–the noise coming from under a big old rotten stump about 40 feet off the trail. Probably a den with cubs in it. And their mother. Their highly-pissed mother. Back home, he went looking for an audio file that replicated the sound he heard, and this was it.
http://www.soundboard.com/mediafiles/MTEyMzIxNDU4MTEyMzkz_O1r6tDGKXqk.mp3
The guy is no story-teller. He farms and has lost a number of sheep and lambs to cougars over the years, and he has little fear of them and no inclination to bullshit anyone.
So we rode back down the trail.
This Wed is the annual Ride of Silence. The purpose of the ride is to honor those injured or killed while cycling and also to make drivers aware that we are friends and neighbors. There are rides all around the world, although most are in the US. I encourage everyone to take a look and participate if there is one near you.
http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php
I am calling for a ride of retribution (on my part) this weekend. The route will have some great moments. You Vellows do the same.
Is there a better word than retribution?
Headed out for a ride on the AZ trail(trail that goes from the Mexican border to the Utah border) it was about 34 degrees out with really no shade to be found. AZ trail portion
Sorry about the blurry portion in the picture. My phone has gotten scratched up over the years cause I dont keep it in a case.
P.S. I was wearing pretty much a XC set up, bib & jersey, but I had to take my camelbak. Once you ride under the interstate, there is on sign of civilization until you get back to your car. I carried about 5 liters of water, drank 3. better safe than sorry in this climate.
@RedRanger A friend just got back from there having completed the 300-mile version of the Arizona Trail Race. It sounded pretty hellish. He wants to do it again, but he’s a nutter.
@PeakInTwoYears that sounds pretty Awesome. I’m gonna have to look it up. I’ve heard of the Colorado trail race, that’s sounds like hell, totally self supported.
@RedRanger Yeah the AZT race is totally self-supported, as well. On the website, they don’t refer to it as an organized event, just a “something people do on their own steam, and if they happen to do it at the same time it’s none of our business” kind of thing. Like a desert alleycat, but really fucking long. He was purifying water out of cattle tanks. With cattle in them. Nasty. No sleeping bag, no tent. Travel by night, sleep fitfully by day.
Better him (or you) than me, and I like the desert.
One thing I love about mountain bike racing is the silence of the forest after everyone has passed you and you’re just pedaling along, carrying the larnterne rouge.
Last place today. At least I finished! And had fun.
@G’rilla what are the trails like there? are they MTB specific?
Everything here is Hike/bike. The AZ trail has periodic gates to open and close to prevent cattle from escaping.
@RedRanger
Super technical. Roots, rocks, twists, turns. Mostly forest.
Racing has shown me all the great trails around here, many within 45 minutes of my house (by car).
@G’rilla awesome. You’ll need to show me when/if I move up there. it can one pretty techy here also. lots of rocks.