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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@frank
And what, no helmet??? Man, we should start a discussion on the pros and cons of no hemets around here, too!
@Buck Rogers
Rule should be to have 2 preferred helmets on the ready.
@Mike_P
It will be OK, he’ll be shivering so much with the temp change he won’t be able to steer straight or change gear!
@Buck Rogers
If I come off at 80km/h I figure I’m fucked any which way.
And my wife has pointed out that if I do have an accident the worst thing would be to have serious permanent impairment, so outright death is the preferred option.
@Teocalli I think you might have hit the nail on the head there. With enough clothes and food I can deal with cold, but add rain and I’m going to suffer big time. Be careful what you wish for though !
@Mike_P
Whatever happened to Escala anyway?
Yeah the weather is too good at the moment. Methinks @itburns is lining up a special V and 9 for us………
@ChrisO
Great; thanks for the update. Bike looks fantastic – stealthy and fast – and I’m amazed how deep and bulky that headset/-tube looks, seen from the side.
Ages ago, I’ve taken some fast descents (and the occasional spill) on Alpine roads in Italy, France and Austria – but on a steel Peugeot which flexed and twisted and torqued like a pretzel. Very scary shit (but fun, for a 19-year old)
By comparison, my present Giant Defy 1 (Not a super racer by any standard, but a nice enough machine) feels solid as the proverbial rock on fast downhills and curves – but I have, admittedly, not been pushing it beyond 60 km/h or so. Still, I have a feeling that it will be able to keep going far beyond the point where I chicken out.
@Marko and I are having breakfast in Two Harbors (is the MN or WI?), getting ready to race the Heck of the North
http://heckofthenorth.blogspot.com/
@frank go give em hell. good luck.
@ericW and someone else (maybe @canuckchuck?) are doing Eggtimer’s Gran Fondo
this Saturday. Anyone else riding it?
@frank
Pulled my bike apart for a full cleansing as it was emitting noises that were otherworldly.
Final assessment yields the following:
The clay slurry has a way of getting into EVERYTHING.
What a frustrating race today. I spent the first half hour trying, and succeeding, to get into the breaks.
But the local teams just won’t ride and I can’t understand them. They attack and get into the breaks too but then they won’t work.
At one time we had three riders each from the three biggest teams and a decent gap – I thought we were nailed on at least for a long attack. The local teams even chase their own riders so I assume they are just aiming to have a sprint finish but then why make attacks.
Then our team was not really doing its job so I had to do a lot of work in the middle of the race for the team leader. By the end I was utterly knackered and couldn’t go in the sprint. I reckon you can split racing into three things – Attacking, Covering, Finishing and like the “Price, Quality, Speed – pick two” you get one of the three if you aren’t in form and two if you are. Three is for Merckx.
Here’s the science bit if you want to look away…
After half an hour my NP was still over 340 watts, and I’m working on a current ftp of 303. For the whole two hours of the race my NP was 296.
ftp = functional threshold power. In theory it is the max power you can output for 1 hour and you should be nearly throwing up at the end, so to do nearly the same power for two hours, in a race where a lot of time is spent in a bunch, is pretty extraordinary and will give you an idea of how hard I worked, and for nothing in the end.
Still, legs before results I suppose.
@ChrisO Strong work! I can imagine that going that long at near FTP must have left you completely empty.
Please note: If you attack next weekend, don’t expect anyone else to work with you either (except for @roadslave525). We’ll all be to busy trying to digest @teocalli’s cake.
The Reason Rides End | The Selection | Bicycling.com
http://blogs.bicycling.com/blogs/theselection/2013/10/04/the-reason-rides-end/
excellent treatise from Bill Strickland. Should be right up your collective alleys.
@kixsand Oh my goodness yes. A thousand times – yes.
Bit of a video for anyone who wants a look at a ride we did down here at the start of last month. The Adelaide Dirty Dozen was a baker’s dozen of hills that resulted in 3,500m of climbing over 100k, unfortunately I didn’t make on to the ‘finishers’ list in the credits after an error of omission on my part meant that I missed climb #3. Had planned to go back & have a crack at it but by the time the last climb was done, refreshments back at the cafe were calling. Don’t think I make an appearance in this as we were well ahead of the group that the camera man was riding with.
I rode Levi’s Gran Fondo today with @Nate. Regardless your feelings on the Egghead, this ride really does belong on the bucket list. The views are simply indescribable and my pictures don’t do them justice. The climbs are brutal and will test any rider. You spend the entire ride climbing or preparing to climb. King’s Ridge’s 11%+ first 1.6km was just a taste of what was to come. The highlight of the ride was the breathtaking descent down Meyer’s Grade from the Ritchey Ranch lunch stop, where the views are spectacular, and I felt like I was in a Pacific Life commercial with the whale off the in distance. We finished off the menu of climbs with a shaded, car-free 7km long 300m tall climb up the gravel of Wilson’s Creek that included several switchbacks and a brutal 200m ~15% section.
The support along the way was excellent with well stocked aide stations every 20 to 30km, volunteers cheering along the way the whole time and constant SAG support. Rolling roadblocks by Sonoma County’s finest meant our roads were mostly clear of cars. There was plenty of rolling candy to see, although while waiting to grab a spare tube at an aid station at Ritchey Ranch, I saw firsthand at least three people come through the mechanic area with melted carbon rims from the descents, and they weren’t Ebay knockoffs either. So for those of you thinking about bringing your flash-tastic carbon wheels to this ride in the future, my advice is: don’t. Bring the beefiest set of wheels you own, and throw some serious rubber on there. I’m glad brother @Nate talked me out of riding my carbon wheels at the last minute.
Speaking of equipment, my weapon of choice was my trusty Bronago with new classic style wheels with H+Son Archetype rims laced to a set of great ROL hubs from an old dinged up set of wheels. The 25s mounted on them measured out to 27 on these rims. @Nate rode his Pegoretti(!!!!!) with quasi-old school Campy and Open Paves on classic box section rims. EPMS’s were not found on either machine. I’ll let @Nate tell you more with his post. For now, enjoy the pictures. Strava below.
http://www.strava.com/activities/87173447
[dmalbum: path=”/velominati.com/wp-content/uploads/readers/EricW/2013.10.06.03.04.18/1/”/]
@EricW First, thanks to @EricW for thinking of me when his buddy could not make it and had an entry I could pick up. The Bastards were grinding me down lately in other life departments and the anticipation of a big ride got me through it.
Also, @EricW is an ox. He was brimming with the V today.
The ride is bucket list material for sure. I have to hand it to the Eggtimer for putting together a stunning and very challenging course. Far more thanks goes out to the welcome the fine citizens of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County put out for 7500 nut jobs on bikes. So many of them spent their Saturday volunteering to support an extremely well run event. Big chapeau — I felt very welcome, everywhere.
The ride itself was extremely challenging. I was typically undertrained for the event, and the first part of King Ridge was very painful. Then I seemed to get stronger for a while, and managed to alternately eliminate my mind from the riding, or reduce it to the Krabbeian small black ball. The dirt option was inspired. The approach to the climb was on an appalling “road” that archaeologists claim was once paved. The climb was on dirt and closed to cars. Fantastic. The 15% section nearly finished me off; I felt as though I was suffering from the effects of ingesting a pan-galactic gargle blaster for quite some time after.
It was an honor to ride the event in V-kit and to attempt to live up to Rule #2. The Keepers should know I got numerous nice comments about the site. One rider told me he knew he could enjoy my slipstream and I would not crash him. A Velominata told me she loves the site. I explained the Rule #1, #5 and #10 reference to another rider; he thought it was brilliant. These and other comments were a credit to what you all have built here.
Eric shortly after the dirt:
@Mikael Liddy You lucky man!
@Mikael Liddy That is beautiful suffering. Chapeau!
@Benny and I did the Victorian Cyclocross State Championships yesterday. Good day all round on a very windy and rocky course. @Benny finished second in his age group, and I won mine. Guess that makes me a state champion. Woo.
Got an orange Cog for my efforts today…..
@EricW fuck me those wheels are nice. how do the roll? what hubs do you have laced? general impressions of the rims?
@RedRanger I’ve been looking at pictures of those rims for a while. They look even better in person.
@Nate Ive been wanting a set of those since I first heard of them at my LBS and saw them on the site. That and their version of the Golden Tickets. if only the floos was loose(maybe a old NY saying)
@RedRanger Thanks! They were awesome over everything. They are heavier than my full carbon race wheels, but honestly, the additional stiffness of the wheels made them feel really efficient. I did notice that they are a little slower on the crazy long fast descents, but I could carry good speed through the corners due to the enormous footprint of the tires. The extra volume made them feel really cushy too, I ran about 5 less pounds than I usually do, and I think I could go a little lower.
I used my old cx wheels (ROL Race SLR) for their hubs. I think they’re off the shelf mid flange hub shells that ROL stuffs with really nice bearings. I had managed to dent both rims (Kinlin XR-300) getting rad while exploring some possible dirt options for a future SF cogal. They’re laced using DT 14 gauge spokes with brass nipples. Front is 24 radial and rear is 28 3X. I bought the rims online but had my LBS do the build. Total outlay was about $220.
Totally stoked on them.
@EricW When my Ultegra rims wear out, I’ll replace them with these, or the Pacenti SL23. When the time comes for a custom steel, there’ll be no escaping a TB14 laced to a set of shiny hubs.
what a day up in new hampshire. last year when we did kearsarge it was late october, much colder, and the gravel was more coarse. this year with the dry summer, it was very fine, with hardpack dirt and soft sandy shoulders. made for a ton of fun, which was aided by pouring rain the entire day. any new englander who loves to get off-road should sign up for this ride or find a way to do it in the autumn. it’s fantastic stuff
This weekend’s spoils. T’wasn’t very interesting, but nevertheless 200km of solid, fast-paced riding. The wind hit us from a different direction every lap and only seemed to worsen. Did my time in the front and figured I could’ve done more, but caution comes first when dipping past threshold on a long ride. And to think some of my mates have gone faster than this, solo…
Just come across this, nice event for my retro rebuild for next summer,
http://roadcyclinguk.com/sportive/routes-of-inaugural-leroica-britannia-unveiled.html?utm_campaign=newsletter_20131009&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter_rcuk
@Teocalli You’re just going for the tarts.
@Chris
I always think going for the tartelettes sound much better……………
@EricW
I’ve got a set laced with lasers to BHS hubs. After about 1500km I’ve never had to true them. I get compliments on them all the time.
I’ll be building up some TB14s for my first frame project.
Fucking hell, no idea how you boys managed the 200on100…went out trying for a similar distance today & absolutely blew up at 180k’s done! Hardly remember the 25k crawl home.
@tessar
hey Tessar, I am having a wheelset built with the Pacentis. I’ll report back (though the Orc UL hub won’t be available until January).
@Mikael Liddy trick is to start at v0v.
@Mikael Liddy
I remember when i first did 196km, I was super stoked, the i found out the 200 is MILES and not km.
On another note, the dirty 40 race has just announced it’s spring classic, Rasputitsa.
I expect to see Frank in his Flandrian Best.
https://www.facebook.com/dirty40race
@frank
I just saw this now. My seat was a bit lower due to my inexperience with remounts, but it’s working it’s way up. The reach is probably just angle, but I have been considering lowering the stem more to lower my center of gravity.
Add to Frank’s Muur image collection — Boonen.
@Mikael Liddy
Great effort, solo no less !
I dream of the day to o such a ride, but, with two young kiddies such rides are a distant past.
The upcoming cogal will be a real test.
@Mikael Liddy
And we had 3 cars doing SAG which is like having your own guardian angel.
Not sure if this is the place for this, but here goes. Hello all! I go by Steve-o here, that’s what some of the guys on the Sunday ride I’ve been doing for nearly 30 yrs. call me. I’ve been lurking for a couple of months and posted a couple of times but realized that’s kind of like joining a group ride and not introducing myself and asking if I could join in. Sorry ’bout that. Just moved to the Branford, CT area from eastern CT, and missing those all those country roads. Not sure how I first heard of The Velominati, probably some friends on FB, but I enjoy my time here – the banter, the reverence for the bicycle, the love of The V. Had to spend a couple of awful months off the bike, but getting back on the bike while on the path to embracing The Rules has enhanced the comeback. Vive la vie Velominatus!
@Steve-o Welcome again bro. As a New Englander I don’t have to warn you about taking offense at all the crap thrown around here. It’s all in good fun.
@Nate
@EricW
Nice work lads. And two finer looking bikes I have not seen in a while. I wonder if he knows he is known as Egg Timer? Damn we are a clever bunch. Yeah, that ride looks fantastic.
@Steve-o if you have the time, we’d love to have you join us at the cogal on sunday. http://www.velominati.com/the-cogals/itburns-memorial-cogal-at-west-point-2013/
@roger
Second THAT! No better way to join in a group than get drunk and ride hung over together!!!
@EricW, @Nate
Brilliant stuff and you lads both Look Fantastic. That section of gravel looks dreamy; I love how those roads kick up the way paved roads don’t seem to do as much. Not being graded for a Semi is a step in the right direction. Awesome about the comments on the site; very very cool stuff.
@Steve-o
Welcome. Nice thought about the introduction, we always love to hear from newbies:
@Gianni, @frank Glad you saw the comments; it was really nice to hear nice comments about the site.
@Mikael Liddy chapeau chap! Massive effort. Given we have littlies bout the same age, rest assured that is double where my long rides are at! Well done. I must ride 200k oneday. As mentioned, the 200 on 100 is miles, egad..
@roger
@Gianni
@frank
Thanks for the welcome guys. I wish I could make the cogal, sounds like great fun! It is definitely definitely on my musette list.