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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Home from work at 1:30am, lights out at 2:00am, wakeup at 5:00am. Sometimes Loving The Work is some tough love.
How, but that love pays back. 130km, 1400m gain – basically a Team Time Trial between me and a friend, with a variety of tag-alongs enjoying the free ride.
Halfway home, we came across a seemingly innocent rider who asked if he could join for a ride home. What first looked like yet another tired tag-along turned out to be one of the top Elite riders (probably the equivalent of Cat 1?), about a team-issue Focus Izalco. He had the most beautifully sculpted (and tanned) guns I’ve ever seen, spun at 120rpm with perfect smoothness and did his pulls in the invisible aerobar, at the same speed us two were riding in the actual aerobars. According to Strava and my friend’s Garmin, we were averaging 38-40km/h on the flats – a humbling and yet uplifting experience.
So, as happens every year, de Ronde van West Portlandia will “not” be happening (to be clear that’s a cover your ass thing for the organizers).
Anybody within 200K of PDX should check it out. Just 75K with 1400K of climbing (reaching 30%).
Myself, @gaswepass and hopefully Frank, G’rilla and McSqueek and 500+ locals will be there on the same day as LBL.
http://www.opb.org/programs/ofg/segments/view/1728
http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/32147992 (this doesn’t do the route any justice at all).
http://www.rondepdx.com/
I promised myself I’d never do it again after last year. Hope to see some of the VM there!
@scaler911
every year there are 2 #s for the climbing- 1400ish and 3000ish. Either way fucken painful and therefore mandatory.
@gaswepass
oh and not that there are 2 routes to pick from; just contention, I assume based on which method used to measure.
@scaler911
Ugh.
This has been on my calendar as a “to do” this year, but to be very honest I haven’t made many great strides since the Cogal. The weather still sucks and I haven’t been riding as much as I would have hoped.
I also wanted to have new wheels by then – which still may happen, but I haven’t bought them yet.
So we’ll see. Maybe I’ll show up and see how far I can make it until I give up. I don’t think I have 3000 meters of climbing in my legs at this point – the pdx cogal did me in with far less than that,
@mcsqueak
ahem…Rule 5
@Mikael Liddy
I know, I know… lets just call it a crisis of faith.
@mcsqueak
ah they can be tough, luckily unlike most other faith based organisations this one actually promotes self abuse as a cure.
As long as said abuse takes the form of a significant number of hill repeats.
@mcsqueak
The difference between the cogal ride and the abuse you are to suffer at the hands of the ronde(which may/not become a cogal) is that the ronde is more of an individual TT than a group ride. 6hours including a beer handup(actually stopped and purchased at a roadside stand, but who’s quibbling), hail and rain. A proud moment only because I finished. And I know that I had less saddle time then than you have now(and not nearly the aero guns you do!).
You’ll be fine. Read Rule #5 again if you don’t believe me.
@gaswepass
Yeah, that’s true – you can stop if you need a rest and sort of go at your own pace.
I DO want to do it for bragging rights to say I’ve finished, even if I’m finisher 500 out of 500. And I want earn the right to wear the damn tshirt they sell on their website, as it has a cool lion on it (much like the V-Lion).
I guess I’ll see you guys there in a few weeks (and hopefully before for some long-overdue rides together) and hopefully not die of painful leg cramps.
On April 1, while the other Velominati were focused on Cobbles, Beer and the RvV, the VMH and I visited Moab, Utah from home in Colorado Springs, and we thought it would be a good idea to ride a portion of Arches National Park. I started solo at about 0730 from downtown Moab, and hustled the 10K to the park entrance hoping to beat the morning tourists and winds for the roughly 5.5K, 230m climb from the entrance up the switch backs to the Park Avenue trailhead. The VMH met me at Courthouse Wash and we started the roughly 6.5K, 260m climb to Balanced Rock. The forecast called for 40-50Kph winds, but after 1200. The desert winds came early but they were kind and behind us on this climb, however, it became vicious cross-wind as we turned toward the 8K out and back to The Windows. I ended up doing this out and back twice because the VMH had a small mechanical at the turnaround, and I wasn’t paying attention. After The Windows, we continued on to a point that overlooks Salt Valley and the Fiery Furnace (I gave my best attempt at a casually deliberate pose here). After a couple of photos we started back toward town. The descent from Balanced Rock was quick and pleasant even though into the wind, although by this time there were plenty of tourists heading into the park, and I almost became the hood ornament of a Buick driven by an impatient guy attempting to pass a camper truck. He missed me with about 20m to spare. The VMH felt pretty good on only her second ride of the year (she runs marathons BTW), and she decided to wanted to make the 3.2K, 260m climb from Courthouse Wash to the Park Avenue trailhead, so uphill against a brutal headwind we went. At the top, a couple more quick photos, and she went back to Courthouse Wash and I started the descent to town. Stopped long enough to take a photo of the switchbacks for reference. Not a long ride, 64K or so, good enough since we hiked a couple of slot canyons the day before. It was only my second ride of the year in shorts, so now I have reference points (sunburn) to begin cultivating tan lines.
The total distance from the park entrance to Landscape Arch trailhead (farthest paved point from the entrance) is about 50K. Salt Valley has a pretty steep descent/climb on he south side and a looong and gradual climb on the north side. The roads are in fine condition, but have no shoulder to speak of. The motorists that passed us gave us plenty of clearance, but there are many places were there is no where to bail out, so beware of the impatient driver.
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@niksch
Wow, great photos! Looks like an awesome ride, thanks for sharing!
Had sort of a PDX Cogal “make up” today for the part of the route I missed. Took a modified route out to Sandy, then back home. 108 kms total with only 697 m climbs, a bit less than the official cogal route.
Here is a photo of the dork patrol just outside of Sandy on the way back towards town. Mt. Hood is in the background probably another ~30 miles away.
@mcsqueak
you better believe I dorked up and bought that shirt with intent after first time riding it. and that was that.
less than a week to go!
Anyone in the Pyrenees in July? I’m arriving on the 14th for two weeks and given that the Tour’s there at the same moment some Velominati are bound to be there too. It’d be good to have an informal gun check.
Anxiously awaiting a ride report from Dr. C once he gets back home from Majorca, Spain …..
As awesome as it looks in the pictures – fully exposed that I am TFTC – gonna go back again next year and do it again properly….
I am so in love with Majorca – £25 a night half board with a buffet breakfast and dinner, running out of cash or gas was never a worry – trying not to drink 8 pints of lager after a barnstorming day in the mountains was more of a worry, and like the best laid plans, this was the one that tripped me up rather…
Sa Calobra has to be one of the great must do descents in Europe – it is like sliding down a bowl of spaghetti, twisting back and forwards, wrapping down one side of the valley, before doubling back and diving down through the trees on the other side, and after an eternity of orgasmic whipping switchbacks, slips gracefully down to the most beautiful stony port with restaurants aplenty, to prep for the torture that awaits, on the one-way-back only (there is another way out – a boat, known as the “Boat of Shame”…. nuff said)
The climb is beautiful, but whilst I have stacks of enduro in my legs, I am still TFTC properly, and lacking power work, so hurt locker awaits over the next 9 weeks as I build to my peak in two months for the Transpyrenees trip – being passed by a Vhottie on the way up, chatting to her mate and declaring this to be her third time up the Calobra that day, did little to help my embarrassment!
Can’t wait to tramsmogrify into a proper cyclist, shed all this shit I have been carting around on my midriff for too long, and get back to get up this bitch in 45 minutes rather than the hour it took me this year
Maybe a long weekend in October might make a tasty end of season cogal for the Euroboys…..
You know how to make a chap jealous. Nothing like seeing people enjoying themselves in the sun when it’s pissing it down every time you walk out the door.
October Euro Cogal. Hell yes. Let’s get that in the diary, the sooner we do so the less cash we have to give to your mate O’Leary.
By the time you’ve dragged yourself over the Pyrenees, you’ll have no problem getting up in 45 minutes.
@Dr C
Way cool! Always jealous of the spots you get to ride when I see them posted up on Strava.
It’s always amazing when you stop and think how your whole body needs to work in concert to really be a proficient cyclist, and it’s about so much more than just the guns (though those are obviously important).
After yesterday’s climbing ride I was almost as sore up top as I was down below. I could feel my abs and lats when I sneezed later that night, like someone had given me a few good punches.
@mcsqueak
we’re a bit spoilt rotten here for this sort of stuff, all within a couple of hours by plane
Gotto do it while we’re still young enough
I couldn’t find the training post by Frank, so I’ll put this here..
So my boss comes into my office yesterday afternoon about 1430 and tells me to get my ass out of the chair and on the bike because “it’s too beautiful today to be inside.” He knows I’m training for a couple big rides here in Colorado this summer and I need some hill intervals and basically a lot of rides with a significant amount of climbing. Well, he didn’t have to tell me twice and I was out the door. Four hours of riding and lots of hill repeats yesterday. Worked off some sprinter’s muscle too!
Thou shalt not ride only pavement, but also gravel, dirt, and pavé.
@Dr C
Climbone! Fuck yeah!
@Dr C
I did tell ya… now you see why I wrote reams and reams to my cycling buddies about Mallorca, and in particular Sa Calobra. Enjoy, my friend, enjoy.
@roadslave525
So it took me 63 minutes – I imagine you will have done it in 45? Some of our fast boys met the Rabobank U23 squad, who were TTing it – 21 minutes…. Holy Be Jaysus
@G’rilla
Stunning, riding through that must be good for the soul.
@G’rilla
THIS.
@G’rilla
Wow, looks awesome! Did you take your cross rig out there?
@G’rilla
Beautiful! Where is this (besides it being in Heaven, of course)? You could ride this on 28mm tubs on a road bike as well.
@Buck Rogers
For lack of a better place to put this. Velominati was well represented today at the road race of the Maui Stage Race.
VMH Beth and David Ezzy post-race, 52km and 1100m Sunday affair. Bugno was the lead car driver, opting out of the climb-a-thon. Too big to climb is my motto. Maybe this is my new career, in the car, fake cigarettes, unshaven, on the horn, waving to police whilst blowing through intersections at high speed.
@G’rilla
Fuck yeah!
@mcsqueak
Yes, I rode my cross bike. I’m about two days away from buying some monster 40mm knobbies to put on there, for fun.
@Buck Rogers
It’s definitely rideable on a road bike. That path is the Tolt Pipeline trail, about 30km from Seattle. There’s a nice 25km loop called the Thrilla Route that includes this section plus a bunch of serpentine forest trails. I never knew there were so many beautiful routes so close to the city.
I rode there from my house on Saturday…about 100km total.
@Marko
There’s something about gravel. All the official bike lanes and many roads were packed on Saturday with sunny weather riders. But take a short turn off the (literal) paved path and I had the whole place to myself, except for the chirping of birds and a few horses eating grass.
@G’rilla
Want!
@G’rilla one question though, do you not like turning corners? Apart from that little kink just infront of the photographer that thing looks dead straight.
@G’rilla btw for photographer I now realise that was most likely you…
Any London-ish (south or out Kent, Surrey way) Velominati around next week and want to ride, I’ll be back for a few days.
My wife is working on Weds and Fri and the kids are at school so as long as it is daytime I am guilt-free.
If I can remember it I know a nice route out past Westerham and around Toys Hill, Hever and back in.
You won’t believe this but I just got back from what will be one of the most memorable rides ever! 130km, 2000m vertical ascent on a sunny day with only about 10km wind (except at the top of the climb) The climbing was hot and the descents were cooling although the traffic slowed us down. Doing it again a week on Sunday when the roads will be closed for the Etape Caledonia.
Heading out, after about 20km I had the thought that I wasn’t sure if I’d locked my van. My van containing about £5000 worth of Carpentry/Joinery tools, everyone’s phones (except mine which was in a jersey pocket) and all our clothes and stuff. I thought “Well I’m not going back”, and put it to the back of my mind. Then I realised I hadn’t put a ticket on it so we agreed to share the parking fine between us and got on with the ride. Everyone ran out of water and gels so the last 30km or so we were all worried about bonking but thankfully we made it back to the car park.
When we pulled up to my van, not only was it not locked but the driver side door was wide open, as far as it goes, turns out, just how I’d left it nearly five hours previously. No-one had touched it! Un – fucking – believable, not even a Traffic Warden as the final icing on the cake was, no parking fine.
VLVV
@snoov
Nice. V-Karma.
@snoov
Nice!
So snoov that’s you and me for the Scottish Cogal then – it’s just a matter of where and when. Kirriemuir – Cairn o’Mount and back by Deeside and Glen Shee should sort those with the V from the common herd. For everyone else I’m in the Pyrenees when the Tour is on – someone must be there to worship and have their bike with them huh?
I spent the weekend in Montreal training on the Circuit GV F1 track. It is open to the public when not being used for racing (including bicycles), but it usually has baracades to keep the speed down to 25ish kph. It was open for a series of Paralympic races, so we had some great riding on a 5km loop.
@the Engine
I’m in! Cairn o’ Mount is a good one, harder than the Etape. I have to warn you, I climb worse than Cav but if I get out on my bike enough I can improve that. Started going out with a local club twice a week (the harder ride up The Knapp on Thursdays will help my climbing) and I’m feeling great on my bike since slipping a disc a few months ago. Where are you based?
@Dan_R
Cool I think my pal who moved to Montreal was there too. Although I am a pedalwan myself he is my pedalwan. He abides by the rules but so far only lurks among the velominati, as long as he rides plenty.
@the Engine, @snoov
If the timing is right I could be in for that. If anyone from outside of the area fancied it I should be able to to sort some discounted accommodation at a pub/hotel just outside of Perth along with transport to and from the start/finish point.
Alright lunkheads, fit to ride the Black Sword again — 6 weeks since. Recovery with nice, bloody pneumonia too — that’s “panache” !!
Tour of the Gila podium girl – the one on the right seems a bit more into it than most other podium girls. Is she blocking her partner in crime? Can we get her for the Cogals?
@Tartan1749
Photo from VeloNews and by Casey B. Gibson