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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@Teocalli Doh! Don’t worry I wouldn’t make it, you’ve got to ride up at least one hill to get there.
Have a blast tomorrow and don’t eat all the tarts. Looking forward to reading a full report on the Monsall Trail.
@Chris
Looking at what they have in store for us I think I could gladly lend you a few hills tomorrow………. though there were a bunch of people envying that I’ve set up The Butler with triple Chainrings and 16-28 Block.
Photo needs no intro………………
Belated Festum Prophetae ride. Flatted after 8km then rode solo for most of the first 112km and got slightly exuberant at times. Suffered horribly for the last 30km of that bit but in with a group from Norwich ABC. Top blokes. Traded turns for the rest of the ride and kept up a decent average pace.
It was my longest ever ride by about 15km but I’m not sure it counts as the other one had a little bit more vertical – it took in the Hautacam and Tourmalet.
Time for a beer. Or two.
Strade Bianche UK Peak District style on L’eroica Britannia
@Chris
@Chris
Don’t know how I managed to include @chris in the above. Anyway what a weekend in the UK weather wise. Stunning.
Last Sunday – June 22- GF Giordana – Gavia + Mortirolo. 150kms.
I went into this ride 2 and 2. That is, 2 months from peaking and 2 fat to climb. I knew it was going to be a big test for me. I never knew how big until…well…
My preparation was OK but as with most regular people, my training was not perfect. I have a family, a regular job, I like to drink. Early riding sessions are skipped because of the general weariness of existence. For the year preceding, I lived in Cairo, which doesn’t exactly give great riding or climbing opportunities. In my favour, I had a few solid, regular MTB routes and one good road ride each week to develop strength, plus gym/roller sessions to mix weight loss with HIIT efforts. Going into the GF, I felt like my power was good, my endurance OK. My mind was stable: I knew my objective and I understood by body and its signals.
The day dawned clear and still. I snuck in a last espresso at the very back of the start grid in Aprica. The mood in the bunches seemed cheerful but reserved as we dawdled up to Ponte di Legno. Even as the Gavia loomed, the matchboxes were closely guarded. I had done some research of the route but not so much as to remove the uncertainty. I was surprised by the crap surface, especially high up (and so soon after the Giro) where the cracks and bumps in the road factored. The grades hurt for sure, but the suffering for me was all in the length. The ascending begins well before Ponte di Legno. Even after you emerge from the trees there’s a long haul ahead. I kept looking up only to see switchbacks way up there. But it didn’t hurt so bad. There were a few patches of snow beside the road but none on my scalp as I hit the pass.
The push to Mezzo was largely uneventful apart from a solid headwind which was largely averted by swapping off with a bunch of complete strangers. I had chased up to the little group and took a couple of turns to show I was willing but others sat on and eventually I did too because, like them, I had a healthy fear of the monster ahead.
The Mortirolo is just a steep hill. How you experience it depends on so many variables. After 110kms and the Gavia behind me, I just wanted to ride up it. I didn’t care about anything else – I just wanted to stay on my bike. As it sits now, I thought I might have been better, but on that day I did what I could and suffered like a bastard. The first kilometer took sooo long and already there was the disconcerting sight of quitters coming back down. I was already pushing 34-26 and doubting myself. At 3kms I felt like I was starting to find a rhythm but the struggle had really only just begun. There was no respite from the gradient. I got out of the saddle occasionally to give my aching quads and sit bones some relief. But mostly I was in absolute grind mode. For the next 6 kms – an hour and a bit. In the 34×28. I had the devil in one ear telling me to clip out and take a breather but I somehow found the will to push through. The mental battle was supreme. Riders rested at very switchback making the choice to rest step off seemingly acceptable. I reflected deeply on Rule #5, I lost my senses, I thought of my training, of my unique opportunity, of my own strict self-judgement. Thankfully the last kilometer eases back to 7.8% and I made the top with a carnt of a cramp but without putting a foot down. Without question, the most satisfying moment I have had on a bike.
@Harminator That’s a beautiful ride, write-up and photo. Chapeau!
I’ll be in that neck of the woods myself in 10 days. A small 4.1km climbing day to get to grips with. Thanks for at least letting me know the weather has been good !
Sunday morning velominipper time.
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@Harminator Incredible job! Nice K.50 Evo helmet too.
@Harminator Awesome.
@Chris Fabulous !!
@Harminator Well done! Great write up – love the pic.
@Harminator
Jesus H Christ, that sounds cruel. Well done, we don’t put our feet down. Note to self, stay away from Mortirolo.
2 and 2, that should find its way into the lexicon.
Cycle to the Sun just happened. Velominati was running the 2k meter aid station. Mauibike in foreground, first person under 3 hours, twenty years ago. Winning time this year was 2:47. Our boy Dave E. did it in 3:35, beating the DM’s time by some.
Who’s entered Ride of 6 this Sunday, and named their team after the site? Owing to your start time, I expect you will be at the pointy end, whilst we shall be at the other. Will keep an eye out anyway. VLVV, lets enjoy the gravel…
@Gianni where was the sun?
@Harminator awesome work, jealous as fuck.
@Harminator Awesome ride – sounds like a great day out!
Looking forward to and up and down day this coming Sunday. Not looking forward to the predicted thunder storms.
Hi all. Apologies for slight self-indulgent post, but some of you may have been in the area; just south of Midhopestones, in turn I’m guessing about 20k from top of Holmfirth on day 2 of Le Tour route, this Sunday just gone. Had a momentary lapse of concentration after 7 hrs on a bike, and the long and short of it is I used a dry stone wall at the bottom of a 25pc gradient as a crumple zone. Saw lots of concerned faces freewheel by as i was being loaded into helicopter – sorry to have spooked anyone at the end of what is an awesome, savage course. Luckily, i broke most ribs on right side, pelvis in correct place, and shoulder, but NOT back/neck, and i walked out of hospital yesterday, hopefully to be riding in a couple of months. Moral of the story, however long/hard/awesome the ride, never ever get complacent. I’ll be looking out for the remnants of my climbing jersey on TV this weekend!
@chew
Hope you have a speedy recovery and hope you aren’t in too much discomfort. Sounds like quite a crash.
@chew
Mend up quick…the season is moving on swiftly….enjoy TdF whilst recovering!
@Harminator Great ride! Chapeau.
@chew
Get well soon indeed! Glad to hear it could have been worse – and wasn’t.
@Harminator Jealous as all get out. Sounds like an amazing ride on some historic roads. Chapeau!
Lordy, I’m shattered from what should have been a simple endurance/tempo ride this morning. 33C when I walked out the door at 0515 (that’s 91F) and up to 35-36 over the next 90 minutes.
And it’s Ramadan so opportunities to rehydrate through the day are limited. I hate this time of year – apart from the TDF of course.
@Gianni
Ahhhhh, that flag !
Is there any Velominatus in the south of Netherlands (I’ll be staying in Nederweet for a week or two) who would like to show some pity on a lost Australian? While the bike has done considerable kms in the last few weeks it’s all been on the back of the car, so there is no fitness to speak.
I have seem countless people enjoying a sunny Sunday afternoon of sit-up-and-beg cruising, with recovery ale – which is of itself commendable but will struggle to work out how to turn endless bike paths into what might be called a ride.
Any Velominati at the Commie Road Race tomorrow?
@the Engine I have given this some thought and cant decide how and where.
@strathlubnaig
The train…
Live webcast of Tour of Utah: tourtracker.tourofutah.com. Don’t know if there are any geo restrictions. Stage 2 of 7 right now. And of course, Jens is in the break!
Last year we started a ride called the witch curse. We expanded the route calling it the witch curse omen. Expanded again as the witch curse omen massacre. And once more arriving at the witch curse IV. August 23 will be a one year anniversary for our gruppo and a new (secret) route (harder) has been planned — calling this ride the witch curse V…
From yesterday’s ride. It’s my new favorite route.
@Gianni
If I wanted to fly the Velominati flag at next years USA Pro Road Race National Championship in Chattanooga, TN on the Lookout Mtn climb, how would one get such a flag?
What’s on everyone’s dance card this weekend?
@TheGrandFondue & I have decided this is a good idea… http://www.strava.com/routes/808523
Safe to say pig headed stubbornness is going to play a fair part in keeping going in the second half of the day…
@VeloSix
A lot of bribery and corruption!
I sold my first born to pay the postage and handling to get the beast here to South Oz for the TDU then our Cogal.
Not to mention the cost of steam cleaning and rigorous inspection from customs on the way back to Gianni so it arrived back in one piece.
It is a great talking point however and we had heaps of people asking me about it along the roads of the TDU. Was flown proudly above the table’s at the post Cogal beer and pizza scoff also.
What date is the Nationals?
@Mikael Liddy
Yup, solid. I look forward to enjoying your hills one day.
@piwakawaka
funny you should mention that, if Gianni ever stops enjoying that paradise he lives in he might chuck up the article for next year’s TDU Cogal. 120k, 2,700m of climbing & views like this…
@Mikael Liddy I’ll start the negotiations now…
@piwakawaka fantastic, the 17th of Jan is the day in question. Saturday before the TDU kicks off.
@Mikael Liddy
Locked and loaded
@Mikael Liddy
Forgot to ask, is cramp and heat exhaustion an optional extra this year ?
@Barracuda it’s not advised…Victor to the hills is a fair way for the sag wagon to travel!
So here’s the end result of the course above…I’m fucking knackered!
and in pictorial form…
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Did the bike leg of a triathlon today. Team took 1st place.18-miles in 42min, under Rule #9 conditions.
Umm that was a pretty hard ride. Over 3500m climbing, and at least 5 hills hitting over 20%. I’ll write a bit more when I’m not on a mobile. But it was fun…
@Mikael Liddy great effort and great climbs !
I particularly like the photo of the iced coffee and Coopers, very fitting for our end of the planet.
Many casualties or all through fairly unscathed ?
What was the most enjoyable climb and conversely the hardest?
@Barracuda I wasn’t sure how they’d mix but it was a nice combo, probably didn’t hurt that the IC was made with actual espresso.
We had one poor bloke succumb to cramp after 12 of the 13 climbs (you’ll see a fallen beer in his honour in the table shot) & another clip-stack at the end of the last climb as he was stopping to wait for the rest of us, he was that cooked he couldn’t get his foot unclipped in time!
Pole Rd to Upper St road was definitely my fave of the official climbs, just found a good rhythm early & spun it to the top. Doesn’t hurt that it happened to be the most picturesque road all day.
Conversely, Ridge Rd (aka the 4 Whores) just outside Mylor is well & truly on my “never again” list. 1.3k @ 10% doesn’t sound too bad, but don’t let that deceive you. It’s 4 separate steps that all exceed 20% at some point, and 70+k & 2,000m in to a ride it was not welcome! Here’s how I looked at the top.