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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@RobSandy
Nice one!
@Teocalli
This was yesterday mornings commute… wetter than Neptunes flannel!
*EDIT – How the hell do I rotate this?!*
@RobSandy
I think I rode one, maybe two crits in my time. Too crazy for me and I didn’t relish getting taken out by some young kamikaze. Much preferred the solitary suffering of a good TT. Seven isn’t a lot even if you did them all. It takes practice to learn how to focus and how to judge your effort to perfection so that there’s nothing left at the end.
Are they all on the same course? That’s important as repeated rides will let you learn gearing and cadence.How big is the field? Never underestimate the value of having someone to chase. Try a few open events too.
My old club (Johnstone Wheelers) had lots of club TTs and at the end of the season had awards for their 10 and 25 mile championships (basically the fastest time in a club-only event over those distances), plus a short (10 and 25) mile championship and a middle distance championship (25 and 50) miles. I think there was a long distance one for 50, 100 and 12 hour races but I was never crazy enough to TT a century let alone a 12 hour.
@VeloJello
That would be @The Engine’s weather. Horizontal.
@wiscot
I like both, I think. I do like the solitary suffering, pacing and sensation of speed of a TT, but I do enjoy the shoulder-to-shoulder competition of a proper race. The two main locations for crits round her are the outdoor velodrome and a car racetrack, so they are quite wide and open and the bends aren’t too technical. My experience last night suggests that while my ability to maintain a consistent level of effort is not bad for a relative newby, I need to work on being able to accelerate aggressively out of corners to stay with the pack. I was shocked by some of the accelerations made by the group – got dropped on one of the corners on the 2nd lap and then spent most of the race riding on my own. Until I got lapped.
The TT series is probably on 4 or 5 courses. So there will be ample opportunity to learn the courses. I actually found Google street view a lot of use pre-race to check out the junctions, hills, bends etc. I think the field is typically about 40, mixture of men/women, vets/seniors/juniors. It’s the vets who are the fastest!
I feel like I’ve heard of Johnstone Wheelers…do they have any famous alumni? Apart from wiscot of the Velominati, of course.
So the 100 mile Competition Record was smashed to pieces this weekend: Over 30mph for 100 miles – insane. Impeccable execution and steady power the whole way.
@RobSandy this might interest you. A writeup by the rider here. Looks like a chainring is no longer worthy of being called a “big ring” if it’s less than 65t!
@tessar
Wow. How on earth can you ride that fast, for that long?
His bike looks like a tricycle! Chapeau.
Hey, is anyone else going to ride Levi’s fondo in Santa Rosa this October? I signed up months ago, but I’m finally getting ready to book my plane ticket. Wondering how early I should show up, just in case others want to get in a few km the days before the event. I aim to Peak In Two Months, but more likely will Not Suck As Bad In Two Months. Hard to train in the 44*C heat here now. (Yeah, trying to HTFU).
I got an email from the event sponsors, they say that Der Kaiser Himself will be riding this year. My hero!
My wife has started road riding, and since then, 100% of the times she’s been out she’s been subject to some sort of verbal abuse from car drivers. This even happens when we’re riding together but I’m up the road a few hundred metres.
She’s also been on women’s rides with our cycling club, and the impression she got from the other ladies was that it was pretty much par for the course.
Reading this article suggests it’s fairly endemic. http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/jun/11/female-cyclists-bad-driving-harassment-study-uk-women-men-near-miss
I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone shout anything at me specifically – I’ve experienced the usual scary driving but not the abuse. Why do car drivers think it’s acceptable to shout unpleasant things at girls and ladies out on their bikes? This is not cool.
@RobSandy
A few years ago we had some prat try to pick a fight with myself and 2 mates. This guy was overweight and not in great shape – I may be small but have a background looking after myself on a Rugby field and my two mates were both over 6 foot. When we all actually got of our bikes his girlfriends shoved him back in the car and he drove off still yelling out of the window. The moral here is that such drivers are basically just bullies and like bullies everywhere they only pick on what they think are targets that won’t fight back. Basically they are worthless shits full of wind who will only pick on soft targets and who have such low self esteem that they see women on bikes as some sort of affront to their supposed male prowess?
@tessar
That is ridiculously quick but to put it into perspective, Ian Cammish did 3:11:11 on a straight out course in 1993 on one of these
@tessar
Also, have you noticed the latest in aero tech? The adhesive rip strip on RB’s leg?
@Teocalli
What really grips my shit is that it never happens to me. I ride pretty aggressively – get out in the middle of the road if it’s narrow, don’t care if I hold up traffic…and I do a lot more miles. But no-one dares say a word, yet if they see someone they are not scared of they’ll shout horrible abuse at them.
I hope to catch someone doing it one day, especially if I’m on my commuter with my mtn bike shoes on…
@RobSandy
Of course it doesn’t happen to you, from previous photos you posted you are built like a brick shit house! These idiots are cowards as are most (all?) bullies. They will only pick on what they see as a soft target.
https://video.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-xpa1/v/t42.1790-2/11835331_894124610668390_1853552453_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOjM3MCwicmxhIjo1MTJ9&rl=370&vabr=206&oh=ef6e36fb5abcda1e8707c049c1c75ab9&oe=55CCBC07
This guy is paralysed from the waist down, and is back on a bike. Incredible.
@chris
I thought it was a miss-aimed snot rocket!
London-ish Velominati – it isn’t a Cogal but it could sort of be, if you’re looking for a nice end-of-season ride.
I’ll be doing the Dulwich Paragon Ride of the Falling Leaves sportive on Sunday Oct 4. A very nice 115km route around some lovely Surrey countryside with a few nasty little climbs.
It’s called a sportive but it isn’t a massive event. Only a few hundred riders, mostly in smallish groups. It starts with a lap of Herne Hill Velodrome and finishes just down the road with food and drink at the picturesque Dulwich Sports Club.
Entries will start in the next couple of weeks. If anyone is interested I’ll let you know when it’s open.
@RobSandy
Brian Smith was a long time member – as was his whole family. He was British RR champ twice, a (short-lived pro with Motorola because he apparently wouldn’t drink the COTHO kool-Aid) and is now very involved in commentating and team administration. He was always one of those riders who made it look easy.
Anyone got any recommendations if I was going to go for a 4hr/ 120 k ish ride out of central Manchester?
I’ve got a mate’s wedding in the afternoon but I’ll be on my own with time to kill in the morning so it seems like a good opportunity to get some kms in. I was thinking of riding out on the A628 and back along the A57 but don’t know how busy they’d get on a weekend morning.
Rob,
Get the train to Alderley Edge. Ride the pave up Swiss Hill. Continue to Bollington. Do Blaze Hill, then continue over Pym Chair. Legs baked, ride up the Goyt Valley, then down Wilboarclough. From there, do as many Peak District hills as time allows. Return in a mad rush to Manchester getting list in the suburbs with insufficient time to prepare properly for the wedding. Sorted. Glorious if sunny, but fear not, it will actually piss down the whole time.
@Verytallguy
Thanks for the recommendation! I’ll look into i
This was pretty much my plan…
Oh my days, check out what I’ve just entered…
http://cycleclassics.co.uk/cardiff-roubaix/
@RobSandy
Damn, that sounds fun! Kinda like our Cheesehead Roubaix here in Wisconsin but we don’t get to finish on a velodrome. Enjoy!
@RobSandy
Dang – that looks like fun. Wonder whether I can change my weekend plans.
@Teocalli
Do it! I’m going to do it on my flat bar commuter rather than get gravel chips on my Nr#1.
Weird thing is, no one I know had heard anything about it until the start of this week. Poor planning!
@RobSandy
The event is intended to mimic the professional one-day Classic ‘Paris-Roubaix’ (as far as is possible), and as such is designed to be ridden on road bikes with dropbars.
@universo
And I’ve just looked at the route and only 26k of the 120 is on gravel. So for the remaining 94 I think I’d rather be on my road bike, and to that end it might be better leaving the set up as it is. I’m not intending buy special tyres or anything. Maybe I could just stick some of that clear plastic stuff on the underside of the frame to limit damage!
@RobSandy
Perhaps most of the ‘battle damage’ will just end up on the cranks ??
Lovely
@universo
Yes, maybe. Think I’ll just risk the tyres etc I already have.
@RobSandy
There is a distinct possibility of coming over with #9 bike.
@RobSandy
OK a weekend down in Mission Control looking for Morgan The Moon is being planned.
@Teocalli
Are you talking in code now?
Glad I brought it to your attention, in any case. I’d say look out for me but I’ll be in club kit and I think there will be plenty of Ajax riders around.
@RobSandy
I’ll be in Cranleigh kit – I’m sure I’ll be the only one.
Max Boyce…………..
@RobSandy
Booked up.
@Teocalli
Awesome. Supposed to be a lovely day, too.
@Teocalli
FYI I’m going to do a recce of some of the gravel tracks (Percoed Reen) on my way home from work tonight (shows how local this ride is for me) – want any feedback or would you prefer the surprise?
@RobSandy
Feedback would be good as not sure whether to bring #1 or #9 bike
@Teocalli
Might depend if it’s rainy or not, no? The forecast for Monday is mostly dry.
@Kevin
I thought it was a big scar! Or some exoskeleton-aid sewn into the leg muscles like some kind of mechanical doping.
@Teocalli
Rode the first two unpaved sectors last night; percoed reen and another. The reen is fine, even gravel. Hard work but not scary or bike trashing. The next was much tougher, mix of broken tarmac, gravel and mud.
My bike was pretty dirty when I got back but that’s all. I’m even more excited now.
One other tip; the headwinds on the return leg from Newport to Cardiff can be pretty savage. It’ll be just like Belgium.
@RobSandy
Nice. Thanks.
And so it begins, particularly angry little pricks this year. However, i will NOT succumb to the zip tie.
Pic from @RobSandy‘s local Cardiff Roubaix in South Wales. Exploring the not so Bianche South Wales Strade Bianche.
Great event. On the calendar to repeat next year.
@Barracuda
Great shot though.
@Teocalli
While we’re at it, here’s me looking much less happy at the same point of the ride.
Pain/mud face
@RobSandy
Great shot there. On reflection maybe you should go with the XL jersey…………
@Teocalli
That, and a little Rule #33 compliance. If nothing else it would go a long way to helping the post ride clean up.
In regards to your expression, I suspect that’s not pain, but anguish from having to look at the “definitely not fabulous” bootie repair job in front of you.
@Teocalli
Six of the nasty pricks last night in the space of 30kms. Extra angry and aggressive this year.
@DeKerr
I do comply with Rule #33 via the sub-clause regarding dishing out hurt to shaved riders.
@Teocalli
Yes, I’m thinking so. I’m 10cms taller than you and not far off 20kg heavier, I’m probably more than one size bigger…