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
Thinking of doing this one myself as well. Let me know if you guys do sign up. We could put together a mini-cogal. (with retro bikes) I’ve still got to figure out what bike to ride for that as I don’t have anything in the quiver that meets L’Eroica rules.
@Teocalli
FYI Cardiff Roubaix the 2nd is 29th of August (Monday Bank Holiday).
@RobSandy
Will put in the diary
Marshall Gordon wins!
Short tempo training ride this afternoon. Certain things occurred to me on the ride.
1. Thoroughly cleaning my bike while the weather was dry outside then having the heavens open when I was 10 minutes up the road felt like a waste of time.
2. Fitting new brake blocks and adjusting my brakes was NOT a waste of time. I had wondered why my braking had felt a bit soggy, now I know; my brakes weren’t working.
3. I managed to solve the horrible crunching/creaking noise that sounded like my bottom bracket failing; it was my cadence sensor knocking against my frame and the speed sensor. They will not be touching my bike again.
4. Riding in a V Jersey made me ride V km/hr faster. Fact.
@emerson
What a super cool cat and i’view. Local racing buds of mine claim that this was hardest race ever for ’em. That the course at Biltmore was VERY difficult. I’ve watched video but the difficulty just can’t be understood unless actually there and racing I guess. And this cat here raced with full suspension mtn bike! 75+ ! Outstanding.
@chris
Kids and cross! Cheers. My daughter taking the hole shot this season, she’s fast on her mtn bike:
How’s this for some good photo work? Some CX action from this season, RIP Ritchey
:
What? It’ll work as long as you turn whilst not pedaling! Give’er!
Wondering if anybody on here’s planning to do the Old Man Winter Rally in Lyons / Boulder, CO on February 7. I’m doing the long course — 100k, 1,400m of climbing, roads, gravel, and one section of singletrack that roadies like me will likely need to run. (Hence the potentially Rules non-compliant mountain pedals on my R3 at the moment.) It’s sponsored by Oskar Blues, so there’s beer at the end.
@LawnCzar
That could have been a cool way to end our trip to CO but we fly home that evening. Shame.
@RobSandy
1. Thoroughly cleaning my bike while the weather was dry outside then having the heavens open when I was 10 minutes up the road felt like a waste of time.
It’s the way of the V. Even if it is pissing down, never start out on a dirty bike. Not least as cleaning should also include checking over to ensure no failures on the ride.
Conversation with cycling buddy at start of a wet ride:
Me – Your bike is filthy.
He – Yeah but it would be in this state in 5 mins anyway.
Me – So?
@Teocalli
True.
Full race licence arrived in the post this week. First road races signed up for. That is all.
@RobSandy
I love this time of year. All the race dates are starting to get posted and the spreadsheet is coming together. Two columns, one for the definates and another for the alternates. Trying to figure out if can make it to one city on a Sat and to another by Sunday. And I’ve got the combo of my kid’s HS Mtn Bike Season this spring, my daughter’s RR schedule and the races I love, all to button up. What a blast. Thank the good lord for good health !! And I suppose cheap gas.
USA Cycling posts their licenses via an app… just carry the phone to packet pick up. No more hard copy. Cheers
Chance encounter at yesterdays TDU street race.
@wilburrox
Ah, but this is my FIRST full race licence. However, I’ve just started my last build block of training (3 weeks worth) and my legs feel like crap. Is this normal?
I’m on holiday for most of May so I’ve timed it well (assuming my legs come back) to have an early season peak through March, and then a late season peak in July.
Just got to negotiate races with my VMW. She’s got some racing ambitions too but has just come down with severe sciatica and can barely walk, let alone ride. This sucks.
@RobSandy
Well I wish for you much good luck, good fun and good fitness this season ! Cheers
Looks like there is going to be an Eroica NL this year http://www.eroicalimburg.nl might look at that instead of Spain as it’s a bit easier to get to.
@Teocalli
Dang, that’s were I grew up and did my first tours on my Koga’s. I bought my 1982 Koga Roadspeed there, so Nr 9 might just be anxious to go back to its roots!
http://www.cyclingnews.com/blogs/author/michael-woods-under-pressure/
My my new favourite rider. A great article on Michael Woods coming of age at the TDU.
@kixsand
Yup, I am jumping on the Michael Woods train as well. Only found out about him this last month.
Just imagine what he could have done if he had not “wasted” so many years of his life becoming a world class runner.
Not Paris Roubaix
@Barracuda
So fucking cool!!! Really, really cool. Very envious!
@Buck Rogers
I should have told Pat Jonker to straighten his lid up for the photo.
@Buck Rogers
Was a good day on the road, 70kms, Bit of a Q and A afterwards. No elephants to be seen. Plenty of P-R stories though
@Barracuda
that’s the thing about elephants, they’re really good at hiding in some rooms…
@Mikael Liddy
Correct, but none the less, was good to be belting along the black top with a couple of former Pro’s
@Barracuda
He’s a pretty regular offender in that regard from what I’ve seen. Great bloke, but never looks particularly squared away on the bike.
@Mikael Liddy
BTW, with regards my new lid, I’m not convinced that the dirty great big vents at the front and rear make any difference to cooling. Reckon my Bell Sweep was cooler and it has less venting. H + 1
So, some mates went on a little pedal over the weekend. Kinda puts the 200 on 100 to shame – https://www.strava.com/activities/493029019
@Mikael Liddy
An amazing effort, totally in awe.
I was going to ride 100kms to ride a bit of the last stretch home with them but couldn’t manage to get all the ducks in a row for the time required to ride to meet them. Let alone 1100 kms.
Awesome logistical, physical and mental effort.
@Barracuda
Probably a good thing, some lads went down to meet them at Strath, except they got there about 6hrs early, waited around a bit at the bakery & then just rode home…100k round trip for nada!
Focused most all day on building up #1 tomorrow. On her own, my wife remembers to stock up on Dutch Chocolate Milk.
@Barracuda
That’s something else and what an awesome finish up and over. Days are getting shorter down under. Hope ya’ll have enjoyed but is our time for some longer days and springtime weather up on the other half of the globe.
@Mikael Liddy
Now that’s a horse of a different colour right there.
More along the lines of the RAAM than an extended one day classic.
Crazy stuff that I never see myself doing. Amazing, but crazy.
Well what do you know, I’m going to be racing against THE William Fotheringham in a month in a race in Abergavenny. I’ll make sure I polish the V Decals on my bike.
Just signed up for L’eroica NL www.http://eroicalimburg.com anyone else thinking of going?
@Teocalli
Damn, Damn, Triple DAMN!!! I will not arrive in Germany until the end of the July. I am putting it on the calendar for 2017, though!
What the FUCK?!?!?! Did Stybar let Sparty win??? Sagan again falls flat at the finish. FUCK! Styler totally looked like he let Sparty win that to me. At least Lizzie won in the WC Jersey.
@Buck Rogers
Naaah! Stybar was wrecked. They all were. I think he was digging deep to honor Brambilla but couldn’t close the deal. Sparty timed his effort perfectly. Points off for tossing your bike. Epic edition.
@Buck Rogers
Nah, he played it to perfection by slowing up in to the last corner with Styby stuck outside him. By scrubbing that little extra speed it meant Stybar was level with him & could be kept out there instead of being able to cut inside from just behind his back wheel..
Skillz
Also, Sagan must be getting sick of this race. Continually makes the selection, but just can’t finish it off…
@Mikael Liddy
This.
Whoever went around that corner first was going to be the winner. It was a good race. Kudos to Gianluca who was heroic in his efforts to set it up for Stybar – Etix got their strategy right this time round.
@Buck Rogers
That would be cool to hook up. Will obviously report back on the event. If it’s half as good as the UK one it will be great. Maybe a vintage V group.
@kixsand
Not quite…
@Oli
Stybar couldn’t bring it home but that wasn’t a strategic foible – either you’ve got the legs or you don’t. With Brambillia up the road over the last kms and Stybar able to sit on the back while Sparty and Sagan chased, Stybar should have been the freshest at the line. This is textbook and I’m still amazed at how well BRambillia was able to fulfil his role – little fucker almost won the thing! While the result could have been better, I don’t think you can pin the loss on team strategy.
@kixsand
Amazing effort by Gianluca. Poor bastard must have thought someone threw his brakes on as those two blew by him! Congrats Spartacus!
@kixsand
Three riders in the top five and still couldn’t get the win – to me that’s a strategic fail.