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.
[/rideitem]
[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.
[/rideitem]
[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.
[/rideitem]
[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.
[/rideitem]
[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.
[/rideitem]
[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.
[/rideitem]
[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.
[/rideitem]
@RobSandy
@Rob Sandy, good on you getting the velonipper on sa tandem! In a few years show him some footage of old school tandem track racing crashes and he’ll look back with a special nostalgia on those rides.
As to the Kelly image: What is he thinking…? “Fuk I don’t have a team mechanic anymore, this is going to be a bit hard to clean up.” Or “Jasus, if this shite gets any deeper I’m turning around paparazzi or not.”
@Rob
I’d go with the first quote. “Oh crap, this is going to take hours to clean up. Oh well, Linda knows the bike comes first . . .” I think there’s a whole video of this particular ride out there on the interwebs.
@JohnB
Excellent!
@Teocalli
Angus and I are also signed up for the 130 km route. He will not beat me.
@chris
Nice – any interest in hooking up at the start?
@Teocalli
I’d love to, we’ll be riding with three other from our local club but I don’t think they’d have a problem with it.
It’s likely to be quick, I couldn’t stick with them last year but I’ve more time for training at the moment.
@chris
OK talk nearer the time – no probs if I need to take it easy and drop off the back. Though I’m smacking in Hill Reps so should not be in too bad shape by Spring all being well……..
Im curious, I cant even guess what this could be…. anyone have ideas? I mean it must cool if its Campag… But what !
@Hapsmo
I just signed up. Can’t afford any more upgrades for a while though. Just had my deviated septum repaired. Gotta pay the docs. Not exactly tired of my 2011 Record 11 Grouppo though. It’s still pretty nice.
@Hapsmo
Electric Motors are the current trend – maybe something along those lines?
@Teocalli
Movements – something to do with keeping you regular?
A car with no motor, a watch with no gears a boat with no oars the unbuilt frame is a photograph that Campagnolo turns to video.
Maybe hiring a proofreader would be movement in the right direction?
@Hapsmo
It reads as if it would be some sort of flexible frame.
Yeah I think its something to do with E bikes, or the shifting gizmo they filed a patent for…
@RobSandy
Ok so @RobSandy may be onto something here……
Cycling keeps me regular, but I’m under Doctor’s orders not to exercise until he clears me to do so (Just had Septoplasty/Turbinectomy), so extra fiber will have to do for the time being.
@Art G
Good fun that Septoplasty/Turbinectomy! Had that done in February, Takes 6 to 12 months to recover. So far, so good! Great to breathe normally!
@sthilzy
Seened podiatrist and he was somewhat anti orthotic, as was the doctor. Podiatrist showed me some 3′ wedges that he prescribes to downhill skiers that go under the bindings to correct malalignment . He viewed me walking on treadmill and saw how much pronation/roll-in I had. He explained about mechanical correction as in not using orthotics with the arch of the foot, rather than correct the whole foot by tipping it over to correct alignment.
So I got myself a 3D printer, reversed engineered my Speedplay base plates to add, at a starting point, 3′ of tilt. Wow! So much difference for the better. The physio gave me calf strengthening exercises for the LH calf and has made a huge difference! Now riding is so much enjoyable, rather than than how sore am i going to end up after the ride.
@sthilzy
I believe you mean Compensate rather than Correct. The difference is significant. Effectively what you are doing is to fill the gap between your natural gait and what is needed to achieve a flat ski (in skiing) or flat contact with your pedal in our context. So you put wedges in the side where your foot is “high”.
@sthilzy
“So I got myself a 3D printer, reversed engineered my Speedplay base plates to add, at a starting point, 3′ of tilt.”
That feat alone is quite impressive!
@Teocalli
Compensate/Correct – either way difference is insignificant, as either correcting or compensating for stuffed up footing with “wedges” has made a massive improvement/progress! Trust me a HUGE difference for the better!
@MangoDave
Not a problem! Enjoyed the challenge!
@sthilzy
Nipple lube…
Too much photographic detail.
Why does one have this done? I’m assuming this isn’t the op you need after years of snorting coke.
@ChrisO
Nose job? In 25 words or less – I fell/crawled down a couple of flights of stairs as a sub 2 year old and the 70’s doc said nose be ok growing up. After 45+ years breathing out of one nostril due to nose being bent and having a largish bump on my honker, time for a fixing. Mind you I was to have it done at the turn of the century, but met girl, bride-ing, boughting housing, breeding and blimping……
Has anyone had PRP Therapy? If so results/conclusions please!
I think my hill reps today might just be on the rollers…….
@Teocalli
The nice thing about a trainer is that you can put the front wheel in a climbing block to get the feet of going uphill. The funny thing is that many Amazon reviewers were convinced that their rides were more difficult as a result of raising their front wheels with the climbing block. Gravity and physics, folks.
I do have to admit that putting on a Train with GCN climbing workout with my front wheel raised added a somewhat realistic feel to my workouts.
@Teocalli
Nice photo. And yep: my neck of the woods (South-West of Denmark) looks similar today. Haven’t been out on the road for quite a while now – not only because of the snow/ice itself (which does, sometimes, disappear during the day) but because the roads around here are pickled in brine these days. Bad environment for shiny metal bits.
It’s been the home trainer for me (and, to a degree, the pool) since the start of November…
@Rick
Yeah I double that up by putting on a fan to replicate riding into a headwind……….
@Teocalli
And now you’ve made me post this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSzfXDj_1fg
@RobSandy
Brilliant!
@RobSandy
Excellent. But wait until his mother gets home . . .
Off topic, I know the rules are about quality, not quantity, but goals are good as they keep us going out when most others look outside and head for the fridge. Usually I shoot for 10K a year. This year, with many work obligations on weeknights and weekends, the goal was reduced to 8K. As of yesterday, I thought I had 70kms to go, and despite it being cold and overcast and the roads a wee bit snowy, I got 46 in. Only 24kms to go . . . or so I thought. I checked my milage log (aka a free calendar from Fleet Farm) only to discover I’m still 128 kms short!
Luckily, I’m off Friday through Monday and the forecast is decent – high 20s, low 30s and the snow should be mostly gone. I’m glad I checked the numbers as I’d have been pissed to tot up the numbers in January to discover I was short!
Oh, and in case anyone asks why I don’t just look at my computer for a total, I ride five bikes with computers . . .
@wiscot
I’ve had a nuts year and I’m 200 miles off target rate (flog me with mini pumps for the infringement). I don’t count roller miles but now starting to add those to try to catch up……I have a sneaky solution to your problem – I have one computer (Garmin) and move it from bike to bike……….
Roll on next year and Retirement.
@Teocalli
I’m going to finish the year on 9,400, something like that. I think that’s normal for me, never quite get to 10,000. But I’ve only been Strava-ing for 2 years.
I was having a conversation with the VMW on Sunday about how well I’ve been doing for punctures and mechanicals. Big mistake.
On Monday I had a front wheel puncture on my commuter on the way in, and noticed while putting a new tube in I’d also broken a spoke on the back wheel.
So I rode my Felt F75 into work today, and noticed the RD chattering and skipping slightly. I thought I’d fix it at work, but then I managed to throw my chain off the big ring and totally bent one of the links of my chain. I was halfway to work so managed to soft-pedal in, straight to the bike shop.
The owner fixed it in 2 seconds with 2 pairs of pliers (imparting at the same time that he would never recommend changing a chain without changing a cassette, and to always use Sram chains as they are much better then Shimano – noted). I have just tuned my RD in the office, so hopefully will get home without further incident.
@Teocalli
I find that positioning the fan to simulate a crosswind keeps me cooler. This seems to give me more benefit from the moving air than riding into a headwind.
@Rick
And will allow an echelon to form behind you, if other folks want to do their workout in the same room.
@Rick
Hmm – that could have an impact on Rollers. My #9 Bike has an old set of Gruppo Nucleon wheels and they are terrible in cross winds. Must be the bladed spokes of that era. Would not fancy riding those on rollers in a cross wind!
@RobSandy
Also, with my Pantani-esque pate the headwind blowing through my hair is a non issue. Therefore, the cross wind makes the most sense, even if it means an occasional echelon forming in my living room.
@RobSandy
I like KMC Chains. Though I’m mostly running Gruppo chains at the moment as they came with my new group set.
@Teocalli
The bloke in the shop said he takes Dura Ace chains off bikes for his race team and puts Sram chains on.
Also, that bike shop is the biggest dealer of Looks in the UK.
This is a fairly awesome story and resonates.
https://cyclingtips.com/2017/12/the-lifer-the-extraordinary-story-of-a-somewhat-ordinary-bike-racer/
@Teocalli
Yup, I’ve done KMC, SRAM, basically whatever’s on sale. So long as they’re compatible, I’ve had no issues. Keep it clean and lubed is the way to go. BTW, the universal link is the greatest thing since sliced bread IMHO.
While I’m here, anyone had any experience of heat-molding Shimano shoe insoles?
@RobSandy
10,000 kms is my normal target and has been achieved for several years in a row now. I don’t count roller miles as they’re not miles, just time.
While not wishing to tempt fate like you did, I think I’ve only had 2 punctures this year. In the winter I carry an old school frame pump as it’s easier to use in 20 degree weather than fiddling around with CO2 cannisters at the sidse of the road while you’re standing in snow . . .
BTW, if anyone’s looking for a cheap winter trainer, check out your local Aldi this week.
@Teocalli
Yes, that could be an issue of one’s fan is strong enough. Having always been a trainer trainer, it has not been an issue for me. Plus the fact that my fan is hardly industrial strength and I don’t put deep rim wheels on inside.
Fan placement is simply a matter of obtaining the maximum benefit of the provided air flow. I put mine in front for years until I saw a video where the commentator placed the fan to his side and explained the air flow benefits. I probably would have never figured that out by myself but when I heard it my reaction was: Duh!
I’m close to my highest ever total but Strava gives me two totals – the training calendar says 15,514km and the Profile says 15,035 so I don’t know where I really am. I’m going with the higher one.
Touch and go if I can add 600km between now and New Year to get 16,100 or 10,000 miles which would be nice. I guess somewhere I can work out how much is on the road and how much is on the trainer – it’s usually about 60-40 in favour of road.
@ChrisO
Does that include Zwift kms because you seem to rack up the distance there!
@RobSandy
It does include them yes. I found the button to exclude virtual rides and it’s just under 7,900 outside, so a slim majority of 52%.
Very different in time though – outside is 303.5 hrs from a total of 506.3 so more like 60%.
I guess the extra miles have been more indoor – normally I’m around 12,000 km total and about 60% outside in distance as well.
I find it pretty accurate for distance – when I was in Dubai and could ride on reasonably flat roads without interruption I tested outside v Zwift at similar power over time and they usually came out very close. But
I worked out what the different totals are. One is the last 12 months exactly and the other is year to date, allthough that still doesn’t make a lot of sense because the YTD is higher than the 12 months.
@wiscot
I’ve broken Shimano and KMC chains, but never SRAM or Campa. I’ve only just started to trust KMC again recently, they seem to have improved over the years. I’m not a big rider, but those off road MTB rides have steep hills and put a lot of stress on chains.
I recall running Sedis all the time in the past, then they were bought and renamed to SRAM. I never did figure out if they are the same manufacturer or truly different. .
@Teocalli
I have a set of Neutrons, which are just like the Nucleons. I’ve never had an issue with them in cross winds, so I’m surprised at your experiences.
@MangoDave
Back in the 80s I used Sedis chains all the time. Now mostly Sram and KMC. The only time in recent memory I broke a chain was when I tried inserting the pin back in to a Shimano chain after breaking it apart. On 7 or 8 speed chains you could do that easily, but the narrow ones are much more finnicky. Hence, I use the masterlink chains these days without worry. Having the right tool to get the chain/master link apart helps too!