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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Fellow Velominati, I hearby submit my application to have graduated from Pedwan to full Velominatus.
In the last 6 months I have-
Felt the pull of N+1
Splashed out on a 2nd hand frameset
Gradually collected the components by cunning tricks and spousal deception
Built the bike up with my own hands
Sought expert help when required
Applied a sweet and perfect tape job
Taken the bike to a proper road race and competed
Crashed said bike in said road race, but instinctively threw myself between the bike and the ground and avoided any damage to the bike
Got back on and rode hard to the finish to check the bike and the body still worked
I feel like I’ve passed some sort of test.
@RobSandy
Well it won’t take much to get a majority vote these days!
@RobSandy
You get my vote for all the reasons you cite, plus the fact that you still show up here and post!
@wiscot
+1 to you @RobSandy
I haven’t had time to post in a couple weeks, better keep doing it while I still can. Some random thoughts…
I tore down an old bike and build up a new(to me) bike on Saturday. I’d post pics, but it’s an MTB, so probably not much interest here.
Paris-Nice had some pretty good racing moments, I’m surprised no one has been talking about it.
I’m woefully unprepared for a monster of a gravel race in May.
@wiscot – have you read The Great Bike Race by Geoffrey Nicholson? I recently finished it, it’s a wonderfully written account of the 1976 Tour, would recommend it to all.
@MangoDave
@MangoDave
@Teocalli
TBH I just wanted to share the story. I’m still 50% shaken up, 50% buzzing from the adrenaline.
I’m still not sure how I didn’t come off worse -there was a 3-bike pile up right in front of me in a bunch clipping along about 40kph. Somehow I ended up on the ground, on my back with my bike on top of me, on clear tarmac on the other side of the crash.
I know I went over the handlebars – I must have fully cleared the bodies and bikes while going over the bars and then rolled on my shoulder on the other side. I’ve got a few bruises but that’s it. Not a scratch on the bike and none of my kit is even torn.
@RobSandy
Good outcome if you really have to crash!
@MangoDave
Was watching the final stage yesterday on Eurosport. Great run-in to the finish. Shame for Yates but great ride by Soler.
Two and a bit weeks to go……..
@Teocalli
My favorite race of the year.
@Rick
Are we talking Ronde or P-R or or both?
@RobSandy
https://youtu.be/2YsC1v-jL1M
@RobSandy
Ronde Sportif specifically but does for both.
@RobSandy
Sounds like a lucky escape!
+1 for the transition from Pedalwan to Velominatus, but for racing and not giving up when most would have used the crash as an excuse to end the suffering; nipple lube!
@MangoDave
No I haven’t, but thanks for the tip. 76 was Van Impe’s year and the start of Cyrille Guimard’s reign as DS of Van Impe, Hinault and Fignon.
@RobSandy
They’ll both have to be cracking races to beat Strade Bianche IMHO.
@MangoDave
May 12th is my big gravel ride: The Bear 100 in Laona, WI. 100+ miles (the actual distance is always a bit vague until you’ve finished). This’ll be my 4th time doing it. It’s the first organized century I do in the year and always the hardest. It’s unsupported with only 4 (very modest) water stops, and starts and finishes from a bar. I do try and get at least one road century in beforehand . . .
@chris
I wasn’t suffering when I crashed. I was feeling good – I’d had a little pop off the front and got back in the bunch (rather then them all cruising past me which has happened before). But then the scratch group caught us (it was a handicap race) and carnage ensued.
Worst part of it, one of my team mates caused the crash and brought 2 of us down with him. Grr.
@wiscot
Yes, as our resident historian, there will be no plot surprises for you. It does have the obligatory “explaining stage racing” section, but I think it was relatively unknown to the general public 40+ years ago. But as I mentioned, it’s well written and fun to read. It seems there’s a quotable phrase every couple of pages, even if it’s just general commentary, not directly related to cycling.
@wiscot
I’m doing my first road century of the calendar year this coming Saturday. I need the miles in my legs, but it’s mostly flat and a poor preparation for my May gravel ride. It’s called the Chino Grinder here in Arizona, 185 km with tons of climbing, great scenery and high elevations. It’s much better supported than your meager water stops, at least.
@MangoDave
Hey, it’s something. And flat, and well-supported. I always think centuries are as much psychological as physical. And it’ll be warm too for you. We’ve had one day in the 50s here this year. Most of my 300+ miles this year have been done in 20s and 30s. (not counting wind chill)
The Bear 100 is “rolling” with some really narly bits. It’s a lot of soft gravel too which sucks the life out of your legs. First time I rode it there were only two water stops. You can carry enough food for a century, but not enough water!
@MangoDave
I think Nicholson wrote for the Telegraph, didn’t he? Anyhoo, in 1976 there was no cycling on British TV that’s for sure. Results were in The Comic and maybe the small print results in the broadsheets.
The two organized rides I’ll do this year.
Fleche Buffoon. 75 miles, 5,900 feet of elevation gain, 14 steep climbs.
http://www.flechebuffoon.com
https://www.pezcyclingnews.com/features/lessons-from-the-badger-the-truth-behind-fleche-buffoon/
Triple Peak Gran Fondo (I’m doing the Double Peak Metric+). 71 miles, 2 mountain peaks, 5,100 feet of elevation gain, 2 miles of gravel (although I’m told the gravel is more like hard pack dirt with some gravel).
https://www.elementsport.com/triple-peak-fondo/
Informal VSP on MSR?
Sagan or Kwiato? Anyone else in the frame?
I think Sags will do it this year.
I think that he will not want to be Kwiato’d this year and so will not lead out and will get out-sprinted Viviani?
@RobSandy
I’d love to see Sagan get it, but he’s talking about creating drama in the race, so we might see him attack on the Poggio and not have the legs in a sprint. Then again, when has Sagan not had the legs?!
@mulebeatsdrums
Not entirely on topic, but I found this on Graeme Obree and technology. Well worth a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ9H0INZ2_s
The guy still looks bloody fit!
@mulebeatsdrums
Here are my guesses for the MIA VSP
Sagan, Demare, Kittel, Greipel, Viviani
I haven’t been following Sagan’s progress this spring. Is he in good form already?
Demare, Quiet Cow Ski, Sagan, Greipel, GVA
Sagan, Gaviria, Kwiatkowski, Kristoff, Demare
Just a note here that Luke Rowe will be riding MSR just seven months after his career threatening leg injury. He must have worked his ass off to get back, well done Luke!
Sagz FTW!
OK so I’ll try to run an unofficial VSP. Simple rules at least to start with 6 for Win then 4,3,2,1. No subs allowed as I have to copy everything manually. Points (at least initially) only on actual places as that keeps my excel simple.
I could live to regret this……..
OK so I’ll try to run an unofficial VSP. Simple rules at least to start with 6 for Win then 4,3,2,1. No subs allowed as I have to copy everything manually. Points (at least initially) only on actual places as that keeps my excel simple.
I could live to regret this……..
Oh and please use correct surnames to save my brain ache!
Hedging a bunch of bets here –
Viviani
Alaphilippe
Sagan
Kwiatkowski
van Avermaet
So I have a working model for 7 for 1st then 5,4,3,2 plus 1 for a placing in the top 5 but in the wrong position……
This is strictly for fun – RED CARDS will be issued for any abuse of the officials……ie me!
@Teocalli
You’re a good, brave man. Thanks for doing this.
@Teocalli
I just finished setting up a spreadsheet for this, but I see you beat me to it. I can still track things and be your backup if you start regretting it.
So far we have…….
Ah balls that didn’t work!
Trying a different way…….
Teocalli
Viviani
Alaphilippe
Sagan
Kwiatkowski
van Avermaet
Wiscot
Sagan
Demare
Kittel
Greipel
Viviani
MuleBeatsDrums
MangoDave
Demare
Kwiatkowski
Sagan
Griepel
van Avermaet
Rick
Sagan
Gaviria
Kwiatkowski
Kristoff
Demare
ChuckP
Sagan
arrghhh!
@MangoDave
Sounds like a plan!
Not sure how I can paste a table in here, things I’ve tried so far don’t work. If necessary I can link of to a web site I have and put the table there but at the moment I have entries for @wiscot @mangodave @rick and just a winner for @chuckp
@chrisO @chris @robsandy ?
Hey, that worked.
1. Sagan
2. Kwiato
3. Alaphillipe
4.Gilbert
5. Viviani
On another note, due to forecast of snow and ice this Sunday just had my main RR target for the season has been cancelled. Been building to this from Christmas, totally gutted.
@RobSandy
Having missed Strade Bianche I know how you feel. It’s worse as next year I’ll only be able to enter the Medio as I’ll be over the age limit for the Longo.