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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Everyone loses traction in these conditions. I do, and I weigh 35% less. Hell, if I don’t lose traction in the rear, I might just lift the front wheel and flip backwards if I don’t stand up on such a grade.
@the Engine
With that kind of grade in the wet it’s very hard to maintain traction. Maybe if you let some air out of the rear tire?
@Nate
I was running at around 110psi which felt about right – I’ve got Vredestein Fortezza’s on just now that go slick after around 100k’s which doesn’t help either probably.
There was also the issue of going down 30% grades – but that’s a discussion for another day.
Hey, speaking of rides… I believe that the Climb to Kaiser should go in this list.
I found out just how out of shape I was this past weekend. I made it to the top, but was too exhausted to consider safely navigating back down. Here’s my strava link:
http://app.strava.com/rides/12249871
A friend actually completed his entire ride in about the same amount of moving time as I:
http://app.strava.com/rides/12154720
That being said, I *did* manage to get a photo after getting to the top:
As I mentioned to just about everyone at the recent Seattle Cogal, in a moment of madness (or perhaps, recurring episodes of insanity) I decided to celebrate my first Independence Day as an American this year with a ride across Washington state. It’s tomorrow. I set off from Burlington on SR 20, climb Washington Pass and make the descent into Winthrop, where I will attempt to restore myself for the next day’s ride to Spokane. Did I mention that I’m feeling scared? Of course, I’ve done plenty of long rides, but this is a new level of challenge for me, as it will amount to over 300 miles (sorry, but it’s unamerican to use kms and I’m embracing my new identity) in two days. Anyway, please wish me well and I’ll post pics and a full write up when it’s all behind me! VLVV
Celebrated turning 61 yesterday with a 61 mile ride. And by an amazing stroke of luck there was a brewpub just as I rolled over th 61st mile.
@James
Good luck mate; was wondering when this ride is. Depending on the timing of our rides, we may spot you out on the road. We’re headed to Mazama for some mountain biking. I’m considering taking the roadbike along as well, but haven’t decided yet; if so, I’ll make sure to get on just behind you and blow by in the big ring and make you feel like shit. Paybacks a bitch.
Good luck.
@Kyle – WIN!
@James – Good luck with that! Have fun in Spokane. Make sure you get some Spokandy while you’re there. It’s a nice town – even if it is a bit warm there during the summer…
What is everyone grinning about at the start of the San Rafael Twilight Criterium (photo)?
The young lady has just explained, she has gone top of the VSP.
@versio
Beacuse it’s good training for a Cogal?
Any riding in North Carolina late August? Around Lake Lure?
Anyone? Any riding in North Carolina late August? Around Lake Lure?
Granted a rare bit of Sunday morning freedom I did a 118km club ride yesterday. I ate and drank much less than I usually do, a small peanut butter sandwich (half a slice of bread), three Jaffa Cakes and two 500ml bottles of zero carb electrolyte. Usually, I’d have had a few gels and an energy bar or two on a ride of that length. It wasn’t a concious effort to go and find the Man with the Hammer so much as not feeling particularly hungry for most of the ride and then choosing the wrong spot to refuel. Had a small peanut butter sandwich (half a slice of bread), three Jaffa Cakes and two 500ml bottles of zero carb electrolyte. Usually, I’d have had a few gels and an energy bar or two on a ride of that length so i was quite happy when he didn’t show his face. I thought he might have been waiting for the 13km solo slog into the wind on the way home when I would have the advantage of riding in the group..
Was going to have another sandwich but timed it coincide with a short descent where the group picked the pace up quickly leaving me working very hard to get back on whilst trying to spit out the sandwich (peanut butter and butter alone are just too dry. I’ll add some jam next time) so that I could breath. Caught up just in time for a nice climb that produced the highest HR of the day.
Must applaud Amy Jo Van Culin for responding asap to Motorex(bicycle) support email. Ordered direct — degreaser, dry lube, white grease, and bike shine with free shipping.
Tonight’s ride went off perfectly with the V Meter. Attacked at 18kms to go and stayed off the front, finishing the final sprint in a 54/12 and motoring.
Are there any Colorado Velominati riding the Copper Triangle this year? US24 is currently closed due to the sinkhole on US 24 between Leadville and Tenessee pass, but the organizers seem to have a backup plan and and/or maybe have negotiated with CDOT to allow the ride to continue over Tennessee Pass. If any CO Velominati are riding, let me know, I’m having to go it solo this year, and it’s always better to ride in a group.
Figured I’d post this here. Being a news junkie, my faith in human nature is often deeply damaged by the actions of others who should know better or set examples. In WI we’re in severe drought mode here and the crops are suffering horribly. We’ve basically has no sustained rain since the WI Cogal on Memorial Day weekend. Last night I was out for a nice 80kms and I was about 10 kms from home with skies beginning to darken up. I wasn’t worried – it’s happened way too often lately and come to naught.
Just ahead of me on County Hwy 144, a blue minivan was parked at the side of the road. Strange, I thought, and kept an eye on it. Inside was a middle aged woman who yelled out to me as I passed that severe weather was forecast and to careful. I yelled back my thanks and gave her a big wave as she passed me heading towards West Bend.
Within 15 minutes of getting home the sky got really black, the wind shifted and thunder and rain began.
People in high places often let us down, but events like this just warm one’s heart and remind us that there are some truly good folks out there.
@wiscot Beautiful. I truly believe people are indeed good in their hearts. Its just all the bullshit that makes them do shitty things.
@frank What the fuck is wrong here with actually trying to post input on this site? Tough crowd — or clique crowd!
@frank .
Dunno where to put this but thought it was too good not to share. Went to my first CX event Haughcross at the Aberdour Festival today but I was just watching. It was put on by an Edinburgh shop, Ronde Bicycle Outfitters and had a new twist to the race.
There was a very technical section, very twisty but you could go round it if you took a shot of whiskey from this guy.
Here he is passing a shot to my pal Graeme as he passes.
I didn’t expect the Elite riders to take a drink but they want to win right? Even the Scottish Road Champ had a few as well as the Female British Cross Champion. It was a brilliant laugh and I’m gonna get myself geared up for some cross racing as soon as possible.
@Dave R
Nice one mate, and hope your daughter got the bug too…
@Kyle
Happy birthday, 61! I’m inspired, and makes me not worry about turning 50 in a ahem few more years…
Okay, let’s talk rides. Or future training rides so to speak. My VMH has a sickness, and I knew this before, but it’s getting worse. She has severe IM and half-IM tendencies…two IMs and a six(+) half IMs are her history, and the sickness is not cured. She has decided she MUST do another half IM next summer with a clatch of her running/swimming/biking buddies.
That’s all fine and dandy with me, but at their Sickness meeting today something terrible happend. I was not there to defend myself, (of course), and I’m not sure how or why it happened, but I got volunteered to be the pace man for the rides for the training for the bike leg for these women. All that means to me is a bunch of hard 80-120Km rides over the next year, (but If I have anything to do with it, it will be on the roller coaster hills between Colorado Springs and Castle Rock, CO!! )
They are all DIY-er’s, and while I am happy to take up the mantel for the cycling aspect…I’m much befuddled for good training tips for the riding aspect of this event. Anyone have pointers or places go for hints/tips? These gals are training at 6500′, but the race is in CA at Napa. Thanks to all.
PS I will NOT be leading any of these rides with aero bars. Holy shit. If you are going to be in a pain cave, why do it with aero bars? and for the seventh time tonight, why me?
@niksch Bummer man… and because it’s your VMH you’ll be dead meat if anyone catches you checking out the errr saddle position of any of your friends.
As for tips – bloody hell if she’s done two IMs and 6 halfs then she must have a pretty good idea about a training programme.
Personally having seen some of our guys train for IMs over the last few years I think I would rather take up badminton. These guys would get up at 3am to do a 5-6 hour ride, but they don’t ride in a group, because the events are non-drafting, so they keep a few metres apart. Kudos for mental toughness but it takes mental toughness to stick steel rods through your cheeks too and nobody is suggesting that’s a good idea.
Although I think maybe that could be your out “Aren’t these non-drafting events… so there’s not really much point in me being on the front is there ?”
@snoov
Keep me posted snoov – would be good to have an excuse to add a Ridley CX bike to my slowly expanding stable.
@snoov – Even though I don’t drink (recovering alcoholic), I find this guy and his actions to be VERY win!
Any London-ish lurkers (or regulars) here thinking of doing the Dulwich Paragon’s Ride of the Falling Leaves sportive in October ?
I’m planning to be there maybe with a couple of DP mates too. It’s a good ride, especially if you get a lovely autumn day. Although like its more famous namesake it can be horrible.
You start at Herne Hill with a lap of the velodrome which is always special, and finish at Dulwich Sports club where there is loads of pasta and often a club cricket match going on.
Well worth it if you are thinking of a sportive or something to lead up to on Oct 7. The full route is 110km but it’s got about 1500m of climb in it, and most of them are short but very sharp. Toys Hill is a bastard, and Sundridge is not fun either. Gold standard time is sub 4 hours. Achievable if you have the legs, but plenty of people just take it easy. It’s not a huge event either, which is nice.
@the Engine
Sure will, I’m hoping not too much time passes before I meet a fellow poster from around here (you). The first bike I bought (three years ago) was a Tricross. I’ve ordered a 46/36 crank for it as it came with a triple and then I’m gonna get new bars. I hate the Specialized ergonomic things it came with and will probably go for Ergonovas which I have on my road bike. That was my treat this weekend, a BB removal tool in preparation.
@Xyverz
The clever riders grabbed the nip at such a speed that most of it was spilled. The cleverer riders grabbed it and when they were far enough away just tossed it. The fun riders stopped and had a couple. My plan is to grab it at speed then take the golden nectar into my mouth and then spit it out once I’m out of sight, I barely drink myself but have other addictions. I wish you well with your personal challenge.
Oh I meant to say that I’m heading out to Brisbane at the end of next week. Maybe a good opportunity to meet my first Velominatus and go for a ride? Or, does anyone have a suggestion for a good place to hire a bike as I hear it’s a great way to see the city?
On another note, I had the pleasure of 75k with @Flying Crowbar on Saturday. Modified Rule #9 conditions (at least for Santa Barbara, hey! It actually sprinkled!). Here we are at the top of Ladera Lane. He done pretty good for a flatlander! One of the best things about the Velominati is getting to ride with new people who share the faith.
VLVV
You know it’s a good ride when you have to wash smashed bugs off your arms afterwards, due to your excessive speed.
It was uphill, too. Both ways.
Anyone know of this brutal looking race?
@brett
Rapha’s started making torture porn?
Someone needs to tell those sissies to get up and stop sooking for the camera. They’ve still got to ride down.
@brett Hatcher Pass Road Race, 70 miles on dirt road in Fishhook Alaska! It seems it was a grueling mud fest this year…
@Rob
Now THAT sounds awesome! Not sure when I will make it to Alaska, though!
Hitting my first Imperial century today and the weather looks great, 18C with a 24kph wind which I think will be at our backs when we hit the first big climb.
@snoov
Woo hoo – I’ve got a “do” in Ballater today but I’m going to try to haul my carcass over the Cairn O’Mount and Durris tomorrow.
Gloomy in the Trossachs today though.
Which reminds me – there’s a sportive next weekend in St Andrews plus Belach Nan Ba next month and Ullapool Mohr the month after. Fancy turning any in to a Scottish Cogal? Otherwise we’ll never get our shit together on this.
@the Engine
Good luck guys! That’s some pretty countryside you’ll be in. 24kmph wind? In Scottish terms, that’s a mere zephyr!
So the figures were 175km, 1,876m climbed and it took 4 minutes shy of 7 hours although those figures are from my android phone the Garmin figures were 1,979m climbed. Knees are sore.
@the Engine
I’m off to Brisbane on Wednesday or I’d have been at the St Andrews sportive.
@wiscot
Thanks, I made it.
At last, plans! After a hot, humid summer that saw me neglecting my riding, it looks like the end is drawing near. Living in a big, seaside metropolis has it’s downsides – without a car, it takes around an hour and a half of dangerous, stressful riding through busy streets until I get to fire the guns. Even then, I have just one route that’s safe and rideable. With temperatures cresting the 30c mark before 8am, that means either suffer unbearable heat without sufficient water sources, or, well, skip riding. The commute has to be taken easy, too, lest you arrive at work completely unpresentable. Instead, when I get to hitchhike a ride I’ve taken to measuring my (few) rides by altitude/distance ratio: around 1500m per 50km has been my golden ratio so far.
However, fall is near and brings with it my favourite 3-day country crossing as well as a 180km charity ride and, best of all – I was offered the opportunity of test-riding the course for a Gran Fondo that should take place in the winter, with a support-car. Ha-lle-lu-ya! Moving to a city at 700m altitude with several quiet, safe Cat 2 rated climbs within minutes of the university dorms – plenty of opportunity to work on channeling my inner Schleck.
Ate 2 packets of oatmeal and drank 1 Newcastle Brown Ale right before a 75km solo ride. 15 minutes before. It did the trick since I failed to eat lunch hours earlier. The last 25km section pushed a 30km/h wind directly to my back. Today worked out well.
@tessar
As I recall all rides around Jerusalem usually finish up hill.
I did see quite a few cyclists in the Golan on my last visit a year or so ago – way more than when I used to live there in the ’80’s when I saw precisely no one on a bike.
There were a few routes around Banyas that looked well worth exploring in the spring
@snoov
Sorry didn’t see your earlier post on here – drop a note on the site when you get back and we’ll nail something down – even if its only the two of us I’m sure we can jazz up a report if we have to.
Enjoy Brisbane…
Laurens ten Dam. An Sebastian. Strava. Jaw dropping.
http://app.strava.com/rides/18491442
…San Sebastian…
A few of the Sydney Velominati are getting together for a casual ride next weekend. I’d like to offer a lexicon entry for approval/mockery: Cogletto: an impromptu gathering of three or more Velominati. Less formal than a fully-fledged Cogal, a Cogletto is still undertaken in the spirit of Merckx and strict adherence to The Rules is expected.
George Hincapie ride through the Blue Ridge Foothills.
@ten B Cogletto! It sounds right.