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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@chrisO,
ah, good news at last! Cant you get them to put a bike in the tank and ride on that? Obviously cadence would be low, but you’d be using all the right muscles.
@ChrisO
Great to read of your swift progress and that scar looks like it’s healing very nicely. From personal experience you’d likely have to wait weeks to start NHS physio. Get yourself a sit on pool inflatable, many animal shapes available, and propel it forward with a cycling motion. Job done.
To assist your recovery, this is a perfect time to get into Breaking Bad.
Hincapie Spring Training Series [ 4 week series ] starts FEB 7.
I have entered a Velothon around South Wales (starting and ending in Cardiff) in June this year. I have just received and email informing me there are 150 days to go, and look what they sent as a motto with the email..
Is this plagarism?
Johan Vansummeren is with AG2R for 2015 and 2016. Marie-Claire Moreel (66) will remain paralysed from the collision April 2014.
Article here
@RobSandy
Nope, it’s a quote from Greg LeMond which we appropriated and credit to him in The Rules.
Chapeau to these guys, surely they epitomize rule V? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30838464
Woohoo… 30 minutes on the turbo.
First time I’ve been back on since the crash 20 days ago.
Couldn’t swing the right leg over – I had to stand next to the bike on the drive side and bring my left (good) leg up over the top tube. Clipping out was slightly dodgy too – I might have to leave the shoes clipped in, tri style, for now.
Nice and easy, just 120 watts and that felt like a decent workout. It’ll be interesting to see how the muscles feel tomorrow.
The scar is healing up nicely too.
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@ChrisO
That’s outstanding. Cheers on the progress. I’m guessing that even if ya were not a cyclist that the physio would include time on a stationary bike? That and a lot of time with the rubber stretchy resistance straps. My buddy is recovering right now from some busted vertebrae and they have him spending time on a stationary. Be interested in seeing if you’ll wanna be making adjustments to your position on the bike once you get to riding again. The folks at my LBS really advise against making a full cut down on steerer tubes and say, “you just never know…”
@wilburrox
Ah yes, the stretchy straps.
I don’t think the physio was expecting me back on so soon, but I asked about doing some swimming and he said nah, don’t bother, just get on the bike.
Felt OK. A bit numb in the nether regions but I wasn’t able to lift out of the saddle at all, so I was probably sitting heavily. I was able to get over on the hoods reasonably comfortably but didn’t try getting down any further. Have to think hard about keeping an even stroke.
@ChrisO
Wow, quick work Chris. At this rate you’ll make a faster recovery than dirty Bertie did before winning the Vuelta.
You know you’re completely and utterly addicted to cycling when…
#346
‘rse
@ChrisO
Wow, quick work Chris. At this rate you’ll make a faster recovery than dirty Bertie did before winning the Vuelta.
You know you’re completely and utterly addicted to cycling when…
#346 – You check your power output during your first recuperation ride after a major injury.
Great to see you recovering so well, @ChrisO!
@ChrisO
Nice one.
@brett
Sorry, my the sound of my tongue in my cheek clearly didn’t come across in text. Also, i was thinking more that the race organisers have ripped off The Rules than vice versa.
Anyway, this is my main motivation for laying down Th V over the spring months.
Eroica Britannia is now open – and I’ve bought a place. Who else is going from here – should we set up a Group name? There appears to be an option for that when I entered.
Cheers,
David
@davidlhill
Yup I’ve entered though a bit odd that their site didn’t know me from last year. Not that it matters.
Only in NZ! 2nd in the TT, 1st in the RR and now Wellington Wednesday World Champ! We are blessed by 34km parcours of harbour and coast right in the city without a traffic light! You can turn around and go back for 70km as well, still the most fun in an hour with your pants on.
Selfie with NZ Champ Joe Cooper.
@piwakawaka
and now the No.1 ranked rider in the world!!
Two weekends ago we were snowed in. Last weekend pouring rain and gales. And then suddenly, mid-January, 20c and a chance to put a down payment on the tan lines. Bliss.
Paris-Roubaix contest | Mavic
@unversio
I got giddy just entering the contest
Don’t Mavic know they sell gear in the southern hemisphere?
Damn northern hemisphere centric view. How do Brett, or I and may others get to Paris-Roubaix when this sort of discrimination is allowed to pass.
“The game is restricted to people living in an European country, in the United States and in Canada ”
@markpa
There’s a southern hemisphere? I thought you just fell off the edge when you pass the equator.
@markpa
They do, but they’re French and they don’t want the country side sullied by boxing kangaroo flags, inflatable kangaroos/sheep/kiwis and loud blokes in beach shorts, corked hats and thongs toting cardboard cartons of stubbies.
It’s loud and dangerous enough with @frank waving the V-flag about.
The VMH/VMW asked me to take her out for a ride on the weekend. And now she keeps going on about how much she enjoyed it, especially because it was raining.
I’ve created a Rule #9 monster!
@ChrisO
Great to see you back on the (stationary) bike so soon. Take it a bit easy though. That you’re doing what you’re doing is amazing: an even stroke and getting out of the saddle are good markers of the progress to come.
Strong work, ChrisO! Thanks for the update.
My main riding pal just had his hip replaced the other week. Now I have two hippies that I’m cheering for!
@wiscot @Ron
Cheers, yes the physio has been pretty impressed.
He was a bit dubious about getting onto the bike so soon but if it had caused me any pain I would have stopped – I’m not pushing through anything.
I know it so well I can make sure I’m in the right vertical plane and moving correctly so it’s all nice and controlled.
I just didn’t want to lose any more cardio-vascular fitness than I had to. I’m going to try to do an hour at 75-80% every other day for the next few weeks.
I’ve also tried to sign up to Zwift. Sounds like an interesting concept. There’s a waiting list but I’m hoping my tale of woe will help me jump the queue.
Excellent day out at the Willunga Hill stage of the TDU with the V Flag in its glory after the week before trying to track down @Mikael Liddy on the CogAdelaide. Massive crowds on the hill and when Richie went on the ramage to the top the joint lit up.
Just bought a freakishly cheap airfare to Hawaii in June. Looks like I’ll be attempting the Haleakala climb. Not use I want to bring my bike just for that one day, as I will be heading to Kauai as well.
I might be on the bludge for a bike Anyone offering or have any suggestions ?
Don’t you just love a perfect summer’s day ride I have been having some issues getting comfortable on my bike of late. After a couple of rides where I could have happily gotten off my bike and never gotten back on, today was perfect. The adjustments to the saddle were finally right and I enjoyed every pedal rotation. Even the 3x45min efforts. I might just clean my bike today to show my appreciation.
@markb
He’s now up to 7,500 km so far, ahead of the pace set by Tommy in ’39.
It may well be the antithesis of all things Velominati but today I tried Zwift.
It’s pretty awesome – without shadow of doubt the least boring hour I’ve ever spent on a trainer.
And since I have no other options at the moment that’s A Good Thing.
I suspect I’m going to be a regular, maybe even after I’m allowed out into the real world.
@ChrisO
Chris, how are using this, with an ANT+ aware phone/tablet, or are you using one of the USB adapters and a laptop? What trainer are you using this with?
@markb
Garmin ANT+ mini dongle into the USB on my laptop (PC only at this point, Mac still to come). It picks up the data direct from my Powertap wheel.
I’m just on a ‘dumb’ electromagnetic trainer (Tacx Flow) so I change the resistance manually.
I think with the newer smart trainers that Zwift feeds back and the resistance changes with terrain etc.
They can also do virtual power from selected dumb trainers just from speed but looking at the support forums there seem to be some issues with the accuracy of that.
@girl
Might? Take care of the Machine and it’ll take care of you. I can’t even let my lowly commuter go more than a few days without a full cleaning. It’s too depressing to look down at rain rider rim grime and a dirty fork.
@Ron
Though it was mandatory to wash the drivetrain, wheels, and frame after every nine ride.
@Ken Ho
Some guys from Adelaide that have done the ride have hired bikes from Maui Cyclery, you may want to touch base with Gianni to see if he can be your local fixer.
Tough scenery in the Adelaide Hills this morning…
@Mikael Liddy
That does not look remotely Rule #9.
@PeakInTwoYears looks can be deceiving, went through 4x550ml bidons in a 60k ride. Here’s the forecast for the rest of today & the weekend…
As you can see, it’s not even dropping below 20 (C) overnight.
Oh my, that does look warm. I thought you were in the southern, cooler, part of the Antipodes.
@PeakInTwoYears I am, but I’d happily take 40 degrees & dry over what’s happening up north at the moment…
For reference, that’s Cape York (the big pointy bit at the top of Aus) stuck between those two huge Cyclones!
@Ken Ho
Maui Cyclery is the place to go for sure; and give Gianni a shout.
@Mikael Liddy
Ok, need to allow wrapping on the captions but great to see its (basically) working!!
Got involved in my very first bike race this week – the coach at our outdoor track session said he thought it looked as if we were all feeling frisky so let us have a 20 lap race (460m velodrome).
Absolutely awesome. I want to do more!
@PeakInTwoYears
There’s a state called South Australia. It’s mostly pretty hot (Adelaide, the capital, had the hottest day in any major city ever last year) because most of the state is desert. It’s actually been a pretty cool summer this year though.
There’s another state called Tasmania which is further south, and it isn’t usually hot.
@RobSandy
Chapeau.
My daughter (12 y.o.) has got the track racing bug too. It helps that her school is just up the road from Herne Hill Velodrome.
@ChrisO
We have an outdoor velodrome 10 mins from the house (same one where Geraint Thomas, Luke Rowe and Elinor Barker started), and it’s just a fantastic resource to have in the winter.
Also, they run balance bike sessions for the under 5’s, so I’m hoping to get mini Sandy started soon. I can’t help thinking it will be hilarious.