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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Happy new year and all the best to the Velominati clan out there. Wishing you all many safe and happy miles on whatever bike(s) you have at your disposal.
First ride of the new year yesterday. 43 kms in thick, cold Wisconsin air. Roads were clean and dry and wind minimal. Felt ok. Been riding the rollers a bit and I think I noticed a bit of a difference in the smoothness of my stroke and calm upper body. Certainly enough to warrant more roller time.
It was truly a case of applying the Kelly theorem of winter riding: how cold is it? I don’t know. I guess I’ll just have to go out and ride for 90 minutes and find out.
So I got around my 4 laps at Newport Velodrome yesterday in 1 minute 12 seconds plus small change, in the Welsh Track Championships
Was good enough for 6th but I did mostly for the challenge of doing something completely new (I only started track cycling in November). Thanks for all here who gave me advice and encouragement.
Riding the Team Sprint Championships next weekend, so I’ll report back!
@RobSandy
Great work!
@RobSandy
AWESOME picture! Reminds me to bring someone with me when I hit the tracks for the first time… Still 3.5months to go. How long is your track? The Zurich one is 333.33m and in open air. I like the Dutch colours you wear. You have an aero shaped helmet too?
PS: stay closer to the black line, that’s the shortest…
@wiscot
Already forgetting Rule #24 in the New Year?
@KogaLover
250m – standard indoor velodrome. My club is called Ajax, too – don’t know if that it why we chose those colours. It’s an old club.
I’ve got a Catlike Chrono Plus – bought it for road TT’s but it’s all the same.
Yes, thanks! I’m expecting my coach to give me a roasting about this when I see him. It’s actually quite hard to do, especially at 55kph when you’re totally boxed…
@RobSandy
Chapeau Butt
@KogaLover
Congrats! 6th at the first shot is not too shabby at all. Keep us posted on your progress. Podium next year?
@wiscot
Chapeau Rob, great result regardless of when you started. Even sweeter as a relative newcomer.
My Christmas present from @Mrs Chris included accreditation sessions for LVVP with a view to racing next winter. This is inspiring.
@RobSandy
Nicely done!! What spot are you riding for the Team Sprint?
@RobSandy
Very cool ! Much respect. Cheers
@chris
I don’t even have a track accreditation yet! My first ever bunch race was Sunday morning in the kierin. Where I managed to get myself DQ’d. Oh well.
@Haldy
I’m man 2. I’m more confident on my ability to really smash it for that length of time. And man 3 rode a 1:10 in the Kilo on Sunday.
@RobSandy
Well done, and congrats on a very respectable kilo time. Fair play too for even attempting the keirin. I’d imagine that was slightly scary, or did the red mist descend and it was all a blur?
@DVMR
Keirin was completely awesome. I’ve raced plenty of crits and it wasn’t too different, except there were only 8 of us and it kicked off at 50kph.
The annoying thing was I felt comfortable and if I’d had the guts I would have pulled out, opened up my sprint properly and probably come 3rd. As it was I hesitated, got boxed in and drifted down onto the cote d’azure in the home straight and got DQ’d. Live and learn.
Do you like my new jersey?
@RobSandy
Cool – looks very Welsh.
@Teocalli
Yes, but I posted it for a reason.
Maybe too subtle? Next clue: I didn’t buy it.
Stealing is WRONG.
@RobSandy
Maybe my response was too subtle? Chapeau.
@Teocalli
@Teocalli
What a strange day that was…
@RobSandy
Awesome. Chateau.
Now you’ll have to get @frank to get a special V-kit made up with championship bands on one sleeve.
Green red, orange and black; what a mix!
@RobSandy
Who are you? which are you?
There should be a rule against wearing a cycling jersey with regular trousers, Mr Left & Mr Right…
@chris
Chateau? On my keyboard, the “t” is quite far from the “p”.
@KogaLover
Far left
Oh you can fuck off (nicely)!
I’ve never been on a podium before (and nor am I likely to again) and I’ve been getting it in the ear left, right and centre that I should have been in club bibs for the presentation. I had no idea.
In mitigation, my ride was at 14:30 and the presentation was at about 18:00.
@RobSandy
Don’t worry too much, Mate!
Next year when you’re on the top step you can represent like an old pro!
@KogaLover
Got to love autocorrect, eh?
For some reason I seem to send a lot of “duck” and “ducking” on my texts???
@Buck Rogers
Oh, I thought you always typed Buck and Bucking!
@KogaLover
No autocorrect. A nod to the Awesomeness of UK Cycling Expert’s twitter feed.
@RobSandy
Revel in it. I doubt there are too many National Champs on Velominati and it’s unlikely that you’re going to go full white given your national colours.
@RobSandy
C H A P E A U
Well, there’s a story and a half for the grandkids.
@RobSandy
Earning a National Championship jersey is flat out bad ass. And with your buds? Very cool. Congrats and Cheers
@chris
Now there’s an understatement!
Huge congratulations – am I right in remembering you only took to the track a few months ago? Imagine what you’ll do after a season…….
Regards,
David
Just back from a trip to ‘Murica and bought a copy of Bicycling, it hd a table on what to wear based on temp hat amused me.
65deg Add arm warmers and full finger gloves
60deg Add knee warmers or switch to knickers
55deg add a vest
50deg Swap to thicker full finger gloves and a long sleeve jersey, add toe covers
45deg etc
Full finger gloves and arm warmers at 65deg! Where does the author live? Florida I have to assume. In the UK 65deg would count as a great Summer day ride!
@Teocalli
this magazine exists solely to convince noobs that their gear isn’t up to snuff, so break out the credit card! once you’ve a year’s issue, you have all the real articles they’ll ever publish because they basically recycle them every 12 months.
@Cary
Worse than that, this is subversive triathlete propaganda and should be burned.
@chris
Ha Ha – it’s always interesting buying rags in other countries.
@Teocalli
You wouldn’t have thought people needed such prescriptive advice on what to wear when out cycling – but every time I go out for a ride and see other cyclists I realise that a hell of a lot of people do.
@Teocalli
By and large there’s plenty of similar shite being spouted here as well. I used to buy the magazines but the only bits I really enjoyed were the bits on history, training and nutrition all of which are better served by books. The internet is a better place for product info.
The history apart, it all just boils down to “what do I need (to do) to push down on the pedals harder and for longer?”
@RobSandy
Indeed. Surely the best way is to work it out for yourself and there only a number of times you can get these things wrong; was I too hot? Take a layer off; was I too cold… etc.
Common sense seems to be a dying art.
@Randy C
April 23 – South Carolina, 90km mixed surface, allroad race happening – 25mm to 28mm.
One great effort by David Hall Coaching – and many others that support this. And that 0.8km unknown roadbed section that was mentioned before – totally out.
@Teocalli
Toecovers only below 5°C for me.
@chris
We know the answer to that; Rule #5, Rule #5, Rule #5
@KogaLover
Fixed your post.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/38844632
@RobSandy
+1
@RobSandy
It never ceases to amaze me how much clothing some folk wear. I constantly find myself thinking “How can you wear that much without boiling”.
@universo
I could just about make that distance I think, given that I have a stinking cold. I may even be up for the longer one……..
@KogaLover
I am a wimp. Once the temps start dipping towards 50F/10C, I put on shoe covers to at least block the wind chill. At 5C/41F and below, I’m wearing full on thermal shoe covers. Just call me Mr. Popsicle Toes!
@Teocalli
It never ceases to amaze me how much clo
@Teocalli
For me, it’s a matter of ethnic heritage and body fat. As in tropical (my familial line is from the Philippines) and while I don’t have the same single digit body fat I had when I was racing, I still don’t have a lot. So I get cold very easily and lose a lot of energy trying to stay warm if I’m not bundled up appropriately. Thankfully, modern cycling clothing is such that that doesn’t mean becoming the Michelin Man. Hands and feet are the hardest parts to keep from being bone chilling cold. Of course, if it’s cold enough there’s always the option of just not riding. :-)
@universo
I love this kinda race! And April 22nd is the Shake ‘N Brake in Talladega Nat’l Forest. Imagine an epic two fer weekend! There was a time I’d be all over that kinda thing. My all time fave is the Rouge Roubaix in LA and also big fan of the Southern Cross in GA.
Alas… I’m busy prep’ing a race loop and a team of HS kids for upcoming Mtn Bike NICA season and early stages of planning a Summer Short Track Race Series. Well, all that and WORKING ! And while my local buds are all zwifting away during week and hitting long rides on the occasional sunny Sat and ready to rip legs off before first spring training race I’m still gaining some winter pounds. BUT, having much cycling fun.
Still… I wanna race on some dirt roads… And that is a good weekend.
Cheers!
@chuckp
I’m a big fatty and my hands and feet still get cold. I often wear overshoes but that’s because I live in Wales and thus am almost always being soaked from above or below. Still no excuse for toe covers.
I saw someone out the other day RUNNING in FULL WATERPROOFS. The illogic of that blew my mind.
@Randy C
And I’ve gotta give a shout out to Dave Hanrahan here in WI who organizes the Cheesehead Roubaix. 100 kms on WI backroads including a bunch of gravel and one muddy, washed out, rutted farm track. Fantastic event. April 30th this year.