How much elevation on your rides?
Discussion
I cycle around Yorkshire and the terrain is very hilly. Just trying to slowly up my milage and whilst I've been cycling for a while I am always spent T about 45 - 50 miles which doesn't seem that much - however when I checked out this weeks ride that involved 4000ft of climbing. Does that seem a lot for 50 miles?
Maybe I could do 80 miles + if the terrain wasn't so hilly?
Maybe I could do 80 miles + if the terrain wasn't so hilly?
I am from Yorkshire too so I know the hills you speak of!
Personally I class a ride as hilly when ascent is at least 1000ft per 10 miles, I.e. 5000ft for your 50 mile ride. My normal weekend route is 50 miles with around 3000ft of climbing which I would class as moderately hilly.
It's all subjective and those who ride in Norfolk probably only climb a few hundred feet over that distance!
Unless you are breathing out of your arse after 50 miles I'd say that 80 miles is easily achievable, particularly over a flatter route. It's very flat out towards the Vale of York - give it a bash.
Personally I class a ride as hilly when ascent is at least 1000ft per 10 miles, I.e. 5000ft for your 50 mile ride. My normal weekend route is 50 miles with around 3000ft of climbing which I would class as moderately hilly.
It's all subjective and those who ride in Norfolk probably only climb a few hundred feet over that distance!
Unless you are breathing out of your arse after 50 miles I'd say that 80 miles is easily achievable, particularly over a flatter route. It's very flat out towards the Vale of York - give it a bash.
Will try vale of York sometime. I'm more west / north / Lancashire though so a bit of a ride to get there. Don't mind hills they keep it interesting - I just wanted to check that it was right that I was so tired after a moderate distance - it seems fair to say it's pretty hilly.
I think the other issue is the time it takes too - that 50 mile, 4000ft elevation ride took 4.5 hours and by that time energy drinks and gels just don't cut it! In dire need of real food! Maybe I'm just not timing the intake of water and carbs properly
I think the other issue is the time it takes too - that 50 mile, 4000ft elevation ride took 4.5 hours and by that time energy drinks and gels just don't cut it! In dire need of real food! Maybe I'm just not timing the intake of water and carbs properly
Don't get too hung up with ascent/mileage as it is so variable. Time in the saddle is what counts. If you can do 50 hilly miles in four and a half hours then, for 80 flat miles you would only be asking another hour from yourself, when the previous hours had been a lot easier than you experience on a hilly ride.
We went out last night and did one and three quarter hours and just shy of 2000 feet climbing. Not a really hilly route but we still only covered 27 miles at a 15mph average.
We went out last night and did one and three quarter hours and just shy of 2000 feet climbing. Not a really hilly route but we still only covered 27 miles at a 15mph average.
Edited by burriana on Wednesday 21st November 22:31
torqueofthedevil said:
Will try vale of York sometime. I'm more west / north / Lancashire though so a bit of a ride to get there. Don't mind hills they keep it interesting - I just wanted to check that it was right that I was so tired after a moderate distance - it seems fair to say it's pretty hilly.
I think the other issue is the time it takes too - that 50 mile, 4000ft elevation ride took 4.5 hours and by that time energy drinks and gels just don't cut it! In dire need of real food! Maybe I'm just not timing the intake of water and carbs properly
Try to carry some proper food such as flapjack or maltloaf. You shouldn't need a great deal for 4.5 hours on the bike. For that time I would carry 500ml water, 500ml energy drink and two cereal bars/flapjacks/slices of maltloaf, and maybe a handful of jelly babies. But nutrition is a very personal thing. Just try experimenting and see what works best for you.I think the other issue is the time it takes too - that 50 mile, 4000ft elevation ride took 4.5 hours and by that time energy drinks and gels just don't cut it! In dire need of real food! Maybe I'm just not timing the intake of water and carbs properly
I suspect that each of our definitions of a hilly route will be based upon what we ride locally.
A lot of my local rides have about 1000ft+ per 10 miles, which I think is fair to class as hilly. But then there aren’t really many flat routes in Devon, just lots of short, rolling hills – or great big steep ones if you head onto Dartmoor.
The club rides tend to be a bit gentler, normally climbing around 7-800ft per 10 miles, so still moderately hilly. But the pace will often be faster on these, so they are often just as hard work.
Personally, I prefer a hilly route as flat rides can get pretty boring!
A lot of my local rides have about 1000ft+ per 10 miles, which I think is fair to class as hilly. But then there aren’t really many flat routes in Devon, just lots of short, rolling hills – or great big steep ones if you head onto Dartmoor.
The club rides tend to be a bit gentler, normally climbing around 7-800ft per 10 miles, so still moderately hilly. But the pace will often be faster on these, so they are often just as hard work.
Personally, I prefer a hilly route as flat rides can get pretty boring!
I ride off road but my midweek rides tend to be about 800ft of climbing at the fastest pace I can. my wekend rides are mainly in the lakes so the climbing can be stupid sometimes. just looked back on strava and a few midweek rides have climbed 1600ft over 12 miles so quiet a bit of climbing.
Edited by phil-sti on Wednesday 21st November 13:55
Another Yorkshire pedaller here. There are some beauties. My local road rides take in Chimney Bank, Sutton Bank, and Bransdale, all of which are bloody awful.
I refuse to go triple, but I have just swapped my cassette for something more favourable than what the groupset came with. Personally, despite the opposite build needed for climbing, I gain a lot of pleasure from climbing. I seem to get a greater sense of achievement from a good climb than a fast flat section.
I refuse to go triple, but I have just swapped my cassette for something more favourable than what the groupset came with. Personally, despite the opposite build needed for climbing, I gain a lot of pleasure from climbing. I seem to get a greater sense of achievement from a good climb than a fast flat section.
OP,
Last 2 weeks rides:
52 miles / 3200 ft climbing. 3h 49 mins. Was fairly knackered after. Well, more than fairly knackered.
81 miles / 1250 ft climbing. 7h 16 mins. Was pretty fine after (first part was social ride), much less effort than the first one. Only real issue was I had my cleats set wrong and got sore knees.
In short, I think you'd easily do 80 miles on flatter terrain. Oh, and everyone willy waving saying that unless it's 1000 feet per 10 miles it's not hilly, don't be daft. The first route above is noticably hilliy in a car, never mind on a push bike!
Last 2 weeks rides:
52 miles / 3200 ft climbing. 3h 49 mins. Was fairly knackered after. Well, more than fairly knackered.
81 miles / 1250 ft climbing. 7h 16 mins. Was pretty fine after (first part was social ride), much less effort than the first one. Only real issue was I had my cleats set wrong and got sore knees.
In short, I think you'd easily do 80 miles on flatter terrain. Oh, and everyone willy waving saying that unless it's 1000 feet per 10 miles it's not hilly, don't be daft. The first route above is noticably hilliy in a car, never mind on a push bike!
my evening route/short route is 28km long and has approx 290m climbing, my longer weekend route is about 80km and has about 500m of climbing. depends which way I go really, the only hills of note are south of Bristol towards the mendips. there is nothing to the North or East, suppose I should head West over towards Chepstow one of these days...
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