Fifty Plus (50+) - Rate this Route

My wife and I decided to try a new route today, For us as newbees we found it a bit strenous. it was 17.40 miles adn we completed it with an average of 11.2mph. here is the url for the route I would like if some of you could rate this as far as how it would compair in elevation changes and let me know if you thing that is a fair average. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2327885

Any ride that pushes you as a newcomer is a good ride. Just remember this one and check it out again in 3 months. Ride often enough and you will be happier than you are now.


My first ride as a newcomer to cycling was 28 miles. On an almost totally flat route and on a bike I had only recently bought. Unfortunately- One of the riders was a keen cyclist and looking for a ride partner. I may have felt OK on this first ride- but the one he took me on the following week wore out my shoe leather but convinced me I could take to this new form of keeping fit. That second ride I still do and it still hurts.

But as a ride- providing you only took a rest to view the scenery- was an exceptional ride.

Also remember that hills of any size will lower your over all MPH. In other words. If you are at 11 MPH ave at the bottom of the hill, ride up, turn around then ride down, chances are you will not be at 11 MPH when you are done.

I like the suggestion of noting your time now, then do it again in 3 months.

Also remember that hills of any size will lower your over all MPH. In other words. If you are at 11 MPH ave at the bottom of the hill, ride up, turn around then ride down, chances are you will not be at 11 MPH when you are done.

I like the suggestion of noting your time now, then do it again in 3 months.

I plan on riding that route again, Is there anyone that can tell me how to figure the Percent of a climb. I would be interested in seeing what some of the hills are.

I did enjoy the scenery and it is great this time of year.
Also I have found that I have to hit refresh on the page to get the elevation graphic to display from the URL

I really like the idea of noting your time. I have a 15 mile loop that has turned into my baseline route. The first time I did it, it took 1 hour and 15 minutes, I did it the other day in 48 minutes.

The improvements in riding are really tangible, in many different ways. Something to work for and go after.

If it was safe and you both enjoyed the route and/or found it got you where you where you wanted to go, the route rates high in my book. The hills, though not giants, are automatic opportunities for a little informal interval training.

Percent of climb can be either very simple or a bit tough. I like the simple.

If you divide elevation increase by distance traveled, you get a fair approximate of percentage of grade. To be precise, you would have to divide by horizontal distance traveled, not slope distance, but travel distance is good enough for me.

If you happen to know the angle of a hill, find the tangent and multiply by 100.

I wouldn't be so concerned with how your route compares to others' routes. If it was fun and challenging and if it makes you want to ride more and improve, then it was a great route. :thumb:

That's a decent ride.

Some folks look at the total amount of climbing over the distance traveled. For an out and back route, the net should be zero feet, but you climb the hills out and back. For some routes, it may surprise you just how much climbing you have during your ride. Some of the online (free) routing websites will tally up total climbing for you.

Anyway, as Dawg said, if it was an enjoyable challenge, that's what counts.

Per cent of a hill:

(feet of elevation gained/feet over that distance) x 100

Example:

500 feet elevation change/10,000 feet of distance = a 5 per cent grade

That's a decent ride.

Some folks look at the total amount of climbing over the distance traveled. For an out and back route, the net should be zero feet, but you climb the hills out and back. For some routes, it may surprise you just how much climbing you have during your ride. Some of the online (free) routing websites will tally up total climbing for you.

Anyway, as Dawg said, if it was an enjoyable challenge, that's what counts.

When you get back to your starting point, not only is the net elevation change = 0, but you also went the same distance north as you went south, and the same distance east as you went west.