Touring - Mile-high club.

Have you done it? :thumb:

I mean, gaining at least 5,280 feet (1,609 meters) in a single day :D

On my to-do list for this year is a 60-mile trip with a total elevation gain of 5,732 feet (1,747 meters). This will certainly be the most I have ever climbed in a single day, so now I'm curious as to how significant this would be considered to be.

Hi,

it's not so difficult. Done at least 3 this year, and several close ones about 1500m.

Thomas

I'm not sure what this has to do with touring but ...

The Paris-Brest-Paris 1200 km randonnee has somewhere around 31,000 ft of climbing, I believe. With a 90 hour (3.75 days) time limit, riders end up climbing approx. 8267 ft per day ... or more if they are faster riders. 4000+ riders do that ride every 4 years.

The Paris-Brest-Paris is also generally the standard by which qualifying randonnees and brevets are designed. In other words, for a 200K, the ideal would be about 5167 ft of climbing [(31,000/1200)*200]. A 200K has a time limit of 13.5 hours, so it can be completed well within a day, and thousands of cyclists around the world ride 200Ks every year. Not all 200Ks are as hilly as that, but many are at least that hilly and more so. A 300K should ideally have somewhere in the neighbourhood of 7750 ft of climbing [(31,000/1200)*300], and by the same formula a 400K should have about 10,333 ft of climbing. Most long distance riders can complete 400 km in 24 hours or something quite close to that.

So, just based on that alone, there are thousands of riders out there doing rides with more than 5,280 feet (1,609 meters) of climbing every year ... so it's not that unusual.

That said, 100 km with a total elevation gain of 5,732 feet (1,747 meters) is a fairly hilly ride.

Myself, I'm still working my way up where I can tackle multiple days on them hills. Right now I can climb a mile, but then I don't have much leg left for another day on the saddle.

Thanks for the info. Quick question; how come the 200km event has a 13.5 hour time limit? That sounds like a very long time for such a distance.

We did at least a mile of climbing quite a few days on our Sierra Cascades tour this year.

In 2010, I've done 2 rides with >5280' and <60 miles, 3 more rides with >5280' and <70 miles, and another 15 rides with >5280' and >70 miles. For a total of 20 rides this year with more than a mile of climbing. 10 of the 20 have more than 7000' of climbing.

The climbing ride season where I live is May-Oct, so it's not over yet! I did 25 rides >5280' in 2009. So I'm off to a good start this year.

100 feet / mile is pretty darn hilly, by the way.

To put a touring perspective on it, though, I toured 3 weeks in CO last year, and only 2 days were > 5280, and the year before that, 2 months in Montana & British Columbia, and only 1 day > 5280.

Unfortunately, yes, I've done some. When we first hit the Andes Mountains in Colombia we just headed up - 7000 vertical feet on heavily loaded bikes! It was tougher than anything I had ever done. Now, when we have a massive climb like that we stop the day before and unload all our gear - then I take it up in a taxi! The next day we ride up on just our bikes and it's fine. Going up those massive climbs with just the bikes is EASY!!

Thanks for the info. Quick question; how come the 200km event has a 13.5 hour time limit? That sounds like a very long time for such a distance.

There is a minimum speed of 15 km/h for the 200K, 300K, 400K, and 600K events. Therefore the time limit for the 200K is 13.5 hours, the time limit for the 300K is 20 hours, the time limit for the 400K is 27 hours and the time limit for the 600K is 40 hours.

Those time limits include all your riding and all your breaks. The clock starts ticking when you roll out of the start area, and stops when you roll into the finish area.

Usually cyclists can complete their rides within the time limits, but weather, terrain, health difficulties, and a need for sleep on longer events, etc. can slow a person down.

Yes. At least twice loaded and several times "light."

I am going to Vermont in 2 weeks for 6 days of supported riding. Two of the days approach 6,000 ft. of climbing.

Never thought of that as a milestone, but I'm sure I've done it before without realizing it. Kinda fun way to look at it. :D

Living in Colorado, this is a regular occurrence. Last weekend I raced up Mt Evans--start at 7,500' and end at 14,242'. The weekend before that I raced the Centurion Colorado 50, which had 5000' of climbing. I've calculated that in a typical 40-50 mile ride around the foothills here, you get pretty close to a vertical mile of climbing, and often over. Colorado Springs is a crazily conservative city, but the cycling sure is great, especially is you enjoy climbing!

I'm curious how many climbing feet there are in between Monterey, CA and San Simeon, CA? That day of my tour this summer seemed to have a decent amount of hills.

I suppose the question is whether we are talking loaded or not. PBP is not loaded, so it doesn't count, if that is the question.

Living in Colorado, this is a regular occurrence. Last weekend I raced up Mt Evans--start at 7,500' and end at 14,242'. The weekend before that I raced the Centurion Colorado 50, which had 5000' of climbing. I've calculated that in a typical 40-50 mile ride around the foothills here, you get pretty close to a vertical mile of climbing, and often over. Colorado Springs is a crazily conservative city, but the cycling sure is great, especially is you enjoy climbing!

I'm curious how many climbing feet there are in between Monterey, CA and San Simeon, CA? That day of my tour this summer seemed to have a decent amount of hills.

I did the Centurion 100 - 9200' of climbing!

Where do you live? I missed that you were in CO. (edit, oh, duh c-springs)

We did at least a mile of climbing quite a few days on our Sierra Cascades tour this year.
Thats my dream trip. I only moved to California 4 years ago and haven't had the chance to get more than weekend hiking trips in the Sierras.

I did the Centurion 100 - 9200' of climbing!

Where do you live? I missed that you were in CO. (edit, oh, duh c-springs)

Nice job!! It was my first race and had Evans 6 days later so I decided against the century. I got 7th overall and 4th in my division, though!! How was the century?!

I'm trying to make it up to Boulder for some more rides. Any epic climbs you can recommend?!

Granby to Boulder over Trail Ridge Rd. was a climb, less than a mile but the air was thin.

Ferry landing in Port Angeles, Wa to the lookout at Hurrican Ridge in the Olympic National Park. 20 miles ride that climbs 5700 feet... Steepest sustained grade in Washington that I know of.

It consists of about 1/2 mile of non climbing for the entire ride.

I'm sure I climbed more than 1609m when I climbed Berthoud & Loveland passes (Colorado) in one day, fully loaded. Also when I crossed the Col de la Bonnette in France fully loaded. And also in the Pyrenees from Foix, France (358m) to Port d'Envalira, Andorra (2408m), loaded. Probably true for riding on Skyline Drive in Shenandoah Nat. Park (Virginia) loaded starting from Front Royal because of all the up and down after the initial long climb. Perhaps true for Muddy & Rabbit Ears passes (Colorado) in one day, loaded. Probably true in northern Laos riding northward toward Kiou Ka Cham, and perhaps the previous day as well. Perhaps true the day we climbed to Cedar Breaks in Utah. I can't recall whether I did any other climbing the day I rode from Estes Park over Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain Nat. Park (Colorado). I also can't recall whether I ever climbed two passes in one day in the Canadian Rockies. Riding up the Maloja Pass (Switzerland) from Italy probably had a cumulative total over 1609m if I included climbing before the pass began. From Chur (Switzerland) over the Julier Pass fully loaded was more than 1609m of climbing.

I suppose the question is whether we are talking loaded or not. PBP is not loaded, so it doesn't count, if that is the question.

But was that the question? The OP is talking about a day ride he is planning to do, not a particular day on a tour, which would lead me to believe he stumbled into this forum by accident.

Nice job!! It was my first race and had Evans 6 days later so I decided against the century. I got 7th overall and 4th in my division, though!! How was the century?!

I'm trying to make it up to Boulder for some more rides. Any epic climbs you can recommend?!

Wow, nice results! I was a solid 26# th (that's 260-something) finish, middle of my age group (which is a slower age group than yours by a long shot). Your KOM time was 25 minutes faster than mine!!!!! I loved racing the century, and even though my results aren't impressive, it was a personal best effort for me, so I was very very happy.

Epic climbs in boulder, well you did Ward
Magnolia Road (bwah-hah-hah-hah-hah-ha)
Sunshine Canyon
SuperFlag (Flagstaff all the way to the top
SuperJames (2nd loop on the Centurion)
Sugarloaf
SuperJames
Lefthand Canyon

Pick any two, ride a little dirt, connect on the Peak to Peak Highway. Or pick 2 or 3 or ? and do up and backs. I like up and back on SuperFlag + Sunshine + SuperJames.

Does going down get you into the "Mile High" club?
Heh-heh.

and on that note:

I remember after going up the Tourmalet pass in the pyrenees, I m pretty sure that my pal and I had a downhill for a good 15 or 20k. Was a gas taking the hairpins past cars and the so unfamiliar feeling of acceleration when you would come off the brakes.

made up for the day or two or three before doing all the climbing over that pass and others. On that section of our trip, in the steep and high bits, we often did 40, 50 , 60km days. Hard but I liked the look of the landscape a lot.

as per the average speed for that long paris brest paris race, I have noticed over the years that my average speed is still about 16-17kph. Fairly consistently.

oh and the paris brest paris, I am surprised there is so much climbing. Ive bikes in part of that route, it is rolling, but I wouldnt have figured it was somuch. I guess cuz it goes on and on and the distance is rather long. Normandy is a very pretty place to travel. like it alot.

About a week ago I cycled fully loaded 221km with almost 2500m of climbing. I had been touring for nine months so it was really easy and the fact that it was not at altitude was a significant factor in making that day possible.

does going down get you into the "mile high" club?
Heh-heh.

lol

First time on a road bike some dudes took me out and we ran 6700ft at about 74 miles. it hurt bad but was well worth going down!

Wow, nice results! I was a solid 26# th (that's 260-something) finish, middle of my age group (which is a slower age group than yours by a long shot). Your KOM time was 25 minutes faster than mine!!!!! I loved racing the century, and even though my results aren't impressive, it was a personal best effort for me, so I was very very happy.

Epic climbs in boulder, well you did Ward
Magnolia Road (bwah-hah-hah-hah-hah-ha)
Sunshine Canyon
SuperFlag (Flagstaff all the way to the top
SuperJames (2nd loop on the Centurion)
Sugarloaf
SuperJames
Lefthand Canyon

Pick any two, ride a little dirt, connect on the Peak to Peak Highway. Or pick 2 or 3 or ? and do up and backs. I like up and back on SuperFlag + Sunshine + SuperJames.

Well, you also rode twice as far as me! Congrats on your PR. And thanks for the recommendations. I'm definitely going to do some of these before I move to Davis, CA, in the fall, where there really isn't much climbing! :/

I would have to ride to Quebec to find any sort of opportunity to try it, so I have never had the pleasure. Though fully loaded I would need a partner to cheer me on going it alone would take a lot of discipline.

Well, you also rode twice as far as me! Congrats on your PR. And thanks for the recommendations. I'm definitely going to do some of these before I move to Davis, CA, in the fall, where there really isn't much climbing! :/

Nice, Davis is a great bike city. It's not too far from the Sierra to do weekend or day-shot bike trips. Look up the Marklieville Death Ride for a few of the many nice hills out there. There's also endless hilly riding in the Bay Area - you're probably less than an hour and a half to Mt. Dialbo, without traffic (hahahahahha ahahahahhahah, like that's ever going to happen!)

On the Manali-Nubra road, there are three passes which all require more than 2,000m of height gain, all at challenging altitudes:

Rhotang La (going north from Manali), finishing height 3,975m
Taglang La (just south of Leh), finishing height 5,330m
Khardung La (between Leh and Nubra Valley), finishing height 5,460m? Estimates vary.

Rhotang La is often done as a two-day ride because it's the first day of the tour for those heading north, and it's just about the most brutal introduction you could imagine. Awful!

5800m of climbing in 100km. Southern Yunnan, China, around the Mojiang area. I'm not sure whether that's my one day record, but it's the hardest day in my memory. At 7pm, just as I was about to stop for the day, I was informed by a driver that the next town is only two hours away, so I decided to press on. I ended up cycling till 1:30am.

5800m of climbing in 100km. Southern Yunnan, China, around the Mojiang area. I'm not sure whether that's my one day record, but it's the hardest day in my memory. At 7pm, just as I was about to stop for the day, I was informed by a driver that the next town is only two hours away, so I decided to press on. I ended up cycling till 1:30am.

Blimey! That's a proper day out! Well done!

Blimey! That's a proper day out! Well done!

Yeah I remember going to a Drug Store here when I lived way up north and they had a 24 hour location, I looked at the door and they said the next nearest 24 hour drug store is here in Barrie where I am right now, I was live a 6 hour drive due north of here though, there just was nothing out there they were all mining towns and we tiiny. So always check your map to put things into perspective when someone says o it the next town orver as though it was a few minutes away. lol

Taroko Gorge in Taiwan: from Sea level to 3300 m altitude (The distance I don't know)

5 At 7pm, just as I was about to stop for the day, I was informed by a driver that the next town is only two hours away, so I decided to press on. I ended up cycling till 1:30am.

boy if theres one thing that I have learned on my past trips, and from experiences such as this (not so bad but still) is that when someone tells you "this way to X town" or "just X time or distance to a given town" etc etc, I learned to always ask another person. If the answer was approx the same, it was usually good, if not, a third person and or fourth was always the way to go.

indeed, car drivers have no fricken idea that a bike doesnt go at the same speed as a car, or in their heads, its a 10 min car drive and really its a 30 min drive as they are listening to the radio or whatever.
I really did learn to be always distrustful of what stuff people said, either by ignorance or by just plain not giving a hoot and would say whatever--has only happened a few times the not giving a hoot wrong info, but I certainly learned not to take things on face value until confirmed.

its funny but my wife often doesnt understand my being so picky about map reading, but it all comes down to having done a lot of biking, and a misread turn or misjudged distance makes a hell of a difference when you are the motor, you are tired and hungry at the end of a long day.

the old expression, "fool me once etc etc" comes to mind. Been there, done that and have no big urge to do it again.