Altitude difference on commute?
08-21-09, 06:34 PM
#1
Allez means go.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Two Rivers, WI
Posts: 892
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Altitude difference on commute?
The other day, I was thinking how much more uphill the way to work than the way back did. Turned out it was only 75' higher over five miles 
What is your altitude change/mileage? I used Google Earth (the program, not the site) to figure it out.
What is your altitude change/mileage? I used Google Earth (the program, not the site) to figure it out.
08-21-09, 07:42 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 636
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Mapitpronto.com is also an excellent site to map routes, get elevation data, etc..
It tells me that my commute is 27.3 miles, gains 14 ft. and descends 4, though it isn't correctly calculating for a bridge, whose climb is about 150ft.
SB
It tells me that my commute is 27.3 miles, gains 14 ft. and descends 4, though it isn't correctly calculating for a bridge, whose climb is about 150ft.
SB
08-21-09, 08:07 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 463
Bikes: Trek Portland/Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo/LeMond Versailles
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My commute home is just under 13 miles and has 636 feet of ascent according to my little Garmin, most of which is in a 1.5 mile hill.
08-21-09, 08:47 PM
#4
You gonna eat that?
Workbound route (7 miles)
Total Climb: 223 ft.
Total Descent: 404 ft.
Net altitude change: -181 ft.
Total Climb: 223 ft.
Total Descent: 404 ft.
Net altitude change: -181 ft.
__________________
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi 
"However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
I stop for people / whose right of way I honor / but not for no one.
Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
Last edited by Doohickie; 08-21-09 at 09:26 PM.
08-21-09, 09:54 PM
#5
kipuka explorer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hilo Town, East Hawai'i
Posts: 3,297
Bikes: 1994 Trek 820, 2004 Fuji Absolute, 2005 Jamis Nova, 1977 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Home is about 450 feet, and the office is at about 300 feet, and I'm up and down at anywhere from 200 to 500 feet elevation in between. From there I catch a motorized ride to the facility at 13500 feet.
__________________
--
-=- '05 Jamis Nova -=- '04 Fuji Absolute -=- '94 Trek 820 -=- '77 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36 -=-
Friends don't let friends use brifters.
--
-=- '05 Jamis Nova -=- '04 Fuji Absolute -=- '94 Trek 820 -=- '77 Schwinn Scrambler 36/36 -=-
Friends don't let friends use brifters.
08-21-09, 10:40 PM
#7
staring at the mountains
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Castle Pines, CO
Posts: 4,560
Bikes: Obed GVR, Fairdale Goodship, Salsa Timberjack 29
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 394 Post(s)
Liked 197 Times
in
112 Posts
mine is 10mi one way with a net elevation change of about 600 ft. It's uphill to come home, and man it feels like a lot more than that....
https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...n/612518453631
https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...n/612518453631
08-21-09, 10:50 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Halle, Germany
Posts: 483
Bikes: Surly Troll
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
My typical 25 to 29 mile round trip involves a total of about 2000 feet of elevation gain and drop. My start and finish elevations are similar (850' start, 950' finish) but there is very little riding on flat terrain that does not require shifting some gears or pedaling at various cadences and effort levels.
08-21-09, 10:51 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: On the bridge with Picard
Posts: 5,932
Bikes: Specialized Allez, Specialized Sirrus
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
From home to work:
21.03 miles
871 ft acending
841 ft descending
21.03 miles
871 ft acending
841 ft descending
08-22-09, 09:56 AM
#12
Portland Fred
Not much difference between my start and end points in terms of elevation. However, there are just a couple rollers along the way. Total gain is around 400' each way.
08-22-09, 10:57 AM
#13
Prefers Cicero
8 km, 64 m descent to work. 5 miles, 200 feet climbing on the way home.
08-22-09, 11:50 AM
#14
nashcommguy
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: nashville, tn
Posts: 2,499
Bikes: Commuters: Fuji Delray road, Fuji Discovery mtb...Touring: Softride Traveler...Road: C-dale SR300
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Mine's 20.5 one way now that I've changed buildings. It's still 477ft decend in and 477ft ascent homeward. 1:20 in and 1:35 homeward. Have one hill @ 18% for .5 mi and a short 14% for 300M or so. Those two hills account for much of the ascent/decend difference in altitude and time. Otherwise, it's 'rolling' moderate hills and flat areas. All rural/semi rural.
08-22-09, 07:19 PM
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marysville, WA
Posts: 463
Bikes: Trek Portland/Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo/LeMond Versailles
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
08-23-09, 06:49 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 79
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Looks like a net descent of 50ft on the way.
I kind of figured that. I was hoping it was the other way around, since I have more energy in the morning, but I can't complain.
Cool map site. Clicking out your route seems more user-friendly than on Google.
I kind of figured that. I was hoping it was the other way around, since I have more energy in the morning, but I can't complain.
Cool map site. Clicking out your route seems more user-friendly than on Google.
08-23-09, 04:38 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ABQ, NM
Posts: 56
Bikes: Kona CC, K2 Mach 3.0
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Round trip commute. 10 miles of gradual descending on the way in and a somewhat longer 13 mile route with some decent climbing on the way home.
08-24-09, 10:46 AM
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Santa Fe, NM
Posts: 4,599
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 174 Post(s)
Liked 157 Times
in
75 Posts
Current commute: my home is a hair under 5,000 feet, work is at about 4300, and just under 12 miles away, with most of the elevation difference in the 3-4 miles closest to home. Grades range from 3% to 18-20% in a few spots.
Several years ago I lived at elevation in Colorado where I worked part time as a bicycle mechanic at a bike shop in the neighboring town, 6 miles down the valley. My ride started at 10,350' and ended at about 9,800' in those 5 miles. not much net elevation change, but very little oxygen!
Several years ago I lived at elevation in Colorado where I worked part time as a bicycle mechanic at a bike shop in the neighboring town, 6 miles down the valley. My ride started at 10,350' and ended at about 9,800' in those 5 miles. not much net elevation change, but very little oxygen!
08-24-09, 10:47 AM
#19
GATC
I live and work on hills, commute through valleys apparently. Uphill both ways! I am most tired for that last climb of the day going home though.
08-24-09, 11:58 AM
#20
34x25 FTW!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: NYC
Posts: 6,013
Bikes: Kona Jake, Scott CR1, Dahon SpeedPro
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Apparently the elevation difference between home and office is ~210ft (home is near the highest natural point in Manhattan). There's lots of up and down in between, including a couple of bridges.
08-24-09, 12:11 PM
#21
Not a legend
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 379
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
One way:
Min Elevation: 148 ft
Max Elevation: 354 ft
Total Ascent: 351 ft
Total Descent: 459 ft
That's in 5.5 miles. Most of the elevation happens in one mile--a canyon, so uphill both ways. On the plus side, it's over with quickly. On the minus side, I get to wishing my bike was lighter than 30 pounds.
Of course, this week I'm towing the kid on the trail-a-bike, which adds about 70 more pounds, so I guess I shouldn't complain.
Min Elevation: 148 ft
Max Elevation: 354 ft
Total Ascent: 351 ft
Total Descent: 459 ft
That's in 5.5 miles. Most of the elevation happens in one mile--a canyon, so uphill both ways. On the plus side, it's over with quickly. On the minus side, I get to wishing my bike was lighter than 30 pounds.
Of course, this week I'm towing the kid on the trail-a-bike, which adds about 70 more pounds, so I guess I shouldn't complain.
08-24-09, 03:12 PM
#23
DLifer
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver Colorado
Posts: 115
Bikes: Trek 2.1, Surly LHT, GT Sensor
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wow there's some really cool stuff on the internet eh
Home to Work:
21.7 miles
max 5915 ft.
min 5295 ft.
617 feet ascent
673 feet descent
max elevation is basically at both ends with a river in the middle.
Home to Work:
21.7 miles
max 5915 ft.
min 5295 ft.
617 feet ascent
673 feet descent
max elevation is basically at both ends with a river in the middle.
08-24-09, 04:37 PM
#24
Tell a thousand lies...
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: In Philly for the time being
Posts: 183
Bikes: Cheap-o MTB, 1980 Fuji Gran Tourer SE
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
On my way to work:
Ascent 361 feet (122 feet per mile)
Descent 217
The highest point is my office parking space, and the lowest point is right outside my house, with a big dip at the halfway point of my ride.
Ascent 361 feet (122 feet per mile)
Descent 217
The highest point is my office parking space, and the lowest point is right outside my house, with a big dip at the halfway point of my ride.
08-24-09, 04:41 PM
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 1,894
Bikes: Bianchi Via Nirone 7, Jamis Sputnik
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...24968389192866
min: 184ft
max: 440ft
ascent: 95ft
descent: -312ft
I hate riding home..although it looks easy compared to some of you guys.
min: 184ft
max: 440ft
ascent: 95ft
descent: -312ft
I hate riding home..although it looks easy compared to some of you guys.
