Longest down hill ride.
07-08-14 | 01:55 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento
Bikes: 2014 Dawes Lightning 1000.1990 Schwinn Voyuager. 1997 specialized Crossroads Hybrid.
Longest down hill ride.
Like a ski lift. Take me and my bike to the very top and I'll just coast downhill for a few hours...
Where can a guy go for that without going like a bat out of hell downhill for a long period of time? Without risking his life.
Where can a guy go for that without going like a bat out of hell downhill for a long period of time? Without risking his life.
07-08-14 | 07:27 AM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,116
From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
On Maui there are companies that haul tourists to the gate of Haleakala NP to coast down on cruiser bikes. It's expensive and sad.
07-08-14 | 07:51 AM
#7
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 1,538
Likes: 2
From: Cabot, Arkansas
Bikes: Lynskey Twisted Helix Di2 Ti, 1987 Orbea steel single speed/fixie, Orbea Avant M30, Trek Fuel EX9.8 29, Trek Madone 5 series, Specialized Epic Carbon Comp 29er, Trek 7.1F
If a free ride downhill is what you want why not just buy a scooter and ride up too then you never have to pedal.
07-08-14 | 08:56 AM
#8
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
Foyers To Inverness , on the south shore of Loch Ness is mostly down hill.
Its in Scotland ..
some of those roads coming back down to the valley floor from Sierra summits
should count, You know the ones , off Donner Pass & so Forth ,
with the gravel traps for run away Trucks with overheated brakes, to bog down into.
Its in Scotland ..
some of those roads coming back down to the valley floor from Sierra summits
should count, You know the ones , off Donner Pass & so Forth ,
with the gravel traps for run away Trucks with overheated brakes, to bog down into.
Last edited by fietsbob; 07-08-14 at 01:52 PM.
07-08-14 | 10:33 AM
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,863
Likes: 3
I once got a free downhill ride.
Drove Angeles Crest Highway and stopped at Dawson Saddle where I chained my bike to a tree (a bit off the road and out of sight). I then drove on to Vincent Gap. From there I hiked to the top of Mount Baden Powell and then instead of hiking down and wrecking havoc on my knees I went on to Dawson Saddle.
The downhill did not last all that long. It was fun.
Drove Angeles Crest Highway and stopped at Dawson Saddle where I chained my bike to a tree (a bit off the road and out of sight). I then drove on to Vincent Gap. From there I hiked to the top of Mount Baden Powell and then instead of hiking down and wrecking havoc on my knees I went on to Dawson Saddle.
The downhill did not last all that long. It was fun.
07-08-14 | 11:08 AM
#12
The Rock Cycle
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,691
Likes: 17
From: Western Colorado
Bikes: Salsa Vaya Ti, Specialized Ruby, Gunnar Sport, Motobecane Fantom CXX, Jamis Dragon, Novara Randonee x2
The Grand Mesa.
30 miles one way. 6000 feet of climbing. Starts at 5000 feet elevation at the Colorado River. Top is 10,800 feet elevation.
Last time I rode this it took me 4 hours to climb it but only 30 minutes to come back down.
Awesome.
30 miles one way. 6000 feet of climbing. Starts at 5000 feet elevation at the Colorado River. Top is 10,800 feet elevation.
Last time I rode this it took me 4 hours to climb it but only 30 minutes to come back down.
Awesome.
__________________
Gunnar Sport
Specialized Ruby
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX
Jamis Dakar XCR
Gunnar Sport
Specialized Ruby
Salsa Vaya Ti
Novara Randonee x2
Motobecane Fantom CXX
Jamis Dakar XCR
07-08-14 | 04:39 PM
#15
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,667
Likes: 2,411
From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Speaking of Pikes Peak...about 20 years ago I rode an unpaved Rampart Range Road up from Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs to Woodland Park. It's about a 2,200 foot elevation change, 6200 feet to 8400 feet over approx 25 miles. For the trip down I rode the mostly wide shoulder of Highway 24, with a corresponding drop of 2200 ft over just 19 miles. The only pedaling on the way down was about an 8th of a mile by the Rocking X Hotel. Felt like a motorcycle ride. I think it took about 35 minutes down. BTW...the Pikes Peak Highway spills out onto Highway 24 between Woodland Park and Manitou Springs. I wouldn't do it now. First, I don't know if I could pedal up all that way again. And Highway 24 has way more traffic than before.
07-08-14 | 05:12 PM
#16
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento
Bikes: 2014 Dawes Lightning 1000.1990 Schwinn Voyuager. 1997 specialized Crossroads Hybrid.
07-08-14 | 05:21 PM
#18
Keep on climbing
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 2,193
Likes: 2
From: Marlborough, Massachusetts
Bikes: 2004 Calfee Tetra Pro
The longest "mostly downhill" ride I've ever been on has been leaving Crater Lake (Oregon) and heading towards the ocean. It was "fast downhill" for the first five or six miles, and then it's "more or less" downhill for about 60 more miles. We'd be coasting along at ~25mph and then we'd start pedalling and get up to low-30mph range for a bit and start coasting again, etc. We covered the whole thing in about two hours.
And, for the purists out there, yes, we had ridden to Crater Lake in the first place. Different route but same basic thing -- 30, 40 some miles at 2, 3% grade.
The other one that comes to mind is Beartooth Pass on the Montana / Wyoming border near Yellowstone. The Montana side is 33 miles long. I forget how long it took to get down... probably the better part of an hour.
And, for the purists out there, yes, we had ridden to Crater Lake in the first place. Different route but same basic thing -- 30, 40 some miles at 2, 3% grade.
The other one that comes to mind is Beartooth Pass on the Montana / Wyoming border near Yellowstone. The Montana side is 33 miles long. I forget how long it took to get down... probably the better part of an hour.
07-08-14 | 05:22 PM
#19
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,697
Likes: 2,039
From: Up
Bikes: Masi, Giant TCR, Eisentraut (retired), Jamis Aurora Elite, Zullo, Cannondale, 84 & 93 Stumpjumpers, Waterford, Tern D8, Bianchi, Gunner Roadie, Serotta, Serotta Duette, was gifted a Diamond Back
07-08-14 | 05:25 PM
#21
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,221
Likes: 5,439
From: SF Bay Area, East bay
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11
Just another excuse to go to Kauai... Bike Kauai | Waimea Canyon Downhill Bike Tour
07-08-14 | 05:25 PM
#22
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento
Bikes: 2014 Dawes Lightning 1000.1990 Schwinn Voyuager. 1997 specialized Crossroads Hybrid.
How long it would take me to get to Sacramento from Reno on I80 riding on a bike? I wonder how fast I can cruise downhill before i start freaking out.
07-08-14 | 05:27 PM
#23
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,221
Likes: 5,439
From: SF Bay Area, East bay
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11
Close by you, Cumming Skyway down through Franklin Canyon and out to Martinez Shoreline. Takes some up hill to go down...
07-08-14 | 05:29 PM
#24
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 602
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento
Bikes: 2014 Dawes Lightning 1000.1990 Schwinn Voyuager. 1997 specialized Crossroads Hybrid.
Just another excuse to go to Kauai... Bike Kauai | Waimea Canyon Downhill Bike Tour
07-08-14 | 06:01 PM
#25
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,221
Likes: 5,439
From: SF Bay Area, East bay
Bikes: Miyata 618 GT, Marinoni, Kestral 200, Soma double cross 2002 Trek 5200, KHS Flite, Koga Miyata, Schwinn Spitfire 5, Mondia Special, Univega Alpina, Miyata team Ti, Santa Cruz Highball, Waterford rs11