spingineer

I know a lot of the rides focus on climbing, and elevation gain, so I was wondering what is the flattest ride you've done? More impressive would be the lowest elevation gain to distance ratio ... vertical vs. horizontal. I just mapped out my ride for Saturday, and it's 60 miles, and 1234 feet elevation gain. It would have been less, but I added a few hills in. So this was 20 feet/mile. G rated ride?

Rick@OCRR

Well Ron,

I'm from St.Louis, and we did a lot of rides (Central Double Century, Brevets for PBP) in Southern and Central IL which is very flat, esp. Central IL. Since there were no climbs, head winds (and sometimes road surface) were the only challenges, tail winds and pace lines were your friends.

This was all back before bike computers had altitude capabilities, but I would guess-timate less than 500 ft. of climbing on the Central Double Century (Litchfield, IL). So I would have to say the CDC's from '82 - '94 were my longest rides - w/least elevation gain.

Rick / OCRR

Indolent58

Seagull Century at Easton MD. Flat as flat gets.

jschen

In July, I rode a century doing two out and backs on SART (the paved one). That was pretty flat... never used my small ring all day. Nonetheless, there's probably over 1000 feet of total elevation since the lowest elevation is at the coast and the highest is a decent distance inland. And those little underpasses do add up. And the tiny inclines here and there.

urbanknight

I believe there's a metric century in the Antelope Valley that gets something like 90' in 63 miles.

herbm

Its 1050 feet!

barndoor

Anyone have an elevation profile for this ride? .... If you take out the Assateague bridge elevation, it's gotta be pretty low...

ronjon10

I haven't done it, but Seattle to Portland (STP) only has 2000 feet over 200 miles.

I've got 60 and 70 mile loops which are under 1500 feet, it's hard to find long flat rides around LA.

Luwin1026

Yup, STP is pretty flat save for one major climb in Puyallup and a long portion of killer rollers - overall altitude gain is less than 2000 ft. - perfect for a first-time century/double like myself!! (well, that and the fact that it's out of state so if I had DNF'ed I didn't have to face embarassment amongst fellow SoCalers)

jsigone

Did my first century on my singlespeed back in Jan, started from my house in Escondido and rode up to Dana Point Harbor. 109 miles and 3052 feet of climbing on my 48x18 gearing

urbanknight

Eh, 90, 1050, it probably feels the same over 60 miles

herbm

Come out with us on the 20th and find out!!
Whats really tough at times out there is the wind....but it is a pretty nice ride...

urbanknight

Ah yes, the Antelope Valley Wind Festival, Jan 1 through Dec 31. I can't believe they had state time trial championships out there!

herbm

yikes

It can get nasty out there...

umd

When I ride out to Thousand Oaks, its only about 1000 feet gained for maybe 50 miles through Carppinteria, Ventura and Oxnard. And then I go over Potrero and that goes and ruins it...

urbanknight

No kidding. It started going east, so we had a tailwind on the way out and a headwind on the way back. OK that's manageable, right? Well, around 8km is turns left and you get a cross wind for the rest (2k for us juniors, but 12k for seniors, plus the return trip). Everybody left their disc wheels in their cars and used their spare rear wheels to avoid getting blown off the road!


Fixed

umd

Well, from the perspective of the thread, it ruins the distance to elevation ratio. However, from an enjoyment of the ride, I hate the flat windy oxnard farmland and always look forward to getting up into the mountains over there.

Mr. Beanz

100 flat. Maybe a bit over 1k From Greenriver SART to the SGRT. Turn around at the park we frequent on B2B rides.

spingineer

IN Norcal, I think it's quite an accomplishment to even find a 60 mile route with only 1000 feet climbing.

Mr. Beanz

Well that explains why all the best climbers are from NorCal!

spingineer

Really? It just means we're stubborn, and are persistent enough to finish the hill (too embarrassed to call someone to pick me up).

Pamestique 

Living in OC I can elect to two one of two things - ride hills or ride flat. From my front door if I go North, East or even South I do hills, if I elect to go West or South West I think I can ride almost past LA without hitting any significant hills, elevation gain must be minimal, the tallest thing being freeway or creek overpasses. I think there are some hills going through Long Beach of Signal Hill, but they aren't signficant. Strangely I never find myself riding West, I usually go into the hills. More challenge, less traffic and much more interesting.

haimtoeg

My first solo century last January, Long Beach to Crystal Cove, back, SART all the way out and back to Long Beach. I'd think a few hundred feet of climbing.

psuaero

I've mapped out the 100 mile route of the Seagull Century in Topo 5 and it comes in at 1034 feet for roughly 10ft/mile. Yes, it's flat.