Motivation, goals and targets. First my ramblings...
A post by Woodsy in relation to riding up Snowdon and a comment a short time ago by NealH in relation to elevation gain during my recent Swiss trip, has further fuelled my interest in elevation gain of rides.
Since returning from Switzerland, I have experienced a total lack of motivation to get out and ride, and this was something that I also experienced when I returned from the same destination last year.
I'm reasonably competitive, and to keep motivated be it in my home life or work, I always need a challenge, to be doing something, and more importantly, need to be chasing goal. That goal in relation to riding an EPAC, has increasingly been about chasing elevation. Preferably in the shortest ride length, and even better if it is over very technical terrain.
To try to keep my motivation, I have already started to plan several rides for next year when I return back out to Switzerland, and one of them is an eMTB climb to the Top Of Europe, which is unique in having never been done before.
Being unique to ride could also be said of two further rides, simply because they are so extreme, but I do know that these two have been ridden down after using a cable car to the summit of each. My thinking is that if you can ride down, then you can ride up, even if this involves plenty of carrying or pushing of the bike. In respect of them being extreme, that is yet another failing of mine. I have stupidly always had a desire to feel alive, and all to often that desire involves risk.
Getting back to the first ride which covers just 15.4 miles (24.8km) with an elevation gain of 8,740ft (2664m) and in some respects can't be classed as extreme due to riding accessibility of the first 10miles, which although exceptionally steep at the lower section, is made up of a smooth road stone surface.
The complication comes with the last 5.4 miles (8.7km) of the ride which on its own has an elevation gain of some 4,609ft (1,405m) Not only that, the total finished height above sea level is 11,332' (3,454m) and the temperature could be as low as minus 10°C.
That still isn't the end of things though, as the same 5.4 miles (8.7km) are also through a train tunnel, hence the reason that no one has at least to my knowledge officially or unofficially made the climb. I'm currently in the preliminarily stages of seeking permission to complete the ride at night time, when no service is running.
Because of just how unique that this ride could be, I'm also thinking about doing it for charity, and perhaps incorporate other ride as well, in an attempt to complete maximum elevation gain over a set minimum distance.
I have yet to research how best to do this, but in an ideal world, it might be something like 50,000ft (15,240m) of off road climbing over say 5 rides, over 50 miles (80.5km). Actually this is impossible as the longest continuous off road climb that I can calculate in the area is 9,220ft (2,810m) over 18.8 miles (30.25km). It's also too many miles and not enough gain. 50,000ft (15,240m) of off road climbing over perhaps between 8 rides is easily doable, but just doesn't sit well with me. I'm also desperate to avoid any descent on the climb routes, which to some degree eliminates certain rides.
With my ramblings over, back on to the general thread topic.
Certainly from looking at the Strava stats for other forum members, I don't appear to be alone in getting enjoyment from using an EPAC for climbing purposes, be that on road or off road.
I haven't sat down to work things out, but I am guessing that for many of the rides in my neck of the woods, that for every ten miles of riding, there might be an elevation gain of roughly 1,000ft, (305m)with this increasing to say 1,400ft (426m) when riding on parts of the South downs. This is purely a guess though.
There I go again, rambling without coming to my point, so short version because it is getting late and I need to shoot off, plus I have already written too much rubbish!
Here is a thread for people to discuss or show their ride elevation gains, or any other ride achievement. I'm sure that most have a story to tell, even if it was seemingly climbing a mole hill to reach the shops. That mole hill might seem like a mountain depending upon health, age, bike type etc. All are worthy of mention.
A post by Woodsy in relation to riding up Snowdon and a comment a short time ago by NealH in relation to elevation gain during my recent Swiss trip, has further fuelled my interest in elevation gain of rides.
Since returning from Switzerland, I have experienced a total lack of motivation to get out and ride, and this was something that I also experienced when I returned from the same destination last year.
I'm reasonably competitive, and to keep motivated be it in my home life or work, I always need a challenge, to be doing something, and more importantly, need to be chasing goal. That goal in relation to riding an EPAC, has increasingly been about chasing elevation. Preferably in the shortest ride length, and even better if it is over very technical terrain.
To try to keep my motivation, I have already started to plan several rides for next year when I return back out to Switzerland, and one of them is an eMTB climb to the Top Of Europe, which is unique in having never been done before.
Being unique to ride could also be said of two further rides, simply because they are so extreme, but I do know that these two have been ridden down after using a cable car to the summit of each. My thinking is that if you can ride down, then you can ride up, even if this involves plenty of carrying or pushing of the bike. In respect of them being extreme, that is yet another failing of mine. I have stupidly always had a desire to feel alive, and all to often that desire involves risk.
Getting back to the first ride which covers just 15.4 miles (24.8km) with an elevation gain of 8,740ft (2664m) and in some respects can't be classed as extreme due to riding accessibility of the first 10miles, which although exceptionally steep at the lower section, is made up of a smooth road stone surface.
The complication comes with the last 5.4 miles (8.7km) of the ride which on its own has an elevation gain of some 4,609ft (1,405m) Not only that, the total finished height above sea level is 11,332' (3,454m) and the temperature could be as low as minus 10°C.
That still isn't the end of things though, as the same 5.4 miles (8.7km) are also through a train tunnel, hence the reason that no one has at least to my knowledge officially or unofficially made the climb. I'm currently in the preliminarily stages of seeking permission to complete the ride at night time, when no service is running.
Because of just how unique that this ride could be, I'm also thinking about doing it for charity, and perhaps incorporate other ride as well, in an attempt to complete maximum elevation gain over a set minimum distance.
I have yet to research how best to do this, but in an ideal world, it might be something like 50,000ft (15,240m) of off road climbing over say 5 rides, over 50 miles (80.5km). Actually this is impossible as the longest continuous off road climb that I can calculate in the area is 9,220ft (2,810m) over 18.8 miles (30.25km). It's also too many miles and not enough gain. 50,000ft (15,240m) of off road climbing over perhaps between 8 rides is easily doable, but just doesn't sit well with me. I'm also desperate to avoid any descent on the climb routes, which to some degree eliminates certain rides.
With my ramblings over, back on to the general thread topic.
Certainly from looking at the Strava stats for other forum members, I don't appear to be alone in getting enjoyment from using an EPAC for climbing purposes, be that on road or off road.
I haven't sat down to work things out, but I am guessing that for many of the rides in my neck of the woods, that for every ten miles of riding, there might be an elevation gain of roughly 1,000ft, (305m)with this increasing to say 1,400ft (426m) when riding on parts of the South downs. This is purely a guess though.
There I go again, rambling without coming to my point, so short version because it is getting late and I need to shoot off, plus I have already written too much rubbish!
Here is a thread for people to discuss or show their ride elevation gains, or any other ride achievement. I'm sure that most have a story to tell, even if it was seemingly climbing a mole hill to reach the shops. That mole hill might seem like a mountain depending upon health, age, bike type etc. All are worthy of mention.
Last edited:
