Pinkbike Poll: What's the Longest Ride You've Been On?
Tiago Ferreira went all out, climbing 17,753 meters over 247.5 km in less than 24-hours. Bonkers.
Summer is the time to get after it, ticking off races on the calendar, hitting snow-free alpine trails, or just lapping the bike park all day long. It's also a time when the biggest rides of the year typically happen, mind-boggling feats of endurance that can leave other riders scratching their heads.
Pinkbike's own Tom Bradshaw took on his "Everest" challenge last year, climbing more vertical than the world's tallest mountain in a single ride. The most insane part about his chamois-less accomplishment was that he rode the same descent on North Vancouver's Mt. Fromme seventeen times.
Not all heinously long rides require climbing, though. Another mind boggling 24-hour endeavour was Reg Mullet and Mark Haimes' twenty-seven laps of Mount 7 in Golden, B.C., which set a Guinness World Record for the most vertical distance descended on a bicycle, back in 2014. Through the rain and darkness, the pair were mentally focused enough to endure the steeps of Mount 7 for a staggering 32,797 m of downhill.
Recently, I caught wind of a friend who set out to complete not one, not two, but three North Shore Triple Crowns in a single go - pure lunacy. Any adventure that starts or finishes in the dark takes extra gumption, but this route required both. The physical and mental journey took over forty hours to gain 10,052m of vert over 260km.
For readers not familiar with the area, North Vancouver has three infamous mountains, each with its own unique set of trails and terrain. A regular Triple Crown involves getting to the top of each mountain under your own power in a single ride, roughly totally a distance of 90km and 4,000m of climbing. Keep an eye out for a further look into this story.
Even some enduro races these days are considerably long days for the average mountain biker. Maybe you have been on a ride that carried on much longer than expected or you added 24-hour race to your achievements. So, what is the most time you've spent in the saddle?
What is the longest ride you have been on?
This ride is considered a single outing - naps in the gondola are ok, but doesn't include overnight camping. We're talking moving time, which may be more than 24 hours.
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Road bike: did my first 100km ride this year. Cracked hard at 65km mark but put my head down to get it finished in under 4 hours. Would like to prep better for another attempt.
I like reading of the endeavours of mega-rides but never going to happen for me. I lack the fitness but more importantly I think I lack the drive and mental fortitude.
I'd say you're doing just fine, in fact, I'd say you're more than fine, inspirational stuff to finish a week. Cheers!
I suppose I will grant myself a few points for occupying the space in between. :-)
Imagine doing a real 24 hour race solo where you had to pedal uphill. Bragging about how much km's you did downhill is like the skiers who brag about how much vert they bag in a day riding at a ski resort.
My point stands. I guarantee you didn't ride 24 hours straight and even if you did, well over half that time was sitting on a lift.
What a dipshit.
LOL.
If multi-modal outings count, did a couple combined hike-bike epics from home to peaks of nearby mountains in SoCal (San Gorgonio, San Jacinto). Both of those turned out to be around 17 - 18 hours as well. We started off at night, rode from town to the wilderness boundary/trailhead, stashed the bikes, and hiked to the peak and back before riding back home to consume copious amounts of pizza before passing out for 12 hours.
These days a "long" ride is anything over the 2-hour mark, and I've traded in the singlespeed hardtail and lycra for 150mm trailbike with baggies, pads and a full-face helmet. Also, good times.
I’ve done Leadville too, and you’re not missing much. As you probably know, it’s not *really* a mountain bike ride like CCP is—you’re riding on dirt and paved roads for almost all of it. And unless you’re really fast—I wasn’t—you end up walking at the top of Columbine since everyone around you is walking singlefile, as there’s nowhere to pass. I found some of the riders at Leadville were quite unpleasantly aggro too, which was a bit of a bummer. Maybe all the roadies there plus the forced infatuation with time caps led to that.
The ambiance is the coolest thing about Leadville—it’s like the Super Bowl of endurance races. I saw *way* more spectators there than anywhere else. It’s also neat that it’s an out-and-back, so you get to see the leaders on the course. (Lance won the year I rode, and it’s was quite a sight to see him with such intensity hauling tail home at the bottom of Columbine. Seeing Dave Wiens was awesome too—he was cheering us slowpokes on.)
I’m not sure how Leadville is now since Lifetime took over, but I don’t feel like I need to do it again. The only PRs I set now are downhill ones, and I’m *not* fast down hill. Having said that, I see something like the BC Bike Race, and I think hmmmmm…
We camped in Idyllwild 2 years ago and attempted Suicide Rock with my son but had to bail about a mile in due to the heat.
Interesting stat, but still an abusive race. lol
so id say longest MTB "ride" is 6-8 hours. but i have definitely spent more time on my bike.
I've ridden well over 12 hours on the road, but I don't think it counts here.
When I go out for big rides I'm usually not trying any harder than I would on a good hike. Consider this: when I run for 4+ hours I cramp up, but I can hike for 12+ hours no problem.
I also over-carry supplies, especially if you're back- or pseudo-back country. Have a jacket, extra snacks/water, tools/parts and anything else appropriate for your area. If you're not racing it's not worth an avoidable long hike or worse, getting caught out after the sun goes down. And make sure someone knows where you're riding, when you depart the trail head, and where you parked your car.
I guide multi-day back country mountain bike trips and this is the aspect that most guests (who don't have the luxury of riding 4-6 hour days for 3-12 days in a row) struggle with, especially after we have just fed them a large breakfast.
Regular water and some kind of electrolyte. Again all should be tried as everyone is an individual - what works for me might not work for you.
I run water in a hydration pack (only when I am guiding), Nuun in my water bottle (caffeine for the first two, regular after that - ideally citrus flavour as it triggers the 'thirst centre' encouraging one to drink) and keep Extra Sodium shot bloks for when the days get longer than planned (slow guests or mechanicals/ minor injuries).
I recently upgrade to a Garmin 530 and have been experimenting with the Smart Nutrition and I find that the annoying alert actually does remind me to eat and drink more regularly.
I had this XC race I did several years in a row, it's in august (riding time usually 3-4 hours). One year nearly all my training was riding to and from my in-laws cabin, took me roughly 1 hour at max effort (which I always did). I felt super strong, mega fast, more training than ever, I was gonna kick butt.
When the race came, I was haulin' the first 1.5 hours, then full stop. Cramps and whatever no matter how much yukky stuff and liquids I had swallowed since the start.
The year after training was all about more intervals (trail brrrapp!), and semi-hard 2-3 hour rides. I PR'ed the race by a lot, and did pretty well on that one. It was hot, and I didn't really drink or eat much at all.
Long story short, we drank too much the night before and started way too late. 30+(!) river crossings. Finished Pilot Rock at sunset and had to bail. Rode down the highway by braille; no lights. Got pulled over by the sheriff on our bikes. Declined a free ride because we're IDIOTS.
Good time though. At least we picked lots of beer and sandwiches.
Would do again.
Not bad when you ride in the group, and have water supply
One single triple crown is a huge ride on those trails we have... I'm sure now you'll have a next challenge?
Haha, I definitely have some bigger rides planned for next year. We'll see
Was like a pilgrimage, got there at 6am & could not think straight about why I was there, so just cycle back!
At 56, I will ALWAYS take a lift/shuttle (when possible) to increase the enjoyment of the trail.
Smiles > miles
Other endurance rider friend show's up: "What's the plan? WHAT!!??!?!?! THATS AN EASY 5-8 HOUR RIDE EASY!!!!"
Me, a slow poke but I'll get there rider: "f*ck. Got shanghaied again."
Went and did it as there was no backing out now else I never stop hearing about it.
6 of us riding. 3 core endurance athletes. 3 like me "Oh SHit What Did I get myself into" riders.
5 hours total of just climbing, with a section of 27 switchbacks, lots of Ah Shit if you Stop Can't restart steep cinder, lots of portaging, lots of false tops (Ah there's the top. Nope, just cresting over to see more climbing), etc. About 5'000 feet elevation climb. We did it. We survived. Downhill was just a crazy on baby head sized marble rocks. I've done a marathon and 60 miles cross country rides, but this was something else. For kicks, I def would do it again. LOL! Names and places not revealed to save the guilty.
north shore double crown the hard"er" way on mtb. no prep and a chubby dude in rough shape.
It's colloquially known as a 'three hour tour' but nobody under 40 would get the reference anymore.
8:18 hrs riding, 11:30 elapsed.
It was fun, but I was blasted at the end…
www.trailforks.com/ridelog/view/14595081
Practically no need to go out is there! Just need the accessory which simulates motorists almost wiping you out on roads and the experience is complete.