Ride up more - bitch less

[LeeLau]

Today was a day off the mountain bike after riding 5 days straight. So I took my new-ish Trek 5500 OCLV 18 lb gucci road bike; made like Lance and rode up Mt Seymour from home.

It took me 12:30 to get from the Holiday Inn to the Old Buck parking lot. Boy is that lot and the road around there getting full.

The road up Mt Seymour - from first km marker to the parking ticket dispenser on the ski hill - is 12.65 km. It took me 52.51 and I averaged 14.4 km/h getting up there alternating between my 39x25 and 39x25. That's a pretty shitty time compared to the hard core roadies but what can you do?

http://www.zimichcoaching.com/Seymour_Results.asp

Getting down in took me 12.13 and I averaged 62.5 km/h!!! I maxed out at 78 km/h (ran out of gears to pedal). The roads were in awesome condition and I didn't have any cars to slow me down so I could fly

Some observations

- Man, that road bike is fast. Getting on a road bike with skinny tires and 110 psi and leaning around switchbacks at 60 km/h is pretty addictive. I wonder how much I'd smear over the concrete if I lost it.

- I saw a group of 15 guys riding into Corkscrew. wow. Then I saw another group of 8 ppl coming out of the CBC exit. wow again. There were 32 cars at the CBC lot at 7.45 pm. wow. Sure are busy trails.

- I'm never going to be a competitive roadie. My spin sucks and I can't suffer enough. When I should be pushing the gears harder my back cries uncle and I quit. Danny brody, never get a bad back! It sux. ps. I sure hope its not permanent

- What a gorgeous day it is. It sure is nice to be out on a bike and be alive.

[Neo]

good for you Lee :)

yea i miss my roadie days actually, especially the leg-burning climbs. i quit road riding back in 94 and sold my bike cuz of a tragic accident that happened to me and some buddies on group ride in alberta - a drunk swerved over and nailed a couple riders. no one was killed but one of my buddies could never ride again and suffered a brain injury. i just couldn't bring myself to ride road again. i really am looking forward to getting back into some good XC tho next year and doing those killer epic rides :thepimp:

[sanrensho]

I think I've seen you on your road bike before. I assumed you rode up Seymour judging from your direction.

I have a Frankenbike set up with pinner wheels and 1-inch tires (inflated to 100psi) that I like to take for rides up Mt. Seymour. It feels soooo light compared with my trail bike that it makes climbing that road fun.:D

[Zaskar]

LEE I LOVE YOUR BIKE.
you met me a couple of days ago and i mentioned then i love the bike. im definitely diggen road bikes. having a big bike makes me respect them even more. ive been considering a Giant OCR or something. I dont know, I'd like an "intermediate" road bike. Since I know the sky is the limit on expenditure on bikes of any kind.

I hear you, I shuttle though. It's just me. I should really borrow an XC hardtail and try and do it for the afternoon once a week or something as opposed to just ride the trails. Might be a nice change. I love it up there, it feels likes you're a million miles from the city.

Keep it real :thepimp:
Cam.

[l\lolan]

i love riding a road bike, you go so fast and te traction is so amazing.

[Neo]

i hate shuttling. climbing is a great warm up anyways and it makes the trail ride down more rewarding.

[sanrensho]

60+ km/h down Mt. Seymour is pretty fast. On my Frankenbike, I can only get a little over 50 km/h due to lack of gearing.

Indeed, you will smear it big time if you wipe out at that speed. The scariest is the last blind switchback. I am worried that one day I will come whipping through there and surprise a driver in the other lane, who will then proceed to drive into my lane and squish me like a bug.

Either way, I have kids and am self-employed, so I try to keep it at a reasonable speed on that descent. I've also heard my share of "crashed on descent" stories on roadie forums. Not pretty.

[Zaskar]

i had a roadie hit head on in to me on the granville street bridge. he passed my buddies and then swerved in front of me and i saw him for about .1 seconds ebfore he slammed in to me full speed. i was going up the bridge. he was comign down. i was half over the railing on the bridge. he was all bloody faced and my full face had a scratch in it lol he just had one of those little caps on. his front wheel was taco'ed. that was harsh.

[Big_Air_Smite]

I'm gonna get a road bike one of these days. The Tour De France passes through Morzine (where I am) sometime in the next 2 weeks :D

[Mr. Charles]

Originally posted by Zaskar
i had a roadie hit head on in to me on the granville street bridge. he passed my buddies and then swerved in front of me and i saw him for about .1 seconds ebfore he slammed in to me full speed. i was going up the bridge. he was comign down. i was half over the railing on the bridge. he was all bloody faced and my full face had a scratch in it lol he just had one of those little caps on. his front wheel was taco'ed. that was harsh.

shit!

[Neil]

Oh sure Lee.

The one day that I decide to shuttle Seymour you post this. We were finishing up by the time you were there, so you didn't witness my evil behaviour but nevertheless I did partake.

In a sick way, I miss the days when I would ride the road bike up Westwood Plateau, fly back down and once at the bottom again decide to do the climb "just one more time". I'd usually do it 3 or 4 times before spinning home.

I feel so dirty.

[wilkez]

thats why fromme is better than seymour, you gotta work for your ride down. and im sure its just as much work as riding all the way up seymour if i ride my 47 pound monster with 3 inch tires inflated to 40psi :thepimp: but i did keep up with you one time lee!

[Rat]

Lee next time you go out on your road bike you can pick up my car at the top so I can squeeze an extra shuttle in. then you dont have to worry about those dangerous decents.

I am embarking on six days of riding beginning today. Im pumped.

[Ipecac]

Originally posted by Rat

I am embarking on six days of riding beginning today. Im pumped.

Lucky bastard. Have an awesome week :)

[Rat]

Family is away on holiday's :( :)

2 Days on the Shore 2 days at whistler one day at squamish one day at the woodlot.

The funny thing is Im working all week and have a conference at whistler on the weekend but it's still a wicked holiday.

:D

[Oldfart]

I road rode that climb a couple weeks ago too. Preparation for the test. Did you know that Seymour is considered a Categorie 1 climb? Hate to think what Hors Categorie would be like. Actually I know a couple climbs which could be considered that. Cinnabar Creek up near Tyax Lodge in the Chilcotins and most every other climb there.

[manalogue]

I was on a road bike for the first time ever this weekend. I only rode 400m, but I was so hooked. The bike I was riding had carbon forks...so trick! The owner didn't like it too much when I was bunny hopping though.

[parts]

Originally posted by Oldfart
a Categorie 1 climb? Hate to think what Hors Categorie would be like. Actually I know a couple climbs which could be considered that. Cinnabar Creek up near Tyax Lodge in the Chilcotins and most every other climb there.


From the snow shed to the toll booth on the Coq (the hill that's fun to fly down in your car) is waaay steeper than it looks, especially when your looking up @ it from your saddle.

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by Oldfart
I road rode that climb a couple weeks ago too. Preparation for the test. Did you know that Seymour is considered a Categorie 1 climb? Hate to think what Hors Categorie would be like. Actually I know a couple climbs which could be considered that. Cinnabar Creek up near Tyax Lodge in the Chilcotins and most every other climb there.

Yah - Seymour is 8.6% and isn't long enough. The Duffy road climb would be considered Hors Categorie. That climb is well over 10% and is 17% sustained in some places

Is Cinnabar Creek the climb up to Windy Pass in the Chilcotin?

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by wilkez
thats why fromme is better than seymour, you gotta work for your ride down. and im sure its just as much work as riding all the way up seymour if i ride my 47 pound monster with 3 inch tires inflated to 40psi :thepimp: but i did keep up with you one time lee!

I'm not sure you realize how hard you made me work to keep ahead of you.

[Zedbra]

Originally posted by LeeLau
I'm not sure you realize how hard you made me work to keep ahead of you.

let the trueth be known. :D well, then, maybe I could keep up to a few of you.

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by Zedbra
let the trueth be know. :D well, then, maybe I could keep up to a few of you.

When I was in shape I could make it from Golf course to Elfin Lakes parking lot in 58 minutes and then to Elfin Lake Hut in 1:46.

Al and Scott Ross big ring the first part of the road and hold the record at 44 minutes.

Chad Miles did the GK Ripper one year and made it to 19th Hole trailhead in 41minutes. He then handed off to a teammate on an Intense who went downhill. Chad gave the guy 30 seconds headstart and then caught the guy half-way down the trail!

So lets get training!

[Zedbra]

Originally posted by LeeLau
When I was in shape I could make it from Golf course to Elfin Lakes parking lot in 58 minutes and then to Elfin Lake Hut in 1:46.

Al and Scott Ross big ring the first part of the road and hold the record at 44 minutes.

Chad Miles did the GK Ripper one year and made it to 19th Hole trailhead in 41minutes. He then handed off to a teammate on an Intense who went downhill. Chad gave the guy 30 seconds headstart and then caught the guy half-way down the trail!

So lets get training!

:eek: 44 minutes to Elfin Lake..... 41 minutes to 19th, then catches up to Graeme(on the Intense, I'm guessing?). K, well, the day you call and you're in town, if I somehow don't answer the phone - I'm out training. That's my story.

[Putty]

Originally posted by Zedbra
:eek: 44 minutes to Elfin Lake..... 41 minutes to 19th, then catches up to Graeme(on the Intense, I'm guessing?). K, well, the day you call and you're in town, if I somehow don't answer the phone - I'm out training. That's my story.

i though most of your "training" occurs indoors...

when you coming out to ride in van Zed?

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by Zedbra
:eek: 44 minutes to Elfin Lake..... 41 minutes to 19th, then catches up to Graeme(on the Intense, I'm guessing?). K, well, the day you call and you're in town, if I somehow don't answer the phone - I'm out training. That's my story.

Al and Scott do 44 minutes to the Elfin PARKING LOT. Sorry. They're fast but not that fast. I think Chad raced with Graeme but not totally sure

[Zedbra]

Originally posted by putty
i though most of your "training" occurs indoors...

when you coming out to ride in van Zed?

hopefully sooner than later. I thought I would be taking more time to heal, but I'm feeling good, so I've been going hard at it. I need to rebook a ride with you to Cypress, and one to Eagle with Mulletron. On Saturday Rat is coming to Squamish. You interested?

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by Neil

In a sick way, I miss the days when I would ride the road bike up Westwood Plateau, fly back down and once at the bottom again decide to do the climb "just one more time". I'd usually do it 3 or 4 times before spinning home.

I feel so dirty.

So how many minutes is the climb up Westwood Plateau? Grade/length? I've often thought of riding up Mt. Seymour two or three times in succession, but water would be a problem, especially if it's hot like today.

And LeeLau, does the moratorium on Fromme mean that there will be a Seymour relay instead? And would the climbing be on the trail or road?

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by sanrensho


And LeeLau, does the moratorium on Fromme mean that there will be a Seymour relay instead? And would the climbing be on the trail or road?

I think we managed to talk DNV into letting us do trail days and races. Staff was just trying to be extra-cautious as the residents were being pretty in your face. Can't say I blame staff. So I think the 7th secret relay is a go.

Btw - the fastest guy from water tower to 7th was 32 minutes.

[Rat]

Originally posted by LeeLau
I think we managed to talk DNV into letting us do trail days and races. Staff was just trying to be extra-cautious as the residents were being pretty in your face. Can't say I blame staff. So I think the 7th secret relay is a go.

Btw - the fastest guy from water tower to 7th was 32 minutes.

32 dosnt seem that fast really. I would have thought it could be done in the low 20's Lumbering up on a big bike takes 45 -50 and usually there is a saftey meeting halfway up.

[Ipecac]

When I first got into mtn biking 4 years ago, I was riding (barely) up bby mtn. Then my friends wanted to *gasp* shuttle up. I was aghast. A couple of years later, I became a shuttler @ Seymour, then a Whistler-groupie all last summer. It was great. I improved my skills. Met great people. And collected kick-ass protective gear. But I felt a bit empty -- almost guilty.

Before my mis-hap in Feb, I made a decision to start riding up again. My .243 is almost completely built up, and I think I'm almost ready to challenge bby mtn again. Get back to my roots. Get some exercise along the way. And avoid the congestion along the shuttle routes.

To shuttlers/lift-ees: continue to have a great time.
To me: it's gonna kick-ass.

'cac

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by Rat
32 dosnt seem that fast really. I would have thought it could be done in the low 20's Lumbering up on a big bike takes 45 -50 and usually there is a saftey meeting halfway up.
You're right. I went back and checked and I did it in 31. The fastest guy was 22minutes. Fromme or Cypress? Mark never got back to me

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by LeeLau
I think we managed to talk DNV into letting us do trail days and races. Staff was just trying to be extra-cautious as the residents were being pretty in your face. Can't say I blame staff. So I think the 7th secret relay is a go.

Btw - the fastest guy from water tower to 7th was 32 minutes.

Thanks for the confirmation on this. I'm glad to hear that the Fromme toonie races and especially the organized trail days are good to go again.

I guess I'll know where I'm at when I ride up to go watch the World Cup.:) Somebody was saying that the gravel pit is only halfway to the peak?

[Darklord]

We rode all the way to the top of Grouse on Canada Day.(Norco Team DH, Scream and a Stab).

I'd like to lie and tell you what it breeze it was, how the 25C weather didn't affect us, how starting from the bottom of Mtn Highway didn't bother us at all, how the big bikes were a dream to climb on.

But I can't, we were crucified on that climb (push).

We're doing it again at 7am on WC Saturday, so look for the old guys sucking all the air back at the top!

[LeeLau]

The gravel pit is a little bit more than half way - maybe 0.6 of the way? Originally posted by sanrensho
Thanks for the confirmation on this. I'm glad to hear that the Fromme toonie races and especially the organized trail days are good to go again.

I guess I'll know where I'm at when I ride up to go watch the World Cup.:) Somebody was saying that the gravel pit is only halfway to the peak?

[Neil]

Originally posted by sanrensho
So how many minutes is the climb up Westwood Plateau? Grade/length? I've often thought of riding up Mt. Seymour two or three times in succession, but water would be a problem, especially if it's hot like today.

It's been a long while since I've done it on the road bike...on the VPS it takes about 30 minutes depending on which way you take up (and of course the final destination...Lungbuster or powerlines). Not sure about the % grade or length.

Seymour is significantly longer...two or three times up there would be a heckuva climb.

On the topic of rating climbs, does anybody know what the climb from Hope up to Manning park or from Princeton to Manning would rate?

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by LeeLau
The gravel pit is a little bit more than half way - maybe 0.6 of the way?

So would you say a little over an hour at Leepace?

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by sanrensho
So would you say a little over an hour at Leepace?

At back-in-the-old-days-I-used-to-be-fit-Lee-Diggler pace,I'd say one hour to the tram from yellow gate is reasonable but I've never timed it

[Lady Gravity]

Originally posted by Ipecac
Before my mis-hap in Feb, I made a decision to start riding up again. My .243 is almost completely built up, and I think I'm almost ready to challenge bby mtn again. Get back to my roots. Get some exercise along the way. And avoid the congestion along the shuttle routes.

if you want some company and go after work (ie 6/7ish), shoot me a pm. last time i rode up/down i almost wanted to do it again :eek:

[Putty]

i biked up to CBC yesteday. well almost to CBC, sAFETY picked me up at the 7.5 km mark, and a good thing too. i was starting to run out of juice, but overall it was not that bad of a climb. it is really amazing to see the amount of hardware going up that road as you climb.

riding up makes me ride better, good warm up. also i am starting to notice that i have more control and less "shakes" riding tired...good to have on long DH rips.

[trout]

Around here even the shuttle trails all have 20 minute singletrack climbs (all about the vert!). Nicer than climbing roads as there is a technical element and you also get a decent warm-up.

[Ned]

So what kind of bitching credit does an 18hr ride/bushwack/psychological examination on wheels get a guy? :D

[Zedbra]

gets you a night on the town. Where ya been Ned?

[Ned]

Night on which town? Chetwynd? Been there done that, I'll pass thanks.

Been holidaying(?).

Actually, no, that's inaccurate. I've been freechessing and eating pancakes...er... waffles...er...deer meat.


Ooops... and that's inaccurate too. We indeed missed the big slab of deer meat on the table by about... hmmmm.... 8hrs? Ya, that's it. Unless of course we took our own little Bambi down with a mano-a-mano stealth attack in the twilight which would have left the stalking hungry wolf we ran into even hungrier.

[Oldfart]

Originally posted by LeeLau
At back-in-the-old-days-I-used-to-be-fit-Lee-Diggler pace,I'd say one hour to the tram from yellow gate is reasonable but I've never timed it

I did it in 54 minutes from thre yellow gate to the first paved bit at the top..... a few years ago when I was lighter fitter with few responsibilities. I wouldn't try it today because that would simply confirm that old age had crept up on me and was jumping all over me. When I raced the Seymour and Cypress climbs in '81 when I was a novice class roadie, I did Cypress gate to powerline in 29 something and Seymour in 39 something. Last time I did Seymour it was 49 to the works yard from the guard house. Had a little sit down on a snow cat too while I ate some space food.

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by Oldfart
I did it in 54 minutes from thre yellow gate to the first paved bit at the top..... a few years ago when I was lighter fitter with few responsibilities. I wouldn't try it today because that would simply confirm that old age had crept up on me and was jumping all over me. When I raced the Seymour and Cypress climbs in '81 when I was a novice class roadie, I did Cypress gate to powerline in 29 something and Seymour in 39 something. Last time I did Seymour it was 49 to the works yard from the guard house. Had a little sit down on a snow cat too while I ate some space food.

49 is plenty fast up Seymour!! I'd like to go regularly just to see how much I can improve. I got back pain at about 7 km so had to back right off.

I'd like to find a group who would be interested in doing seymour hill climbs and road rides to Woodlands and Dollarton etc. Sad to say that there isn't much good roadriding in the North Shore w/o stop and starts.

[Neo]

shut up, you guys are making me want another road bike :(

downhill speed manuals rule :thepimp: ;)

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by putty
riding up makes me ride better, good warm up. also i am starting to notice that i have more control and less "shakes" riding tired...good to have on long DH rips.

Roger on that. Climbing up definitely makes for a good warm-up and better ride down. Also, better peace of mind as you don't have to worry about your car getting broken into while you're riding.:eek:

[Ned]

Originally posted by LeeLau
Sad to say that there isn't much good roadriding in the North Shore w/o stop and starts.

I dunno about that. There's loads of good lines on the Shore if you've got heavier tires and back of the hand knowledge of all the nooks and crannies which add up to a big day in terms of distance, elevation change and time on the bike. And as you know, it makes the all day trail rides easy-schmeezy.

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by Ned
I dunno about that. There's loads of good lines on the Shore if you've got heavier tires and back of the hand knowledge of all the nooks and crannies which add up to a big day in terms of distance, elevation change and time on the bike. And as you know, it makes the all day trail rides easy-schmeezy.

Road-riding Ned - road-riding. I've already got one garage full of bikes. I can't even begin to think where I would stuff a touring bike and a cross bike.

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by Dante Alighieri
shut up, you guys are making me want another road bike :(


If I lived in the Cowichan valley I'd be roadriding almost every day. That place rules for roadies.

[Ned]

Road bike with heavy 25c tires Lee. Ideally one set of stout wheels for the wet and one set of lighter wheels for the dry. Sure, my Jake is a good option for this but I was doing it on a Sandvik race bike with fat treads and light wheels quite happily.

I know you have the skill and strength to ride the bits of gravel that link a lot of the routes together.

BTW, the road riding around here is of top shelf quality.

[sanrensho]

Originally posted by Ned
I dunno about that. There's loads of good lines on the Shore if you've got heavier tires and back of the hand knowledge of all the nooks and crannies which add up to a big day in terms of distance, elevation change and time on the bike. And as you know, it makes the all day trail rides easy-schmeezy.

Please elaborate. Perhaps you can map out a course for a Triple Crown affair that can be done on a cross bike or Frankenbike setup.:)

[LeeLau]

Originally posted by sanrensho
Please elaborate. Perhaps you can map out a course for a Triple Crown affair that can be done on a cross bike or Frankenbike setup.:)

I know what Ned's talking about ; one example is getting from North to West van through the road going west from the Cap Reservoir dam to the golf course in West Van - so you can stay high and get back on the road quick. There's tons of little back roads through North Van that you can use to link stuff together but you do need heavier wheels; my little thin rolf vectors will explode apart.

I guess I could try that but I got spoiled doing road rides in the duncan/ Victoria area.

[Ned]

Exactly Lee. Stay on the highest passable lines all the way.

[LeeLau]

Bump because lately I've been doing an assload of climbing and seeing quite a few people climbing too

[Rat]

thanks for the great shuttle ride yesterday lee.

[LeeLau]

now that was an amazing amount of climbing for a shuttle eh rat?

[forest]

silly roadies, bikes are for trails

[FlipFantasia]

Chad Miles did the GK Ripper one year and made it to 19th Hole trailhead in 41minutes. He then handed off to a teammate on an Intense who went downhill. Chad gave the guy 30 seconds headstart and then caught the guy half-way down the trail!

So lets get training!

chad rules! fricken hilarious guy and always a sleeper threat at the toonie races!

[FlipFantasia]

crap, I just realized the dates on these! :) lee, probably building up the 19" steel kilaeua with skinny tires and a rigid fork when I get back next week....looking forward to getting out spinning again!

[LeeLau]

todd - i'll be up weekend after next if you want to climb and ride