Comments on: tour de france 2009

By: John Girvin

John Girvin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 12:58:29 +0000

Game on then!

By: Joby

Joby — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:34:10 +0000

Yeah, its fairish :)

By: John Girvin

John Girvin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:25:27 +0000

This is the closest I could find on my regular route:
http://www.mapmyride.com/route/gb/newtownabbey/910124890619967430

How do you think it compares? Is it a fair challenge?

By: Joby

Joby — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:42:25 +0000

Although there are some 6, 5 & 4% ers in there

By: Joby

Joby — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:41:54 +0000

I believe the irish devils hill may be a little bigger incline than ours :) http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/ashton-under-lyne/149124887276756520

By: John Girvin

John Girvin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:22:37 +0000

Your figures look correct. My 8.8% was based on Gary saying he’s climbing 700 feet in 1.5 miles (213 metres in 2.4 kilometres), but that’s not what’s shown on the link you provided.

These figures are only averages over the course. It’s possible for there to be much steeper sections than the average. There’s a 6% section on your route, for example.

Do you have a mapmyride.com link for Devil’s Hill so we can settle this?

By: Joby

Joby — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:04:42 +0000

According to my calcs its a 2.57% incline?

(83m / 3,218m)*100 = 2.57%

Devils Hill is only a 2.61%er over the full course but its much steeper than than, I’m sure of it!

By: Joby

Joby — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:55:49 +0000

Bizarre. I set this up without realising you’d asked the question (just come out of a meeting to check my mails!)

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/lambeth/630124886859261236

By: John Girvin

John Girvin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:45:28 +0000

Have you got a map link to the alleged 8.8%-er so we can compare them side-by-side?

By: Joby

Joby — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:09:00 +0000

It certainly doesn't feel like an 8% - feels less than Devil's Hill, but I suppose Devil's Hills biggest incline is within 0.1 mile then it evens out (that's why its a pig to ride).

By: John Girvin

John Girvin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:58:35 +0000

Way. The formula is 100 * (Rise / Run), so that’s 100 * (700 / 7920) = 8.8% in this case. “Run” should really be the horizontal distance travelled rather than the distance on the road, but without measuring it on a map I don’t have the figures for it. I imagine it’s not going to make too much difference for a fairly straight road at a small incline anyway.

By: Joby

Joby — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:08:24 +0000

8.8% – no way!

TDF was the first year I really got into it too and it was fantastic. Cav was awesome on the last stage, and now I can’t wait for the Volta a Portugal in August!

By: John Girvin

John Girvin — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:10:06 +0000

Good luck with your climb, it works out at around 8.8% !

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:57:33 +0000

John, This is the first time I have ever really watched the Tour. The first week I could take it or leave it, the second week caught my imagination and the third week had me hooked like a junkie. I’m already waiting for 2010, Team Radioshack and Team Sky will be there adding even more to an amazing event. I find myself searching for other televised tours now too to get my “fix”. It’s hard to believe what these mere men can do on bikes…

Right I’m leaving early today to do a 1.5 mile hill climb with 700ft of climbing then turning round at the top and coming back down starting my normal commute, wish me luck.