Cycling UK Forum

Hi guys

I've been doing some route checking on the various websites such as ridewithgps.com, bikehike etc.
The elevations look ok, but what is more interesting is the gradients. On ridewithgps.com when in edit mode, some of the gradients look crazy. But when in view mode, they look more sensible. Do any of you have experience of the gradients during your JoGLE's / LeJOGs. What is likely to be encountered?

If you chose a sensible route ie a quick and efficient one rather than a longer circuitous route, there are few gradients to worry about.

The worst hills are in the Southwest, mainly because they are unrelenting rather than steep, and perhaps the steepest hill on the whole route would be The Braes of Berridale on the A9 between Helmsdale and JOG, but you can miss that out by taking the A897 to the north coast.

My current route would be the exact reverse of Rob and Jon's 2010 LeJog. I've found Google street view is quite useful, if a gradient on the route looks bad popping into streetview can give an idea of what it looks like but it's only an idea.

+ 1 for the braes of Berridale, going north there's a nice fast decent to Berridale then a good climb up the hairpins (suggestion for the mods can we have a smilie that shows a sweaty head) going south the decent is slowed by the hairpins then there's a longish slog up the other side, but take heart that those who chose the eastern route before you have all done it

Malc

Mick F wrote:The worst hills are in the Southwest, mainly because they are unrelenting rather than steep, and perhaps the steepest hill on the whole route would be The Braes of Berridale on the A9 between Helmsdale and JOG, but you can miss that out by taking the A897 to the north coast.

When you said the Braes is the steepest on the route i had a look on steetview and was amazed to see at the bottom theese guys http://end2end08.blogspot.co.uk/ who were having a break at the bottom.

ferrit worrier wrote:+ 1 for the braes of Berridale, going north there's a nice fast decent to Berridale then a good climb up the hairpins (suggestion for the mods can we have a smilie that shows a sweaty head) going south the decent is slowed by the hairpins then there's a longish slog up the other side, but take heart that those who chose the eastern route before you have all done it

Malc

I've ridden Berriedale both ways - I think that going N was slightly harder as it has the hairpins that create artificial slopes on the turns rather than the straighter S direction. JOGLE in 2005 and there was a cafe at the bottom .... LEJOG in 2010 and it had closed

Agree on SW being worst - short, sharp and some double chevron stuff too.

Rob

Just looked at that area on Google Streetview, I see what you mean. Seems to be long rather than really steep but certainly would take it out of you - flapjack at the bottom!

I've done the Braes south in 1994, both ways in 2006, and on a Raleigh Chopper heading south in 2010.
Given the choice, it would be north-going. Either way, a rest at the bottom is a good thing.

Back in the 1980s, the road was modified and a new bridge built. The old one is still there if you look, and it's further down into the valley. That means that if you did the Braes in those days, it was even steeper!

Also, further north at Dunbeath, the road used to snake up and down the valley. Again, if you look at the bottom you'll see the old bridge, and as you climb south-going, you'll see the old road snaking its way up.

Also, again, Navidale just north of Helmsdale has changed too, though more recently - 2009? - as the road is now a modern one. Going back further to the 1990s, the Navidale road snaked a bit too, and crossed a little bridge tucked into the valley.

The A9 was tougher back then. It's a breeze these days!

Mrs Chrisc and I used the old Navidale road northbound in 2010 and found it an easy gradient with good surface. We were lured onto it by taking advantage of an overnight B&B along its path. It's only a small detour off the A9 but avoids traffic pretty much entirely.

chrisc wrote:Mrs Chrisc and I used the old Navidale road northbound in 2010 and found it an easy gradient with good surface. We were lured onto it by taking advantage of an overnight B&B along its path. It's only a small detour off the A9 but avoids traffic pretty much entirely.

Thanks Chrisc is this the one marked in this route?

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1068281

Looks like the old Navidale road to me !

The link seems to give a course that is a bit "coarse".
Also, quite inland too, much like the oldish Navidale route.

Hi

When I rode LEJOG with Robgul it was a modified route of his previous JOGLE route.

The reason it was modified was, wherever possible we avoided steep climbs and went a different way, sometimes a longer but ultimately quicker and flatter route.

So to answer your question although the net climb and descent figures will be the same. as you start and finish at Sea Level (pace the fact that LE is slightly above!) the total amounts of climbing and descending will be different if you take a different route, as will be mileage.

It is always a trade off between mileage, pace and climbing.

As lots of people say though, a lot of the fun is in the planning!

You can always divide the total ascent by the number of days you intend to take. Then shorten / lenghten days to match. So for a 10 day route you're looking at an average of 1200m ascent / descent. So you'd take 2.5 days to Bristol to bring that section in line. Then lengthen the days and mileage upto Glasgow. Then shorten again etc. Of course depends on weather and how long you wish your days to be. But I think setting your target mileage each day based on amount of ascent / descent would be an interesting exercise.