flat vs climb

[thunderlips76]

so...... me and the lads from work entered both the distance and climbing challenges on strava this month for some friendly competition (starts that way but soon ends up like the tour DE France). problem we are having is that half the lads are based in Castleford Wakefield areas and the rest of us are in Barnsley. Now, the result of this seems to be the Castleford Wakefield lads are doing nearly 10k more distance but on the flat, and the Barnsley guys are climbing 300m more. Seems like Barnsley is just hilly compared to Wakefield.

Is there a formula to calculate how much distance cycled on the flat equates to how many meters climbed. might end some arguments

 

[huwsparky]

No!

 

[thunderlips76]

there is haha

http://www.flacyclist.com/content/perf/compare_routes.html

 

[huwsparky]

there is haha

http://www.flacyclist.com/content/perf/compare_routes.html

I wasn't in my mind answering the same question that you were asking. Now that I do I still have no idea how that works out, but you've answered the question you wanted the answer to anyway!

I just know I've done half of this months strava climbing challenge in less than 100 miles of cycling.

 

[thunderlips76]

Getting heated this argument, I was asked would I rather do 100 miles with loads of climbing or 200 miles flat. Didn't go down too well when I chose hills because "there's not much point cycling on the flat". We were having this conversation at an avg speed of 25kph.......not even really spinning.....30k with an elevation gain of 52m

 

[Doyleyburger]

I just know I've done half of this months strava climbing challenge in less than 100 miles of cycling.

Thats really good going. I'm going attempt it this month also.

 

[Pumpkin the robot]

Getting heated this argument, I was asked would I rather do 100 miles with loads of climbing or 200 miles flat. Didn't go down too well when I chose hills because "there's not much point cycling on the flat". We were having this conversation at an avg speed of 25kph.......not even really spinning.....30k with an elevation gain of 52m

I have done a 110 mile ride with 10000ft of climbing and a 206mile ride with just under 7000ft of climbing and the first ride was the hardest because it had lots of steep inclines in it.

 

[outlash]

"there's not much point cycling on the flat"

l'm going to assume you're not being entirely serious here.

 

[Karlt]

Totally depends on the bike and rider. A heavy rider on a heavy bike will find that a given ascent is equivalent to more extra miles than a lighter rider/bike.

 

[thunderlips76]

l'm going to assume you're not being entirely serious here.

no i wasn't

 

[Postmanhat]

This bloke works out 100 miles/10000ft climbing = 200 miles on the flat

http://cycleseven.org/effect-of-hills-on-cycling-effort

I also find riding on the flat dull. Though that maybe because I'm too lazy to push myself unless challenged.

 

[outlash]

no i wasn't

A couple of years ago, we had a guy from cumbria out on a club run and for the first five miles he was saying how easy it was as it's so flat etc etc. He soon quietened down after he realised it wasn't his usual hoisting himself up climbs, coasting down and had to keep those pedals turning. 25 kph is slow round these parts, it's not as easy as you think.

 

[bpsmith]

I agree with @outlash, it's all about the effort put in.

I can be more worn out doing 20 miles with 1,000ft of climb, but hammering it hard, than doing 40 miles with 5,000ft at an easy pace.

Clearly, if putting more effort on climbing, then it will equate to x miles more than a totally flat rude, but who rides the same speed on the flat as you do uphill?

 

[nickyboy]

Uphill, downhill, flat....doesn't matter. What matters is the watts you sustain. On a flat ride if you sustain 160W for 4 hours you'll be more knackered than if you sustain 160W for 3 hours on a hill ride

But the reality is that I never seem to be able to sustain the wattage on a flat ride I do on a hilly one. I must be lazy.

 

[Sittingduck]

Impossible to equate the two unless you are riding around with a power meter