Which of these two routes is harder?

[Pale Rider]

I wonder which of these two routes is harder, I've done the first one and plan to do the second.

Route one is Sunderland - Consett - Lanchester - Durham City - Sunderland, about 56 miles.

Route two is simpler, Sunderland to York one way, about 86 miles.

I reckon the first route is harder because of the extra climbing.

The limit of my route research is Google maps.

Route one here: https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/S...17f03c3!2m2!1d-1.383801!2d54.906869!3e1?hl=en

Route two here:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/S...4e4d1!2m2!1d-1.0872979!2d53.9599651!3e1?hl=en

All thoughts welcome.

 

[NorvernRob]

What's the total elevation of the two routes? I've done a 60 mile ride that had 6,000ft of climbing that was miles harder than 103 miles with 3,500ft of climbing. I was on my arse getting home on the 60, on the 100 we did the last 10 miles in 30 minutes!

 

[Pale Rider]

What's the total elevation of the two routes? I've done a 60 mile ride that had 6,000ft of climbing that was miles harder than 103 miles with 3,500ft of climbing. I was on my arse getting home on the 60, on the 100 we did the last 10 miles in 30 minutes!

Google maps shows, assuming I read the figures correctly, 2,146ft of climbing for the shorter route and 1,250ft for the longer one.

Similar proportions to the routes you've quoted, which suggests the York route will be quite a bit easier than the circuit around County Durham.

 

[jarlrmai]

They are both pretty flat, i'd choose the shorter route should take around 3 and a bit hours. Unless you are just cycling for the fun then choose whichever one you have the time for.

 

[Kestevan]

The shorter route has 38' of climbing per mile.
The longer one 14' per mile.

They're both verging on flat for round here - my commute on the valley floor is about 75' per mile.
I suspect for someone used to hills the weather would be the major issue. Given a (head)windy day I'd take the hillier route as it wont make as much difference going up/down as plugging away into the wind on a flat route.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Google maps shows, assuming I read the figures correctly, 2,146ft of climbing for the shorter route and 1,250ft for the longer one.

Similar proportions to the routes you've quoted, which suggests the York route will be quite a bit easier than the circuit around County Durham.

The 100 miler is flat even by my standards

 

[Pale Rider]

The 100 miler is flat even by my standards

I think it would be hard to find an easier 86 miles to cycle, short of doing laps of a track.

The group I'm going with tell me it's just time in the saddle.

Google maps suggested one route which looked like it went over the North York Moors - Heartbeat country - which would add to the climbing.

I believe the group use an easier route.

D-day, barring torrential rain, is Saturday.

I did the circular route today for some training, but don't plan to do a lot more before the off.

Looks like rain could stop play tomorrow, so I might have a short run out on Thursday.

 

[jarlrmai]

If you are in a group do the flat route.

 

[Pale Rider]

If you are in a group do the flat route.

Oh yes, I will be - the plan is to get there the same day without the need for CPR.

From what I can gather, start time is 8am, two planned stops and an eta of around 6pm.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Don't know why I thought it was a 100 miler

 

[Pale Rider]

Don't know why I thought it was a 100 miler

I might when I've done it.

 

[jarlrmai]

Sounds like a good day out whatever routes you take, have fun.