Weird Stretches of Road

Peddle Up!

Enjoying a ride yesterday I got to thinking about the "weird stretches of road" I encounter on some routes. By that I mean a stretch that seems to be sloping gently downhill but irritatingly needs some harder-than-expected effort, or a stretch that looks slightly "up" but you can practically freewheel.

I guess it's all down to the visual cues being at variance with the true topography. I believe there's a hill in Devon (?) where cars roll "uphill".

If you want a mind boggling example of this effect, visit the Crooked House at Gornal. Very weird, but a couple of pints straightens things out!

Paul057

There's a hill on Dartmoor where water seems to run uphill. Mental

merak

The Electric Brae near Ayr.

Barteos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_hill

MaxwellBygraves

There's a road near where I live which looks uphill to the eye, looks uphill on a map but my legs tell me it's slightly downhill. I can't figure it out.

Good post.

Muffintop

The railway line in Aberdeen (converted into a pathway) from Duthie Park to Bielside is supposed to be flat but it's fecking not! Anyoe who says different is a liar!

Pigtail

Muffintop wrote:

The railway line in Aberdeen (converted into a pathway) from Duthie Park to Bielside is supposed to be flat but it's fecking not! Anyoe who says different is a liar!

I'm sure it's uphill both ways!

Actually I find it a bit easier from Bieldside back to Holburn Street.

I have ridden out to Tarland about 5 or 6 times now, and there is a bit I have always found really difficult. The first time I sat up to get a drink from my bottle, and slowed down, without changing down gears. I then tried to pick up speed again and thought my legs had broken. I landed up having to shift into the small ring. It hasn't been as obvious since, but it is always harder than it looks like it should be.

I have a new garmin and am still learning what it can do, but on Friday I moved it onto the elevation screen at that point, and found it is actually a 4 - 5% slope!

Muffintop

Pigtail wrote:

Muffintop wrote:

The railway line in Aberdeen (converted into a pathway) from Duthie Park to Bielside is supposed to be flat but it's fecking not! Anyoe who says different is a liar!

I'm sure it's uphill both ways!

Actually I find it a bit easier from Bieldside back to Holburn Street.

I have ridden out to Tarland about 5 or 6 times now, and there is a bit I have always found really difficult. The first time I sat up to get a drink from my bottle, and slowed down, without changing down gears. I then tried to pick up speed again and thought my legs had broken. I landed up having to shift into the small ring. It hasn't been as obvious since, but it is always harder than it looks like it should be.

I have a new garmin and am still learning what it can do, but on Friday I moved it onto the elevation screen at that point, and found it is actually a 4 - 5% slope!

KNEW IT!

*Feel smug and vindicated. *

Pumpkin Positive

On Sunday I cycled for the first time along Slapton beach (South Devon) which has got to be about the only pancake flat piece of road in the whole of the county. Despite it being more or less on my doorstep it's been sitting on my 'to do' list for most of the summer.

The conditions were perfect for a fast blast in the sun (there was even a feint tail wind!) but I felt like I was cycling through treacle. I know that on the flat I can sustain 33kph over 90km but on sunday for a quick blast along Slapton Beach I really struggled to hold an average of 28kph. I still cant't put my finger on it - Devon's answer to Electric Brae?

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/118368700

coman1985

i find that some routes even though slightly downhill. There is a difference in road condition which can drop my speed a little.

This makes it seem like its uphill when its just a bad road condition.

ride_whenever

There's an off road loop near me, around the perimeter of a wood. It feels downhill all the way whichever direction you ride it but it can't be because it's a loop :?