Everesting the Devil's Elbow
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Everesting the Devil's Elbow
I guess this is more of an experience, than a trip or adventure, but yesterday I completed my first Everesting of a local climb called the Devil's Elbow.
There's a temporary post on my blog, which I will add to this evening. In it, I expect to answer such questions as "why..?", and "didn't you get bored?", as well as reflecting on the physical and mental challenge an Everesting poses and hopefully making a case that I'm not mad or insane
If you just want to look at the ride data, click here:
https://www.strava.com/activities/660595294/
There's a temporary post on my blog, which I will add to this evening. In it, I expect to answer such questions as "why..?", and "didn't you get bored?", as well as reflecting on the physical and mental challenge an Everesting poses and hopefully making a case that I'm not mad or insane
If you just want to look at the ride data, click here:
https://www.strava.com/activities/660595294/
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Good, as they're the questions I'd have asked ... well done by the way.In it, I expect to answer such questions as "why..?", and "didn't you get bored?"
May the bridges you burn light your way
- whitestone
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
I saw your tweet about attempting it and was going to ask but .. well done!
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Must taking some sticking power to repeat the same climb over and over like that. Well done Ian.
Si
Si
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
This is something I keep thinking about, mainly because the Hells 500 kit looks cool. Looking forward to hearing how you coped mentally. I'd probably do Norwood Edge, as I could leave a car with stuff in at Stainburn CP and wouldn't need support.
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Great ride Ian. I've ridden that hill a few times and I dread it every time!
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- whitestone
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
I know of one or two who've done it but didn't realise that there were "rules" http://www.everesting.cc/the-rules/
I can feel some hurt coming on
Edit: Just seen that someone has used Rosedale Chimney for their Everesting hill
I can feel some hurt coming on
Edit: Just seen that someone has used Rosedale Chimney for their Everesting hill
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
That sounds awful on many fronts, but fair play for doing it!
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
That Strava route profile is quite scary!
Some of my pics https://www.flickr.com/photos/107347896@N06/sets/
We’re gonna need snacks
#TakeLessBike
We’re gonna need snacks
#TakeLessBike
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Good ride Ian, can't imagine 49 climbs of the same hill, I guess you know every stone now.
Well done!
Well done!
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
vaguely exciting ride. Did anyone accompany you for parts of it? How did you fuel yourself?
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
OK, here's my take on Everesting: https://ianbarrington.com/2016/08/01/ev ... ils-elbow/
edit: thanks for the comments above; hopefully the blog answers some of the questions above. The only one not addressed was food. I got through about 5 cans of coke, as that was what I put in the bottle I had on the van at the top of each ascent. Food-wise; pasta meal, energy bars, gels, Clif bloks, protein milk, bounty bars, Genoa cake. As usual, eating got more difficult at time went on. The pasta meal was the nicest thing to eat; should have taken more.
edit: thanks for the comments above; hopefully the blog answers some of the questions above. The only one not addressed was food. I got through about 5 cans of coke, as that was what I put in the bottle I had on the van at the top of each ascent. Food-wise; pasta meal, energy bars, gels, Clif bloks, protein milk, bounty bars, Genoa cake. As usual, eating got more difficult at time went on. The pasta meal was the nicest thing to eat; should have taken more.
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Makes for interesting reading Ian.
I can understand wanting to see where your limits lie and to discover whether they're controlled by mind or body ... but it still seems akin to nailing your testicles to a table to see whether it hurts
Well done and out of interest, does anyone ever 'Everest' off-road?
I can understand wanting to see where your limits lie and to discover whether they're controlled by mind or body ... but it still seems akin to nailing your testicles to a table to see whether it hurts
Well done and out of interest, does anyone ever 'Everest' off-road?
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Of course it's going to hurt. But do 6" nails hurt more than 4" ones? And if so, by how much?Bearbonesnorm wrote:I can understand wanting to see where your limits lie and to discover whether they're controlled by mind or body ... but it still seems akin to nailing your testicles to a table to see whether it hurts
Years ago, 24 hr solo racing was the prevailing event for "mad" people. That was the "nail your testicles to the bench" activity of the mid-noughties. Riding [the same course] for that length of time was not seen by many as a normal thing to do, but now over 10 years on, it's much more accepted.
Back in about 2005/6, and seeing where 24 hours racing was going, I suggested on a popular mountain biking forum, that maybe we should consider racing for longer than 24 hours. I was lambasted by a certain 24 hour solo racer of that era, along the lines that if the race isn't decided by 24 hours, there's no point carrying on. Thankfully, 24+ hour racing escaped the circular track and emerged in the form of racing we now all know and love; bikepacking. This year we see over 4 days of neck and neck racing on the Highland Trail, and a change in the lead only 2 hours from the finish. I rest my case :)
My point is things evolve; fitness improves, mindsets, perceptions and abilities adapt to accommodate the challenge. In 10 years time, Everesting won't be as exclusive a thing as it is now, unless the bar is raised further. Who will be the first to double-Everest something?
People do, and it's a step towards achieving the SSSS elite class of Everesting. Some of the rules make it challenging though; namely you can't get off and push any of it, so you need a climb that is entirely rideable. This usually means it's less than 10% gradient, so the distance you need to cover ramps up quickly. I suspect it's difficult to do one off road in under 24 hours.Well done and out of interest, does anyone ever 'Everest' off-road?
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Apparently, this guy: https://www.strava.com/activities/458630009Ian wrote: Who will be the first to double-Everest something?
Though I admit even I wince slightly at that many reps of such a short climb
16 of these looks much more interesting: https://www.strava.com/activities/638559779
- Dave Barter
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
I enjoyed that article as well Ian especially the breakdown mechanism you used which I find myself subconsciously doing on long rides.
Everesting as per the rules is not for me, but taking up your point of the evolution of 24 hour rides, maybe we should come up with some Everest routes? This would remove the repetitive nature and also increase the challenge of finding the most climbing in the shortest loop.
Everesting as per the rules is not for me, but taking up your point of the evolution of 24 hour rides, maybe we should come up with some Everest routes? This would remove the repetitive nature and also increase the challenge of finding the most climbing in the shortest loop.
Elite keyboard warrior, DNF'er, Swearer
- whitestone
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
As a sort of halfway house between the "single hill n times" and "smallest loop" to achieve the height gain, I've a loop that is 30Km and has just under 1000m of ascent and descent. Takes me about 90mins, nine times round that would just about be enough.Dave Barter wrote:I enjoyed that article as well Ian especially the breakdown mechanism you used which I find myself subconsciously doing on long rides.
Everesting as per the rules is not for me, but taking up your point of the evolution of 24 hour rides, maybe we should come up with some Everest routes? This would remove the repetitive nature and also increase the challenge of finding the most climbing in the shortest loop.
Does anyone know off-hand how much ascent the Fred Whitton or the Etape du Dales take in? Both are "pretty hilly"
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Three times round the Goyt Peak Grimpeur would do you, or do it once each way and then another of the series and you'd be sorted... http://www.delphcyclist.info/GoytPerm.html
Series: http://www.delphcyclist.info/MarplePerms.html
Series: http://www.delphcyclist.info/MarplePerms.html
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Very true, you only need look at the first three years of the BB200 for a graphic illustration.My point is things evolve; fitness improves, mindsets, perceptions and abilities adapt to accommodate the challenge.
Strangely, that sounds much more appealing.maybe we should come up with some Everest routes? This would remove the repetitive nature and also increase the challenge of finding the most climbing in the shortest loop.
Oh and it's not the length, it's the diameter and angle that alters the level of pain
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Good idea. Bit like this then: http://www.highrouleur.cc/what/Dave Barter wrote:I enjoyed that article as well Ian especially the breakdown mechanism you used which I find myself subconsciously doing on long rides.
Everesting as per the rules is not for me, but taking up your point of the evolution of 24 hour rides, maybe we should come up with some Everest routes? This would remove the repetitive nature and also increase the challenge of finding the most climbing in the shortest loop.
The shortest loop with the most climbing must surely exist in the Lakes?
- whitestone
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Not sure about that Ian - there are some big climbs obviously but getting between them is quite a way. Maybe Borrowdale - Honister Pass - Buttermere - Newlands Hause - Newlands and back in to Borrowdale could be a candidate.
Better weight than wisdom, a traveller cannot carry
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
about 12,000ft in 112 miles.Does anyone know off-hand how much ascent the Fred Whitton
so about a 40% of what is required.
- Dave Barter
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Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Yes that sort of thing but I'd add a rule that you can't repeat a hill the same way to avoid repeated loops. The aim is to set an Everest loop
Elite keyboard warrior, DNF'er, Swearer
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
The original Two Tonnes of Gravel had over 8,000 metres climbing.
If the High Rouleur was a goal, it falls short of the 400 km rule and 10,000m climbing for the Journey requirements. If I added another 70km to it, you'd be hard pressed to do it in under 36 hours. Tricky.
Dave, shall I send you the GPX? You could get some gate practice in at the same time
If the High Rouleur was a goal, it falls short of the 400 km rule and 10,000m climbing for the Journey requirements. If I added another 70km to it, you'd be hard pressed to do it in under 36 hours. Tricky.
Dave, shall I send you the GPX? You could get some gate practice in at the same time
Re: Everesting the Devil's Elbow
Having done the Fred Whitton and La Marmotte, which was over 5,000m of climbing, I think the Whitton was actually tougher. The correlation between nominal height gain and route difficulty isn't one.