Route profiles

[cptfly]

Hi,

 

I am new to MTB racing but I need to understanding on the route profiles.

 

When they say the route has X amount of meter profile, how do they calculate the meters for that profile ?

 

They would say the 60km race would have a profile of 850m as a example

[Cav']

By comparing the altitude ( meters above sea level ) at the start and finish .

And in doing so determining the amount of meters that was gained/dropped

[Cav']

I'm sure sure someone will give a clear detailed explanation very shortly....

[Minion]

By comparing the altitude ( meters above sea level ) at the start and finish .

And in doing so determining the amount of meters that was gained/dropped

That wouldn't really work for a looped course since start and finish are the same, giving a zero net elevation.

 

The method for calculating the exact elevation gains of a profile depends on smoothing algorithms etc., but the principal is basically:

• Course starts and finishes at 1000m and has one hill that goes to 1800m (800m) = 800m of elevation
  
• Course starts and finishes at 1000m, has one hill that goes to 1500m (500m), goes back to 1000m and then has another hill that goes to 1200m (200m) = 700m of elevation
  
• Course starts and finishes at 1000m, has one hill that goes to 1400m (400m), goes down to 900m, then has another hill that goes to 1200m (300m), goes down to 1100m and then up to 1300m (200m)= 900m of elevation
  
• etc.
  

The complicated part comes in deciding how big an elevation change has to be before including it in the total.

[Mads]

One thing I have found that you cannot rate a race on elevation alone. More important to this is the terrain you are going to ride on. 5 km of soft sand or 5km of loose rocky terrain is totally different than 5km of well prepared gravel road or for that matter jeep track.

 

Those climbes can be 800m of uphill or it can be 800m of battling against rocks, sand and everything else that can be bad. ....................

 

Never judge a race by elevation alone...... Not a MTB one at least!

[cptfly]

thanks all for the feedback thus far.. it makes send.

 

@Mads, yes I did my first event yesterday at Willow Creek/Computer Mania and we had a bit of all terrain types on the route and that was more tiring than the elevation in my rookie experience.

[Cav']

 

That wouldn't really work for a looped course since start and finish are the same, giving a zero net elevation.

 

The method for calculating the exact elevation gains of a profile depends on smoothing algorithms etc., but the principal is basically:

• Course starts and finishes at 1000m and has one hill that goes to 1800m (800m) = 800m of elevation
  
• Course starts and finishes at 1000m, has one hill that goes to 1500m (500m), goes back to 1000m and then has another hill that goes to 1200m (200m) = 700m of elevation
  
• Course starts and finishes at 1000m, has one hill that goes to 1400m (400m), goes down to 900m, then has another hill that goes to 1200m (300m), goes down to 1100m and then up to 1300m (200m)= 900m of elevation
  
• etc.
  

The complicated part comes in deciding how big an elevation change has to be before including it in the total.

Like i said someone will explain in detail shortly, lol

[Agteros]

Like i said someone will explain in detail shortly, lol

Just ask, do not make fun. Poking fun at those with the knowledge is the leading contributor for those same to leave this place;)

[Cav']

 

Just ask, do not make fun. Poking fun at those with the knowledge is the leading contributor for those same to leave this place;)

Ai heman

[Agteros]

Ai heman

dunno about Minion, but not everybody is thick skinned, although it seems like a requirement to frequent this place

[Agteros]

That wouldn't really work for a looped course since start and finish are the same, giving a zero net elevation.

 

The method for calculating the exact elevation gains of a profile depends on smoothing algorithms etc., but the principal is basically:

• Course starts and finishes at 1000m and has one hill that goes to 1800m (800m) = 800m of elevation
  
• Course starts and finishes at 1000m, has one hill that goes to 1500m (500m), goes back to 1000m and then has another hill that goes to 1200m (200m) = 700m of elevation
  
• Course starts and finishes at 1000m, has one hill that goes to 1400m (400m), goes down to 900m, then has another hill that goes to 1200m (300m), goes down to 1100m and then up to 1300m (200m)= 900m of elevation
  
• etc.
  

The complicated part comes in deciding how big an elevation change has to be before including it in the total.

I would love to know what the granularity of the Garmins are. My Polar S720i from years ago worked required a minimum of 5m increase to accumulate

[Cav']

 

dunno about Minion, but not everybody is thick skinned, although it seems like a requirement to frequent this place

I gave him a compliment, i think you missunderstood.

[Agteros]

I gave him a compliment, i think you missunderstood.

He is quite knowledgeable