The Muur is hard but it's fun riding it because it comes in sections and if you dose well it's pretty easy to climb as you can recover in certain sections. Berendries is harder because it always gets steeper and steeper and it's a long climb. Also as you have done the hardest part on the Berendries there's yet a long section where the gradient is less but it just keeps hurting. As for the hardest climbs in Flanders I would say Paterberg and Koppenberg. They have a bit the same profile: they're just intimidating as you see them and you know in advance that it's gonna hurt really bad. They are steep and there's no time to recover, it just gets steeper and steeper. And you can see the top approach but it just always gets harder and you see your heart rate spike up to 195BPM just to make it up. There are just 2 differences between Paterberg and Koppenberg. Paterberg is 'only' 360 meters of suffering and the cobbles are bad but relatively evenly laid, Koppenberg is 600 meters and the cobbles are just so bad that you're jumping around so hard that it's difficult to stay upright. If I had to choose I would rate the Muur van Geraardsbergen on 5, Oude Kwaremont on 4, Berendries on 3, Paterberg on 2 and most difficult is surely Koppenberg. That said I have heard that the Kemmelberg is also a monster but I've never done it because it's in another part of the country, as for the other climbs around Ronse and Oudenaarde they're all in the area where I live. Keep up the good work and always welcome to suffer ine the Flemisch Ardennes
Yeah its iconic but I would say the Koppenberg is my favourite. Also although not in Flanders but in Wallonie the Mur de Huy is a must to ride, its steep!
@@BikepackingAdventures you'll have to go back then😁 When I rode it a few years ago there was about half a dozen Citroen 2cv's on a tour, they stopped about half way up and couldn't get any further. Eventually after a few attempts and some really good run ups they managed. We were sat at the top and could here them reving the arse out of those poor old cars.
Thus is Wonderfulness .
The Muur is hard but it's fun riding it because it comes in sections and if you dose well it's pretty easy to climb as you can recover in certain sections. Berendries is harder because it always gets steeper and steeper and it's a long climb. Also as you have done the hardest part on the Berendries there's yet a long section where the gradient is less but it just keeps hurting. As for the hardest climbs in Flanders I would say Paterberg and Koppenberg. They have a bit the same profile: they're just intimidating as you see them and you know in advance that it's gonna hurt really bad. They are steep and there's no time to recover, it just gets steeper and steeper. And you can see the top approach but it just always gets harder and you see your heart rate spike up to 195BPM just to make it up. There are just 2 differences between Paterberg and Koppenberg. Paterberg is 'only' 360 meters of suffering and the cobbles are bad but relatively evenly laid, Koppenberg is 600 meters and the cobbles are just so bad that you're jumping around so hard that it's difficult to stay upright. If I had to choose I would rate the Muur van Geraardsbergen on 5, Oude Kwaremont on 4, Berendries on 3, Paterberg on 2 and most difficult is surely Koppenberg. That said I have heard that the Kemmelberg is also a monster but I've never done it because it's in another part of the country, as for the other climbs around Ronse and Oudenaarde they're all in the area where I live. Keep up the good work and always welcome to suffer ine the Flemisch Ardennes
Yeah its iconic but I would say the Koppenberg is my favourite. Also although not in Flanders but in Wallonie the Mur de Huy is a must to ride, its steep!
I nearly went to the Koppenberg, if indeed I woke up sooner I could have done both that morning.
@@BikepackingAdventures you'll have to go back then😁 When I rode it a few years ago there was about half a dozen Citroen 2cv's on a tour, they stopped about half way up and couldn't get any further. Eventually after a few attempts and some really good run ups they managed. We were sat at the top and could here them reving the arse out of those poor old cars.
I was going to say about the Koppenberg. It's a bit nasty
Yep. That’s an iconic climb. Did you note your heart rate at all Rich.
Nope, I haven't worn a HRM for months. Last one died earlier this year, didn't bother to replace.
@@BikepackingAdventures as long as it still ticking away that's all that counts.
With all those leaves and cobbles, plenty of pro champions have faltered! Merxx included.