Where to ride this April--need advice

[bruce19]

My girlfriend and I want to get a jump on the New England cycling season by heading south to ride for a week or so in April. We live in CT so a comfortable day's drive would be about 500-600 miles. I'm thinking that would put us in or around VA. Anyone have any suggestions for a good road riding destination? I'd like to stay away from the coast. Hate the traffic getting there and the population density for riding in general.

bruce19
Mansfield Center, CT

[staehpj1]

What kind of distances and terrain are you looking for? A start might be to check out:
http://www.bikewashington.org/routes/

[bruce19]

Since it will be the beginning of our season, I think we are looking at rides in the 30-50 mi. range. I'd like some mix of steep and long hills appropriate for the start of a season. Hills are a real weakness for me (being an ex-college football player at 5'10 & 190 lbs.), so I do have to work hard early. I actually did a trip last Fall on my Ducati to the Berkley Springs, WV area and thought that was pretty nice for motorcycles. Not sure where the good bicycle roads are though.

bruce19

[cc_rider]

There're good biking hills just west of DC, in Loudon County. Mostly rural roads. If you're coming this way I can get you some cue sheets.

[TrekDen]

I recommend taking a drive to Snowshoe, West Virginia. Take some rides on Route 92, and I'm sure you'll be impressed with the roads as well as the scenery. As far as hill climbing goes, just pedal up the hill that takes you to Snowshoe Resort.
Denny

[bruce19]

There're good biking hills just west of DC, in Loudon County. Mostly rural roads. If you're coming this way I can get you some cue sheets.

If we end up in that vicinity I will definitely take you up on the offer. Thanks. We appreciate the help.

bruce19

[Rolling15]

If you are looking for a wonderful ride you might try driving down to Middleburg, VA. You can choose from several different loops and they average 40 – 45 miles of beautiful scenery. The country roads are well paved with good shoulders and you will find views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, farms, estates and endless vistas. The ride is off Route 50 and intersects with Snickersville Tpke. I come down from NYC at least once a year to ride here. I have been biking all over the east and I have found this area to be one of my favorites.

[cc_rider]

If you are looking for a wonderful ride you might try driving down to Middleburg, VA. You can choose from several different loops and they average 40 – 45 miles of beautiful scenery. The country roads are well paved with good shoulders and you will find views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, farms, estates and endless vistas. The ride is off Route 50 and intersects with Snickersville Tpke. I come down from NYC at least once a year to ride here. I have been biking all over the east and I have found this area to be one of my favorites.
Yep. Loudon County. Sounds like one of the loops I was thinking of. The less hilly one. :p
Got cues for that area, too.

You could also start a little farther south, in Markham, and ride thru the gap into the Shennandoah Valley. Pretty ride.

[Rolling15]

I am not familiar with the ride that you mentioned in Markham. If it’s anything like Middleburg it has to be very special. You wrote that you had a cue sheet. Would you be able to send me a copy or a link for this ride?

[cc_rider]

PPTC holds their Peach Picker ride every July. Starts from Stribling Orchard in Markham.
The C ride goes up Red Oak Mountain and down to Orleans (but you can add a few more hills by returning a little more to the east)
The other rides go down route 55, thru the gap into the Valley. Very pretty ride along the Shennendoah River. Good stop in Millwood, and a real good hill on Tilthammer Rd. You could even ride up to Berryville.
Here's the link to the PPTC cue library.
http://www.bikepptc.org/newcue/vabyridestart.html#Markham-%20Stribling%20Orchard
Go to Markham as starting point. Peach Picker's Delight is the one.

The Middleburg ride I've done is up to Snickerville on Sam Fred and back on the St Louis Rd, then south on Atoka and back on Zula Rd. Nice ride, but the second half has a bit a traffic. Is that something like you had in mind?

[Rolling15]

The Markham ride sounds interesting. I start at the school for the Middleburg ride but I think I do the this loop in reverse from what you describe.

[GuitarWizard]

I live right up the road from ya on Rte. 195 (near Potters Funeral Home)....once you're back to riding around here, I know of plenty of routes that offer a good mix of hills and stuff :).

If you've seen a guy in the summer wearing a bright green and black-shouldered Eastern Mountain Sports (EMS) jersey on a Trek, that's me.