Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Cycling Vacation on VA. Creeper Trail

We just got back from spending 5 days in a rental house on the VA. Creeper Trail--unbelievable vacation! We rode "down" the mountain 2x, then rode the Damascus to Abingdon part 2x, plus I rode solo several times on different parts of the Trail. All total, I put in 115 miles of cycling in 5 days and had a blast!

If you're out near South-west VA, you've got to take in the Creeper Trail.

Just about the most fun you can have on a bike!

It's a Rails to Trails path open to hikers, cyclists, and horse riders. Tons of old Trestles to ride over, gorgeous scenery along the way.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll135/shorerider_2008/PIC00053.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll135/shorerider_2008/PIC00062.jpg


The first 18 miles is downhill, and the first 8 miles of so of the Trail, you almost don't have to touch your pedals, just fly down the hill on the Trail. We hit top speed of 20.5mph at one point--without pedaling! Oh yeah, what a blast :speedy::speedy:


Then the next 17 miles, if you want to ride it, is a slight incline towards Abingdon, and I mean slight. I saw one little girl with training wheels riding it! :thumb:

Check it out if you've get a chance.

Sad thing is, I LIVE in Southwest VA and still haven't ridden the Creeper Trail.

I have ridden the entire New River Trail, which is another rails-to-trails project.

Sad thing is, I LIVE in Southwest VA and still haven't ridden the Creeper Trail.

I have ridden the entire New River Trail, which is another rails-to-trails project.


I found out about the New River Trail the day we left! I WANT TO DO THAT TRAIL! Was it great? Good trail?
I really enjoyed the Creeper but the first 18 miles was no challenge at all--just coasting mostly. I only burnt up a little over 180 calories according to my HRM. I told my DH that the New River Trail is next but he's not up for it--he's not into cycling but loved the coasting on the Creeper.

Sad thing is, I LIVE in Southwest VA and still haven't ridden the Creeper Trail.


Same for me but I do plan on doing it, in a couple weeks. I highly recommend Adventure Damascus, its just a bit up the street from the trail in Damascus. Good shop, laid back helpful staff, I consider it my LBS even though its about an hour away, its stlll one of the closest around.

I did the "Creeper" this summer, fun stuff:

http://loeffelmail.com/tennessee/c_creeper/jr_tennessee%20015.jpg

http://loeffelmail.com/tennessee/c_creeper/jr_tennessee%20020.jpg

http://loeffelmail.com/tennessee/c_creeper/jr_tennessee%20028.jpg

http://loeffelmail.com/tennessee/c_creeper/tennessee%20023.jpg

http://loeffelmail.com/tennessee/c_creeper/tennessee%20024.jpg

Same for me but I do plan on doing it, in a couple weeks. I highly recommend Adventure Damascus, its just a bit up the street from the trail in Damascus. Good shop, laid back helpful staff, I consider it my LBS even though its about an hour away, its stlll one of the closest around.
Dox, Damascus is about an hour south of me on I-81. I'm in Radford. You?
BTW - the city of Radford just opened up some great new trails. IMBA spec. Beginner to expert. Maybe around 10 miles of trails, but a person can make multiple loops to make it interesting. It's still new enough that the wildlife hasn't adjusted (meaning, there was a deer running next to me on a downhill stretch until he showed me who was faster).

Squirrell, the New River Trail is another Rails To Trails project the same as the Creeper. There are stretches where you can just coast, and then stretches where you can barely see an incline...just enough to feel like you've lost a few pounds of air in your tires.

We just got back from spending 5 days in a rental house on the VA. Creeper Trail--unbelievable vacation! We rode "down" the mountain 2x, then rode the Damascus to Abingdon part 2x, plus I rode solo several times on different parts of the Trail. All total, I put in 115 miles of cycling in 5 days and had a blast!

If you're out near South-west VA, you've got to take in the Creeper Trail.

Just about the most fun you can have on a bike!

It's a Rails to Trails path open to hikers, cyclists, and horse riders. Tons of old Trestles to ride over, gorgeous scenery along the way.

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll135/shorerider_2008/PIC00053.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll135/shorerider_2008/PIC00062.jpg


The first 18 miles is downhill, and the first 8 miles of so of the Trail, you almost don't have to touch your pedals, just fly down the hill on the Trail. We hit top speed of 20.5mph at one point--without pedaling! Oh yeah, what a blast :speedy::speedy:


Then the next 17 miles, if you want to ride it, is a slight incline towards Abingdon, and I mean slight. I saw one little girl with training wheels riding it! :thumb:

Check it out if you've get a chance.

It sounds great. It's a drive from me, but probably not much more than the Great Allegheny Passage in Pittsburgh is.

Are these trails appropriate for a road bike, or do you need a mountain bike?

I can't speak for the Creeper because I haven't been on it.

The New River Trail is probably better suited to something with wider tires. Doesn't *have* to be a full-on mountain bike though. If you've got the frame clearance, you could swap tires out to something around 30c width and probably be okay. This particular trail is mostly packed gravel (cinders) with some bare hardpacked dirt.

There are places close to either of these places that rent mountain bikes though.

Thanks for the reply. I'd probably need to rent a bike that, but it sounds like fun.

We did the Creeper on Hybrids. I've heard of some doing it on road bikes though but there are some rocks, gullies, and rough spots in areas.

We did the Creeper on Hybrids. I've heard of some doing it on road bikes though but there are some rocks, gullies, and rough spots in areas.

I'd recommend renting a beater. It was rough, dirty and muddy at times.