Saturday In and Around Skyline
06-01-09, 04:49 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 2,654
Bikes: 2008 Trek Madone 5.5, 2009 Cervelo R3SL tdf edition, Cervelo R5 with Di2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Saturday In and Around Skyline
After training for and completing the Mountains of Misery ride last week, I wanted to do a little more climbing this weekend before my limited climbing ability completely atrophies. I pieced together a ride from various parts that I've done before, but never all in one day.
I ended up doing a little over 100 miles on a route that circled around the east side of of Shenandoah National Park, up to its highest point, and back up the Shenandoah Valley after crossing Massanutten Mountain.
Here is a complete slideshow of the ride: https://s263.photobucket.com/albums/i...view=slideshow
Here is the route: https://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/va...24376036667745
I parked at the entrance to Skyline Drive, but didn't head in. Instead I headed out of Front Royal, up route 522 over the Chester Gap.
Skyline Start:
Heading over Chester Gap:
A bit of that, and then took some pretty back roads into Washington, VA:
After that it was a 5-mile ride on Rt 211 into Sperryville, a town just outside the SNP, elevation around 700 feet or so:
I ended up doing a little over 100 miles on a route that circled around the east side of of Shenandoah National Park, up to its highest point, and back up the Shenandoah Valley after crossing Massanutten Mountain.
Here is a complete slideshow of the ride: https://s263.photobucket.com/albums/i...view=slideshow
Here is the route: https://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/va...24376036667745
I parked at the entrance to Skyline Drive, but didn't head in. Instead I headed out of Front Royal, up route 522 over the Chester Gap.
Skyline Start:
Heading over Chester Gap:
A bit of that, and then took some pretty back roads into Washington, VA:
After that it was a 5-mile ride on Rt 211 into Sperryville, a town just outside the SNP, elevation around 700 feet or so:
06-01-09, 04:50 AM
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 2,654
Bikes: 2008 Trek Madone 5.5, 2009 Cervelo R3SL tdf edition, Cervelo R5 with Di2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Where I turn around:
Then I had a nice twisty safe descent out of the park:
Then next big climb was over Massanutten Mountain coming out of Luray. Here you can get an idea of the grade:
Finally a cruise in on Fort Valley Road:
Through the George Washington National Forest, crossing Passage Creek:
Across the Shenandoah, and back:
A great day, a great ride, and hope you enjoyed the show!
Then I had a nice twisty safe descent out of the park:
Then next big climb was over Massanutten Mountain coming out of Luray. Here you can get an idea of the grade:
Finally a cruise in on Fort Valley Road:
Through the George Washington National Forest, crossing Passage Creek:
Across the Shenandoah, and back:
A great day, a great ride, and hope you enjoyed the show!
06-01-09, 06:16 AM
#3
gone ride'n
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 4,050
Bikes: Simoncini, Gary Fisher, Specialized Tarmac
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Great pics - thanks.
I've spent a lot of time in them thar hills.
I would ride from Simmons gap to Skyland through Big Meadows quite a bit - many years ago...
Great scenery - great ride!
I've spent a lot of time in them thar hills.
I would ride from Simmons gap to Skyland through Big Meadows quite a bit - many years ago...
Great scenery - great ride!
06-01-09, 07:25 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Southeastern Louisiana
Posts: 112
Bikes: Road
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Great pics of a great ride. That is really pretty country.
I loved the picture of the store selling "Antique Tables" - "Made Daily". That's funny.
I loved the picture of the store selling "Antique Tables" - "Made Daily". That's funny.
06-01-09, 08:43 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Hollister, CA
Posts: 3,957
Bikes: Volagi, daVinci Joint Venture
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
Great ride in gorgeous country. Haven't been on that road since I was a kid some 55 years ago.
06-01-09, 01:05 PM
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 2,654
Bikes: 2008 Trek Madone 5.5, 2009 Cervelo R3SL tdf edition, Cervelo R5 with Di2
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Looks like I left off some of the nicest pictures when I copied this in from the Road Bikes forum. I encourage you to view the photobucket slideshow if you're interest 
SportTracks claiming it was about 7500 feet of climbing. Felt like more to me...
SportTracks claiming it was about 7500 feet of climbing. Felt like more to me...
