Riding in Williamsburg VA
12-29-05, 10:15 PM
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Riding in Williamsburg VA
I am just starting to get tired of winter, so i will think about summer vacation now...
We are going to Williamsburg VA for a a week, and of course the bike is coming too.
Does anybody know of any good trails to ride near the Williamsburg area?
Last time we went, we went to the blue ridge mountains. I suspect there will be a trip there as well, so if you know of some good trails in that area too, thats great. But ideally its trails in or around williamsburg.
We are going to Williamsburg VA for a a week, and of course the bike is coming too.
Does anybody know of any good trails to ride near the Williamsburg area?
Last time we went, we went to the blue ridge mountains. I suspect there will be a trip there as well, so if you know of some good trails in that area too, thats great. But ideally its trails in or around williamsburg.
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12-30-05, 02:53 AM
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I don't know about trails around Williamsburg, but a few years ago I rode from Suffolk, VA to Williamsburg and back. It was around 100 miles round trip. I don't remember the road, but it was a two lane lightly traveled road that led to a ferry crossing across the James River. The best way to see William and Mary and colonial Williamsburg is by bike. They don't allow cars on the main street, Duke of Gloster (sp?), but they do allow bikes. You can even rent a tape recorder which describes the many highlights of this wonderful area. (I graduated from William and Mary many moons ago, along with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. I still have my white wig.) 
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12-30-05, 07:31 AM
#3
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Phantomcow asked. . .
>>> any good trails to ride near the Williamsburg area?
If by 'trails', you mean off-road type trails I can't help you. However, there are several sweet, albiet easy, rides there. My favorite is the spin from Williamsburg to Yorktown. Once in Yorktown you can do lunch and visit the battlefield. . .we kicked some serious English Butt there once. . .with a 'tad' of help from the French. While you're there please notice the ancient juniper trees on the battlefields. . .beautiful old giants. OK, then there's the easy spin out to Jamestown. Notice the rebel cannonade mounds on the way and, of course, the cypress trees in pretty much their northern limit. OK, then there's the 'Country Road', another easy spin through the pine forests to several historic sites. Great time of year down there to catch some sunshine, see some wildlife, and get a little exercise.
Then. . .
>>> blue ridge mountains. . . . if you know of some good trails in that area
Again, I don't know of off-road stuff, but there's always the Skyline Drive.
If you're searching mountain bike trails, you might try https://www.mtbr.com/
Well, DO let us know how it went!
>>> any good trails to ride near the Williamsburg area?
If by 'trails', you mean off-road type trails I can't help you. However, there are several sweet, albiet easy, rides there. My favorite is the spin from Williamsburg to Yorktown. Once in Yorktown you can do lunch and visit the battlefield. . .we kicked some serious English Butt there once. . .with a 'tad' of help from the French. While you're there please notice the ancient juniper trees on the battlefields. . .beautiful old giants. OK, then there's the easy spin out to Jamestown. Notice the rebel cannonade mounds on the way and, of course, the cypress trees in pretty much their northern limit. OK, then there's the 'Country Road', another easy spin through the pine forests to several historic sites. Great time of year down there to catch some sunshine, see some wildlife, and get a little exercise.
Then. . .
>>> blue ridge mountains. . . . if you know of some good trails in that area
Again, I don't know of off-road stuff, but there's always the Skyline Drive.
If you're searching mountain bike trails, you might try https://www.mtbr.com/
Well, DO let us know how it went!
12-30-05, 07:58 AM
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The Colonial Parkway is an OK ride.
Heard about some trails around Virgina Beach, but don't know the details.
The roads around Smithfield look interesting, but I've never bike them.
Bike Virginia is going to ride between South Hill, Emporia and Roanoke Rapids. Maybe you can get info on their routes.
https://www.bikevirginia.org/
They are also doing a Tour du Chesapeake around Mathews County. I've biked around Mathews and it's pretty good.
Heard about some trails around Virgina Beach, but don't know the details.
The roads around Smithfield look interesting, but I've never bike them.
Bike Virginia is going to ride between South Hill, Emporia and Roanoke Rapids. Maybe you can get info on their routes.
https://www.bikevirginia.org/
They are also doing a Tour du Chesapeake around Mathews County. I've biked around Mathews and it's pretty good.
Last edited by cc_rider; 12-30-05 at 08:06 AM.
12-30-05, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by trmcgeehan
I don't know about trails around Williamsburg, but a few years ago I rode from Suffolk, VA to Williamsburg and back. It was around 100 miles round trip. I don't remember the road, but it was a two lane lightly traveled road that led to a ferry crossing across the James River. The best way to see William and Mary and colonial Williamsburg is by bike. They don't allow cars on the main street, Duke of Gloster (sp?), but they do allow bikes. You can even rent a tape recorder which describes the many highlights of this wonderful area. (I graduated from William and Mary many moons ago, along with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. I still have my white wig.)
I do remember Williamsburg as a very bike-friendly place – but for road, not off-road.
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Sheriff: All alone?
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12-30-05, 03:22 PM
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We have three groomed single track trails here, all about 5-6 miles long of varying degrees of difficulty. Go to www.EVMA.org and check out the "our trails" section. The first on their list is in Npt News, but the rest are in Williamsburg. York River is the most difficult of the three, sure it's not the mountains, but it's pleanty hard.
As for the road, the parkway sucks. It's this "pretty" looking chip seal that rattles your bones, and the park police are less bike freindly than the county cops.
As for the road, the parkway sucks. It's this "pretty" looking chip seal that rattles your bones, and the park police are less bike freindly than the county cops.
12-31-05, 03:13 AM
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George Washington was trained as a surveyor at William and Mary. He went on to greater things.
__________________
"I am a true laborer. I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of other men's good, content with my harm." As You Like It, Act 3, Scene 2. Shakespeare.
"Deep down, I'm pretty superficial." Ava Gardner.
"I am a true laborer. I earn that I eat, get that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's happiness, glad of other men's good, content with my harm." As You Like It, Act 3, Scene 2. Shakespeare.
"Deep down, I'm pretty superficial." Ava Gardner.
12-31-05, 08:44 AM
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Like sjjone stated, the road riding on the colonal parkway can be bone rattling unless you have a full suspension bike. Another place that has a listing of road rides is a LBS (BikeBeat) www.bikbeatonline.com after you get to their website, select the ride information on the menu item bar on the left hand side, they list some very good maps for road riding in the Williamsburg area.
I hope this helps. Have a great day and a better new year.
I hope this helps. Have a great day and a better new year.
12-31-05, 03:40 PM
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Grimmreaper spake. . .
>>>. . .colonial parkway. . .can be bone rattling unless you have a full suspension bike
Given the short distance and superior destination, it's well worth the inconvenience of a not-quite-mirror-smooth surface. IMHO full suspension may be a mite hi-tech for a 'parkway'. . .wide tires might be good tho' since road tires'll probanly ricochet unpleasantly through the surface. I'll be doing the parkway with knobby cyclocross tires in February. . .get back to you here about it.
>>>. . .colonial parkway. . .can be bone rattling unless you have a full suspension bike
Given the short distance and superior destination, it's well worth the inconvenience of a not-quite-mirror-smooth surface. IMHO full suspension may be a mite hi-tech for a 'parkway'. . .wide tires might be good tho' since road tires'll probanly ricochet unpleasantly through the surface. I'll be doing the parkway with knobby cyclocross tires in February. . .get back to you here about it.
02-26-06, 06:46 PM
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Well as promised, I'm reporting back.
We just got back from Williamsburg. My 700x30 'cross tires did just fine, tho' it was their width that was the trick, not the lugs. IMHO, a 25 or 30 width slick would do just as well or better. 'Reaper is right about the surface; it's not real smooth so you roadies might find it annoying.
The run over to Yorktown had more traffic than I've seen there before. That part of the parkway is obviously transitioning into major point-to-point thoroughfare from Williamsburg to Route 17, and so is not so relaxing. . .bummer. The run down to Jamestown was a delight. At this season wind is an issue, but it’s all part of biking.
The “Country Road” [lit.] I mentioned in my previous post is now closed.
We just got back from Williamsburg. My 700x30 'cross tires did just fine, tho' it was their width that was the trick, not the lugs. IMHO, a 25 or 30 width slick would do just as well or better. 'Reaper is right about the surface; it's not real smooth so you roadies might find it annoying.
The run over to Yorktown had more traffic than I've seen there before. That part of the parkway is obviously transitioning into major point-to-point thoroughfare from Williamsburg to Route 17, and so is not so relaxing. . .bummer. The run down to Jamestown was a delight. At this season wind is an issue, but it’s all part of biking.
The “Country Road” [lit.] I mentioned in my previous post is now closed.
