Carus47

Does anyone have an elevation chart of the W&OD trial... The one on their site only gives the elevation at every mile marker.

666

Use mapmyride.com

orcanova

the only thing I can give you is a 30 mile out-and-back (15/15) from Louden County Pkwy ( Redskins Park) going west to Purceville. There are lots of fale flats, and lots of interections to stop for...

ken cummings

I went to a W&OD site and found elevations every 1/2 mile. Looks like an old RR or canal right-of-way. Honestly, why would you need better elevations on such a flat route? I rode for a while around Warrenton, VA and some short hills called for gears, but on the W&OD?

Grasschopper

Ok so I am thinking W&OD for my first fixed century...thoughts?

orcanova

Waynesboro, Shippensburg, Carlisle, Gettysburg...I would prefer to do a century there. W&OD goes through lots of congested areas and is not so pretty...

rapidcarbon

my friend did a full WOD out and back on his fixed gear mtbike.

Kuma

+1. In addtion, the W&OD is desparately crowded on weekends, and not a full 50 miles long. It has many at-grade crossings of busy streets, particularly closer in to DC, so even when it is not crowded with people, you have to stop way too often.

If you're looking for a flat century in the mid-Atlantic, I've heard the Seagull Century in October on the Eastern Shore of MD is nice and flat as a pancake.

https://www.seagullcentury.org/

ks1g

W&OD is certainly do-able for a fixed-gear century - the only remotely longish hill, such as it is, is the climb to Clarkes Gap from Leesburg. One end-to-end round trip would give you about 90 miles total. As other posters have noted, however, there are a lot of road crossings (especially the Fairfax County and Arlington portions) and some sections become a bit crowded on weekends [although in spite of articles in the Washington Post to the contrary, it isn't THAT bad if you pay attention and ride appropriate for conditions!]. Two round trips from Herndon to Purcelville and back would give you 100 miles and the Dairy Queen is right there for the end-of-ride celebration!

Seagull Century is a VERY flat ride, great for a fixed gear, although you may (will) have to deal with wind, especially the section around Assateuge. I'd look for a cooperative rider to draft. While much hillier (~5500 ft +/- of climbing), people do ride the Reston Century on a fixie (although clearly youth and enthusiasim were outrunning common sense and the rider admitted he had to take a break on Taylorstown until his legs stopped quivering on their own!)

probable556

Yep. Just draw it out and click box to show elevation.

probable556

I think you might either fall asleep or get run over by Rollerblades and moms with strollers walking down the centerline listening to their iPods

Seriously though, if you take it round trip and add a few extra miles somewhere on the route (maybe Arlington on Pat Henry) you will have fun. Lots of water fountains and several conveinence stores to buy snacks if you run out.

skooter

I did a quick search on motionbased and couldn't find anyone who had done the complete route, but did find this ride that starts at mile seven and goes to trail's end.

dpara

This site has an elevation profile and maps of 10mi sections. https://bikewashington.org/trails/wad/wad.htm But like everyone else has said there should be better alternatives.

cc_rider

One of the clubs I ride with does a fixed 72 miler on the W&OD every month, Vienna to Purcelville. Been with them a few times on that ride. There are crowded patches, and there are empty stretches. Past Herndon there are only a few bad road crossing, although you need to watch out at each one (just in case).
If you're not out to race, and you're careful around the trail traffic, it's a plesant ride. Well suited to fixed gear.
PS Don't ride the W&OD on Aug 26. The Reston Century fills up several parts of the trail.