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05-11-08 | 07:29 AM

#1718

NoRacer

Isaias

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 5,182

Likes: 0

From: Essex, MD

Bikes: Ridley X-Fire (carbon, white)

For anyone who gave a thought about doing this ride, but got scared off due to the rain, you missed a good one. It was a little soggy at the beginning and we were tentative/cautious on all of the descents while the roads were wet. By the time we stopped for lunch at the Blue Moon Cafe in Shepherstown (WV), the sun started peaking out of the clouds.

I rode my commuter for this ride.

The average amount of climbing on this ride is reported at 7,500ft and my bike computer registered a couple of climbs in the 15-17% range.

The highlight of the day, other than the sun coming out, was the crossing of the railroad bridge in Harper's Ferry descending down the "spiral staircase" (carrying our bikes) to get off of the bridge and down to the C&O Canal towpath (hence, the name of the ride, "Century of the Spiral Staircase).

Attached are pics of the map--the red line is the century route:

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoRacer

Looks like there will be a break in the weather Saturday. If anyone is interested in a hilly century, folks from the DC Randonnuers (www.dcrand.org) will be holding the following "training ride":

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2008

"THE CENTURY OF THE SPIRAL STAIRCASE," starting from the Hyattstown

Shopping Center in Hyattstown, Maryland. MEETING TIME 7:30AM. A John &

Lynne MASTERPIECE, and definitely one of our favorite rides. We'll

travel "over the mountains and through the woods" to Sharpsburg in the

morning, then cross the Potomac River into West Virginia, with a lunch

stop at the cozy Blue Moon Cafe in Shepherdstown. After lunch we'll

enjoy some mellow miles ambling along the Potomac River on the way to

magnificently beautiful Harpers Ferry, where we'll cross the long

footbridge over the Potomac River and then ride a very short stretch

(only 0.5 mile) on the C&O Canal towpath. The return route passes

through Sandy Hook, Knoxville, Brunswick, Jefferson, and Buckeystown.

101 HILLY miles, with short options of 57, 65, or 87 miles. The two

shortest options stay in Frederick County. The 87-mile option includes

a brief tour of the Antietam battlefield.

Directions to the ride start:

HYATT SHOPPING CENTER, HYATTSTOWN, MARYLAND From DC Beltway, go north on

I-270 to Exit 22. Turn left on MD109 North at end of ramp. In 0.5 mi.

turn left on MD355 at the traffic light. In 0.3 mi. turn left into

shopping center. Park away from the stores.

Last edited by NoRacer; 05-11-08 at 08:16 AM.

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