Sterling to Luray, VA
 

So, my ride was on Friday the 14th. The pie was pizza, for which I have no pictures.

Here are a few of interest. The route was from the DC suburbs westward and southward to Sperryville, VA, then up over the Skyline Drive through Shenandoah National Forest, with a fast descent into the valley beyond to Luray.

The ride was difficult, mostly because the roadways were narrow with little-to-no shoulder. Plus the serious climb began at the 80-mile mark, up the 211 over the pass. Talking to a VA State Trooper on the side of the road, we estimated that the average grade is ~9 degrees for about 5 miles or so. These are rough estimates, as I don't have fancy electronics.

Here are a few photos. Me at the outset, 7:00 am.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=273224 I rode the 1988 Fuji Saratoga tourer. It's a bit heavier, but I was glad to have the lowest gears during some portions of the ride. It's a really comfortable bike, and I felt fresh even at the end of the ride. No annoying pains or issues at all.

A stop at the historic Aldie Mill (ca 1800s), showing the commerical mill and grain storehouse. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=273225 This locale in Western Loudoun County is dotted with Civil War skirmish and battle markers. The roadways are named for Mosby, Stuart, Lee, etc.

Typical country road bordered by Civil War era stone fences (northern Faquier County), where I was briefly chased by two dogs. (I had my repellant spray handy). http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=273226 They broke away the chase at the end of their property, luckily. The adrenaline rush lasted about two minutes. That stuff is great!

Humorous furniture store outside Sperryville (look closely at the sign). http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=273227

And a happy Phil beginning the descent after the crest at Skyline. http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=273228 I could only manage about 6 mph for most of the climb over the mountain.

The weather was perfect, but the difficult roads made the ride much less fun. Total miles were 92 and the rolling time was 7:12, avg 12.6 mph.

My wife's first question was "why didn't you go another 8 and make it a century?" Answer: I had ridden enough and was glad to get to the hotel and clean up. At least there was fresh pizza for dinner with my church men's group.

Hope you enjoyed the photos! Phil

Well Bill,That Key Lime Pie looks appetizing, too!
Neither of us are Penn alumni, but both our sons are. We ride for the University of Pennsylvania Health System team for the MS City to Shore ride. We are the largest team in the ride and they give us the jerseys. Those in the photo are from the past two years. I must confess, though we ride past Franklin Field every morning, I know nothing about the football team.:o

I need to offer clarification so that I don't have 7 years of flats ... It was doctorj who helped the damsels in distress, not me! :)
But, if it helps any, I certainly would have, by all means!!! :innocent:

I failed. I rode the 44 mile route at the Bob Galloway Memorial Amish Country Ride in Arthur, IL, like I'd planned, but for the first time they switched from the traditional post-ride Amish meal, with desserts, to a BBQ without.

I feel like the whole ride was a waste.

Oops:twitchy:, my goof up,:notamused: sorry bout that one. Well Doc I'll ask you what colour the young ladies bikes were:innocent:? No one to blame except my forgetful mind, teach me to reply and not check back on the guy I am asking the question first. I'll leave it alone to let everyone know how weird I am:lol:

Bill

Buck up, Craig. The intent was there. How could you have known the Amish were going to get fickle on you? If it makes you feel any better, my encounter with the Amish and their pies was a bit touch and go. They were getting ready to close when we got there, all they had left was cheesecake. Luckily, my husband thought to ask at their restaurant and they had the Shoo-fly. Let me tell you something, when the Amish are ready to go, they don't want to hear it--they are outta there, buggy wheels squealing.

I sort of missed out a bit, being in Vail, CO for 3 days of rest, swimming, bicycle riding and relaxation with the wife, who sorely needed some time away from home. We got a GREAT deal at the Marriott, full breakfast included, so we came to Vail. The Aspen are GLORIOUS in their yellow and some red.

Anyway, we DID get a ride in yesterday - I don't know for how long - but likely not 15 miles. We went on the Gore Range Trail, which goes through all the resorts (many, many) of Vail, We went until the wife was tired. We did have key lime pie for dinner.

I can also state that, among the THOUSANDS of folks around here, there were not many (if any) other almost 75 year-old ladies riding their bikes.

Pictures today, one day after the pie ride, at the top of the ski lift after a gondola ride. That is Mount of the Holy Cross in the background. Yesterday, on a similar peak (North Maroon near Aspen) a fellow fell about 1,000 feet to his death. Not an unusual event in CO.

http://www.ourwebs.info/vail2x.jpg

http://www.ourwebs.info/vail1x.jpg

Denver,
Your priorities are definitely correct, spending time with Mrs. Nora is much more important. Beautiful pictures too. Glad you two got the time together.

Bill

All I brought was my cell phone camera. My other one would have been about 100% brighter.

Thanks

The bike with the flat was a red Kestrel as I recall. The other bike was black.

The young ladies were wearing black kit.

The chop baker was outstanding. My wife couldn't eat all of hers, and she asked if I wanted to finish it. YES. The daughter could not finish all of the brisket she ordered. Did I want a couple of slices. YES.

Doc,
I am well impressed with your memory, much better than mime, as you could see. I believe I am going to get some extra lean beef steaks and baking potatoes. I'll use no sodium/no fat fixings. What toppings were available for y'all?

Bill

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture001.jpg
The point from which my rides frequently start.



http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture003.jpg
The ride-my trusty 1990 c-dale 400st.

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture005.jpg
The cafe at which I got

http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/...Picture007.jpg
the PIE!

Peach crumb with a dollop of whipped cream.:)

In my mind, that is just the quintessential place to have a slice of pie!

Wow...! To get scenery like that, I'd have to drive to ... well, Colorado, I guess! :thumb: I can just about count on one hand the number of trees I see here each fall with that kind of color.

The intent is always there, MissK. That's why I still hang out in the Clyde forum. ;)

Excuse me for being obtuse, but is there something more to a "pie ride" than riding a bicycle, and at some point consuming one or more pieces of pie?

If you're curious about the gradient of a road, you can map it on mapmyride.com, and it will tell you.

It is a 50+ tradition, started years back, participated in voluntarily by those who enjoy those sort of things. 15 miles with - hopefully - blueberry pie. Many of us post pictures. It originated with rck posting pictures of his ride in Wisconsin to Irma's - where he always got some blueberry pie. 3rd Saturday in September. As I recall, I started the whole thing officially.

Nothing obtuse about your question. Participate as you may or may not like and enjoy.

Butter, sour cream, cheese, chives, a bunch of chopped brisket, and a bit of sauce. I ate and enjoyed it all, including the skin, to the dismay of wife and daughter, of the potato. Given that all of my century rides have been away from the permanent residence in LA, it was a special treat to have family members present at the finish line, be able to go immediately with them and indulge in a totally guilt-free pig-out, and then go home for cherry pie. It just doesn't get much better.

Semper Fi!

Semper Fi Doc,
Great that the family was there with you. I'll do a few substitutions on the chopped baker as far as the butter, sour cream and sauce with my Renal failure but a brisket on the grill and an Idaho baker with toppings sounds like this weekend to me, thanks much. And good on you for assisting the young ladies, it will come back around.

Bill

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=273438Sorry, the only picture I have.
I rode a double century. On my fixed gear bike.
Spent 13hrs 8mins in the saddle.
It was my birthday ride...will be 54 on Wednesday.
I ate pie... Blueberry. I earned it.

Congrats! You certainly earned the pie. Of course, your real birthday ride will have to come on or after your birthday as it's too easy to do it when you are younger. ;)

You did about 12 pie rides, or two pies. Enjoy.

I failed miserably. I was down in Texas at a Python programming conference giving a couple of talks. No bicycling that day at all, and the closest I came to pie was that they had pastries with apple and cherry fillings and I took one of each.

I did see some bicycles designed just for riding on campus though. The company that designed them was definitely thinking out of the box.