2Tired2Shift

Back in the day we used to ride Charles Town Pike (Rt. 9) from Hillsboro back up Clark's Gap to Dry Mill Rd. (at Rt. 7). I want to do a loop that will pick up Rt. 9 at Wheatland and back to Leesburg. Is Rt. 9 still a reasonable road? I'm a little wary of finding out the hard way what 10 years of development might have done out there.

Thanks

cc_rider

STAY OFF ROUTE 9
Very high traffic, very fast and very dangerous.
From Hillsboro take Mountain Road to Irish Corner and into Lovettsville, straight thru L'ville to Milltown Road, L on Wheatland into Waterford and Clarks Gap Road to Route 9. Cross to Simpson Circle (a little to the right on 9) and L on the W&OD. Then follow the route you know, either Dry Mill or W&OD into Leesburg.
Adds a few miles, but they are pretty miles and SAFER.

After 10 years you might not recognize much of Eastern Loudon.

2Tired2Shift

Thanks - will do. How are Loyalty Rd. through Taylorstown and Lovettsville Rd. ?

phoenity

I agree Rt. 9 is horrible. I was heading back to Purcellville from Waterford and took Rt. 9 for a couple miles. I was 85 miles into my ride and was in no condition to be dealing with @$$hole drivers and traffic. I'll make a point to avoid Rt.9 in the future. There was no shoulder and the line of cars to pass me never ended. This was on a Saturday at about 2pm.

Given all of the development, I still find plenty of nice backroads to ride. There are only a couple roads I've decided to avoid completely because of traffic.

cc_rider

How big a loop are you thinking of?
One idea....
From Dry Mill go up Woodburn. R on Harmony Church to get back to Hamilton. L on old route 7 to Purcellville, L on Silicott Springs, R on Snickersville Pike, R on Airmont Rd, turns into Woodgrove at Round Hill, R on Stoney Point to get back to Hillsboro. Good for a few miles and a few hills.

cc_rider

Loyalty Road,Taylorstown Rd, Lovettsville Road, Stumptown Road are all fine. Rode them a couple of weeks ago.
Berlin Pike / rt 287 is iffy. Not as bad as 9, but not nice either. And 15 worse than 9.

2Tired2Shift

Heck, 15 north of Leesburg was crazy even 10 years ago.

Thanks for the other route. I'm basically looking for some circular routes I can tag onto the W&OD. It's always seemed wrong, not to mention boring, to just do straight out & back routes.

cc_rider

I usually like a circular route, too.
The Hillsboro / Lovettesville / Waterford / Leesburg / Hamilton / Purcellville / Airmont / Round Hill loop is one I like, although I usually start in Leesburg. About 50 miles around.

Have fun.