Back Roads Century Bike Ride 2015

For those planning to go and stay over the night before, PP has blocked 30 rooms (first come, first served) at Comfort Suites, 1937 Short Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430…NOW SOLD OUT!! Try Martinsburg MD, about 9 miles out from the start line.

@Boomer2U 122640 wrote:

For those planning to go and stay over the night before, PP has blocked 30 rooms (first come, first served) at Comfort Suites, 1937 Short Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430…NOW SOLD OUT!! Try Martinsburg MD, about 9 miles out from the start line.

There are still rooms available as of yesterday at the Super 8 in Martinsburg WVA, $53/nigjt on Orbitz.

Join us for a FREE ride and tour of Antietam National Battlefield. Routes will visit Antietam National Battlefield and Potomac Pedalers will cover the entry fee; you only need to tell them you’re with us! Choose between a 14 or 32-mile route. Both rides will meet at 1:30 PM Saturday afternoon at:
Town Run Brewing Company, 202 E. Washington St., Shepherdstown, WV 25443

Some pics from BRC2015…

Team Blokes-Broads-Bikes-and-Brews (B4) @ the Moulton Park rest stop:

The official “all routes” map for WVA (which I got to see at the organizers’ meeting the night before as I was the coordinator for the ride marshals). This map had a lot more detail, and the hazard spots noted on it:

The coolest “banana” cycle of the day:

Team B4 @ the post ride party, Shepherd University, overlooking the Shenandoah River

I tried to do the Antietam Battlefield ride (40 miler) the day before, but it was perhaps the most poorly organized and managed group ride that I ever rode. The Pack got shredded at the first climb. There were no marshals, rest stops nor sweepers. The cue sheet fell apart at mile 14.5, where two turns on either side of a steep climb on a major highway were listed at the same mile maker on the cue sheet. The second turn (right) was suppose to take us into the Park along the Shenandoah River, but instead we were told to go left, back across the highway, and into the town of Harper’s Ferry. At that point, mass confusion set in and it was every rider for themselves.

I decided to sweep and formed an ad hoc group with a bunch of “Babes on Bikes,” Jenn, Joan and Leslie, whom kindly inducted me into their Club as “babe magnet” for the day, and adopted my riding partner, Denise, and me:

We tried to pick up the cue sheet again at Harper’s Ferry, which took us over the foot bridge across the Shenandoah River, and down a switch back stair case – – where we encountered mountian bikers and baby carriages coming up the opposite way making it really useful to assume various yoga positions with your bicycle – – down to the C&O canal, which we rode along until we found a water fountain and a boy scout troop with a map that allow us to chart an alternative route back to Shepherdstown WVA.

We then did a tough climb up from the C&O tow path to Harper’s Ferry Road and “Garmined” our way back to the bridge that crosses the River into Shepherdstown. We missed several turns along the way because I was enjoying the descents so much and blew them off.

In the end it turned out to be one of my more enjoyable rides, meeting the Babes on Bikes, seeing incredible scenery, going on an adventure, all on a gorgeous day. Sometimes things have a funny way of working themselves out when you stay on your bicycle [emoji605] [emoji4]

@Kitty 124651 wrote:

I had to laugh at this one! Its nearly everyone from the group from 50 States! Well done guys! I hope I can roll with you all again.

You are welcomed to roll with us at any time. Look forward to future postings for group rides.