How is Snickersville Pike

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  • July 4, 2016 at 12:04 pm #918357
    KLizotte
    Participant

    I’m a sucker for scenery.

    I’ve never driven Snickersville Pike but Google Streetview seems to indicate that it is very, very pretty as well as rural (as in, only two convenience stores the entire route). I’m seriously thinking about biking it but am concerned about the drivers. Are the drivers sane and courteous? A few days ago I was biking in the Delaplane area and I’d say 98% of drivers gave me a ton of space when passing; unfortunately a few did so going into a blind hill/curve. Sigh.

    Also, what is the pavement condition like? The roads around Delaplane were everything from truly awful to very good. I’ve got a road bike with 25s.

    I’m thinking I would park at the Philomont general store (actually I would ask the fire dept next door if I could park in their lot) then ride the entire pike round trip.

    Any advice would be much appreciated.*

    *FYI: I have no desire to tackle Mt. Weather so don’t even suggest it Rob!

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  • July 4, 2016 at 7:41 pm #1054761
    slowtriguy
    Participant

    I rode Snickersville Pike from the intersection with Cobb House Road, just NW of Aldie, to its end at Route 7, near Bluemont, in April. I recall it as a pretty nice stretch in a longer ride.

    It was a pretty, rural road with rolling hills and decent pavement in most places, and a few rough spots as I recall.

    Most drivers were courteous, except for one driver who tried to pass me on the outside of a blind downhill curve – he stopped when I waved him back strenuously (which was good as a car came around the curve the other direction a few seconds later). Most drivers reacted well to “hold on” and “go ahead” hand signals.

    There’s not much out there except in Philomont and Bluemont, where there are general stores.

    July 5, 2016 at 2:56 pm #1054777
    creadinger
    Participant

    It’s a fine road. It’s a little bit busier than the roads that intersect it though. Also, there were some really rough spots last winter in the vicinity of Mountville, but they must be repaved by now. It does have a couple of steep climbs out of stream valleys especially compared to adjoining roads and watch out for the pavement on the steep descents.

    It’s scenic, but I wouldn’t say it’s MORE scenic than the N-S roads that connect to it like – Airmont Rd, St. Louis Rd (I saw a bear near Middlenurg on this one once), or Sam Fred Rd.

    July 5, 2016 at 5:41 pm #1054790
    KLizotte
    Participant

    @creadinger 142549 wrote:

    It’s a fine road. It’s a little bit busier than the roads that intersect it though. Also, there were some really rough spots last winter in the vicinity of Mountville, but they must be repaved by now. It does have a couple of steep climbs out of stream valleys especially compared to adjoining roads and watch out for the pavement on the steep descents.

    It’s scenic, but I wouldn’t say it’s MORE scenic than the N-S roads that connect to it like – Airmont Rd, St. Louis Rd (I saw a bear near Middletown on this one once), or Sam Fred Rd.

    Hmmm, perhaps I’ll revise my route and avoid the pike and do the other roads you mentioned instead. I discovered on my Delaplane outing that when the streets are “sun dappled” it can be really difficult to see potholes and gravel esp on downhills.

    July 5, 2016 at 5:56 pm #1054791
    creadinger
    Participant

    @KLizotte 142562 wrote:

    Hmmm, perhaps I’ll revise my route and avoid the pike and do the other roads you mentioned instead. I discovered on my Delaplane outing that when the streets are “sun dappled” it can be really difficult to see potholes and gravel esp on downhills.

    Being one of the few east-west roads in the area it’s tough to completely avoid Snickersville, nor should you. I just don’t think it’s worth the trip all on its own.

    You could piece together a loop that uses Snickersville and also some of the other back roads to get a feel for all of it. Start/end in either Middleburg, or Purcellville. If you need it, Route 50 is totally rideable within a mile or two of the towns because the speed limit drops to 25mph. If you don’t want gravel, you’ll have to be more discerning as to which roads you choose.

    [TOTALLYSUBJECTIVE]This is based on how “interesting” I feel the roads are, but If you break up the areas separated by the major E-W roads, I prefer the area between 66 and 50 over the area between 50 and 7. South of 66 to 211 is ok too, but that gets a lot hillier.[/TOTALLYSUBJECTIVE]

    July 5, 2016 at 6:14 pm #1054783
    huskerdont
    Participant

    @creadinger 142563 wrote:

    Start/end in either Middletown, or Purcellville. If you need it, Route 50 is totally rideable within a mile or two of the towns because the speed limit drops to 25mph. If you don’t want gravel, you’ll have to be more discerning as to which roads you choose.

    Following along with interest for potential future ride. Did you mean Middleburg? Middletown is across I-81.

    This is all dangerously close to Dirt Farm Brewery, which has an incredibly steep hill I want to ride up–and maybe down. Hoping the drivers coming down are as careful as they should be. (The long driveway is one lane, with some gravel on the right downhill side to let vehicles get past each other.)

    July 6, 2016 at 5:33 am #1054808
    KLizotte
    Participant

    Thanks for all of the useful info! Unfortunately I was in a bike accident tonight and really messed up my wrist (ortho tomorrow) so won’t be riding for quite a while. Hopefully I’ll be back out that way by Sept. No riding till I’m healed up. Sigh.

    July 6, 2016 at 9:54 am #1054809
    Rod Smith
    Participant

    Oh no! Feel better soon!

    July 6, 2016 at 12:02 pm #1054810
    creadinger
    Participant

    Ugh.. that’s the worst. Sorry to hear that. Can we read about the details somewhere else? Damn. Heal well!

    July 6, 2016 at 12:14 pm #1054811
    rcannon100
    Participant

    Sad Puppy. That sux.

    [IMG]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/animaljam/images/6/6b/Sad_puppy.png/revision/latest?cb=20130806142646[/IMG]

    July 6, 2016 at 12:25 pm #1054812
    huskerdont
    Participant

    Hope that thing heals before September. Warmer weather can sometimes be good for that. Good luck.

    July 6, 2016 at 1:22 pm #1054820
    Anonymous
    Guest

    oh no, heal up well.

    July 6, 2016 at 2:41 pm #1054823
    wheelswings
    Participant

    @KLizotte 142583 wrote:

    Thanks for all of the useful info! Unfortunately I was in a bike accident tonight and really messed up my wrist (ortho tomorrow) so won’t be riding for quite a while.

    Yikes, sorry to hear! What’s the diagnosis? Hope you can fix it with a splint and hot water bottles rather than more serious interventions. Hugs and healing wishes. w&w

    July 6, 2016 at 7:49 pm #1054857
    KLizotte
    Participant

    Thanks for all of the kind words, am really annoyed about the whole thing esp since it is my writing hand and I had a broken ankle this time last year. Am beginning to wonder if cycling is really safe for me!

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