Boomer’s Halloween Blue Ridge Mountain Challenge 2015 ride

[Boomer Cycles]

When: Sat, Oct 31, 2015 @ 9AM
Where: VDOT parking lot, Marshal VA (off of I66 West)
Distance: 56 miles (with +44 mile loop option** to make it a century ride for the day)
Difficulty: As tough as they get, but not as bad as Kill Bill
Trip Time: (including rest stops) 4.5 hours

This will be a self-supported, 56 mile (half-century) ride on paved roads (except for some gravel at Bear’s Den detour, but doable on road tires) so you will need to organize your own transportation, food & tools. You do not want to get stranded on this one because you forgot to pack your tool kit and/or spare tube!

Wheels roll at 9 AM out of the VDOT commuter parking lot in Marshal VA (a block down from, and behind, the 7-11 convenience store, which is also the nearest public bathroom FYI).

Get your granny gear oiled for this ride, as it is hilly, including an 8% grade climb from Bluemont VA to the Blue Ridge Parkway, and up/over Mt Weather, one of the highest peaks in our region. Oh and then there is Naked Mtn just when you thought you might get to coast to the finish line. The route description, profile and cue sheet can be found here: http://bikewashington.org/routes/bluerdg/index.htm

Here are my stats from the last time I did this route: https://www.strava.com/activities/188508742

Rest stops will be at Bluemont, Bear’s Den (scenic overlook of the Shenandoah Valley from the Appalachian Trail) and Paris, all of which have water and bathrooms; Bluemont and Paris also have food stores. Naked Mtn also has a winery for those so inclined.

Hit “Like” if you plan to attend so that I can get a head count.

Hit “Reply” if interested in the +44 mile century option, the “Resplendent Rappanhannock” ride (estimated +3.5 hrs) **

Hit “Reply” if you can offer or need a ride to Marshal VA, and we will see what we can do to match people and vehicles.

And Halloween costumes [emoji317] are encouraged, of course!

** The additional 44-ish mile loop option, after the BRMC ride is over, depends if there is interest to make this into a century day while the fall foliage is still in living color. If so, we do a modified version of the Resplendent Rappanhannock ride from the Greater Washington Area Bicycling Atlas (Legs willing, of course!); See here for ride details: https://www.strava.com/activities/243372930. This optional ride will start/end in the same VDOT parking lot in Marshal, so you will be able to resupply in between the two rides. Wheels roll:14:00 hrs??? Bring a front and rear tail light in case we are not back before dark to the VDOT lot in Marshal VA.

Topic

[Boomer Cycles]

We had a challenging but fun ride today, and were treated with sunny skies and a kaleidoscope of fall colors..

In the beginning it was a chilly start

Our first stop in Bluemount, were the general store is a landmark

The view of the Shenandoah Valley from Bear’s Den on the Appalachian Trail

What is a ride leader who loses his group?….a loser!:-0

[Boomer Cycles]

On the road to Naked Mountain

How does Paula always make it look so easy???

At least Edwin huffs and puffs his way up the mountain like the rest of us mortals

Happy Halloween from Naked Mountain

[Boomer Cycles]

Paula capturing the view from Naked Mountain

The survivors….

Another successful cycling adventure brought to you by Marshal Boomer (photo credit due to Paula)

[KLizotte]

Looks like a great ride!

[Boomer Cycles]

It was an epic ride, and we could not have planned for better weather and fall folliage:-)

[Boomer Cycles]

A few more pics, courtesy of Edwin…

Cresting Snickerville pass on route 7, before the ascent to Mt Weather

Me at the Bear’s Den overlook checking the cue sheet for how much more climbing we have to do

Taking in the view from Naked Mtn after Paula’s pic

[Author]

Replies