Charlottesville

This topic has 33 replies, 16 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 9 months ago by mwhatley.

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October 5, 2015 at 10:00 pm #917430

Steve O
Participant

Hi all,

My son plays in the UVA marching band, and every year I attend a couple of football games to watch the band. I’ve been wanting to ride there, but never have.
It’s his 4th year, so this is my last chance. Here’s my plan:

Friday, Oct 16 – Ride to Charlottesville
Saturday, Oct 17- Watch game
Sunday, Oct 18 – Ride home

I am relying on Google Maps (tentative route). I’m familiar with and can map my route for the first 10-15 miles, but beyond that I’m off the edge of the earth.

If you have any advice on best choice routes to and from Charlottesville, please share.

I found this route on MapMyRide: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2926798
I have not compared them yet.

Thanks,
Steve
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October 5, 2015 at 11:56 pm #1038964

KLizotte
Participant

Steve O,

I think you have been drinking the Kool-Aid. That plan seems just a tad bit insane especially given how early it is getting dark. Just saying.

October 6, 2015 at 12:24 am #1038965

ShawnoftheDread
Participant

@KLizotte 125551 wrote:

Steve O,

I think you have been drinking the Kool-Aid. That plan seems just a tad bit insane especially given how early it is getting dark. Just saying.

Why? It takes, what, nine hours or so to ride 200km? It’s light out a lot longer than that. And the first hour out and last hour back he’s familiar with and will be fine in the dark.

October 6, 2015 at 12:34 am #1038966

DismalScientist
Participant

@Steve O 125546 wrote:

I’m familiar with and can map my route for the first 10-15 miles, but beyond that I’m off the edge of the earth.

You know, you don’t actually fall off the edge of the Earth; It’s closer to a scene from Deliverance.:rolleyes:

October 6, 2015 at 1:57 am #1038968

hozn
Participant

Yeah, this isn’t crazy. Crazy would be doing it on the unicycle. But I am sure the legs will be a bit sore after you get back!

I remember one of the guys in my first year dorm rode home to NoVA from school (UVA) one break. I thought that was crazy then. What was actually crazy is that there was awesome singletrack on the hill behind my dorm … and I never had the faintest clue.

October 6, 2015 at 3:45 am #1038971

wheelswings
Participant

@hozn 125555 wrote:

Yeah, this isn’t crazy. Crazy would be doing it on the unicycle.

Shush! Don’t give him ideas!!

October 6, 2015 at 11:17 am #1038977

Rockford10
Participant

There’s a marching band? Back in my day…

October 6, 2015 at 12:11 pm #1038984

scoot
Participant

Your route from Fairfax to Nokesville looks good. I personally do not think I’d be comfortable riding on the long stretch of VA-28 beyond Nokesville. Sightlines are generally good, but traffic volumes and speeds are high, and the shoulder may not be reliable. I don’t know if there is a good alternative route.

Disclaimer: I haven’t been out that way in over a year, and never by bicycle.

October 6, 2015 at 1:33 pm #1038980

DismalScientist
Participant

I concur about VA 28 and US 15. You may want to try something like this: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Roosevelt+Towers+Apartments,+500+Roosevelt+Boulevard,+Falls+Church,+VA+22044-3139,+USA/Locust+Ave,+Charlottesville,+VA/@38.4773721,-77.7138803,12z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m35!1m1!1s0x89b7b48b13b6afd7:0x5feda4312bbba602!2m2!1d-77.152491!2d38.8764129!3m4!1m2!1d-77.2280569!2d38.8870133!3s0x89b64b12b5d94095:0x9c7dbb3ecf56547e!3m4!1m2!1d-77.2614797!2d38.8609585!3s0x89b64c72ca1e29a9:0x952f31fb85a4eb55!3m4!1m2!1d-77.5870928!2d38.7014611!3s0x89b660f4ebdbedfd:0xa3e86cec729b38a5!3m4!1m2!1d-77.5781705!2d38.6761997!3s0x89b660136f553779:0xa577ee8899017ced!3m4!1m2!1d-77.625067!2d38.6362774!3s0x89b68a415244e267:0x40d729f181cd3b2a!3m4!1m2!1d-78.457234!2d38.0347259!3s0x89b3888c3b0aaf23:0x3726d0019b113960!1m5!1m1!1s0x89b388861817c7e7:0xaf7523cc2bffc42a!2m2!1d-78.4654553!2d38.0386747!3e1

Maybe 20 years ago I went on some rides with the Randonneurs south of Nokesville. Their website might have some useful suggestions.

October 6, 2015 at 1:50 pm #1038996

dasgeh
Participant

Some friends rode to Richmond and back for worlds. Not crazy, but you’ll be sore. Be sure not to get lost.

October 6, 2015 at 3:08 pm #1039005

americancyclo
Participant

From this thread: http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?6396-Arlington-to-Charlottesville-Route

This route is loosely based off the route taken by the DC Randonneurs Felkerino http://ridewithgps.com/routes/3530539

I’m not crazy about the Braddock Rd Start, but there is a sidepath there.

October 6, 2015 at 6:40 pm #1039045

Steve O
Participant

If anyone would like to ride along for a few miles on Friday morning, the 16th
…or meet me coming back and accompany me in on Sunday afternoon/evening, the 18th

…that would be totally awesome.

Depending on my exact departure time, I may pass the FCC convoy coming in as I head out.

October 7, 2015 at 7:20 pm #1039113

baiskeli
Participant

@Rockford10 125564 wrote:

There’s a marching band? Back in my day…

Bring back the Pep Band!

October 10, 2015 at 12:48 am #1039284

Boomer Cycles
Participant

Will you be departing from a coffee club location?

October 10, 2015 at 1:48 am #1039288

Steve O
Participant

@Boomer2U 125903 wrote:

Will you be departing from a coffee club location?

No. I plan to head west on the W&OD from EFC at 7am, just before sunrise. You are welcome to hand me a coffee on a flyby.

October 10, 2015 at 3:56 pm #1039298

Rod Smith
Participant

When planning routes, I use Strava global heat map to see where people ride. http://labs.strava.com/heatmap
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