DC Area Century Ride Recommendations?

[dcv]

or this

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/9129156

[americancyclo]

@dcv 120721 wrote:

or this

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/9129156

“A bike ride in Fairfax county”
Hahahahahahahahahaahah

[Kitty]

@dcv 120721 wrote:

or this

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/9129156

Holy Heaven! My eyes can’t even follow that route! It’s as if the cyclist started out from home and made every turn a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story, but always picked whichever option meant going uphill.

[dbb]

@Kitty 120733 wrote:

Holy Heaven! My eyes can’t even follow that route! It’s as if the cyclist started out from home and made every turn a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story, but always picked whichever option meant going uphill.

It would actually be your legs that would have difficulty following the route.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@ewilliams0305 120617 wrote:

Don’t be fooled into thinking hills = hard. Some of the hardest “long” rides I’ve done have been flat. They become mentally strenuous with very little out of saddle time. Hills can really help the mental challenges of a long ride. Having several small goals on a long ride will really help to break it up. I start to loose it when I can see miles down the road, it can feel like your never going to get there.

Of course too much climbing is a different story. anything with 50-70 feet per mile is OK, when it starts to exceed that and get around 100′ that’s when you need to worry.

I agree. Hills actually make rides interesting and help stretch the legs a bit.

I will say, though, that hills do take some getting used to just in terms of developing a good technique so you can manage them without wearing yourself out. That’s where I think practice can help a lot…learning how and when to shift effectively, what the most comfortable speed/cadence is, and when or when not to get out of the saddle. And just learning to deal with the intimidation factor.

As far as training goes, I’d reckon that training on hills probably gets you more bang-for-your-buck, since they’re like mini-intervals. So going out and riding hills for practice can get you the benefits of learning how to ride hills, while maybe also getting in shape a little bit faster than just riding around.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Kitty 120717 wrote:

Thank you all for the great advice! As for the hills, I guess I take for granted that the DC area is “hilly” in my mind only because I’m from the midwest!

I guess I’ll be heading out to Potomac for some more hill climbing then! Unless you guys have some suggestions for other good hill routes around here.

Just ride up the Custis, hang a right whenever you feel so inclined, and ride around aimlessly for a couple hours. All the hills you could want! Only half-joking, actually…If you take Quincy north, it becomes Military Road, which is a popular hill route that was just (partially) repaved and has bike lanes. Ride that out to Old Glebe and back a couple of times and you’ll have done a pretty awesome workout, without having to travel more than a few miles from your house!

[ShawnoftheDread]

@Kitty 120733 wrote:

Holy Heaven! My eyes can’t even follow that route! It’s as if the cyclist started out from home and made every turn a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story, but always picked whichever option meant going uphill.

I think you’ve captured it perfectly.

[consularrider]

@Kitty 120733 wrote:

Holy Heaven! My eyes can’t even follow that route! It’s as if the cyclist started out from home and made every turn a “Choose Your Own Adventure” story, but always picked whichever option meant going uphill.

He skipped some good hills in south Arlington because there was too much flat riding in between. South Arlington still getting no love.

[AFHokie]

I signed up for the Back Roads Century in Shepherdstown, WV September 20th, but an out of town wedding has come up that weekend so I won’t be able to participate. Registration was $55 for nonmembers, but it increased to $60 after July 31st. I ordered a T-shirt as well (a large, still trying to figure out if I can change the size) if you’d like a t-shirt too.

If you were thinking about riding it, shoot me a PM if you’re interested in taking my registration.

[Kitty]

I had been looking at the Back Roads Century, but was holding off until WABA announces the date for the 50 States ride.

If someone else wants to jump in on AFHokie’s offer, by all means. But if 50 States isn’t that weekend and no one else has taken you up on that, I’ll drop you a line.

[Rockford10]

I think the 50 States/13 Colonies is September 12.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Kitty 121158 wrote:

I had been looking at the Back Roads Century, but was holding off until WABA announces the date for the 50 States ride.

If someone else wants to jump in on AFHokie’s offer, by all means. But if 50 States isn’t that weekend and no one else has taken you up on that, I’ll drop you a line.

I couldn’t tell from your previous comments if you had done a century before, but if you can finish 50 States, you can definitely finish a century.

[Kitty]

@Rockford10 121165 wrote:

I think the 50 States/13 Colonies is September 12.

Yeah! How’s that for serendipity?! The same morning I muse not having the date they finally announce! :rolleyes:

@TwoWheelsDC 121167 wrote:

I couldn’t tell from your previous comments if you had done a century before, but if you can finish 50 States, you can definitely finish a century.

Last year 50 States was my goal, and its what started my attempting long rides on the weekends to get ready. On the big day I ended up doing 72 miles total (had to ride there/back) which had been the most I’d ever ridden in a day… up until last weekend.

From that experience I decided to make a Century my goal for this year! I’m really grateful for your vote of confidence!

@hozn 120720 wrote:

It is hard to beat Potomac area; ride out River, make sure to include Berryville Rd in your route. Heck, you can go all the way to Sugarloaf and get 100mi in while training for the century! :)if you want real hills, Frederick / Catoctin Mtns is better, but Potomac is more accessible.

Thank you for this great suggestion! I designed this morning’s ride around it. I went out to Potomac and did River+Berryville (my first time riding West of Falls Rd!) and then took Whites Ferry across the river to take W&OD back to Arlington. When all was said and done 80 miles with some good hills on the first half!

[hozn]

@Kitty 121247 wrote:

I went out to Potomac and did River+Berryville (my first time riding West of Falls Rd!) and then took Whites Ferry across the river to take W&OD back to Arlington. When all was said and done 80 miles with some good hills on the first half!

That is a great route! I think you are over-prepared for the century at this point!

[ShawnoftheDread]

@hozn 121251 wrote:

That is a great route! I think you are over-prepared for the century at this point!

Yeah, you’ve basically done the century at this point. Now you just have to actually ride it. Piece of cake.

[Author]

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