Route Advice & Lunch Recommendation in Purceville

[Tim Kelley]

Later this week I’m planning on riding to the start of my triathlon team’s mountain training camp.

Here’s what we’re planning on doing: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4503904

My ask for you is, does anyone have any experience on any of the roads between Poolesville and Marshall on this route? Any suggestions or changes?

And I think we’re going to try to eat lunch in Purceville–got any recommendations for a place that is bike friendly and relatively fast there?

Topic

[TwoWheelsDC]

My wife and I ate at “The White Palace” one time. It was good enough…easy to park the bikes out front and keep an eye on them, or eat outside if it’s warm. It’s right at the corner 21st/Main in Purcellville, which looks to be right on your route.

Regarding the roads, I’ve done the stretch between Poolesville and Point of Rocks…your route looks good, as all those roads are great cycling roads. Crossing the bridge on 15 may be a little dodgy, but I think cyclists do it often enough, so I don’t think it’s suicidal or anything.

[Bilsko]

Also, check with @dailyrandonneur and @chasingmailboxes on Twitter – Ed and Mary have lots of experience riding the roads around Marshall.

[consularrider]

Haute Dog and Fries! They offer some locally sources (Loudoun County) sausages, just what you need halfway through a long ride. Someone else will have to comment about the roads, I don’t get out on them very often.

[JimF22003]

I’ve never even seen the road called “Woodtrail Road” off of Airmont Road. If it’s actually there I don’t think it’s paved, if that’s a concern for you. Same with Unison road. I know Foxcroft Road is paved from St Louis in to Middleburg, but I don’t know about the other side of St. Louis.

re: amenities

Round Hill: a couple of country stores; not sure about restaurants
Airmont Snickersville: small country store
Atoka and 55: There used to be a country store here. Last time I stopped there they were in the process of turning it into a pizza place. Not sure if that actually happened or if the place is still open. It comes and goes.

[creadinger]

@Tim Kelley 82941 wrote:

Later this week I’m planning on riding to the start of my triathlon team’s mountain training camp.

Here’s what we’re planning on doing: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4503904

My ask for you is, does anyone have any experience on any of the roads between Poolesville and Marshall on this route? Any suggestions or changes?

And I think we’re going to try to eat lunch in Purceville–got any recommendations for a place that is bike friendly and relatively fast there?

My wife and I just rode from Marshall up toward Purcellville yesterday.

Just reverse what I said direction-wise.

From your route, if you don’t have to go to Marshall, then turn onto Maidstone to head north. Turn left on Rectortown Rd, and come up toward Upperville via Delaplane Grade, or Rokeby. Make your way to Greengarden Rd, which becomes Airmont Rd, and take that all the way up to Round Hill. We found St. Louis Rd to be pretty trafficky, vs. roads to the west. Also, Unison, and Woodtrail roads are indeed gravel.

Here’s the thread with the link for the gravel road map of Loudon County.
http://bikearlingtonforum.com/showthread.php?2283-Virginia-Gravel-Road-map-%28Loudon-County%29

[JimF22003]

@creadinger 82995 wrote:

We found St. Louis Rd to be pretty trafficky, vs. roads to the west.

It’s kind of a shame too, since parts of St. Louis are very pretty (and have much sharper hills than you might think.) The last time was on St. Louis, I was chugging up a 12% grade or so, and there was a dump truck coming up behind me. It wasn’t safe to pass, and there was an on-coming car, so he basically slowed down to my speed on that upslope. When he was ready to pass, he couldn’t get the clutch engaged at first, and was basically stalled there behind me with the engine stopped. Fortunately he got the truck restarted and was able to get going on the uphill. I don’t think he was any too pleased…

[creadinger]

@JimF22003 83003 wrote:

It’s kind of a shame too, since parts of St. Louis are very pretty (and have much sharper hills than you might think.) The last time was on St. Louis, I was chugging up a 12% grade or so, and there was a dump truck coming up behind me. It wasn’t safe to pass, and there was an on-coming car, so he basically slowed down to my speed on that upslope. When he was ready to pass, he couldn’t get the clutch engaged at first, and was basically stalled there behind me with the engine stopped. Fortunately he got the truck restarted and was able to get going on the uphill. I don’t think he was any too pleased…

Wow, a dumptruck you say? I’m impressed he actually waited to pass. Regardless of whether it’s safe or not, I’ve found through experience that dump truck drivers are the biggest @#$@s on the road. They all seem to listen to Shakira when it comes to passing “Whenever wherever”.

[Tim Kelley]

Thanks for the routing advice!

All went well last Thursday: http://www.strava.com/activities/134166836

Lunch was at the White Palace. We hit gravel in two spots a little closer to Front Royal, but it was manageable for the 3 miles or so.

Then we followed it up with some riding around the mountains:

http://www.strava.com/activities/134166817
http://www.strava.com/activities/134495709
http://www.strava.com/activities/134973264

4 days, 501 miles, 38K elevation, 23,000 calories burned.

[Author]

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