Skyline Drive Shut Down To Motorized Vehicles – 4/23

[Brett L.]

Poor Bill Fawcett. He’s too stiff from sitting in a car all day. Love the fb comments

[huskerdont]

Who’s up for a ride? Probably most everyone.

[secstate]

@huskerdont 156192 wrote:

Who’s up for a ride? Probably most everyone.

Wouldn’t miss it! I’ve passed the announcement along to a couple of friends. What a good idea.

[streetsmarts]

I am. I’ve hiked there but never biked. The only way I’d go is without cars (on those curvy roads).

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[AFHokie]

I’m planning to ride it that day

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[Tim Kelley]

@streetsmarts 156196 wrote:

I am. I’ve hiked there but never biked. The only way I’d go is without cars (on those curvy roads).

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Eh, it’s not so bad. Weekdays are much better than weekends. And Spring and Summer are way better than Fall, when all the looky-loos come out to see the leaves.

[chuxtr]

So I’ll be a bit of a contrarian here. Having ridden Skyline Drive enough, I certainly wouldn’t do it if it was crowded with cars (like when fall leaves are at peak color). But I’m not sure if I’d ride it if it was totally closed off to cars and instead jammed with cyclists and pedestrians. Honestly, it could be a total shit show (pardon my Francais). I’m trying to imagine having to thread your way around slower climbers. And if you like to bomb down descents, maneuvering around lots of riders with less stellar descending skills would be scarier than cars. Instead of “on your left” like on the bike trail, it would be “hold your line.” And I’m trying to imagine how many people who are doing this ride because they think it’s “safe” would know what that means and what to do.

I hope everyone who does this has a fun and safe time. Personally, I’ll pass.

[huskerdont]

I’ve done it weekdays during non-peak seasons. While I don’t like fast cars near me, the 35-mph speed limit makes it not too bad. Of course, 35 means 45 to many, which can kill you, but it’s better than 55-mph roads, and more people seem to pay attention to the speed limit than on other types of roads.

I’m not unconcerned about fellow cyclists, but it should spread out fairly well after a bit. Uphill isn’t really a worry, and downhill, well, there’s that 35-mph speed limit that everyone is sure to follow.

[Subby]

I rode Skyline a decent number of times last year and never had a problem with any car or motorcycle or fellow cyclist. There is warm blackberry cobbler and blackberry ice cream at the Big Meadows wayside. That’s really all the reason you need to give it a shot.

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[ginacico]

@Subby 156205 wrote:

There is warm blackberry cobbler and blackberry ice cream at the Big Meadows wayside.

That right there is the reason my family went there a lot, when I was a kid.

Unfortunately, Big Meadows is in the central section of Shenandoah. Only the north section, from Front Royal to Thornton Gap, is open car-free on April 23rd. Not that you couldn’t just keep riding…….

[EasyRider]

Here’s Google’s terrain profile of the route, looks like the return trip will test those with less stellar descending skills
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[AFHokie]

@EasyRider 156208 wrote:

Here’s Google’s terrain profile of the route, looks like the return trip will test those with less stellar descending skills
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I also expect the return trip to also test those riders who think the double yellow line doesn’t apply to them

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[MFC]

@Subby 156205 wrote:

I rode Skyline a decent number of times last year and never had a problem with any car or motorcycle or fellow cyclist. There is warm blackberry cobbler and blackberry ice cream at the Big Meadows wayside. That’s really all the reason you need to give it a shot.

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There is also the Apple House in Linden for the drive back if you take I-66. They have very good fresh doughnuts. http://www.theapplehouse.net

[huskerdont]

And Spelunkers in Front Royal if you feel like having a completely decadent shake.

[huskerdont]

Oddly enough, even though registration opened today, when I went to register earlier this morning, I only got put on a wait list. Hard to believe that’s right. Did anyone manage to get registered, or are folks being put on a wait list?

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