West of Purcellville

[americancyclo]

there are some great roads to ride around Waterford, up towards lovetsville

you should also go climb mt. weather!

[kcb203]

Go south on Silcott Springs Rd. to Snickersville Turnpike, and go west to Mt. Weather. You can then hit Mt. Weather and do parts of this route:

http://bikewashington.org/routes/bluerdg/

There’s a convenience store on Snickersville at Airmont Rd. and another in Bluemont. After that, you’re on you own going up and over Mt. Weather.

[rpiretti]

You might like this route a lot, gravel most of the way to Brunswick. Only on a MAJOR highway around the bridge over to Brunswick.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.311653,-77.630251/39.147656,-77.617905/@39.2320868,-77.5990104,12z/data=!4m21!4m20!1m16!3m4!1m2!1d-77.608558!2d39.284009!3s0x89b61e5326a32f51:0x2ddf5497f32ff7b5!3m4!1m2!1d-77.596354!2d39.260727!3s0x89b61f10c6c14293:0x848e4f6e7e94754b!3m4!1m2!1d-77.582743!2d39.253284!3s0x89b61f41d588bdb7:0x3d81322bcacaf6f1!4e1!1m1!4e1!3e1?hl=en

[JimF22003]

Tons of options. Here’s one I did Saturday that went up to Lovettsville, over the river to Point of Rocks, and back in via the ferry to Leesburg:

http://connect.garmin.com/dashboard?cid=17472988

You could also go from Lovettsville to Waterford, and back various ways. I think almost all of the paved roads in that area are rideable. I would avoid Rt 9, Rt15, Berlin Tpk except for short stretches where it’s hard to avoid, such as going from Hillsboro up toward Harpers Ferry.

I’d be happy to provide more advice, especially if you give an idea of starting point, length of ride, what you want o see etc.

[Geoff]

@JimF22003 79067 wrote:

I’d be happy to provide more advice, especially if you give an idea of starting point, length of ride, what you want o see etc.

I’m starting near EFC. From my driveway to EFC to Purcellville and back is 85 miles. This summer I’m doing a 150 mile one day ride, so in part I’m looking for training rides for that.

I like riding in rural areas. There isn’t anything in particular I want to see, other than green. Water is good. Pretty much anything I haven’t seen before is good. I come across comments about how the C&O towpath gets boring. Ah, I can’t relate. But that reminds me: my wife and I rode Georgetown to White’s Ferry on the C&O, to Leesburg, to home (W&OD). Oh yeah, then we had to go back to Georgetown for the car. That was a good ride.

I don’t like mixing with traffic on narrow curving roads with no shoulders. That’s the main reason I haven’t gone beyond Purcellville before. I rode the Back Roads Century last year, which isn’t too far from Purcellville, and those roads were fine.

A couple people have mentioned Mt. Weather. Is that for the view, or to enjoy a hard climb? Climbs are good but maybe not in the middle of a really long ride.

[JimF22003]

Mt Weather is mainly for the climbs. It’s pretty but you’re pretty much in the trees, so you can’t really even see down in the valley very much. You do get to be creeped out by riding past the mysterious government homeland security complex at the top A good way to do good parts of Snickersville Pike, horse country, wineries, and Mt Weather is the popular “Blue Ridge Challenge” route that starts in Marshall.

http://bikewashington.org/routes/bluerdg/

Unfortunately it’s just the nature of these roads that they are pretty narrow, and twisty-turny. That’s what I like about them actually, but it takes a little bit of confidence to mix in with the SUV’s and the pickups.

A good introduction to these roads is the Reston Century. It’s a good event you might want to check out.

https://restonbicycleclub.wildapricot.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1236434

I live in Annandale and ride the trail during the week. But I usually end up driving out to a starting point such as Warrenton, Marshall, Leesburg etc. just so I don’t spend 90% of the ride on the W&OD trail. If you want a tour guide for a ride let me know. I could put together a ride of just about any distance and any terrain in Fauqier, Loudon, PW, Clarke, Warren counties. I’m slow but I know my way around

[Geoff]

@JimF22003 79088 wrote:

If you want a tour guide for a ride let me know.

Thanks, I may take you up on that.

[JimF22003]

If you just want a little extra 30-mile lollipop loop at the end of the trail, try this:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4169550

Country stores available at Airmont, Round Hill and Hillsboro.

[MattAune]

Taylorstown/Stumptown. http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/368163589

There is a 7-11 in Lovettesville, too. Get yourself a coke and a snickers before the climbs.

I also always recommend Woodburn/Harmony Church on the way out. http://app.strava.com/activities/49594078

[scorchedearth]

@Geoff 79086 wrote:

A couple people have mentioned Mt. Weather. Is that for the view, or to enjoy a hard climb? Climbs are good but maybe not in the middle of a really long ride.

Mount Weather is a hell of a climb. It was certainly a test of my mettle this past November but I made it and am stronger for having done the ride. The country roads around the area are gorgeous and you see some impressive estates along the way.

[Geoff]

@scorchedearth 80529 wrote:

Mount Weather is a hell of a climb. It was certainly a test of my mettle this past November but I made it and am stronger for having done the ride. The country roads around the area are gorgeous and you see some impressive estates along the way.

That’s a pretty good endorsement! I’ll have to ride out there this summer.

[TwoWheelsDC]

Naked Mountain is nice too. Tough, but not as bad as Mt. Weather, and the scenery is much better. Head south from 50 on Rt. 17, then take 688 until you reach the top of the climb.

http://www.strava.com/activities/37297227

[Tim Kelley]

Naked, Weathered and Blue: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/459725

[vvill]

@Tim Kelley 80571 wrote:

Naked, Weathered and Blue: http://ridewithgps.com/routes/459725

Yeah that one is on my to-do list!

[scorchedearth]

@Geoff 80548 wrote:

That’s a pretty good endorsement! I’ll have to ride out there this summer.

http://bikewashington.org/routes/bluerdg/

That is the route that I took. It is a spectacular ride through the Virginia countryside.

[Author]

Posts