[JimF22003]

For a bit of perspective on the “Idaho Stop” law, and why it makes sense in Idaho, here’s a ride I did the weekend before last while visiting my Dad:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/229451225

Everything is laid out in one-mile squares. When you roll up to a stop sign you can usually see that the “traffic” is clear for at least half a mile in either direction. When you’re in town there’s usually enough traffic that you have to act like normal traffic in this area anyway, but it sure is nice when you’re out in the boonies (most of the place consists of boonies, BTW)…

[JimF22003]

I ride a good hunk of Annandale road going to and from work. It’s not the most pleasant, but it’s pretty safe. My main issue is the amount of crap in the road that never ever seems to get swept up, especially on the uphill section just past the park. I’m not sure there’s any safer direct routes through there. I already get off and cut over on Carol or one of the other roads to get across Arlington Blvd.

Between the two, I prefer Sleepy Hollow, but both are better than average, and probably why they are “recommended” routes.

Please stay off the sidewalk though…

[JimF22003]

The unpaved section is fine. It’s pretty hard packed. If it’s not muddy, you won’t have any trouble with regular skinny road bike tires.

[JimF22003]

I’ve done the Am100/St Marys ride about 4 times I think. Very nice. Not terribly hilly. Probably won’t do it this year.

I need some alone time

[JimF22003]

I skipped the last rest stop thinking I might beat the rain. Ha! The rain started coming down sideways at about mile 85 for me. I happened to be beside a line of trees that made a pretty good windbreak. The rain was coming in so hard from the side that I was actually not getting all that wet… until the wind died down a LITTLE. I waited it out for about ten minutes there, but then went on. It was still coming down amazingly hard, but there was no thunder, and the wind was on strong, not gale force.

The cold and the wet and the adrenaline actually gave my legs a little new life, so that was good.

Still it was a nice ride, and I’m glad I did it.

So… who’s up for the Indian Head 100 today???

[JimF22003]

Pete, was that you crossing Lee Highway at West Blvd about 6:30 last night? That was me across the street in front of the Safeway.

[JimF22003]

The CWC has lots and lots of rollers, that can take it out of you, and add to the elevation, but it really only has two long “climbs.” The first is right out of town. Take that one easy and dodge the other bike traffic. There will be lots of it.

The other one is the one out of Smithsburg. That is mostly long, but gets steep once you turn off of the main road. Thankfully it’s nice and shady there. There’s one other very steep short section as I recall.

Come to think of it, a little rain might not be such as bad thing after all:)

[JimF22003]

I did the Tour de Valley ride in Waynesboro last Sunday where there was a 40% chance of rain. Sure enough I got rained on, but it was still a great ride. I’ve ridden in some real soakers this year. It’s never super pleasant, but after all it’s only water right It’s the lightning, strong wind, and massive downpours that are the trouble. A little steady rain is just annoying.

[JimF22003]

It’s a great ride. Going to skip this year, but I’ve done it four times. Remember you come back to the start halfway through, so you can dress for the cool start and drop off the arm-warmers etc. when you loop back. I keep forgetting, and underdress at the start

[JimF22003]

I was just cruising around Hains Pt awhile ago, and a young lady kept passing me and falling back over and over. I didn’t think anything of it. Turns out she was doing intervals, and apologized to me for speeding up and slowing down. Didn’t bother me a bit

[JimF22003]

Here’s a link to the “canonical” Blue Ridger ride from Marshall, including Mt Weather:

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

This is a favorite of mine. I usually end up doing it in the winter, because it’s a good length of ride to finish when the day is warming up, and you can do it in daylight. It’s much nicer in the summer and the fall from a scenery standpoint though.

I once broke a shift cable on the rear derailleur while climbing up Mt. Weather in the reverse direction. Not recommended 😡

There are lots of nice variations that avoid having to slog back to Marshall on 55/Grove Rd. Coming back through Rectortown on Maidstone is nice. I often head up Leeds Manor and cut over at various points, or even follow all the way to Warrenton. You can make a nice century route out of doing the Mt Weather loop, going to Warrenton, and then coming back through The Plains.

Looks like a bunch of us will be doing the CWC this year. This will be my fourth time I think. Hope to see you there!

[JimF22003]

I have weighed as much as 475 pounds, and had to walk with a cane.

I now weigh about 300 pounds less, and ride thousands of miles a year.

I’m not sure there’s a causation here, but I’m pretty sure there’s a correlation

[JimF22003]

The bike lanes along Gallows between the W&OD and Rt 7 are pretty recent. They’re a big improvement over riding the bumpy sidepath that still runs alongside the road, but they’re not a free ride. I’ve been nearly run into when a car makes an incursion into the lanes at 1) where Old Courthouse Rd. comes in at the light, 2) where the road makes a right-hand turn, and cars cut across the corner, 3) cars using the bike lane as a right-hand turn lane when heading to the 7-11.

Another big problem is that the lanes just stop about two blocks from Rt 7 (because the road is too narrow I guess) so you have to merge right into traffic. I generally cut across through the parking lot behind the office building through there, which makes a nice slalom course.

They need to run a street sweeper down both sides of the road once in awhile though…

My biggest challenge when heading south, is to get across four lanes of traffic plus the center turn lane to get off onto Oak Street. I either have to wait for traffic to clear behind me, or just to signal and take my place in the line of cars. When I live it works out OK 😮

P.s. I also suggest parking at Sandburg (but only if you don’t take up one of the spots I was planning to use )

[JimF22003]

@eminva 28678 wrote:

I was thinking of continuing on the W&OD further west to Clarks Gap, take Clarks Gap Road north, continuing on Loyalty Road, then Stumptown Road to Lucketts.

Liz

I’ve ridden that way many times. It’s a beautiful route. A little hilly/rolly, but not too bad.

Please stay off Rt 15. The only part I’ll ride is from Leesburg out to Whites Ferry.

[JimF22003]

I thought I had figured out a great “secret” way from home to work using the back roads, but this program suggested almost exactly the same route I use. Great minds think like a computer, I guess.

I’m not clear on how to make suggestions or improvements though. It looks like you have to go to edit an openstreets map somewhere else.

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