[JimF22003]

@mstone 99418 wrote:

My lights are strong enough that I can’t recall ever not being able to see a person.

My lights are plenty strong for riding too, but good lord I come up on runners and walkers all the time and just barely see them in time to avoid them. Dark clothing absorbs the light more than the dark pavement does, in my experience. I used to run on the trails in the dark all the time before I was riding much. If I knew then what I know now, I would make myself much, much more visible as a pedestrian.

[JimF22003]

Get the book

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006OGY1DG/ref=kinw_myk_ro_title

Very interesting reading. Very interesting guy.

[JimF22003]

Lots of new fresh paving on the W&OD from Herndon out at least to Smiths Switch (the equipment was still parked by the trail the night before last, so they may be paving even further out before they’re done.)

[JimF22003]

I have a lightly used Specialized Tri-Cross (aluminum, carbon fork) with rack and fenders (not currently attached, but with all the parts) that I would sell cheap to a good home. Like real cheap ($500?) Ultegra 10-speed derailleurs, compact crank with 11/28 cassette, 105 shift levers. I have a set of panniers available as well if you’re interested.

Size 54, currently with 720/32 tires installed, but I would throw in a set of 700/28s as well. This is technically a cyclocross bike but would make an excellent all around commuting bike. I’ve done day-long rides with it on the C&O Canal, as well as on the road.

PM me if you’re interested. I’ll probably post on the For Sale forum soon, but anyone who responds gets first dibs

[JimF22003]

@mstone 97639 wrote:

That’s standard for all NPS properties. Shenandoah is just as asinine: $15 for a clown car with as many people as you can shove into it, $8 per person without a car. Because car infrastructure saves them money. Or something.

Agree, but… $30 for an annual pass is the way to go.

[JimF22003]

I’ve done the full length of the drive many times, but I’ve never had the chance to go from one end to the other in one day (mainly because I’d have no way to get back ). A couple of times I’ve done a 2-day version where I start in the middle at Big Meadows. Go north and back on one day, and then south and back on the next day.

There’s basically three rest/replenishment points (or four if you count Skyland.) Elk Wallow (mp 24), Big Meadows (mp 51), Loft Mountain (mp 78 or so). There’s nothing at the south end of the park at 250 except for a seasonal Kettle Korn concession, so if you need supplies you have to ride down a couple of miles into Waynesboro. There aren’t too many places to refill on water, so be sure you have enough to get you to the next wayside store. You could also ride down into Sperryville or Luray at 221, or Stanardsville at 33, but then you have quite a climb getting back up

It’s a bit hillier on the north half than on the south half, and has better overlooks as well, but the whole thing is wonderful. Traffic is pretty bad this time of year. This is about the time when I stay out of the park because of the leaf peepers. It should be quite safe, but it’s not as fun with all the RV’s and motorcycles buzzing by.

The road surface is quite good and getting better. They’re in the process of redoing the surface south of Thornton Gap (where 221 crosses). The grade rarely gets about 6-7% although there are some spots where it gets to 8 or 9% for very short sections. Descents are generally safe to take at pretty high speed because there are no tight switchbacks.

I actually drive down that way almost every weekend, so I could help with logistics possibly if you need a ride to one end or the other. Hope you have a chance to do it, because it’s tons of fun!

[JimF22003]

Just because I see sharrows I don’t take it as a sign that I need to ride right over them. They put the sharrows on Oak St. heading to Gallows right in the middle of the road, but I see no reason to ride anywhere other than where I would normally ride. I’ve always taken them as more of an indication/warning to cars than as guidance for cyclists (although I’m sure they’re both.)

[JimF22003]

I don’t like to on-yer-left little kids when I pass them, because I’m afraid of spooking them. I always try to give them a wave or a thumbs-up as I pass though.

[JimF22003]

@sethpo 94015 wrote:

The worst was following a few riders down the hill on the bailout around mile 60 just over the PA line and having to turn around and climb back up a few miles.

Yeah, I saw you were going for the bonus miles

Someday you should come back and try that route though. It’s a really, really fun downhill run back into Thurmont from Ft Richey. Also the ride through the park that goes right past Camp David is cool too (when the road is open and the Prez is away.)

[JimF22003]

Sounds like we had very similar experiences. I don’t usually have really terrible cramping problems, but it was bad on Saturday. I started getting them at about mile 50 and they just got worse. I also confess to walking a very short stretch of Steelman Marker. I thought it was going further than it actually did around that last corner, so maybe I could have made it, but we won’t know now till next year

I thought I was keeping fairly well hydrated, but I really wasn’t. At Fairfield I tried to “go” but I couldn’t. I actually got the shivers at one point and got a bit light-headed.

I had left the last rest stop before the rain started, so i got pretty soaked. Luckily I never had to ride though an actual downpour, although there was lightning and thunder all around.

Here’s my Garmin history:

http://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/584316884

[JimF22003]

Thankfully for me the company is buying the tickets. We’ve got club seats and food vouchers (I figure the $25 voucher should be good for about 2/3rds of a hot dog.)

The bike I’m riding doesn’t have panniers. I can lock it, but what should I do with the helmet?

[JimF22003]

A couple of the stream crossings on the W&OD way out by Smiths Switch Station (Goose Creek?) have the faux-wood planks. I’m still a little cautious on them when it’s wet. They’re not strongly-textured, and I wonder how well they would do on a curvy section. Have to be better than the planks o’ death at Roosevelt Island though.

[JimF22003]

Wow, thanks for the great suggestions! This should be fun. (The game too of course, unless Cole Hamels is having too good of a day)

[JimF22003]

warning, this is a useless post…

but I do have the Garmin Virb. I have had it since May and have only used it about three times. It seems to work fine. I have the Garmin 810 app to control it but that doesn’t seem to accomplish very much unless you’re using a helmet or backwards-facing mount where you can’t see the (very) mini-screen on the top of the camera. With the handle-bar mount the video is pretty shaky on rough, or even chip-sealed roads. I should probably try the helmet mount that I bought

As I knew in advance I’m the type to make some recordings and then never get around to editing them down. I’m going to try to capture a few more rides this fall so I’ll have stuff to watch on the trainer this winter. I’m planning to capture some of the Civil War Century this weekend.

[JimF22003]

I’m in. I was going to skip this year (this will be my fifth, I think) but then I heard they were changing the route. Hopefully a little variety will put some spice back into it

Looks like we might get a taste of something like that huuuuuge thunderstorm we had two years ago. That was about the worst weather I’ve ever ridden through. Actually I had to get off the bike and huddle beneath some trees, because the wind was blowing so strong.

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