Virginia Creeper Trail

[catsittingstill]

Kip and I had a romantic getaway weekend (well, about 2/3 of a weekend, since he had to work Saturday morning, it being Homecoming Weekend) in lovely Virginia. While there we rented bicycles (because I don't have a bike rack right now that will let me haul even one recumbent bicycle such a long distance) to ride the Virginia Creeper Trail--a bike trail that follows the route of a defunct railroad called the Virginia Creeper because the long steep grades were such that in some places the train could only manage about five miles per hour.

The bike shop we rented from had a shuttle to allow lazy riders to start at the high point of the trail (Whitetop Station) and coast down to Damascus (the low point, and also the middle) there to be picked up and shuttled back to the bike shop in Abingdon. The whole trail is 34 miles, which didn't seem unreasonable to me, and I was pretty sure I'd ride the whole thing, but we kept the option of being picked up in Damascus, to be safe.

A word to the wise--the trail from Whitetop Station to Damascus is very beautiful--especially when the leaves are turning. It also starts at 3,500 feet, and is in shade most of the way, so it's cooler than you would expect based on the weather. I really wished I'd brought gloves, and warmer socks would have been good too.

Also, when you're used to a recumbent bike seat, even a relatively wide and cushy upright bike seat is... not particularly cushy, given that the trail is not paved, and is a bit bumpy in places.

I'm glad I went, but I was happy to be picked up in Damascus.

Comments

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

*nods* I remember Abingdon being gorgeous this time of year... my dad's folks lived in the Galax area, so we'd go through there on the way...

A bit further on is the New River Trail State Park (http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/new.shtml), which has some pretty extensive bike trails and pretty much covers my dad's old stomping grounds...

And, yeah, it gets *cold* up in those old oaks.... I remember wading in the creek below Sliding Rock, which is up in that general area, on Memorial Day, and it was so cold my ankles hurt...

[beige-alert.livejournal.com]

Sounds lovely!

(And one of these evenings I need to finish truing that rear wheel and actually put it back on the bike....)

when you're used to a recumbent bike seat

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

I did about 38 miles on a one day ride last month with my recumbent tricycle, but I would have died not long after 5 miles on a standard seat bike. Glad you had a good time as far as you went.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

What kind of bike is that in your icon?

In TN this is one of the best times of year to bike--not too hot and humid and with most of the bugs dead; we don't tend to get much rain in fall either. I don't know how the weather is where you are, but if it's decent, it seems a pity to miss it.

Re: when you're used to a recumbent bike seat

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

38 miles is a pretty good distance. Where did you go?

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

There seemed to be a lot of camping spots beside the Virginia Creeper Trail--I get the impression that many people don't do it all in a day.

[beige-alert.livejournal.com]

That's my Easy Racers Tour Easy. Lots more photos on flickr (http://flickr.com/search/?w=53332339%40N00&q=toureasy&m=tags) if you're interested.

Weather is pretty random this time of year here in Wisconsin. Recently it's mostly been raining, cold, or cold and raining. Which is why I've been too lazy to finish fussing with the spokes and put the new tire on.

[catsittingstill.livejournal.com]

I understand. Raining was a particular problem for me with my recumbent, because my upper body didn't keep my legs dry, and once my pants were wet, the extra friction of the fabric over my knees made it very difficult to ride. I eventually took to wearing bike tights when it was really cold, and wearing shorts when it was just kind of cold, because the exercise kept my legs reasonably warm anyway. I never rode in snow, though, and I suppose you get snow for at least part of the winter.

[beige-alert.livejournal.com]

The fairing that's usually on (but not in the icon photo) will keep my legs mostly dry. I'll always wear tights of some sort if not shorts. Since I don't normally have local one or two km trips, just the trip to work, 14km, and longer trips, I dress for cycling rather than just wearing whatever I've got on.

It does snow, yup. That I avoid. Well, riding through flurries at night is interesting. But real snow I avoid. I do find any temperature above freezing can be pretty comfortable dressed right. The fairing helps, too. Below freezing it's less comfortable and, of course, risk of ice.

Where I did go

[bigbumble.livejournal.com]

There is an annual century ride around Three Oaks, Michigan in the far South West corner of the state. It is called the "Apple Cider Century". I went to it for the first time this September. They have several routes laid out on mostly country roads from 25 to 100 miles in length. Mostly standard bicycles, but they had no problems with recumbent tricycles chugging along. I even saw a recumbent tandem.

I was hoping to make the full 100 miles, but no such luck. Maybe next time.