Thursday I had the pleasure of cycling one of the finest roads in the country -- Skyline Drive, Virginia. For 105 miles, I experienced perfect pavement, no broken glass, no stop signs, stop lights and surprisingly few cars on this marvelously engineered roadway. What an easy cue sheet! Start Front Royal Entrance Gate, go 105 miles, end Waynesboro Entrance Gate.
Oh, I forgot to mention there is 11,000 vertical feet of climbing along the way, making Skyline Drive a challenging but reward experience. Most of the climbing is front-loaded, with 7000 vertical feet in the first 50 miles and 5200 feet of that in the first 35! However, none of the climb are particularly steep. The start in Front Royal begins on a grade and climbs 1600 vertical feet in about 5.5 miles, then drops about 500 vertical feet then climbs another 1600 vertical in 8 miles before dropping another 500 vertical feet then climbing another 1000 vertical in 2.75 miles before the final long climb of 1200 vertical feet.
Along the way are sweeping vistas, a tunnel, switchbacks and many turnouts. Automobile traffic seemed courteous of cyclists, although I only saw a couple other rides on the drive with two of them locals riding north from the southern entrance on an early evening ride.
I highly recommend cycling Skyline Drive. The best time to ride it would not be summer, as haze reduces visiblity. In addition, it can be hot, even though most of the riding is above the 2500 foot elevation. October looks as spectacular as New England, but the drive is heavily trafficked on October weekends, so go midweek. May provides stunning display of blooming laurels, rhododendron and azalea and would also be a good time to explore this unique roadway.
Skyline Drive, Virginia
The ride sounds just great. I have a few questions:
Did you drive to the Drive? How long from NYC?
Did you park at the start of your ride, or did you have a friend drive to the end and meet you there? If you parked at the start, how did you get back?
The Front Royal entrance is about 310 miles from Midtown, about a 5 hour drive. The direct way is I78 to I81 to I66 to VA 340. Most of the time you will be in PA. Of side note are the stunning farmlands in SE PA.
I started in Front Royal and was sagged in Waynesboro, a dreadful little town. Fortunately, Charlottesville is only 25 miles from Waynesboro and is a great place for a post ride meal, if you have a sag arrangement. Otherwise, I would recommend staying in Big Meadows and doing to roughly 50 mile out-back rides, or riding two loops by riding down to the Shenandoah Valley and taking VA 340 to either entrance. These will be long, hilly rides. A shorter option would be to stay in Skyland, ride Skyline Drive north to VA 211 west to VA 340 in the valley then ride Skyline Drive south from Front Royal back to Skyland. This is not a bad loop, maybe 80 miles and cover the best.
I drove Skyline Drive last summer while taking my daughter to college and anticipated exactly what you are describing. Also the north part of the Natchez trace has a smilar quality and I saw a lot of bikes there. Both roads were depression era work projects and reflect a quality of vision that govenment has not achieved since.
I have been wanting to ride it for several years. I may be good even too early winter, or an early spring option.
Of course there is the Blue Ridge Parkway as well. I'm thinking Skyline Drive then Blue Ridge Parkway could be viewed as cycling's Appalachian Trail! Perhaps a medal for it, like the Raid Pyrenean?
Yes, definitely anytime but the summer. I am from that neighborhood and have driven it many times. Fall comes later down there and spring earlier and both would be ideal. The winters are generally mild but it can get very cold so it would be risky to plan a winter ride there far in advance. I would definitely suggest a ride north to south starting with breakfast at the Loveless cafe located right at the north end of the trace. As you get further down in Mississippi, the road is not as interesting but still pretty.
Some day we will have to do a club outing to one of these great roads.
>Some day we will have to do a club outing to one of these great roads.
Count me in!
I moved here from Charlottesville... went to school in the Amhearst/Lynchburg area before that...both off of skyline drive/the parkway.... have camped, hiked, driven and partied on most every inch of it.. (never cycled it though)there are many many guides to the area and trails... can recommend fabulous bed and breakfasts that you will never forget - like the Clifton Inn in Keswick etc... as well as people who have farms along the area who would take in kind, tired cyclist for an evening (moonshine sometimes included :)!)camping out up there is also safe and beautiful ....for you triathletes they have a great hilly triathlon during the summer in c-ville. You can email me if you want suggestions! [email protected]
Email me for maps and profiles of these roads if you want.
I hardly saw any bikes on the Skyline Drive but I have seen a lot on the Natchez Trace. I think that Skyline is more difficult to do if you do not have vehicle support. You can ride off the Trace to towns, stores and places to stay more easily than Skyline Drive. I have never heard of commercial bike tours to either of these. Probably too difficult for more average riders but definitely not more difficult than a NYCC A ride.
Commercial tours of the Blue Ridge Pkwy, Skyline Drive, and the Natchez Trace:
http://www.blackbearadventures.com/tours.html
The NYCC used to do the ride when it was run as a twin century by the Baltimore Bike Club. It was cancelled by the powers that be because to many bikes were inteferring with auto traffic. After the cancellation, the NYCC charted buses to Front Royal. We rode 50 miles to Big Meadow, slept overnight, and returned to Front Royal the following day. I have fond memories of those great rides.
Before dirt roads were called Vogel (el jefe) routes, they were called Furman routes. One of the riders I've done the drive with.
What else have we done in the past that we should be considering again??
"""Vogel Rotes"" don't have to be dirt. They just have to be incredibly scenic and traffic free. But in order to get that I disregard the road surface and altitude gained. Often times that puts me on unpaved roads. It's worth it.
Herb, how was the Skyline Drive a ""twin century"" if they only did 50 miles each day? A twin century is 100+ miles on each of 2 consecutive days."
I didn't see a response to your question Jeff. The BBC (Baltimore Bicycle Club) used to run a Saturday out and Sunday back ride on the drive. I remember that Stu Shakman of the NYCC held the record at one time. I was close to him-yes, hard to believe. We're talking in the 5 to 5 and 1/2 hour total elapsed time range here. Remember that Herb? I believe that another NYCC rider, Duane Thompson also held the record at one time.
My MY! this is heavy duty stuff. 100 miles in 5.5 hours is an average of 18 mph over terrain with 2 miles of vertical gain. And think of the equipment they were using. I guess we are not a legendary institution just because of our rides to Nyack.
"""Vogel Rotes"" don't have to be dirt. They just have to be incredibly scenic and traffic free. But in order to get that I disregard the road surface and altitude gained. Often times that puts me on unpaved roads. It's worth it.
Jeff, I think you would love the Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonnee.
"
For those who haven't seen it, here's the home page for the Deerfield Dirt-Road Randonee. Definitely not a ride for skinny tires, but, otherwise, wow!
http://www.deerfieldcycling.org/index.htm
"Mr. Vogel, if you look at my first sentence, I said ""The NYCC used to do the ride when it was run as a twin century by the Baltimore Bike Club"" I guess I wasn't clear enough. The BBC ran their twin century from Front Royal to Waynesboro on Saturday, and back to Front Royal on Sunday. I didn't mean to suggest when the NYCC rode to Big Meadow it was a twin century.
Some of the members past and present that I remember doing the ride with are:Simone Smith, Clay Heydorn, Roberta Pollack, Steve Schutze, Bob Trestman, Angel Rivera and Bill Richards. Forgive me, I know I have forgotten others."
Day 3 - Begin the Natchez Trace
We begin the day with a short commute to the Natchez Trace. But before getting on our bikes we will enjoy a full country breakfast at the reknowed Loveless Cafe. We will cycle along the Natchez Trace from its northern terminus to approximately mile marker 407. Tonight we stay at the fabulous Leatherwood Forge Retreat. Our hosts will also be providing dinner for us this evening at their beautiful home.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: mileage on the trace is 33 miles, there will be options for more riding if desired
Aha They also do custom tours for larger groups!
Day 3 - Begin the Natchez Trace
We begin the day with a short commute to the Natchez Trace. But before getting on our bikes we will enjoy a full country breakfast at the reknowed Loveless Cafe. We will cycle along the Natchez Trace from its northern terminus to approximately mile marker 407. Tonight we stay at the fabulous Leatherwood Forge Retreat. Our hosts will also be providing dinner for us this evening at their beautiful home.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Mileage: mileage on the trace is 33 miles, there will be options for more riding if desired
They also do custom tours for larger groups!
