I don't know what roads they're using, but it seems like pretty small rollers for the most part. There are some roads that go up and up and up for miles, but gradually. I think the climbing in general on the good roads isn't as steep as Charlottesville. Staunton and Middlebrook are all the way on the other side of the mountain. I've only ridden around the 10 mile "block" at my grandparents' so far, and it was pretty flat except for a long steady climb leaving the "town" of Middlebrook. It was not steep at all. I'm trying to figure out which roads have good visibility for riding solo--most don't have any shoulders and there are tons of blind corners--and which ones are paved. My grandfather just gave me a good map of Augusta county, so I'll try to get out on the bike the next time I visit them.

The website suggests a triple, but I'm thinking that's not necessary. The century does seem pretty challenging. I am not in shape for a century of any kind.

Of course, I love my compact double. Even so, my small ring is a 36.

I'm going to see if I can get them to email a cue sheet so I can look at the profiles and program stuff on my Garmin and decide about my ride options.

Janice, are you really interested? I'm sure I'll be around here (cville) a lot in October, because my niece and nephews both have birthdays nearby.

Oh, if you mention the Hook newspaper (cville city paper), you supposedly can get $5 off registration. There was an ad that said "$5 off with this ad."

As for the manure smell, that's old news to me. I grew up around horses.