Skyline Drive on a hot day?

[ny biker]

BREAKING NEWS - I found a Cracker Barrel in Front Royal. Post-ride lunch!!!

Thanks for all your replies. My only concern about how fast I go is related to the weather -- the slower I ride, the longer I'm out in the afternoon sun. I tend to have very. bad. experiences when I try to ride in early-mid afternoon on hot summer days. But if there are shady sections, I should be okay. I do expect to stop now and then to take photos, although I will only have my phone camera, not a real one. My hope is that I will be so inspired by the scenery that it will motivate me to get my lazy self to drive out there one day for a proper visit (I've lived in DC/Arlington for 13 years so it's shameful that I haven't been to Shenandoah Natl Park yet).

The other reason I mentioned my speed was in case anyone else wanted to do the ride, so you'd know you will probably drop me on the first hill .

p.s. If the first 5-6 miles are up, that means I can look forward to 5-6 miles of downhill at the end of the ride.

[ny biker]

More info -- I found an elevation map at bikewashington.org.

http://www.bikewashington.org/routes/skyline/index.htm


Looks like this will probably be the most climbing I have ever done! Good thing there will be scenery to distract me.

[tulip]

p.s. If the first 5-6 miles are up, that means I can look forward to 5-6 miles of downhill at the end of the ride.

Yes, those last few miles are bliss!

[pfunk12]

Be careful on those first few miles up/last few miles down. They threw gravel on the road so be cautious. I got a flat during the first 2 miles and I'm sure it was from the rocks.

[PamNY]

NY biker, I am envious. I love camping in Shenandoah. Doubt I'll ever be strong enough to bike it, but I would love to hear about your trip.

[Zen]

I'm with you , Pam. We could camp then go out by the road and sip lemonade as they go by.

[ny biker]

NY biker, I am envious. I love camping in Shenandoah. Doubt I'll ever be strong enough to bike it, but I would love to hear about your trip.

I have no idea if I am able to do this ride!! I might go 2 miles and decide to go back to the car and drive it instead.

But I figure I should at least try.

[ny biker]

Well, the timing might be wrong for this ride -- after doing my usual local hill ride last night, I'm feeling like my legs are not recovering well from the metric I did last Saturday. So I might do an easier ride on Sunday starting in Middleburg instead of hitting the mountains. Will decide tomorrow.

But -- since I'll be in town for the July 4 holiday, I'm thinking that would be a good time for a day trip to visit the park sans bike. With a stop at Cracker Barrel before heading home, of course.

[ny biker]

WOW. I did it. 50 miles. It was awesome. Hard, tiring, sometimes painful, awesome. Amazing sweet descents.

I took lots of pics and a couple of videos. Waiting for the phone battery to recharge so I can upload them (well, first I need to call Dad to wish him Happy Father's Day, then I'll mess with photos).