Poolesville (or...?) ride, Sunday 11/19

[aicabsolut]

Morghan is trying to make it but I dunno.

Divingbiker: I PMed you about it.

Cville = Charlottesville. Sorry for the 'slang.'

Anyone want to PM me their phone number in case I'm driving aimlessly around Maryland tomorrow morning?

[HillSlugger]

Was that last route with a link *the* final route?
Or, can I just smile stupidly and hold out my hand for a sheet?
As they always say with my LBS weekly bike ride: "If you don't know the way, don't lead!"

We've got one basic route with two possible starts:
Poolesville Loop from Rileys Lock
Poolesville Loop from Rileys Lock (direct start)
The second route heads out of Rileys Lock and then takes a left directly onto River Road and up THE HILL. The first route crosses River Road, makes a small loop and then heads up the hill. In theory this gives you a little more chance to warm up and the chance to pick up some momentum before heading up the hill.

I've got 4 copies of each version. You are welcome to one.

[Kalidurga]

Anyone want to PM me their phone number in case I'm driving aimlessly around Maryland tomorrow morning?

I'd give you my number, but I'm one of those weird people who refuses to own a cel phone. I think Nicole mentioned that there's no reception at Riley's Lock anyway, though.

If you can get onto River Rd either in DC or from the Beltway, Riley's is really easy to find. Here are directions from a hiking website:

LocalHikes.com C&O Canal: From Cabin John Bridge, on I-495, head north for 1.8 miles to exit 39A. Take exit ramp onto River Road (MD 190). Proceed for 11.5 miles to end of 190. Turn left and continue on River Road for .7 miles. Turn left onto Rileys Lock Road. Follow for .5 miles to end and parking lot

Basically, you just stay on River Rd all the way until a 'T' intersection, turn left at the 'T', then Riley's Lock is the first left turn after that. We're meeting in the first parking area, so turn left again when you see the boat ramp on the right.

[HillSlugger]

Thanks everyone for an enjoyable day of riding. Those hills really add up: my legs are more sore than they've been in quite a while (except from running).

[7rider]

Great ride! Was really nice to meet everyone and put real faces to those avatars!
According to my Garmin, we had almost 1400 feet of climbing in 25.8 miles! That one doozy of a hill on River/Mt. Nebo Rd clocked in at 12%. Wow. I think that's a record - for me anyway.

[Kalidurga]

I was sure our route bypassed that hill and was surprised when I realized it didn't. As much as I was dreading it, it actually ended up being easier than some of the longer, shallower ones we hit. I was able to stand and grunt my way up it, which ya just can't do on those less steep ones.

Oh, I ran into the NVCC guys when I stopped at the Starbucks in Potomac. I asked if they had really ridden all the way from Poolesville and a got a "Yeah", then I said I had seen them earlier and got an "Oh" before they all pedalled away. I've now officially been snubbed by a group of roadies

Thanks for the ride, ladies. It was a good challenge and I appreciate your patience and humor. Though I am disappointed that gravel stretch turned out to be non-existent!

[aicabsolut]

That was fun! Can't wait to do it again!

By the way, my Garmin says it was 13% !

So maybe when we do it again we can find away around that beast. I'll try to map out some of the Poolesville rides my team does from their cue sheets. Looks like some of them start from Capitol Crescent trail and then it's "2nd left after big bridge" and I have no idea what that means. But I can find somewhere to start.

If anyone wants to do Rock Creek and take a lane on the Parkway, There's often street parking available on Sunday mornings near my house (I live very close). And no 2 hr time limits on the weekends.