[JimF22003]

When one is tired of Ukraine, one is tired of life.

[JimF22003]

When I had a crash on Wilson Blvd a few years ago, the cops took the bike to an impound lot in Shirlington. Bike was in better shape than I was. It was cool that my Garmin was running during and after the crash, and it tracked the path it took in the back of the police cruiser to the hospital, and then to the impound lot.

[JimF22003]

@mstone 138052 wrote:

Greenbrier trail is on my to-do this year

I did it (in two separate rides) this fall. Very pleasant. I want to ride it again in the springtime. No disrespect to the C&O but I think the scenery is a lot less monotonous (love the tunnels, and the wide sweeping switchbacks that follow the river). Surface is great, and there’s very little in the way of encroaching civilization. Need to plan carefully if you’re looking for roadside stores and so forth, since there’s only a couple of places for that, and they’re not open all year.

[JimF22003]

This page shows the facilities opening schedule for SNP:

http://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/facilities-opening-schedule.htm

[JimF22003]

I’ve ridden 55 at various times all the way from Front Royal to Gainesville. Almost all of it is OK. The hairiest part is getting from Front Royal to Linden because of the very steep hills and narrow road. I won’t do that section again.

Fortunately there’s a much better route for that part. Go through town out through Happy Creek and Dismal Hollow:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/12522350

[JimF22003]

@sjclaeys 127558 wrote:

Caution at the W&OD crossing of Gallows Road. Looks like a car plowed into the pole at the east side of the crossing (i.e. the Fall Church side). There is glass and sharp debris everywhere (along with a wheel). Also, the crossing button is obliterated.

Maybe they’ll put in a new button that actually does something.

[JimF22003]

I’ve ridden the colonial parkway on a road bike with skinny tires many times. It’s not that bad. It’s like little mini-cobble stones or something.

The Capital Trail is fine for a road bike, if a bit dull. It’s basically a big long straight bike path, some of it over and along the river, but mostly not.

I do recommend taking the ferry across the river and riding in Surry County. Very flat, but very pleasant riding.

[JimF22003]

This followup story was just posted in the local Roanoke paper:

http://www.roanoke.com/news/columns_and_blogs/columns/dan_casey/casey-greenway-crash-s-impact-widely-felt/article_25d997cf-4d96-5421-9219-e3e95d6583e0.html

[JimF22003]

@elbows 124270 wrote:

Thanks everyone for the thoughts. The one segment that I had trouble with was getting on Holmes Run Trail from Sleepy Hollow Rd. Google told me I could get on at Sleepy Hollow Recreation Association, but the signs there made it clear I could not. I rode around and got on at Sprucedale Drive, but I wondered if there was another way. Also, because this was after sunset, the signs made clear that I was not supposed to be on the trail. No extended use policy there.

You can definitely go back through the Rec Center on the path behind the pool building. I’ve never seen it blocked.

[JimF22003]

Here’s the story in the local paper from a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/roanoke/cyclist-who-collided-with-runner-on-roanoke-greenway-wins-civil/article_06cee958-8513-58d7-9cce-e30ebef81155.html

As usual, you really, really, don’t want to read the comments…

[JimF22003]

It’s getting close to leaf-peeping season on Skyline Drive and the blue Ridge Parkway, so i wanted to do one long ride before the traffic gets too crazy. I did a 104 miles ride (9.5K of climbing) from Explore Park near Roanoke down to Tuggles Gap above Floyd, VA. Except for the climbs past Bent Mt and Poor Mt south of Roanoke, this isn’t the most scenic section of the parkway, since it’s mostly on an elevated plateau through the trees, but there were still some very pretty overlooks. Not too hot, not too humid. It was a lovely ride!

[JimF22003]

It might be a little heretical to point it out, but you can head off the W&OD trail to the right (when heading west) for a block or two and there’s a strip mall with a 7-11. I’ve stopped there a few times when I’ve been out riding before carolina bbq opens up.

[JimF22003]

the BBQ place is not a “general store” but they have stuff you might want to get — bananas, energy bars etc. I sometimes like to pick up a Diet Coke and some peanuts or something there.

[JimF22003]

Not going, but I’ve done it twice. Very nice ride. Very slightly overlaps with some of the Civil War Century route around Boonsboro and Smithville. It’s plenty rollery, but I don’t think there are any long climbs, and not too much traffic.

Hardest part for me was that it loops back to the start for one of the later rest stops. It can be a little bit hard to get back on the bike when your car is right. over. there…

[JimF22003]

@dkel 121054 wrote:

Had a chance to ride home by way of Gallows through the midst of power lines down, cones, stopped traffic, utility workers, and police. Lots of confusion and frustration everywhere, and I slipped right through. My only detour was a short stint on the sidewalk to stay out of the way of the workers. Really an advantage being on a bike through all that! Also ran into VVill at Bikenetic on my way through there. Had a nice time talking about belt drives with him, as we both have belt drive bikes in our future! A memorable commute.

Hey me too, just around 4:00pm went through that the same way. People in cars didn’t look too thrilled

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