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Reply with quote | #1 |
Please list your favorite bike rides. Include the following:
1. Detailed directions to starting and ending point.
2. Rating of easy, moderate, difficult. (considering the climbs and the distance.)
3. Exact or approximate distance.
4. Rate the scenery and traffic.
5. Did you find some great places to stop along the way?
6. Any other comments, like times to avoid, or dog warnings, etc. |
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Reply with quote | #2 |
Bottom Creek road ride, Bent Mountain, Virginia (near Roanoke)
approximately 15 miles, moderate difficulty (couple moderate climbs), beautiful farms, cabins, rhododendron and cascading creek scenery, very little traffic Note: This ride can be easily reached from the Blue Ridge Parkway, see end of description.
This is very beautiful, serene ride that follows cascading Bottom Creek for half of its length. Because of its higher elevation on Bent Mountain, it is cooler than the Roanoke Valley, so a great choice when you're afraid it might be too hot to enjoy your ride. It is also not very long, and the climbs, though steep at times, are not very long either, so it is also a good "getting back in the saddle" ride, when the Blue Ridge Parkway seems too much. On our last ride, the traffic that passed us was two cars and one tractor, and that was a Saturday afternoon.
Take 221 to Bent Mountain. Park at the Bent Mountain fire/rescue squad parking lot across from the Mexican restaurant at Slings Gap Road. Cross 221 and ride the very short end of Slings Gap Rd. to Tinsley Lane and turn left. At the large porched house, turn right onto Bottom Creek Rd. Where this road forks a couple miles later, (both forks called Bottom Creek Rd.) we bear to the right. Bottom Creek Rd. is a loop here (although towards the middle there is a sign that calls it Patterson–go figure) so either direction will probably work. Now you follow Bottom Creek which has several potential photo ops and cooling off sites. Look for the left turn named Bottom Creek which will take you around to the fork again, where you turn right to head back.
If you want to connect this ride to your Blue Ridge Parkway ride/trip, either walk off of the BRP onto Slings Gap Road (612) approx. mile 132, and follow west to 221 for the rest of the description, OR it appears, you can ride/drive off at Adney Gap, cross 221 and follow Rocky Road (744) to the Bottom Creek Loop (we haven't tried this yet), OR head north on 221 until you come to the fire/rescue squad and Mexican Restaurant where Slings Gap Rd. intersects 221.
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Reply with quote | #3 |
Burkes Garden, Virginia road ride
approx. 23 miles/30 miles, some hills but lots of flat stretches, length makes it moderate difficulty, beautiful scenery, very little traffic Note: If you are training for the Mountains of Misery Race, or any other masochistic race, start your trip at route 61 and add a torturous climb to the beginning of this ride.
Burkes Garden is an unusual geographic feature that is a crater on the top of a mountain, created by eroding limestone. The crater-shaped valley has several very large farms, and only one commercial enterprise, a little community food/snack store. When you visit, you feel almost as if you have stepped into another world, protected from sprawl. The Appalachian Trail follows its eastern wall ridge.
Near Tazewell, Virginia (good B&Bs) take route 61 to route 623 which winds its way up the mountain. At the top, follow 623. Stop at the little store on your left for any essential food/drink, then continue just a little farther to the old, abandoned school house to park. Ride left out of the parking lot, pass the store, and follow to the intersection with 656. Turn right and follow the loop back around to 623. If you are ready to stop, turn right on 623 to get back to the parking area. If you want add another 6 miles, turn left on 623, right on 667, right on 727 to 623. Turn left to the parking spot.
There are restaurants in Tazewell, but you really need to venture farther to Cuz's Restaurant on 460, in Pounding Mill, about 20 miles south of Tazewell, where you can have anything from Prime Rib to Truffle-stuffed chicken, to Thai curry in an eccentric casual atmosphere. You can also rent cabins, and hear music on Saturday nights. But it is closed on Sundays and open from March-November only. Many people will make up any excuse to find themselves hours from home in the middle of nowhere to eat at Cuz's. You have a great excuse, you just rode 20+ miles on your bike and you are hungry. (276) 964-9014. |
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