Ride Report - First Century on my Atlantis - and at all

[Nick A.]

A good friend and I managed around 105 miles last weekend. It was our (the Atlantis and my) first century.

We made a long loop here in the D.C. area. 

First out to Leesburg on the W&OD trail. It took a while for the sun to peek out from behind the autumn clouds, but when it did, all the frost started sublimating, making it look as though we were riding through clouds:

Then wound our way northward to the Point Of Rocks bridge via rural roads in Loudoun County, both paved and gravel of various types:

And headed back to Georgetown on the C&O Canal towpath. Then on home after dark via the Mount Vernon trail and southern end of the W&OD.

We happened upon a giant old snapper sunning next to the towpath that had an ecosystem living on its back:

Around mile 65, we stopped for a break at one of the boat ramps near a lock house, with a lovely view of the Potomac:

All in all, it was a specacular though difficult (and, at times, cold and/or dark) ride. No real mechanical issues aside from a dropped chain here and there, for which we were both grateful. I feel that my Atlantis was truly in its element, traversing nearly every type of passable terrain with aplomb. I can't imagine having ridden anything else.

Nick A.

Falls Church VA

[Rusty Click]

Nick, Great ride report and pictures!   Its been awhile since I've been on any of those segments...and now I want to plan a return trip!

[greenteadrinkers]

Grew up in Reston during the '70s and '80s, my 7th/8th grade riding buddy, relentlessly toured the W&OD on our mid-80s racing bikes. A fond memory was the trailside sign at Ashburn Station that stated the town population of 2500! Might have to add a few zeros to that number now.

Scott

[RichS]

Nick,

Congratulations on completing your first century! Thanks for the report and all the pics. An ideal day and route for a century.

Best,

Rich in ATL 

On Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 3:32:14 PM UTC-5 thetaper...@gmail.com wrote:

[Nick A.]

You're all such a good bunch. Thanks for such supportive posts.

Scott -- It may interest you to know that NOVA parks is, at long last, building a W&OD trail bridge over Whiele Avenue.

[Ed Carolipio]

Thanks for taking the time to write this up and post the photos. That ride looked great. I love the build, and I bet it rides as good as it looks. Enjoyed every bit of your post.

Ed C.

Redondo Beach, CA

[Bill Lindsay]

I want to know more about that turtle-shaped moss-covered rock!  That guy is a bad ass.  

Excellent work 

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

On Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 12:32:14 PM UTC-8 thetaper...@gmail.com wrote:

[Brian McDermott]

Nick- What a classic NOVA ride! I grew up in Leesburg and have ridden countless miles on the W&OD ranging from skating to school on it when I was a freshman at Loudoun County High School, up until a few years ago when my folks still lived in the area. I'd be interested in seeing your route and trying it sometime; I rode the GAP/C&O last year from Pitt to DC on my Hillborne, tried it again this fall on my Appaloosa, but my knee gave out on me by the time we reached Cumberland and I had to bail. This looks like it would be fun to try in the spring. 

[Brian Turner]

Yes, Nick… I would also be very interested in seeing your route. I’ve done the C&O several times, but had no idea there was a parallel rail trail across the Potomac starting at Point of Rocks, I assume? That seems like it would make a nice overnighter without having to retrace your route or get a shuttle.

I spent a very harrowing night bike camping at one of those sites near Point of Rocks (Calico Rock, maybe?)… probably the worst storm I’ve ever been caught out in!

Brian

Lexington Ky

On Nov 18, 2023, at 11:16 AM, Brian McDermott <brianmark...@gmail.com> wrote:

Nick- What a classic NOVA ride! I grew up in Leesburg and have ridden countless miles on the W&OD ranging from skating to school on it when I was a freshman at Loudoun County High School, up until a few years ago when my folks still lived in the area. I'd be interested in seeing your route and trying it sometime; I rode the GAP/C&O last year from Pitt to DC on my Hillborne, tried it again this fall on my Appaloosa, but my knee gave out on me by the time we reached Cumberland and I had to bail. This looks like it would be fun to try in the spring. 

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[Nick A.]

Thanks again to you all for your kind responses! 

Bill -- that snapper's claw wasthe size of a kid's hand. It was probably about 20-22" long, and clearly the resident royalty for that section of the canal.

Brians -- link to the route below. We took the W&OD and cut north from Leesburg on back roads to the Point of Rocks Bridge, which is very traffic-laden and sketchy. There's one walkway on the northbound side about 30" wide and elevated 10" from the road. In hindsight, I should have walked it!

 https://strava.app.link/rGHbmmzVPEb — Point of Rocks Loop Century

Nick in FC

[Josh C]

Nick, 

Very fun! Nice write-up. Great look'n bike too. 

[Garth]

Nice day for a long bike ride Nick !  The fall lighting makes for lovely photos indeed. 

[Eric Marth]

Looks fab, Nick. I've ridden just a little bit of the W&OD out of Arlington to Mt. Vernon. I'm down the highway a piece in Fredericksburg. 

[Brian Turner]

This all has me dreaming up a Riv owners overnighter or multi-day excursion along the C&O / W&OD. Would enough folks be interested in something like that? It’s a 7 hr drive for me to DC Metro area but I already make the trip once a year, so I have no problem doing it for a bike meetup!

On Nov 19, 2023, at 5:04 PM, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

Looks fab, Nick. I've ridden just a little bit of the W&OD out of Arlington to Mt. Vernon. I'm down the highway a piece in Fredericksburg. 

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[Dale Click]

I would be up for that.  Sort of a  “ Riv Ride East” !!

Rusty 

Pgh, PA

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[ascpgh]

We did it in 2012 at Cumberland, MD and rode the GAP over two days. Toured Falling Water and the majority opted to shuttle back to the start to get ahead of 
a big April Nor'easter threatening their timely return home.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/P47mQDqrze1dN5pc8

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Jim Meltsner]

I would be up for a "Riv Ride East" on the C&O and WO&D or any route near DC. 

Jim

[Ryan Ogilvie]

I’d be interested. (In NYC.) Whether I can pull it off would depend on a bunch of factors. But would definitely prioritize. 

Sent from my mobile device. 

On Nov 19, 2023, at 7:13 PM, Brian Turner <brok...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Dick Perlmutter]

Id be interested too. From western NC

[Nick A.]

 I'm loving the idea of a Riv Ride East somewhere here in the DMV, it sounds like an absolute treat. We would have a lot of options in regards to routes around here.