Disclaimer: This recap of our 27 Miles of Loudoun County Gravel Perfection ride contains affiliate links…
265 Miles of Historic Gravel
Bill and I had several group options for our Saturday ride, but ended up doing our own thing. After a relaxing morning while giving the temps a chance to move out of the 30’s, we drove to western Loudoun for 27 miles of gravel grinding. It was 12:30 PM and 48° by the time we rode our Salsa gravel bikes out of the Philomont Community Center parking lot.
Loudoun County has 265 miles of gravel roads, some dating back to the 1700’s, and as we started our ride Bill’s VeloPigs friend Kasey was riding all 265 miles plus the necessary paved connecting roads to raise money for America’s Routes ($6825.92 donated to date) while helping to bring attention to this piece of history. The hope is to get the roads listed on the National Register of Historic Places to prevent these old gravel roads in one of America’s fastest growing counties from being paved. Preserving these gravel roads will ensure enjoyment by outdoor sports enthusiasts for years to come.
Kasey was successful in his endeavor and completed his 284-mile ride with 24,822.83 feet of elevation gain in 23:21:25. Negotiating gravel for nearly 24 hours with that kind of climbing is difficult enough, but doing it while maintaining a 12.2 MPH average speed with zero sleep is mind blowing!
Bill and I had checked in on Kasey’s status via his Wahoo tracking link, but didn’t have his course route so we had no idea if we’d see him. As luck would have it, about nine miles into our ride Kasey and his merry crew came riding over a hill and down Foggy Bottom Road toward us. They were moving at such a fast clip that I only had time to cheer them on and couldn’t get my phone out in time to snap any pictures.
We did; however, stop many other times to take pictures, especially during our first ten miles. With 1,614 feet of elevation gain during the ride, those early stops helped make the ride seem quite easy. Even with a slower than normal average speed of 12 MPH, this ride was pure perfection.
Ride Overview
- • Ride Name: 27 Miles of Loudoun County Gravel Perfection
- • Location: Loudoun County, Virginia
- • Start/Finish: Philomont Community Center
- • Course Type: loop with a tail
- • Course Surface: gravel
- • Bike: Salsa Journeyman
- • Distance: 27 miles
- • Time: 2:15:22
- • Average Speed: 12 MPH
- • Elevation Gain: 1,614 feet
- • Elevation Range: 348 to 760 feet
- • Temperature Range: 45° to 61°
- • Ride with GPS: Link to turn-by-turn navigation cue sheet
- • Course Map:
Fun Pictures From Along the Way
A special shoutout goes to my husband Bill for capturing many of the following images with his GoPro (affiliate link). Also, a few of the pictures were taken with my phone while stopped…
No words are necessary, please enjoy the photos…
After we got back to our car, we stepped back in time and had lunch (freshly made to order sandwiches) at the Philomont General Store located next to the Philomont Community Center.
Garmin Stats
Post-ride Garmin (affiliate link) picture…
Garmin map and charts…
Final Thoughts on the Ride
It had been a few months since I’d ridden gravel and this ride was exactly what I needed. The route Bill laid out wasn’t too long or hilly and the roads were in relatively good shape. Bill and I had a great time and can’t wait to go back with friends for another relaxing day in western Loudoun County.
Questions:
- • Have you given gravel riding a try? ~ I grew up living on a gravel lane so I rode gravel before it was cool. LOL
- • If you’ve ridden gravel, do you prefer it or road riding? How about mountain biking, where does it fit into this scenario?
- • Have you participated in a fund raising ride or run? ~ I haven’t participated as a fundraiser, but I’ve donated on behalf of many friends running and riding for charities.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on the blue product link and then make a purchase, I will receive a small commission for referring you. You will pay no more or less for the product; however, Amazon will show their gratitude for my referral by paying me.
I think I am afraid to ride on gravel. I don’t have the right tires. I love all of your photos. Please convince me to come out there in the spring for a ride. I am kind of a wimp about winter biking 🙂
Sounds like a plan!
I was scarred forever (literally) when I feel off my bike onto our gravel (at the time) driveway when I was a kid. It’s a big part of why I don’t like outdoor biking!
Your photos are stunning though. Doesn’t change my mind about biking, but that scenery is amazing! Although oddly those stone walls remind me of where my mom lives. It’s out in the country, and there are a lot of stone walls.
I grew up on a gravel road so I tell my cycling friends that I was riding gravel long before it was cool. 😉 I, too, have many scars from riding like a lunatic trying to keep up with my brother who is four years older!
[…] After a fun group ride the day before, Bill and I drove to western Loudoun for 30 miles of gravel grinding (12.3 MPH average speed). While out, we met Kasey riding toward us and stopped to chat for a while. Kasey was out on a relaxing ride after completing a 284-mile ride on mostly gravel roads last weekend in under 24 hours. […]
Photos are clearly saying that you both had great fun on gravel.
Michael recently posted…Best Camping Cots for Bad Backs
Indeed!