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Day: |
Veteran's Day (Yearly Event) |
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Location: |
From DC beltway (about an hour away from D.C.)
- Take I-66 West to Business 17 into Marshall (Exit 28)
- Bear Right at Winchester Rd (drive past McDonald's)
- Turn Left at West Main St (7-11 Store)
- Go .2 Miles and Turn Right on Frost St & follow to parking lot at end of the road
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Duration: |
~4:00 hours |
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Type: |
The ride is just over 50 miles and includes over 5600 feet of climbing, but most of the route is pleasantly rolling terrain. On the way out, we'll pass the Marriott Ranch on Rte. 635. (See http://www.marriottranch.com/directions.html). The approximately 1.6 mile climb from Rte. 522 up Chester Gap Rd to a trail entrance to Shenandoah National Park includes a very steep (max grade: 18%) climb that is well worth the price of admission to the descent on the way back down to Rte. 522. From Chester Gap, there's a fun descent into Front Royal and a quick java stop at the Daily Grind Espresso Café on Main Street (those not wanting to test their climbing prowess can skip the 3 mile round trip up and down the Chester Gap peak just by staying on Rte. 522 into Front Royal). The 10 mile stretch on Rte. 55 is generally flat and a good stretch to pace line. |
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~50 miles |
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~5600 ft |
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Cue Sheet: |
- 0.0 0.0 R Frost Street from VDOT Parking lot in Marshall, VA
- 0.2 0.2 R 55/ W. Main Stret
- 0.5 0.7 L 647/721 Freestate Road (1 km)
- 0.3 1.0 R 647 (just after I-66) (1.5 km)
- 4.5 5.5 R 635 (8.5 km)
- 4.2 9.7 X 688 (t-r-o 635) (This is Hume) (15.3 km)
- 7.4 17.1 R 522 /Zachary Taylor RD. (at T) (stay to right – busy) (27 km)
- (Begin steady climb)
- 2.0 19.1 L Chester Gap RD (30.5 km)
- 0.1 19.2 VL To stay on Chester Gap RD
- 1.5 20.7 S Chester Gap RD (steep: averaging 11+% grade) ends at trail entrance to
- Shenandoah National Park. Turnaround at trail entrance. (33 km)
- 1.5 22.2 VR Chester Gap RD
- 0.1 22.3 L 522 (towards Front Royal) (descent) (36 km)
- 5.1 27.4 L E. Main Street (Front Royal) (45 km)
- 0.2 27.6 Stop Daily Grind Coffee House (215 E. Main Street) (reverse directions)
- 0.2 27.8 L 522 (Commerce Avenue)
- 0.3 28.1 R Manassas at light/ (becomes Happy Creek/ 624 (46 km)
- 3.6 31.7 R 647/Dismal Hollow Road (52 km)
- 3.0 34.7 L 55 (56.5 km)
- 9.8 44.5 R 731 at T (73 km)
- 0.1 44.6 L F-184 after crossing under I-66 (73.2 km)
- 1.9 46.5 L 723 (76 km)
- 0.1 46.6 R F-185 (Becomes Main Street in Marshall)
- 2.7 49.3 L Frost Street (80.5 km)
- 0.2 49.5 L VDOT Parking Lot (81.5 km)
Chester Gap
Valley-to-peak 1300 ft / 3.8mi = 6.4%
Chester Gap Rd only 700 ft / 1.6mi = 8.4%
Max Grade 18%
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Last modified at 11/6/2009 9:29 AM by Jason Trust
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