It’s about Tim

Douthat bound on Friday

Rides posted for MORE’s Douthat Virginia weekend camp and bike craziness. I’ll be doing the casual ones. The last two on Sunday scare me to be honest.

Folks, here’s the ride schedule for the Douthat trip this weekend. Watch this thread for updates and changes.

Saturday Rides:

Good gawd! It’s still dark!
Ride leader: Anne Mader (TBLGirl)
When: 7am Saturday, yes 7am.
Pace: Casual+

Fill your camelback with coffee and join TBLGirl (aka Anne Mader) for the 3 hour dawn patrol through Douthat. Route to be determined.

Fast but Nice
Ride leader: Jared Stangl
When: Saturday after breakfast
Pace: moderate/faster

Join Richmonder Jared Stangl on what he calls a “faster-yet-inclusive” ride. 20-25 miles. Route to be determined.

Slow but Looong
Ride Leader: Phil vanWerkhoven
When: Saturday after breakfast
Pace: Casual

PhilW leads a classic Douthat epic that hits both sides of the park. Climb up to Middle Mountain and come back to camp to refill. Then head out to Beards Gap and descend Brushy Hollow. Expect to be out for the whole day. This is a great ride for casual-paced riders looking to see everything the park has to offer.

Free McLeod Lessons
Ride leader: Scott Scudamore
When: Saturday morning
Pace: Casual+

Scud will lead a group to trail work on Saturday morning somewhere up on the Tuscarora Trail. After trail work, head back to the campground to regroup and go out for a ride to the swinging bridge.

Sunday Rides:

Easy Like Sunday Morning (2 rides)
Ride leader: Michael Dart
When: Sunday after breakfast
Pace: Casual

Ride from Ross Camp to Mountain Side and descend Brushy Hollow (5.5 miles) at a casual pace that won’t make you lose your breakfast. Then proceed back to camp either via the road, or Stoney Run to Locust Gap to Blue Suck Falls depending on how the group feels.

Ride leader: Scott Scudamore
When: Sunday after breakfast
Pace: Casual+

Route to be determined.

Not so Easy, But Still Sunday Morning
Ride leader: Brion Morrison
When: Sunday after breakfast
Pace: Faster

Missing church this Sunday? Here’s your penance. Reverend Brion says:

“We’ll take the road to Tobacco House Ridge Trail, left on Blue Suck, left on Locust Gap, right on Stony Run, up up up up to Tuscarora Overlook trail, then Middle Mountain Trail to the descent on Salt Stump. That’s about 14 miles round trip from the campground. We’ll refuel and head up Ross Camp to Mountain Side, then up to the East overlook, and down Brushy Hollow, leaving everyone smiling for the ride home. Total will be about 21 miles. If we’re feeling frisky we might add a loop by passing by Ross Camp and take the road up to the lodge to Mountain top, then down Buck Hollow to Wilson Creek back to Ross Camp & Mountain Side. That would be an 7 extra miles and a bunch of very tired riders.”

Amen.

Deliverance
Ride Leader: Joe Penano
When: Sunday after breakfast
Pace: Moderate

Looking for some adventure? This ride will climb up to Tuscarora outlook and then take Middle Mountain Trail to unknown destinations outside of the park for some exploring. Bring extra food and water, a compass, a space blanket, flares, whatever. Count on 20-120 miles depending on how easily we can find our way back to camp. Murmurs of mutiny and not-so-distant sounds of banjos are possible.