I drew rider number 622. We left the Reston Town Center (see picture right) at 8:00 straight up and headed north on the W&OD Trail.Did really well on the first 10 mile leg to -- averaged just over 20 mph to the first rest stop. Would have done better, but the trail was crowded and a kid peddling along at about 8 mph on a BMX bike was holding up traffic for a good mile. Once I got past him, I fell into a pace line and cruised at about 22 mph to the first stop.
It was an easy ride on the way out. You lose about 125 feet of elevation in the first six miles of the route.
Only real hold up came at Clark's Gap. A Virginia cop had pulled over 18 riders for not coming to a complete stop at the intersection. He was writing tickets for everyone.
A charity ride! And he's racking up revenue for the county instead of directing traffic for the cause! Only in Virginia -- the Commonwealth with no Common Sense!
Then I got to the toughest part of the trail. The W&OD climbs 300 feet in a matter of five miles. You lose about 150 of that after the peak and climb another 100 on the remaining five miles.
The route took to farm roads outside of Purcellville for some of that elevation loss and I made great time, hitting my maximum speed of 36.2 mph according to the bike computer.
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