Skyline Review

I've been to Skyline Drive 3 times and am looking forward to going back out there this weekend. Views like this are what makes it worth the long drive and the climb. Below is a profile of the start of the drive headed south from Front Royal. This makes it look really steep, but it's not actually so bad.

My First Skyline

For my first trip out, I was intimidated, but also super proud of myself after getting to a nice overlook.

Climbed to mile marker 14

Skyline Revisited

My second trip out was a chilly day, but I was hoping to be a good support crew for my friend who was building for IM Mont Tremblant. We were hoping to ride for 4 hours, and made it up to mile marker 14 before getting turned back by the SAGs who were starting to wrangle riders for home.

It was awesome to get so much farther, and also great to feel strong, like we could have biked more, if allowed. Once we got to the park gate on the downhill, we turned around to climb back up for a mile or so to add some more time to the day.

Hogback Accomplished!

My third trip was in August 2014, which could have been brutally hot, but thankfully, it was gorgeous out. With a patient climbing partner, I made it all the way out to mile marker 21, which is the peak of Hogback Mountain.

All the way to Hogback

Happy Climbing!

 A post-Skyline highlight is the visit to Spelunkers for custard. I was able to use the bike-through

Looking forward

 I hadn't noticed until compiling these photos that I also climbed with more company in each of these three outings. That's a great trend!

This weekend I expect to climb to Hogback for a 3-4 hour ride. If I go super fast, I'll add some more climbing from the gate to the visitor center, which would be an awesome new milestone to achieve.

Skyline - the mountain, the myth

I never thought I'd go ride Skyline, until my carpool buddy said that we were.

I have to agree with what other experienced people on my tri team said -- the climbs were much more accessible than what I'd had in my head.

Part of what made the ride enjoyable for me was my ability to stop and start on climbs. On the few points when I wasn't able to get my heart rate to stay down, I was able to pull over and take a short break. And I knew that I'd be able to start again because I am very confident in my ability to clip in and get going.

I certainly took my time, enjoying 4 heart rate/informational sign breaks in my 1 hr 20 minute outbound trip. Then, I had a nice PowerbarPicnic (thanks Rev3!) and enjoyed some nature at an overlook before heading back. The return trip was a glorious 35 minutes of zooming downhill.

Next time, I'm looking forward to seeing what the view looks like at an overlook up the next hill!