A dazzling display of electricity from the sky on the eve of SDS
The pre-dawn glow of french toast
a dash of light in the sky
mix in some color
add a spot of light
make an adjustment
and the group is off for the SDS 3 day bicycle ride
the Shenandoah Valley is about to be left behind
as we turn into the mountains
early morning glow
beautiful flowers await the morning light
a mountain top pink lady slipper welcomes the day
Chris Scott points out the route for our return trip
Deerfield Valley between our ridges
Elliotts Knob and Crawford Mountain wait peacefully for our return trip
Jimbo stretches the hip flexor to take some pull off of his knee
Still glowing from the Dowell's Draft descent
Rolling up Shenandoah Mountain Highway towards Shenandoah Moutain Trail
a couple miles of fireroad
with great views
Jimbo loves his custom 69er Indy Fab
Dan wearing the JV Team kit
Only a few puddles on the fireroad after last nights rainstorm
Clear sailing today!
Still wondering about this egg
Nate fuels up
Dan makes his adjustments
the powerline cut
just before the amazing 20+ miles of singletrack on southern Shenandoah Mountain begins
Andy rolls the first pitch of singletrack
the ferns are nice
green and lush
pink lady slippers line the trail in May
Nate dodges the leaner
Dan likes riding on mossy singletrack
Jimbo is glad to be on the trail for a few days
Tony digs this singletrack highway
Dan looking all "pro" on the Southern Traverse
carving along and around
the mountain laurel blooms are about to peak up here
Rolling along
beautiful views to the west
nice hardwood forest
Roger's Gary Fisher 29er enjoys great views from below South Sister Knob
relaxing
before
the final
great bit of trail
down to lunch
Middle Mountain, Little Mare Mountain, Fore Mountain and Beards Mountain are still off in the distance
Tony thinking.. "hope you do great in your triathlon honey, I am doing FINE down here!"
Roger rides away from the group picture, doup!
Jimbo, Dan, Nate, Tony and Andy at the South Sister overlook
dropping down Scotchtown Draft
to the Cowpasture River
a nice spot
for a swim
before a great cookout on the river
The Lodge
rolling up towards Beards from Douthat State Park
Trail Dynamics just reworked this trail
Mike Capraro has never ridden this route
a switchback below
twisting and climbing up
such an amazing feeling
Chris leads the crew along
Dan about to ride into the George Washingtion National Forest from Douthat State Park
the view from Beards Mountain west towards Little Mare and Warm Springs Mountains
Roger Masse
Tony Vachino
Nate Shearer
Andy Sunderland
Susan Musante
Jimbo Malta
Mike Capraro
rolling north on Beards Mountain Trail
great views of the Rough Mountain Wilderness to the east
a nice place to relax and enjoy our solitude
Mike heads off towards the river
Jimbo settled into his groove
Jake about to take the gang up the steeps of Little Mare Mountain
the train rolls along
little mountain friend
Andy coming off the top end of Little Mare
Nate drops in
mountain top hideaway
Roger and Mike crossing Wilson Creek near the bottom of Brushy Ridge Trail
Climbing up Middle Mountain heading south to drop in on Fore Mountain Trail
spinning back on Rt. 629 into Douthat State Park
dinner awaits our return at the lodge
Elliotts is hiding up in the rain clouds
making the turn towards Hite Hollow
the group is still eager despite the conditions
proper gear is a must for this mountain
Jimbo's Endura clothing is made for this weather
Dan is excited because he hasn't ridden over Elliotts before
Chris gave this guy a lift for a bit
Nate cresting the summit
pink lady slippers were abundant on North Mountain Trail
Dan is loving the ferns!
The mountain laurel are about to pop up here
Roger crests one of the Crawford Mountain grunts
Nate has some serious skills
Jake had things set and ready to go for our final push up Dowell's Draft
Roger was loving the 29er on this ride
Andy is one solid dude!
Roger riding up into the dark mist
Roger, Andy, Tony and Nate are pretty psyched to be at the top of Dowell's
Tony is starting to show some signs of exhaustion
Andy must be contemplating his attack into the Stokesville campground, but who would have guessed?
Tony pushes up onto the top of Hankey Mountain
Trek and Gary Fisher are the official guide bicycles used by Shenandoah Mountain Touring
Roger
Andy
Nate
Tony
back in the Shenandoah Valley
Nate points out the southern peak of Massanutten Mountain
3 days later
the blooms have really come in
Nate rolls into the Stokesville Campground
Chris is excited to have 3 great days of riding with this crew!
Roger has the best helmet hair of the weekend
ice cream and cholocate milk - thanks Dan Oates!
