Gravel Ride of the Week: TransVA Bikepacking - DC to Harrisonburg
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Every bike ride has a story, some more memorable than others. Some rides are easy, while others, are multi-day adventures that push you further than you’ve ever gone on a bike. Some rides are all about speed, but then there are rides like this Gravel Ride of the Week, that offers a grand journey through the amazing Virginia countryside all the way from Washington DC to Harrisonburg. This is my account of the first time I went bikepacking, and how I set out to complete the TransVirginia route from DC to Harrisonburg. It was an incredible experience and I’m excited to share my journey with you in this blog post and through the highlights video that goes along with it. Let's start at the beginning of this story...
Planning, Route & Gear
In my previous post, I wrote about the preparations that I made for this trip and how I completed my very first gravel century ride to help build the fitness and confidence in my gear to be able to complete a significant bikepacking event. That century ride was without a doubt a massive help to dial me in for the TransVA ride. I learned that my pedaling style didn’t work with a top-tube bag. I learned what worked in terms of my nutrition, and very importantly, how pivotal the mind can be to help get you through a challenging day on the bike - something that would be very necessary during Day 2 of this trip!
Given that this was my very first time heading out on a multi-day bikepacking adventure, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t bite off more than I could handle. The full TransVirginia route runs over 550 miles and includes some incredible mountain roads that eventually lead all the way from Washington DC to Damascus in the southern corner of Virginia. I knew that the full route was a bit out of my league, and I subsequently decided to stick to the more manageable 220-mile route that ends off in Harrisonburg. For the various route options, check out the TransVA website.
I also decided to ease into the bikepacking world by opting to overnight in a hotel after Day 1, rather than sleeping in a tent. This meant that I didn’t need any of the speciality sleeping gear. Additionally, the electricity in the hotel allowed a convenient way to recharge all the vlogging equipment. The plan was to complete the 220-mile route in two days. After setting off with the other Grand Depart riders from Washington DC on May 22nd, I would cycle through to Stephen City, a distance of 125 miles (202km), sleep over in the Holiday Inn, and then cover the last 95 miles (153km) through to Harrisonburg on Day 2. Given that my very first 100-mile gravel ride had only been completed a week prior to the trip, I was clearly in for a challenge with two very long back-to-back days in the saddle. More about this later.
I mentioned how a tent was not on the list of things that I brought along, so you might be wondering what I did carry on the bike. Given that this was simply an overnight trip, I could pack light for my first bikepacking adventure. I made use of the Revelate Designs Spinelock 10L saddle bag to carry all my clothing. This bag is an incredible piece of gear, and it deserves a dedicated review all on its own. But for now I'll say that the stability that you get from the bag is second to none. In my saddle bag, I packed my sleeping wear, a fresh riding kit for Day 2, shorts and a shirt for the evening, a rain jacket, toothbrush, charging cables, spare inner tube, and a medical aid kit. I did not have enough space inside my bag for flip-flops and ended up strapping them to the outside of the bag. In the future I will, however, switch to more packable Xero Shoes sandals, which should easily fit into the bag along with my clothes.
On the front of my handlebar, I strapped my Rapha Bar bag. This might not be a bag that you normally associate with bikepacking, but this was the one that I tested and had used with great success in the past. It might be a bag that's better suited for a longer single day ride, but it can still hold a surprising amount of food. I packed this bag with all my Clif bars, a PB&J sandwich, biltong, some cookies, along with a bunch of Ultima electrolyte replenishment packets that could be added to my water bottles.
When it came to carrying water on my bike, I knew that the more I could take, the better. The weather forecast was calling for some unseasonably hot temperatures at the end of spring and with long distances between pitstops I wanted to carry as much water with me as possible. I decided that a large (1.18L/40oz) stainless steel canteen might be a good addition to my setup, not only for the additional water volume, but also to keep the water cooler for longer. Getting this canteen on the bike did require some careful planning. After lots of experimenting, I finally landed on the right combination. I made use of the Arundel Looney Bin water bottle holder to secure the oversized canteen into the frame. What made things more complicated was that I also wanted to keep my Wolftooth B-Rad TekLite Roll-Top spares bag within my frame triangle. The only way I could fit both the canteen and the spares bag was to shift the water bottle cage backwards a few millimeters by making use of the Wolftooth B-Rad mounting base, which allowed for just enough room to fit both items. All this fussing around with the setup turned out to be well worth it and I ended up having just enough water to get me from one pitstop to the next.
That covers the pre-ride bike setup, planning and gear list. Now we get to focus on the real fun - the actual trip. There are so many highlights from this trip that writing it all up will almost fill an entire book. I’ll stick to the main points in this blog post, but do be sure to check out the highlights video to see many of the additional sights and scenes from this trip.
Day1
I lined up bright and early at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC to join the other roughly 40-50 other riders who were also setting off on their respective journeys across Virginia. On this picture-perfect sunshine day, the sight of the Washington Monument at sunrise was certainly something to behold. At exactly 6am, we all rolled out together, creating a real sense of camaraderie and excitement around the ride that awaited. The first part of the route took us along the edge of the Potomac River, as we headed through some of the busier Washington DC streets towards the C&O Canal Towpath. This is a trail that I’ve included in several other Gravel Ride of the Week routes (see W&OD + C&O Canal - Trails Extravaganza and Lovettsville, C&O Canal + Ferry). This time around, we cruised along this perfectly flat trail for around 50 miles all the way through to Point of Rocks, where we split off, to cross over the river and into Virginia for the first time. If not for the easy flat rolling along the river during the first part of the day, I might not have been able to take on such a significant challenge (125miles) on Day 1.
After crossing over the river, the real gravel adventure begins. The route immediately presents a challenge as you climb over Furnace Mountain to head down onto the incredible country roads through Loudoun County. These roads have been well-traveled in some of my other Gravel Ride of the Week videos (see Waterford and Maiden Gravel 100-Miler) and I’ve also frequented them on many of my gravel training rides in the area. Cruising along these roads and running into fellow bikepackers every few miles brought a whole new dimension to this particular ride.
I eventually made my way through to Purcellville, where I stopped to have my first extended rest break for the ride. I needed a proper meal at this point and headed to Market Burger in downtown Purcellville to grab some burgers. I polished off two cheeseburgers in no time, and an additional bonus to this stop was running into another South African who was also riding the same TransVA route towards Harrisonburg. There really is something special about the interesting people that you’ll meet along the way on a bikepacking trip.
After the rest stop, it was time to make my way through to Bluemont. This is yet another part of Loudoun County that is filled with incredible historic gravel roads that seem to go on for miles. The very first edition of our Gravel Ride of the Week series featured a route that loops through this area, and it remains one of my favorite areas to ride gravel. I highly recommend that you check this out for yourself! In Bluemont you’ll find the Bluemont General Store, an authentic country store experience, and one that you don’t want to miss out on to restock for the next stretch of the journey. I made sure to load up fully here, planning to make it my last pitstop before I took on the remaining 40 miles that awaited on route to Stephens City.
The ride out of Bluemont along Snickersville Turnpike is challenging, as it immediately kicks off with a very steep climb that heads over the mountain. The frantic Route 7 is the next major challenge following the climb and the route includes a few short stretches along this very busy road, proving to be my least favorite part of the entire trip.
Once the craziness of Route 7 is out of the way, the route really turns onto some incredible country roads. Some roads are gravel, while other roads are simply easy flowing back roads with low traffic that meanders through the beautiful natural surroundings. Locke’s Mill Road runs alongside the Shenandoah River for a few miles, providing some relaxing views of people fishing, hanging out on the river’s edge, and camping along the route. This road was one of my favorites on a warm day and just the sights of people rafting along the river helped me think cool thoughts!
Before long, the sights of the mountains began to reveal themselves on the horizon. This was incredible to admire from a distance, but the thought was always in the back of my mind that I would need to head right into those same mountains on Day 2. The distance began to catch up to me as I approached Stephens City, but fortunately I joined up with a couple riding the TransVA on a tandem. With the assistance that I got from their pull, I reached my overnight destination around 5pm. As I rolled into town, I crossed over the 200 km marker for the first time in my life - a special feeling indeed! My first order of business was to head straight to a nearby Starbucks to reward my efforts with an ice-cold latte and the largest cup of water that I could get.
I proceeded to check into the hotel, take a well-deserved shower and then set out to find some dinner. I was very relieved to find an excellent Italian restaurant just around corner from where I was staying. Roma Casual Italian left me pleasantly surprised with the great service I got from a restaurant in such a small town and the chicken alfredo pizza that I ordered certainly did not disappoint. In fact, I placed a double-order, for breakfast and snacks on the bike the next day. I really enjoyed this ending to the long day on the bike!
There was, however, one last twist to this day that made things a little more challenging. Just as I turned off the light for an early bedtime, my neighbors in the hotel room next to me checked in. I was in one of those joined rooms with only a door separating me from the rowdiest family I’ve ever had the displeasure to stay next to in a hotel. Doors were banging and kids were running around screaming like it was an outdoor playground. I had to lie there and painfully listen to every detail about their day as the kids prepared for bedtime. Despite my original plan for a comfortable night in a hotel room, I was surely regretting not having a tent to camp out in somewhere in the middle of nowhere at this point! After an hour and a half of flat-out madness next door, the noise finally began to die down. I include all this detail to help paint the picture that, as in life, even a perfectly planned relaxed night in a hotel can easily turn into a less than ideal situation. Even a glamping bikepacking trip can have its unexpected scenarios that require extra patience and flexibility.
Day2
Day 2 started pretty much on the same note on which Day 1 ended. Not long after my alarm clock went off, the neighbors were also up to head back out on their road trip (I told you I could hear every detail coming from that room). The same madness of kids jumping, and yelling persisted the entire time that I was getting ready to head out the door - I couldn’t get out of there quick enough to be honest.
What awaited along the route for Day 2 would, however, be far more challenging than some rowdy hotel guests. Day 2’s planned distance might have been shorter (153km/95miles), but with the mountains waiting around the corner, there would be more than enough elevation gain to make for a very challenging day on the bike. After making a quick pitstop at the Starbucks to pick up some caffeine to try to shake off a growing headache, I set off to conquer the rest of the bike trip.
Not far outside Stephens City, the route turns onto some quiet back gravel roads that lead into the foothills of the bigger mountains. The morning sunrise and the open gravel roads reminded me why I set out on this bike trip in the first place. The incredible secluded gravel roads were just beginning, with lots more to come throughout the day. If there is one thing to make clear about Day 2, then it’s that there was no shortage of splendid gravel roads and majestic views along the route!
The first real taste of a steep, extended climb came along Zepp Road. This was the first point in the trip where I truly felt how much additional work it required to drag a loaded bike over an extended mountain pass. However, the views at the top did make each of those spent watts totally worth it! The extra weight on the bike furthermore made the downhill to the valley below a lot more entertaining.
My first pitstop for the day came in the form of Larkin’s Grocery Store that can be found in Columbia Furnace. This was an absolute oasis in an area that otherwise does not contain many places to find supplies. I passed the Ridge Runner Brewery a few miles before getting to the grocery store, but I was disappointed to see that they were closed. Lesson learned: Be sure to research store hours before setting off on a bikepacking trip. With the temperature quickly rising throughout the morning, the need to grab some much-needed water and food also continued to grow. Larkin’s served as the perfect spot to hang out for a while to catch my breath and cool my body down.
The growing headache from the morning was in full effect at this point and any relief from a splash of cold water proved to be heavenly. I must have spent a good 45mins or more at this rest stop, hanging out at the gazebo on the side of the building. Discouraged and tired, a low point hit when I realized that I had only completed a little over one third of my planned distance for the day. This was where "mind over matter" needed to kick in to get me back on the road.
Stocked up, I headed off on the next section of my ride. Next was a lengthy stretch that climbed into the mountains and through the George Washington National Forest. The beautiful forest setting featuring shade from the trees, was enough to drive me forward as I continued to inch my way closer to Harrisonburg.
I soldiered on and, even with an intense headwind, I still managed to push through to reach the next major pitstop along the route: Basye. Here I had originally planned to stop at Basye Brew Hollow for a proper meal, but once again this place was closed on the day. The community store at the gas station would have to do this time around. The temperature was still locked in at 95F (35C) by 3pm in the afternoon and any place with a shaded bench was more than sufficient. The sandwiches, ice brew and water that I bought here could not have come at a better time and the snacks helped to finally kick the headache that I was fighting throughout the entire day. With nearly 60 miles covered by this point, I also started to get a sense that I could reach the finish line after all.
Recharged and refreshed, I set off determined to reach Harrisonburg. It’s a good thing I was this pumped, because the route had more tricks up its sleeve to bring me back to reality. Only a handful of miles outside of Basye, I hit a climb that the RidewithGPS notes describe with an exclamation mark and the words “Steep Wall Climb.” That about sums it up! The climb leading up to Supinlick Ridge Road was surely one of the most challenging of the entire day. The gradient quickly pitched up to 18% and remained there for well over a mile. This climb was no joke on a loaded bike, but as with all the other climbs, the views at the top did not disappoint.
The views along Supinlick Ridge Road were incredible.
One of my favorite parts of the route from Day 2 was the gravel road that sits on the ridge line of the mountain. The excitement of riding on this road was a real turning point from a mental standpoint and things would only get better from there.
The temperature was finally beginning to dip and the headwind that I faced all day turned into a glorious tailwind. With a renewed spirit, I charged onwards to my final destination. The best part of those last few miles towards Harrisonburg must have been the magnificent views that I encountered. The golden hour sunlight lit up the surrounding farmlands and mountains in a truly spectacular way. These views propelled me forward and I eventually reach Harrisonburg’s courthouse around 7:30pm. I made it! I completed 220 miles in two days and ticked off my very first bikepacking trip. What a feeling!
Wrap-up
There is a first time for everything, and on this occasion I'm very pleased to say that I've completed a goal that I've had for some time. It really is a special feeling to be able to say that you've traveled between two places overnight, with only the gear on your bike. There are certainly easier ways to travel, but few of them leave you with such a rewarding feeling and allow for the landscape to be absorbed as much as a bike trip does. I'm still very new to this fast-growing genre of cycling and have loads more to learn about how to approach bikepacking in the most efficient way possible, but with each passing outing you learn and improve. I'm looking forward to the next challenge I can take on after this one, and I'll be sure to take you along for the ride. Special thanks goes to Christin for driving me to the Lincoln Memorial before sunrise on a Saturday morning and then driving two hours to Harrisonburg the following evening. And thank you for following along with this Gravel Ride of the Week adventure. Until next time, enjoy your ride!
- Wiehan
