Riding the DC Metro to a Gravel Cycling Paradise (Loudoun County)

[@duoxm6713]

Excited about the Ashburn extension. Allows me to get to a spot on the W&OD trail that lets me explore the gravel. Planning on doing that in Spring.

[@GravelCyclist]

And only $2 each way on the weekend!

[@paulwilson7761]

@@GravelCyclist I have a feeling I'll be using the Silver Line option more. I costs me 4 gallons in gas and ~$20 in tolls to drive to Leesburg from Arlington for a gravel ride.

[@paulwilson7761]

Nice. A buddy and I did a road/bike trail ride from Ashburn Station yesterday. It's 2.5 miles to the W&OD Trail, and another 9 miles west on the trail to Leesburg, where you can hit the gravel in the Velopigs route. Loudoun east of Rt 15 is pretty grim IMHO...

[@sametime212]

There's a public bathroom at the Ashburn station?!?! Great intel, that one detail makes an adventure like this a LOT easier. I live in DC and will be trying this for sure. Thanks!

[@GravelCyclist]

As soon as you exit the train and take the elevator / escalator upstairs, four super clean bathrooms are right there, just before the Metro entry / exit gate. Enjoy your future journeys from DC to Loudoun!

[@GMoneyLove]

Great ride and info, JOM. You probably made use of the new Metro silver line extension for some riding goodness before most of us locals! Cheers.

[@AceMBP]

We used to take backroads from Ashburn area up to Harpers ferry and back.... That was some years ago... We had 100 mile circuit from just outside D.C. out the W.O.&D and cross another ferry to Maryland and back on the Canal or backroads... good times!!!

[@rickbeckner9906]

I hope you enjoyed your trip to the DMV and Loudon County! You are welcome back anytime.

[@oneschance]

This video is awesome for me. I grew up there. Living in Michigan now.

[@guyonwheels368]

That gravel on the shoulder is what I like to call "suburban gravel". :)

[@secularist1969]

You're making me homesick, Jayson. Thanks for the great shots of my old 'hood.

[@charlesphelps2730]

Loudoun my gravel playground.

[@GravelCyclist]

Such an amazing playground it is too :) I sincerely hope no further roads are paved. I've got video / photos somewhere of a few roads from Leesburg and Middleburg that were paved a few years ago. Stoked to see the efforts of people like Kasey Clark and Americas Routes, working hard to preserve these historic roads.

[@charlesmansplaining]

People from the Maryland and Virginia area drive like maniacs. It's a shame because there would be some awesome cycling to be had but it's not safe.

[@al-du6lb]

cars ruin everything

[@soloist777]

Is Australia the only country in which you can't travel on a train with your bike?!

[@shanemerx3887]

You can in Melbourne,.

[@haemstah]

Perth👍

[@soloist777]

@@shanemerx3887 Good to see some states are a bit more progressive than NSW! Inquired with NSW Rail about taking my bike on the train from Coffs up to Brisbane to bikepack back and was told I would need to disassemble it into an impossibly small cardboard box!

[@GravelCyclist]

Disappointing to hear about NSW. In my South Aussie home state, there used to be an amazing country rail network that was torn up in the early / mid 1980's, that would have opened up a ton of amazing gravel cycling in the Barossa Valley, and the mid North. Instead, I've driven out there each time to ride those fab roads. If any of you make it Stateside, you need to add Loudoun County, Virginia, gravel roads to your must-ride list.

[@soloist777]

@@GravelCyclist I didn't think you had an American accent (lol). I've cycled the UK and NZ and both countries are more welcoming when it comes to travelling with bikes compared to NSW. As more and more rail trails open up in NSW, this state needs to get more on board(pun intended). The Casino-Lismore-Byron- Murwillumbah rail trail opens in 2023 and it would be great if NSW Rail permitted bikes to encourage more Aussies to start exploring. Especially now ebikes are getting more popular with older cyclists. Great for eco-tourism as well! We can only hope! GS- enjoy your KZbin vids immensely and having recently gone over to the dark side and bought better half and I ebikes, enjoying the vids on the Trek Domane. Nice.