Avid Cyclists Previews Century & Raves About The Ride

A 2007 participant , conducted a test ride on the English Century Route for the 2007 RiverRide.  After his experience, he wrote the following unsolicited review!  The test ride was conducted without the help of SAG and Rest Stop support which is provided during the event.  He seemed to enjoy the Northern Neck; hopefully you will too!

If you are looking for a beautiful ride, then come on out and experience the Northern Neck! The courses will take you along scenic backroads that are often completely shaded. You will ride along horse pastures, corn fields, and wooded lanes. Be sure to keep an eye out for the rustic post offices, and as you get closer to the waters' edge, incredible views of the Chesapeake Bay. Volunteers at the Morattico Waterfront Museum are eager to host a rest stop that will mark the half-way point for the century ride. Say hello to JW and Jeannie. I highly encourage taking the time to explore the museum to discover the fishing history of this community. As you continue your journey, you might consider a quick stop at the CITGO gas station outside the city of Mollusk as there are few places to fill up on liquids between rest stops. One of the highlights of this ride will be taking the ferry across the Western Branch Corrotoman River as this really adds character to the route. Beware that as soon as you depart the ferry, you will encounter the first real climb that stretches about 3 miles. After turning East, you will find some rolling terrain with an overall declining slope. A few miles past being 2/3 done, a CVS Pharmacy (Hwy 3/James B. Jones Memorial Highway) presents itself as another rare opportunity to fill up on liquids which will come in handy as you will encounter the steepest climb just a few miles down the road. On your way to the next rest stop at the Tides Inn Golf Club, which will mark the end of most of the hills, you will see a historic church on the right side of the road. From this point on, the terrain will remain very close to sea level. Make sure to stop at the White Stone Volunteer Fire Department as this may be your last opportunity to replenish your liquids and goodies for the rest of the ride. If you are out for a casual ride or think that you might be ready for a break, consider taking a swimsuit with you for a short break in the Chesapeake when you reach the end of a short peninsula that separates the Chesapeake Bay and the Rappahannock River. The sand on this beach is very fine and the view is spectacular. From this point on, much of the roadway appears to be a "tunnel of trees" that makes you wonder if you have entered a forgotten wonderland. With ten miles to go, you will enjoy the quiet backroads that lead you back to the finish at Camp Kekoka

In summary, come out and enjoy majestic views and meet some great people along the way. This veteran of many rides is really looking forward to riding this route in September.