Quicker Picker Upper |
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Everything cycling in and around Culpeper
Looking for a great quick (short) ride that has great variety? Check out the Quicker Picker Upper. It's a favorite of the locals looking for a good workout (i.e. hills) in a quick 20 mile jaunt.
This route starts from Yowell Meadow Park, which is centrally located within the town limits, is easy to find and a short walk from all the great shops in downtown Culpeper.
You make a left turn out of the parking lot and proceed with a left onto Sperryville Pike (Rt. 522), while this road is a little busy you'll get a chance to experience Culpeper's brand new traffic circles!
As you make your right onto Woodland Church Rd, you will be greeted with your first little hill, while it's just over a half mile in length it's a good warmup for things to come. At the top of the climb you roll onto Cherry Hill Rd, then a left onto Chestnut Fork Rd and another left onto Dutch Hollow Rd. After the fast descent you climb your way back up to Alum Springs Rd, but be ready that climb is a little harder than it looks.
You continue the false flat on Alum Springs Rd, and after you make your right onto Drogheda Mountain Rd, you will be glad we are going down, rather than up that hill. At the bottom you have a very short, albeit steep grind as you roll onto Eggbornsville Rd.
As you climb your way up Eggbornsville Rd and make the left onto Scotts Mill Rd, you are greeted to the rolling hills of Scotts Mill. But remember this is a training ride so enjoy the short steep hills. Be sure to be on the lookout for Culpeper's own Bison Farm (yes, Culpeper has a bison farm, Cibola Farms), complete with a retail store selling fresh, frozen Bison meat.
At the end of Scotts Mill make your left onto Old Turnpike Rd to save yourself a little traffic. Once you merge back onto Sperryville Pike, it is a fast clear shot all the way back to Yowell Meadow Park.
After your ride, you should have worked up quite a thirst, and there's no better way to quench that thirst with a ice-cold beer. So be sure to stop by Culpeper Cheese Co. for one of their Belgian beers!
And if you worked up an appetite check out Culpeper's highest Zagat-rated restaurant, Foti's Restaurant. Be sure to mention that Culpeper Cycling sent you!