Fredericksburg to Richmond

May 12, 2016

So today started out pretty good with Kristin making me a hearty breakfast to fuel the engine!

Kristin is such a sweetheart. She got up early and made me breakfast!

So that got me up early, which was a good thing. Afterward, Kristin had to head off for a meeting, and I busied myself with getting repacked and ready for the road. I had washed the bike off last night to remove all the trail grime and dirt, which had been thrown up onto it (and me!), and had left it in the garage to dry. I noticed the flat tire as I was loading the rear panniers! Sh*t, what unfortunate luck.

So off the bags came, I removed the rear wheel, used my tire irons to lift off one side of the tire, and removed the tube. I'm a big believer in knowing where the hole is, so I pumped up the tube just enough to form it out. No leak, at least not one I could discern. It must be a real slow leak!

So I marched back into the kitchen, filled the kitchen sink with enough water to submerge part of the tube, and rotated it through the water till I saw air bubbles. They showed up pretty quickly. It was a single pinhole on the outside face of the tube. Laying it back over the tire, I looked at the two possible locations; the second spot was balding and getting thin. My bad, as I have spare tires back at the house but thought I was good for this trip. All the rough trail riding, however, must have eventually converged the bad spot on the tire with a rock on the trail! At least it waited till we got to Kristin's to go flat!

Fortunately, there was a bike shop in Fredericksburg, Bike Works on William Street, and a quick call confirmed they had my tire size! So in went a new tube, on went the panniers, and I refilled the water bottles and hit the road. Thirteen miles to Fredericksburg, the first four pretty flat, and then some hills. I was careful to avoid all road debris, especially gravel!

The ride from Brooke to Fredericksburg was possibly the hilliest part of today's ride, but very quiet.

Entry into Fredericksburg on King's Highway.

The guys at the bike shop were super nice and took good care of me. In addition to the tire, I also purchased a new spare tube so that I could maintain my two-tube reserve! I also date the box so I know how old they are, using the older one first!

Bike Works is also located in downtown Fredericksburg, which meant it was basically on my route, requiring only a small diversion. Too often, competent and full-service bike shops are located in the suburbs, which can make reaching them difficult. I was fortunate today and was on my way by 11:30 or so.

Today's ride to Richmond

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I did have to battle my way out of Fredericksburg along Business US-17, but the shoulders are wide, and after four miles, I turned more southward and onto quiet country roads that are parallel to the main highway corridor, US-301/VA-2. I was able to follow these roads for 26 miles! It's a bit longer (maybe by two miles) than staying on VA-2 (which eventually merges with US-301), but the ride is very quiet, with almost no traffic.

One of the quiet roads south of Fredericksburg.

And barns . . . and still almost no cars!

And the last road before US-301/VA-2. I like it when I see warning signs with tractors on them!

And this road even had a horse farm and cattle on the other side, the most agriculture I had seen since I left Fredericksburg.

But all good things must come to an end . . . and eventually I was forced to use US-301/VA-2 for at least part of today's ride. But I had planned to join it as close to the Pamunkey River as possible. After crossing that river, US-301 has a full shoulder!

So I was surprised and pleased to see a VDOT making shoulder improvements right where I joined US-301/VA-2! I was equally pleased to see work crews today working to widen the shoulders. Where I joined, the work had already been done, but it looked relatively fresh . . . I could smell the asphalt!

So after a short distance (four miles), I came upon the actual work crews and the one-lane operation. I dutifully fell in line with the queued cars . . . I actually worked my way to the front along the newly paved shoulder and waited for the last car to pass, following it through the work zone.

US-301/VA-2 looking south with a new shoulder!

Into Hanover County where the shoulder is even wider!

After entering Hanover County, I still had eleven more miles to go. And while there had been no rain, it had been overcast all day and slightly chilly. I wish Spring would join me for this trip! But the lack of warmth from nature was made up for by the great reception at Steve's and Pete's house in Chamberlayne. Steve is an old college buddy of mine. He and Pete are about to celebrate their eighth wedding anniversary. Congratulations to them!

Dinner with Steve and Pete. Delicious with lots of carbs!

They and the dogs, of course! Great meal, great time, good friends!

Today's ride: 68 miles (109 km)
Total: 134 miles (216 km)

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