Was a ride on the Capital Trail such a good idea?
As I pulled the bike jersey off the rack in my closet, the coat hanger popped out and landed on the floor. For a moment, I thought I might be too tired to bend over and pick it up.
Not a good start to the day.
Also not the way to be thinking if one is planning to drive three hours, then ride 30 miles on a bicycle.
Which is what we were planning to do.
Mary had picked up her new Trek Checkpoint gravel bike the day before and it only seemed proper that we break it in with a road trip.
Why the Capital Trail?
If you’ve been following my series of blogs on riding with sarcoidosis, you may know that the disease and side effects from medication have made riding a bit more difficult for me.
Which, of course, makes me think about riding even more.
I may have been pushing it a bit on this ride as I was only four days post-chemo treatment. but, Mary had a new bike so…
The key was finding an easy ride, and the Capital Trail is both flat and paved, so it seemed like a perfect place to test Mary’s new bike without physically taxing me into oblivion.
Even if we did have to drive three hours to get there.
Arrived in Richmond
With the Richmond skyline in view just a few blocks away, we nabbed the last open parking spot in the lot designated as the beginning of the trail. We later determined there was ample parking in other nearby lots — so keep that in mind if you are following the GPS as we did to the Great Shiplock Park.
Click here for an interactive map of the entire 52-mile trail.
Note: There was a single porta potty in a corner of the park. It may have been the most disgusting plastic enclosure in the history of man’s need to relieve himself. I would plan to “go” elsewhere if the urge strikes you.
The porta potty aside, the park is a nice place to start a bike ride. There are markers that explain how the locks helped boats traverse the Richmond rapids via the Kanawha and James River canal system. The park is clearly popular as evidenced by the scarcity of open parking spaces and the hum of activity from cyclists, runners, and dog walkers.
Headed Toward Jamestown
A 15-20 mph headwind from the east (really?) and some initial uphill terrain had me second guessing the decision to drive three hours just to have an easy ride. The first few miles are not flat. My Garmin showed a few of the hills tilting up to about 6-percent. They are short, and nothing compared to the mountainous riding in Roanoke, but it’s worth mentioning. After all, we got up early and drove across the state to avoid hills! Grumble Grumble.
Click on the Strava link below to see the course profile. Feel free to follow me on Strava as well.
The Capital Trail connects Virginia’s two capitals, Richmond and Jamestown. The pathway is paved throughout its
Click here to learn more and donate to the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation
The Fork on 5
Our plan was a 30-mile ride on the gravel bikes. The map showed a restaurant called the Fork on 5 at fifteen miles, so we planned to ride there, have a light lunch and return for our 30-miler.
The food was pretty good, though not gourmet or even the yuppie fare I sort of expected. Certainly good enough. The restaurant closes at 3 on Saturday’s and as food disappears the staff simply draws a line through menu items that are no longer available. I had a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, while Mary tried the potato soup.
Riding the Capital Trail
To my surprise, the trail is interesting.
I say that as a person who is somewhat pre-disposed to appreciate a more natural setting, say the New River Trail or Virginia Creeper. Yet here, the scenery is more varied if less defined by nature.
There are historic markers that denote battles from the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and of course the Civil War. There are also other nods to the area’s seemingly infinite history that is not related to gunpowder. We passed over bridges, along slow-moving creeks, and through two parks – Dorey Park and The Four Mile Creek Trailhead. Both offered activity that pleasantly interrupted what can be the monotony of rail trails. The parks offered good people watching, while the creeks and woods provided a surprising amount of wildlife.
Four Mile Creek Park boasts a massive, 12-foot bike sculpture along the trail — re-enforcing the fact that the trail caters to cyclists. The sculpture has become an icon along the route. Click here for the back story from the Richmond Times Dispatch.
Gravel bikes vs. Road Bikes on the Capital Trail
As of this writing, gravel bikes are all the rage. It’s a new category, but one that is still seeking a bit of definition. If you are riding on pure
So when you get to a flat, paved trail or g
Most of the bikes we saw that day were road bikes. Sure, there were lots of families, and kids on Walmart bikes. There were recreational riders on cruisers of various descriptions — but the vast majority were rolling along at 15-20 mph on skinny tires.
I’m getting used enjoying the slightly more upright position from the gravel bike. Mine is a Fuji Jari with a Shimano 105 package. I like the beefier tire because of the way it absorbs expansion strips and vibrations on bridges or sidewalk seams. Sitting upright makes it a bit easier to talk with Mary or take in the surroundings.
But that may not be enough.
After all, my carbon-framed Guerciotti Alero is pretty darn smooth.
And light.
Nothing against the gravel bike — and don’t forget this was Mary’s first ride on her new Trek — but I’m not sure there was enough gritty terrain to justify the extra heft and rolling resistance.
The Trail is just too smooth.
If I was to ride any farther on this gem of a trail, it would probably be on the road bike.
Try the Cap2Cap Ride
You can’t mention the Capital Trail without giving a nod to the Cap2Cap event that happens every May.
Click here for the Cap2Cap Facebook page.
I’m one of the few cyclists among my friends who
My work schedule has always prevented me from being able to get there on the right weekend.
After our modest ride on this trip, I am more determined than ever to add this to my bucket list.
In the meantime, I can be happy knowing I’ve at least made introductions with the Capital Trail.
