Gravel Ride of the Week: Loudoun 1725 Gravel Grinder
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We didn't have to travel far for the latest Gravel Ride of the Week. The Loudoun 1725 Gravel Grinder brought the gravel adventure to our local training grounds, making this a must-do event right on our doorstep. For this one, we made our way over to the luxurious Salamander Resort and Spa in Middleburg, Virginia to join hundreds of other graveleurs for a scenic tour of Loudoun County's gravel roads. Let's dive into the details to see what made this one such an enjoyable event. Be sure to check out the highlights video here.
This event was not a race, but instead offered riders the opportunity to experience the beautiful and historic gravel roads of Loudoun County through a well-organized and fully supported event. Hosted by EX2 Adventures, 2021 saw the third edition of the event, which attracted its biggest field to date with nearly 600 riders registered for the various distances. Three routes were available for the day, with an 80-mile, 60-mile and a 40-mile option. I opted for the 60-mile route. Detailed route files can be found here.
The start of this ride followed a staggered format, allowing the big field to roll out of Middleburg in a way that created less congestion out in the quiet countryside. These roads, a mere 1-hour drive from Washington DC, have quickly become my favorite place to train for gravel events. This time around, the event took place on the roads that I know so well, making it feel like a homecoming event of sorts. It really was something special to share the riding experience with hundreds of other cyclists who joined in for the fun. Some followers of this blog even travelled up from South Carolina to make it to this event.
The gravel roads that you find in Loudoun County are special roads indeed. The extensive network of gravel roads that you find in Loudoun County date back to the 1700's, and hence the 1725 date that you find in the name of this event. Part of the proceeds from this event went to a good cause, which helps to facilitate the preservation of these roads. This work is being done through an organization called America's Routes who are actively working towards getting this network of roads listed on the national register of historic places, with the goal of preserving the rich history that they hold.
Long-time followers of this blog may remember the Gravel Spotlight feature that we ran showcasing Kasey Clark and the nearly 300-mile gravel ride that he completed along the roads of Loudoun Country. This epic ride was all done in one go, to help raise funds for the preservation work done by America's Routes. Kasey is also the founder of the VeloPigs bike club, a passionate group of gravel riders in the area who are actively involved with the efforts to help care for these rural gravel roads.
The Loudoun 1725 route offered some incredible views along the way. We were spoiled with distant mountain views, historic stone fences and shaded tree-lined lanes. All three of the routes overlapped in the village of Unison, which contained one of the many waterpoints available on the day. This unique historic place has featured in a few of my past Gravel Ride of the Week videos (see Bluemont Loops and DIY Gravel Rooted Vermont) and this time the tranquil country roads once again made their appearance. Other highlights along this route include the mountain views near Bluemont and the Philomont General Store that provided a unique backdrop to this ride. There was even a knee-deep river ford along this route, which I crossed by carrying my bike. Hats off to those skilled (and brave) riders who were able to ride all the way through. My excuse for taking the wading option was perfectly summarized by a fellow rider who also carried his bike through the water; "Save the bearings."
Overall, this was one seriously fun day out on the bike, which offered the perfect opportunity to rack up some endurance miles for upcoming races. This time around, there simply was no need to race through this scenic course and soaking in the surroundings was very much the focus of the day. Kudos to the EX2 Adventures crew for putting together a well-organized event that made riding through this historic area a real treat. Let us know if you're ever in the area and we'll be happy to point you to a good route to follow. Until next time, enjoy your ride!
-Wiehan
