500-mile VA/WV "Twisty Butt:" Who's in?

[SWriverstone]

Okay, this is it: I want to do the Big Kahuna of rides: 500 miles of nothing but twisty backroads (NO slab). My target area is the region along the VA/WV border...including the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains to the east...and the Alleghenies to the west.

I figure with a 40mph moving average speed, it'll take 12.5hrs (moving time). On the longest day of summer, there are 14-15hrs of light...so with a 5am start it would be totally doable.

I've already mapped out an example 450 miles' worth...so just need to add another 50 miles. Here's the first draft of the route (this version starts in Berkeley Springs, but that could easily be changed—as well as any other part of the route.):



This route has a ton of epic roads. Not 100% of the best in the region, but probably 80% of the best ones (and we'd still need to add 50 miles)....

- Wolf Gap and the Trout Run Valley
- Smokehole Road
- US33
- US250
- The Virginia 600's (including awesome SR678)
- US39 and Goshen Pass
- VA56 pass
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- The Piedmont Foothills past Old Rag Mountain

So all we have to do is finalize the route and pick a day! I'm thinking one day in August might be ideal. The question is...can we pick a weekday (in hopes of less traffic)? I'm certainly willing to take a day off for this. A Friday would be ideal—that way we have the weekend to recover!   This obviously won't be a ride for taking pics and relaxing!  

For example, on August 5, sunrise is at 5:21am and sunset is at 8:22pm (in Harrisonburg, VA). That's 15+ hours of daylight...which should be more than enough.

Scott

EDIT: Actually, that route above needs to be tweaked a lot...I'd forgotten I included US340 on it—WAY too straight! LOL But still, it's a general idea of the route...

[garry]

Somewhere at home I have a WV Twisty Butt 500 route that is a mix of (mostly) twisty state highways with some nice back roads to connect the bits together. I think the route/loop started in Morgantown. I'll have to look for it. I've done 500+ miles of mostly twisties before and it's mentally grueling on state highways. I would not want to do one that focuses on back roads. It would stop being fun at 300 miles (much like Saturday) and turn into a back road death march/ride to complete the route.

FWIW, doesn't an official "Twisty Butt" route need to be completed in 12 hours since it's half of an Iron Butt? To do that you need moving average of 50 MPH for 10 hours plus 2 hours for lunch and gas/breaks.

[SWriverstone]

Wow...50 view and no takers. Guess that qualifies me as looney.   I'm a little surprised, actually---I thought STN was full of hardcore riders who routinely comment about knocking out 600-700 miles in a day.  

I'd be interested in your route Garry (I remember you mentioning it). And though you might be right about doing it in 12 hours to be considered an actual "Half Iron Butt," I really don't care about being "official." I just want to try to ride 500 miles of backroads in one day.

I actually felt pretty good at the end of Saturday's ride (at 330 miles)---I definitely could have gone another 100 miles on twisties no problem. (But I admit a 2nd 100 miles would have been grueling.)

But that's partly why I would start at 5am. 15-16 hours is (I think) plenty of time to do 500 miles (allowing for plenty of short breaks for food, water, gas, leg stretching, etc.) I also think routing plays an important role (more than it does for regular Iron Butts). I've found (for me, at least) having a nice mix of tighter, technical twisties alternating regularly with more relaxed twisties and sweepers really helps avoid exhaustion and "mind numbness."

I don't have any illusions that 500 miles of pure twisties (and some sweepers) could get rough...and I'm certainly concerned about safety and would bail out if I really felt my focus was severely compromised. (Wouldn't want to end up like my avatar, LOL)

On the other hand, isn't the point of endurance events to push beyond your limits?   (I doubt any average runner who runs a marathon doesn't feel good in the last few miles). I've ridden several bicycle centuries (100 miles in a day)...and the last 10-15 miles of those aren't exactly easy either---but it was always a great feeling of accomplishment to finish.

Just like with "regular" Iron Butts, I'd be careful too to stay well hydrated and keep plenty of high-calorie snacks on hand.

Well...I'm seriously going to plan for this, likely sometime in August or early September. If I have to go it alone, then I will!  

Scott

[garry]

Found my map in MS Streets and Trips format. It's a pretty simple route actually. 505 miles.

Start in Morgantown
119 south to Buckhannon
20 south to Webster Springs
15 east to jct 219
219 north to jct 250 in Huttonsville
250 east to Monterey
220S/84/600S to jct 39
39 east to jct 678
678 north to jct 250 near McDowell
250 east to Churchville
42 north to Moscow
Back roads thru Ottobine to jct 33
33 west to Seneca Rocks
28/55 north to jct Jordan Run Rd
Jordan Run Rd to jct 42 in Maysville
42 north to jct 50 Mt Storm
50 west past Love Deer to jct 26
26 north to Bruceton Mills (jct 68)

The end is 22 miles of slab (I-68) to get back to the start point, so that would be 527 miles total.

[Bowtie76]

Depends on the day but I could be game,  You could add a quick trip over 56 (just east of goshen pass 39) to get your 500.

[SWriverstone]

Depends on the day but I could be game,  You could add a quick trip over 56 (just east of goshen pass 39) to get your 500.

Actually the west side of 56 is in that route already (I used it to get up to the BRP)...but both sides are excellent. We could always head back down 56 to 151 and take that up to Afton...(151 is beautiful but kinda straight...so not sure if it would "count."   )

Thanks for the cues Garry...I'm gonna map that one out!

Scott

[Scratch33]

So all we have to do is finalize the route and pick a day!

If you spread that route out across two days I'd absolutely hit it.   At my age I've got nothin' to prove.

[SWriverstone]

If you spread that route out across two days I'd absolutely hit it.   At my age I've got nothin' to prove.

 
Well, I'm not really trying to prove anything. I just enjoy challenges (they keep me from getting bored, LOL). But hey, if enough people say I'm an idiot for attempting 500 miles in a day, I could be convinced to split it into 2 days---it would be a hell of a weekend ride!  

Scott

[Scratch33]

Not saying you're an idiot.  It's just that for me, the one constant about most all the pleasure riding I've done thus far (as opposed to, say, commute riding) is a small regret that I haven't taken more time to appreciate the views and the roads.  There are some I might never see again.  Perfect moments shouldn't be rushed.

[Bowtie76]

Actually the west side of 56 is in that route already (I used it to get up to the BRP)...but both sides are excellent. We could always head back down 56 to 151 and take that up to Afton...(151 is beautiful but kinda straight...so not sure if it would "count."   )

Thanks for the cues Garry...I'm gonna map that one out!

Scott

Hop off 151 towards Lowesville and take the back roads to 60 through the mountians to Buena Vista.  Realy can't go wrong with back roads in that area, unless you are in a hurry.

[vulcanbill]

I might be in depending on the date.  I vote for a Friday - preferably my 9/80 Friday.    

This is not an extremely hard day.  We routinely ride 550 of twisties in a day.  It is a LONG day and not for the faint of butt.  If you have your ducks in a row and make sure people, especially smokers and micro-bladder types understand the concept of a 10 minute gas stop, you should be fine.  Prepare everyone for the reality that they might be the weakest link and be left behind if they can't keep up.  You won't be doing 500 miles of twisties w/ Pokey along.  A ride with those statistics will be brisk.  

[SuperHans]

I would love to hit this route, but on a less aggressive timeline. No way am I gettting up for a 5am start on my day off. I already get up early 5 to 6 days a week.

[Cablebandit]

I'd think fall would be best.  I just got back from 281 mostly twisty miles in 5 hours including a lunch break.  The heat of the day was getting brutal toward the end. 88° today.  Riding in the heat just isn't that much fun after a certain point.  I would think August in the Mid-Atlantic would exceed that point.  


And yes I do realize it's cooler at elevation, but you won't be spending all day at elevation.

[SWriverstone]

I'd think fall would be best.  I just got back from 281 mostly twisty miles in 5 hours including a lunch break.  The heat of the day was getting brutal toward the end. 88° today.  Riding in the heat just isn't that much fun after a certain point.  I would think August in the Mid-Atlantic would exceed that point.  


And yes I do realize it's cooler at elevation, but you won't be spending all day at elevation.

I agree! I'd LOVE to do this ride in the fall. The only issue there is daylight. For example, On October 5th, sunrise is at 6:15am and sunset at 6:53pm...so about 2hrs less daylight than if we did it in August. (Around 13hrs total daylight—if it's a clear day.) So it would be doable, but the pace would have to be faster (say around a 45mph moving average...which could be tough for anyone but vulcanbill.   Just kidding Bill!)

Regarding pace: I can definitely see riding at a spirited pace (e.g. "Fast")...but I'm not sure I'd want to be dragging pegs and hitting triple digits between corners, LOL...I think the mental fatigue from "extreme focus" could exact a toll on me if we're riding  "INSANELY Fast!"  
Scott

[scorch]

hey im up for these rides. you riding memorial day(monday). email me

[falcofred]

This sounds interesting, but your start point is a days ride away from me. I just went to the official Iron Butt site and looked at the list of rides and didn't see a "twisty butt" ride. Is this an official IRON BUTT ride or just and idea for fun?
I've always wanted to do an Iron Butt, and have ridden 1000 miles in under 24 hours but did not document it. These days a 1000 miles of interstate just doesn't interest me, but 500 miles of twisties.........sign me up.
My friends and I routinely do several hundred miles of twisties on a good day, but there may be some sections of highway that link good roads. If this is an official IRON BUTT ride what are the rules, any road but interstate, or only two lane roads or only state roads?

[garry]

This sounds interesting, but your start point is a days ride away from me. I just went to the official Iron Butt site and looked at the list of rides and didn't see a "twisty butt" ride. Is this an official IRON BUTT ride or just and idea for fun?
I've always wanted to do an Iron Butt, and have ridden 1000 miles in under 24 hours but did not document it. These days a 1000 miles of interstate just doesn't interest me, but 500 miles of twisties.........sign me up.
My friends and I routinely do several hundred miles of twisties on a good day, but there may be some sections of highway that link good roads. If this is an official IRON BUTT ride what are the rules, any road but interstate, or only two lane roads or only state roads?

I believe STN's own Sprocket came up with the "Twisty Butt" idea with the first one being an all-day twisty fix in Arkansas. They have their own web site and forum. Not much activity last I looked. I guess if you document your approved route you can get sticker or some other bit of swag. I believe the rule is 500 miles of twisty two-lane, the twistier the better. As I recall, the route needs to be blessed for "twistiness" in advance of the ride, not after like an Iron Butt.

[Windblown]

Wow...50 view and no takers. Guess that qualifies me as looney.   I'm a little surprised, actually---I thought STN was full of hardcore riders who routinely comment about knocking out 600-700 miles in a day.  

Well...I'm seriously going to plan for this, likely sometime in August or early September. If I have to go it alone, then I will!  

Scott

I see what ya did there. Yes, you qualify as looney.  LOL

As to the 500 mile day ride. It's not looney, just not all that unusual.  It's a long ass great ride. A 50mph+ moving average is a much better target zone though and can be done without running in excess of 75mph or so. Just have to attack the twisty bits with a fair level of dedication to the term "Sport"

If I'm just going for a spin then anywhere from 250-400 miles is a decent day. Longer days usually mean there is somewhere I want to get to and back from specifically. A run to Shady Valley TN (ok, I admit that was one long ass day) , The New River Gorge Bridge, Centralia PA, things like that.

[sodapop6620]

Here is the link for the official twisty butt site

http://www.twistybutt.com/

[maddjack]

Intresting Idea Scott, I agree daylight is best now,fall gets into too early starts to get it done.500 miles of twisty,   I honestly think it might turn into an ordeal instead of fun,500 is fine when traveling but turn and burn, I think I'll pass