General
Comments on Riding in the Bedford, VA area
It's
really difficult to find any "bad" roads for motorcycle
riding around Bedford. Below are several outstanding choices.
These have been recently scouted by Steve Seamans ("Whiskerfish")
and Doug Snavely ("Cyborg"). Doug and Steve have
volunteered to lead rides on these routes. Please refer to
the Schedule of Events for those planned rides. Feel free
to plot your own course, but I think you are sure to enjoy
each of these rides.
Be
aware that the speed limit on the Blue Ridge Parkway
is 45 mph and strictly enforced. It would not be good if any
of the Rally participants received a "performance award"
from the friendly LEOs who patrol this road.
The
mainly rural routes detailed below are generally free of heavy
traffic, but watch for slow moving agricultural equipment
and especially bicycles on these routes.
Special
thanks to Steve and Doug!
Northern
Loop
Distance:
55 Miles
Time:
Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes
Map
of Northern Loop above
Directions:
Northern
Loop
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|
Exit
Hotel parking lot turn left on 460/221
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Go
approximately 250 Yards and take left exit for 221
East.
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Go
1.2 miles to the center of town and turn left on route
43/221 (North Bridge Street).
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Cross
Railroad tracks and follow 43 to the left onto Peaks
St
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Follow
43 Northwest 10.6 miles to "Peaks of Otter Lake."
Here you will intersect the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Turn
right onto BRPW heading northeast. Go 21.2 miles to
the intersection of US 501.
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Turn
right onto South US 501. Go 1.3 miles and turn right
onto VA-122.
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Go
17.5 miles to the intersection of 221.
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Continue
South on 221 back to the center of town.
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Turn
right and continue on 221/460 back to the hotel.
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Western
Loop - "Standard"
Distance:
66 Miles
Time:
Approximately 1 hour 40 minutes
Map
of Western Loop - "Standard" above
Directions:
Western Loop - "Standard"
|
|
Exit
Hotel parking lot turn left on 460/221
|
|
Go
approximately 250 Yards and take left exit for 221
East.
|
|
Go
1.2 miles to the center of town and turn left on route
43/221 (North Bridge Street).
|
|
Cross
Railroad tracks and follow 43 to the left onto Peaks
St
|
|
Follow
43 Northwest 10.6 miles to "Peaks of Otter Lake."
Here you will intersect the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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Turn
Left onto 43/BRPWcontinue approximately 5 miles and
route 43 will exit to the right. Continue North along
route 43 to edge of Buchanan where 43 will intersect
with route 11 south.
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Turn
left on to 11 South, go 2.5 miles and turn left onto
Route 640 Lithia Rd.
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Stay
on 640 for 10.2 miles. You will pass through Lithia
and the road will change names to Nace Rd and then
you will pass through Nace.
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As
you enter Nace 640 will turn left and cross the Railroad
tracks and then make an immediate right turn.
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Continue
½ mile further and the road will "T" into an unnamed
road.
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Follow
640 to the right and go 8/10's of a mile to the intersection
of Route 11.
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Turn
left onto Route 11 South. Go 5.7 miles to the intersection
of Route 220
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Turn
Left onto 220 South and go 5.0 miles. The road will
"T" into 221/460.
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Turn
Left and go 21 miles back to the Hotel.
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Western
Loop - "Short"
Distance:
50 Miles
Time:
Approximately 1 hour 25 minutes
Map
of Western Loop - "Short" above
Directions:
Western Loop - "Short"
|
|
Exit
Hotel parking lot turn left on 460/221
|
|
Go
approximately 250 Yards and take left exit for 221
East.
|
|
Go
1.2 miles to the center of town and turn left on route
43/221 (North Bridge Street).
|
|
Cross
Railroad tracks and follow 43 to the left onto Peaks
St
|
|
Follow
43 Northwest 10.6 miles to "Peaks of Otter Lake."
Here you will intersect the Blue Ridge Parkway.
|
|
Turn
Left onto 43/BRPW. After 5 miles 43 will exit.
|
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Continue
along the BRPW another 15 miles to the intersection
of 221 and 460.
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Turn
Left and go @ 18 miles back to the hotel.
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Penick's
Mill Wine Country Loop
Distance:
18 Miles
Time:
Approximately 35 minutes
Map
of Penick's Mill Wine Country Loop above
Directions:
Penick's Mill Wine Country Loop
|
|
Exit
Hotel parking lot turn left on 460/221
|
|
Go
approximately 250 Yards and take left exit for 221
East.
|
|
Go
1.2 miles to the center of town and turn left on
route 43/221 (North Bridge Street).
|
|
Cross
Railroad tracks and follow 43 to the left onto Peaks
St
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Follow
43 Northwest 4.7 miles to Kelso Mill Road
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Turn
left onto Kelso Mill Road. Go 4 miles to Penicks
Mill.
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In
Penicks Mill, Kelso Road will intersect with Sheep
Creek Road. Turn right for approximately 75 yards
then and turn left onto Penicks Mill Rd.
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Stay
on Penicks Mill Rd for 3.3 miles to the intersection
of 460/221.
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Turn
left and go 4 miles back to the Hotel.
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