ATTENTION RIDERS!
Daily ride descriptions for each day of the Mason Dixon 1200k.
Day 1
The ride starts in historic Leesburg into the heart of Virginia horse and wine country on the way to Warrenton, VA. The route remains rural for more than 100 miles as we approach the Blue Ridge Mountains. After achieving the event’s highest altitude point, we descend to Lexington and then head up the Shenandoah Valley to the Staunton overnight. This will be the most challenging day of climbing.
Distance – 234 miles/377 kilometers
Climbing – 16,100 feet/4,900 meters
Climbing Rate – 69’/mile, 13m/km
Altitude change: +1,075 feet/+325 meters
Day 2
From Staunton, VA, the route will pass into West Virginia and Maryland, then crossing the Mason Dixon Line, will enter Pennsylvania. You will see the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in daylight and ride into charming Shepherdstown before crossing the Potomac River, a very key part of Civil War and early U.S. History. The route dips briefly into the Antietam battlefield before entering Pennsylvania on the way to the Shippensburg, PA overnight.
Distance: 217 miles/349 kilometers
Climbing : 10,500 feet/3,200 meters
Climbing Rate: 48’/mile, 9m/km
Altitude change: -815 feet/-250 meters
Day 3
The departure from Shippensburg takes you directly to the second mountain pass of the event, using the long but gentle northerly approach to Big Flat on South Mountain before descending the steep side. The southern point of the day features miles in Gettysburg’s iconic Civil War battlefield before heading east to the easy crossing of the massive Susquehanna River. On the east side there is a loop nearly 100 miles long that takes in the best part of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. We cross the river again at the 1000k mark, a few miles before the York, PA overnight.
Distance: 184 miles/296 kilometers
Climbing: 8,800 feet/2,700 meters
Climbing rate: 48’/mile, 9m/km
Altitude change: -200 feet/-60 meters
Day 4
With less than 200k back to Leesburg, VA, you will be following a relatively flat path to Frederick after crossing the Mason Dixon Line back into Maryland. Terrain picks up a bit from there on the way down to and back up from the Potomac River and then a few charming miles carry you to the post-ride celebration in Leesburg, VA.