Dan Casey

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Note: This was Maggie Palmieri's favorite ride. Maggie, 52, of Roanoke County, died Aug. 2, 2003 when her bike struck an SUV during the Mountain Mama Challenge century in Highland County, Va. She was a mother, systems analyst, hangliding enthusiast, editor, publisher and friend to many. She also was the beloved wife of Jim "Skydog" Palmieri, who appears on many of these page. She is missed by many.

One day in the future, bicyclists will be able to hop on a greenway along the Roanoke River in Southeast Roanoke and ride it all the way to Salem. The Roanoke River Greenway, as it will be known, will be the backbone and crown jewel of a biker-pedestrian path system in the Roanoke Valley that will prompt non-riders and novices to climb on bikes and push their pedals. Inch by inch, that system is growing, but the pace is so slow that I doubt I'll see it finished in my lifetime.Until then, more hard-core bicyclists who want a decent-length ride through lowlands along the sparkling river have a few other options. At 30 miles, the Harborwood Loop is probably the best of those. There are a few detours away from the water, but this ride comes as close as possible to following the Roanoke River from Roanoke, through Salem, and back.

On a warm Saturday afternoon early in March, I joined 25 other bicyclists for this Blue Ridge Bicycle Club ride from Patrick Henry High School in Southwest Roanoke, led by Danny Foster.

Not a country ride

This is a ride that starts and ends at Patrick Henry High School in the Raleigh Court neighborhood and winds through a fair part of Salem. Much of the way it sticks to well-traveled two-lane roads in Roanoke, such as Brandon Avenue, and in Salem, such as Apperson Road (what Brandon Avenue is called there), and the heavily traveled and commercial part of U.S. 460, much of which is four lanes. In other words, if you don't like traffic, stay away from this one.

On the bright side, there is only one climb of any length and difficulty, Harborwood Road (a genuine country road), but at 400 vertical feet it's barely a pimple compared to some of the behemoth climbs around here. Mill Mountain, by way of comparison, is right around 1,000 feet.

If you live in Roanoke, you don't need to drive to the start/finish of this ride -- just hop on your bike and get cranking.

Finally, if the day has any wind, there's an almost certain chance it'll be blowing on your back for the entire back end of this ride. Heading home will be a cruise.

Dan Casey | The Roanoke Times

Robin Giordano (front) leads Lynn Bradshaw, Paul Giordano and others on busy Brandon Avenue in Roanoke at the start of the ride. If you don't like riding in traffic, you'll want to stay away from this ride.

Route Info

• Start at Avenel Ave SW (Patrick Henry High School)
• 0.00 Go straight across Grandin Road on Avenel Ave. SW
• 0.18 mi Turn right on Belleville Road SW
• 0.15 mi Turn left on Brandon Ave. SW and follow it across Virginia 419
• 3.34 mi Turn right on E. Riverside Drive
• 1.02 mi Turn right on Front Ave.
• 0.57 mi Turn left on Mulberry St.
• 0.19 mi Turn right on Piedmont Ave.
• 0.13 mi Bear left on E. Riverside Drive
• 0.07 mi Stay on W. Riverside Drive
• 2.31 mi Turn left on Diuguids Lane
• 0.25 mi Bear right on Harborwood Road
• 4.12 mi Turn right on Poor Mountain Road
• 0.98 mi Turn left on Northwest River Road
• 3.21 mi Turn right on U.S. 11/460
• 4.90 mi Turn right on Diuguids Lane
• 0.29 mi Turn left on W. Riverside Drive
• 2.30 mi Stay on it on to E. Riverside Drive
• 0.07 mi Bear right on Piedmont Ave.
• 0.13 mi Turn left on Mulberry St.
• 0.19 mi Turn right on Front Ave.
• 0.57 mi Turn left on E Riverside Drive
• 1.03 mi Turn left on Apperson Drive, cross Virginia 419 and follow back to Roanoke
• 3.34 mi Turn right on Belleville Road SW
• 0.15 mi Turn left on Avenel Ave. SW
• 0.18 mi Cross Grandin Road, finish at Patrick Henry High School.
• Total: 29.67 miles

The route

Here's the general route: From Patrick Henry High in Roanoke, you want to follow Brandon/Apperson to just past Virginia 419 and then onto Riverside Drive, which runs alongside the Roanoke River in Salem. Where Riverside ends on Diuguids, you go left, to the top of the hill and make a right on Harborwood. Eventually this takes you out to U.S. 460, where you go right and back towards Salem, following Riverside and Brandon/Apperson back to the high school. Danny Foster was kind enough to provide this cue sheet with the specific directions.

Watch out for the traffic on this ride. Where it crosses into Salem, Brandon/Apperson narrows considerably. Fast food places, a shopping center and other development here attract lots of cars. The other road with abundant cars is U.S. 460, which turns into West Main Street in Salem. It's four lanes for most of the stretch, but narrows to two when you get to the Salem city limits. You'll want to get off this road as soon as you can and get back on Riverside Drive.This is one ride that where won't feel left in the lurch by thirst or hunger. Because some of the roads are commercial routes (Brandon/Apperson, and U.S. 460) there are plenty of places to stop for a snack or drink.