Sunday

June 26

Roanoke to Lexington

71 miles

Beautiful Botetourt Byways

This jaunt features gently rolling byways that pierce deep green woods and crisscross pastoral fields. A local cyclist sold us on this route with the unusual observation that it seemed downhill all the way. Physics and topography make that about as impossible as cold fusion or a perpetual motion machine. But because of outside factors -- wind, principally -- such a perception is not. A breeze on your back during a barely discernible climb along undulating asphalt can make you feel like a Tour de France champion. That's pretty much the setup along the beautiful Botetourt byways: Long gentle downhillls, flats, and itty bitty climbs that roll you towards Lexington and make you wonder where all those miles went.

Primary (Pink) Route Profile - 71miles

Text credited to Dan Casey

Roanoke Times