AML 400 | Allegheny Mtns. Loop

[bikpdlr]

Back again for another year... the AML 400 in "Wild and Wonderful" West Virginia and Virginia promises to deliver a Tour Divide-prep adventure that takes me back to Montana time and time again.

With a consistent 30% scratch rate it is a challenge not to be taken lightly.

Check out the blog or Facebook for answers to nearly every question I can think of...

See you at the start line ... October 3rd 2014.

FB Group Page | https://www.facebook.com/groups/AML400/
AML 400 page | https://www.facebook.com/events/332147320274004/
AML 400 blog | http://alleghenymountainsloop.blogspot.com/
Trackleaders tracking | http://www.trackleaders.com/allegheny14
Trackleaders registration | http://trackleaders.com/allegheny-signup
AML 400 | Historical Finish Times | http://goo.gl/YHzcga
Gmail:  RidetheAML <at> gmail <dot> com

[bikpdlr]

AML Finish Times for 2012 and 2013 have been posted.  Nothing fancy... just a Google Doc that lists all recorded attempts (GD and ITT) over the past two years.  Here's the link... https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dUyalx-vY4YGXUIGXyILOkzXTn3wb07lohfHtl8KbbQ/edit?usp=sharing

[MTBIKEDROID]

Could someone give me some hints where to park at the start / finish ? Is there a safe / free place to park ?

[JimL]

Yep, the Kent Square Parking Garage.

Cite: https://www.facebook.com/kentsquare.parkinggarage

[ruthslp]

chris: thanks for compiling the history of times! i had actually been checking the blog earlier this year to see if you were going to keep a history or not. i'm debating this fall yet....

[worntreads]

This looks entirely doable on a wider tired road bike...dang. Wish I had seen this earlier, I may have considered attempting it. Some other time maybe. I like gravel riding a lot.

[joeRinehart]

Hi all,

I'm looking to do this but wanted to get a better handle on the route. I've merged then re-split the GPS track to align it to the ACA maps. I can't vouch for validity of each split, but it's all based on the file on the alleghenymountainsloop.blogspot.com page (thanks, Chris, assuming you made it!) and the ACA maps as received last week.

If anyone else wants to use it, feel free. If anyone who knows the route wants to review it and let me know what I've gotten wrong, again...feel free, and thanks in advance!

[joeRinehart]

Oh - any tire recommendations? 40c Nanos on my Fargo? 35c Happy Mediums?

[Cosmo K]

The route is entirely doable on a cross bike...and has been done.  If you're looking for a top time, it's probably the best set-up.  I'll be using it as a shakedown for TD '15 so I'll be using my hardtail...although I haven't settled on tires.  Probably just go with Maxxis crossmark's since they roll pretty nice but narrower could easily be used as well.

[bikpdlr]

Matt Lee encouraged me to coordinate a Tour Divide-like "Grand Depart" of the Allegheny Mountains Loop back in 2012.  This year we will "toe the line" in Blacksburg, VA for the 3rd running of the AML400. 

At present, the men's record is shared by Chris Arndt and Taylor Kruse  at 38:18:00 and the women's record is held by Ruth Cunningham  at 52:41:00.

A Facebook "Groups Page" has been created to support the Allegheny Mountains Loop and the AML 400.  This new page aims to be a meeting place where veterans and rookies can share tips and route information for the benefit of others planning an adventure of their own.  Non-Facebook users are welcomed to chat via Bikepacking.net.  I will monitor both pages (i.e. Bikepacking.net and Facebook Groups page) and will be doing my best to coordinate this "mass start of Individual Time Trials" as I have for the past 2 years.

If you have a question or would like to get in touch with me more quickly... please send an email at RidetheAML [at] gmail [dot] com

Please note that I do not distribute copies of ACA's Allegheny Mountains Loop Map to riders attempting the route due to copyright laws.  As an ACA member, I encourage all riders to purchase the AML map from ACA.  I do provide a .gpx file of the route to riders that I built personally using Garmin's Basecamp.

The 20 track .gpx file that is attached (to this post) is limited to 500 trackpoints or less per track to accommodate older Garmin units.  A "higher definition" file is available that contains 2 tracks each with 10,000 trackpoints or less for NEWER Garmin devices that can be emailed.

Either file is more than sufficient to keep you on the route... I have used both files over the years and neither has led me in the wrong direction.  The files have been used by more than 30 cyclists over the past 2 years and I have heard no complaints...


Thanks,


Chris Tompkins
Danville, VA


Here are some links that you are welcomed to share...

FB Group Page | https://www.facebook.com/groups/AML400/
AML 400 page | https://www.facebook.com/events/332147320274004/
AML 400 blog | http://alleghenymountainsloop.blogspot.com/
Trackleaders tracking | http://www.trackleaders.com/allegheny14
Trackleaders registration | http://trackleaders.com/allegheny-signup
AML 400 | Historical Finish Times | http://goo.gl/YHzcga

[bikpdlr]

@joeRinehart - I looked over your .gpx file and noticed a slight mis-placement of your route.

Back in Nov 2010, ACA made a addenda change that actually made sense when I was actually on the ground at the West Fork Trailhead.

It reads... Map 7   Counterclockwise narrative should read: "...45(72)Trail ends. TURN RIGHT ONTO CR 250/11. Matchline." (Nov 2010)

This is significant, because you turn RIGHT on 250/13 (a small county road) rather than turning LEFT onto Hwy 250.

In either scenario, you have to get on Grant Van Devender Road and pedal uphill to Back Mountain Road. If you're heading southbound (counter clock-wise).

BUT, during AML, we are flying down Grant Van Devender Road and it makes more sense to brake before the bottom and take Old US 250 down to the trailhead and avoid the main highway.  If you go to the bottom you end up turning RIGHT onto Hwy 250 and then RIGHT onto Old US Hwy 250 and then another quick RIGHT onto the West Fork Trail... which turns out to be a complete 360* turn which is pretty confusing.

At any rate, In 2013, I updated the AML .gpx to reflect the route change indicated in the addenda.  I've attached a photo to illustrate the change.  The GREEN route is the route I send out for AML and the RED route is the one that is from your .gpx file.

I should say, that either route will work just fine...  ACA recommends the route be ridden in the counter-clockwise direction and the addenda change make perfect sense.  Because the AML runs opposite (clock-wise) we save a few minutes by not going all the way to the bottom of the hill and turning RIGHT on OLD Hwy 250 and LEFT onto the West Fork Trail.

I will get with ACA and send them the photo as well.  Not sure what they intended, but I won't know unless I ask.


Chris Tompkins
Danville, VA

[joeRinehart]

No worries, and thanks for the correction! The "high-res" versions you posted fit fine on my eTrex 20, so I'm planning to just use those.

[bikpdlr]

Joe - are you planning on an ITT or joining us for the GD on October 3rd?

[bikpdlr]

Hi all,

I'm looking to do this but wanted to get a better handle on the route. I've merged then re-split the GPS track to align it to the ACA maps. I can't vouch for validity of each split, but it's all based on the file on the alleghenymountainsloop.blogspot.com page (thanks, Chris, assuming you made it!) and the ACA maps as received last week.

If anyone else wants to use it, feel free. If anyone who knows the route wants to review it and let me know what I've gotten wrong, again...feel free, and thanks in advance!

Hey joeRinehart... one more edit.  I noticed you may have used the first map I created for AML.  In the .gpx created in 2012 the software I was using jumped up to Hwy 460 after the Mtn. Lake descent and missed the right turn onto Maybrook Road. 

Actually, the route should turn RIGHT onto Maybrook Road just before Hwy 460.  Eventually, it actually does intersect Hwy 460, but pedaling Maybrook Road keeps the rider off the much busier stretch of Hwy 460 just a little longer.

This correction would apply to Map 1 in your Correlation series...

I overlapped your route with the most current .gpx that I have and these were the only 2 discrepancies that I could find in your .gpx file.  I really like the way you've matched the .gpx tracks to the ACA maps... I eventually re-spliced the TD route last summer to match the maps and that worked well for me.

I have attached a photo of the necessary change to your track... the RED track (incorrect) should be deleted and the GREEN track (correct) should replace it.

Thanks,

Chris

[joeRinehart]

Thanks again, Chris - yep, I used the 2012 GPX files, simply combining them then re-splitting at the various matchlines. Anything they contained that doesn't match the current route will show up as a discrepency.

If I were to to the same with the 10,000 pt "out and back" version you posted, would it be both accurate and useful?

[bikpdlr]

Joe,

Sorry for the late reply...

I do think that would be helpful, and I'd be happy to add it to the Facebook Group page for others to download.

I will look over the route with a fine tooth comb, to make sure it is spot on before releasing it to anyone just to make sure everyone is on the same "page" map-wise.

I appreciate your time and effort.  In fact, I'm helping with a project to upgrade the TABR route to include all legal alternates and considering the same format... going from matchline to matchline. 

If 10,000 points is enough to clearly define the route, I am also trying to splice the route and label the tracks by state name.  Cross a state line, switch to new track... and take a picture.

Thanks,

Chris

[bikpdlr]

Good Luck to Payton MacDonald who began his ITT on the AML route earlier this afternoon (Thursday).  We're looking forward to his post race report... follow him @ www.trackleaders.com/allegheny14

[mtbcast]

AML14: ITT Payton MacDonald called in from the Greenbrier River Trail! He’s glad to be off the pavement!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/calls/

[bikpdlr]

Matthew Lee forwarded this message to us from Payton's wife (late Friday night)...

Hi Matthew,

I just spoke with Payton who called collect from Glady. His SPOT apparently stopped working around 1:30 this afternoon (Friday). He's in good shape and will keep pedaling after a few hours rest, but he wanted me to let you know what was up.

He also wanted the message to get to Chris or Christopher somebody, but I couldn't understand the name or email via the bad connection. Can you pass the message, please?

Thanks!
Jessica (Payton's wife)

[mtbcast]

AML14: Payton MacDonald called in called in from North of Glady. His Spot isn’t working but he plans to do a big 150mi push!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/calls/