Sunday, October 6, 2019
Start: Belmont, Ohio
End: Wheeling, West Virginia
Mileage today/cumulative: 29 / 582
Elevation Ascended today/cumulative: 1,319′ / 13,186′
Weather: Cloudy, 60° at start; Cloudy, 68º at finish; Winds: mostly favorable
Flat tires (entire group) day/cumulative: 1 / 2
Day 11 was a short one due to logistics. We began the day 94 miles from Pittsburgh, which was just a tad too far to ride with shrinking daylight hours and more climbing. So, our itinerary took us to Wheeling, West Virginia, the most logical stop for hotel accommodations.
Most of the ride was the stuff of cyclists’ dreams. Newly paved roadway, some fast non-technical descents, very little automobile traffic, and nice tailwinds. That changed when we reached Bellaire, Ohio and Wheeling, two cities on opposite sides of the Ohio River that are the picture of economic decline. The highlight of the ride was crossing the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. Completed in 1849, it spans the main channel of the Ohio River and was the first bridge to span a major river west of the Appalachian mountains. In 1956, the road and sidewalk were reconstructed with an open steel grating that reduces wind resistance but will also give you vertigo when you look straight down to the river! When we arrived in Wheeling, the bridge was closed to automobiles, so we had it all to ourselves, taking photos and watching barge traffic on the river.
Not much else to add about Day 11. We’re in Wheeling…. West Virginia.
Tomorrow we head to Pittsburgh!
I sure am enjoying following along with you.
Congrats on being almost half-way to NYC!
Enjoyed the photos of the Wheeling Suspension Bridge. There’s a steel grated draw bridge in Delray Beach FL. Treacherous to cross on bicycle when it is wet. I could see the Wheeling bridge might also be a problem.