Paris to Waterloo on the Splendid 688 (AKA Leeds Manor Road)!

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Sport

A friend wanted to go for a ride so I did a search online and came across this webpage. It was a good find. I found this route and another almost connecting to it so we decided to try it out. 2/3 of it is a nicely paved road and has good turns with elevation changes. If your not a seasoned rider, I suggest taking it slow if its your first time on this road, it incorporates turns with elevation changes. As long as there isn't a car in front of you, it is possible to maintain a decent pace and really lean into the turns. I did come across a patch of gravel in the middle of the road by FEMA so be careful. You'll know that you are by FEMA when you come across a tall fence that just appears out of nowhere.

The section between 211 and 66 is nicely paved and comfortable. There are no real stops but the scenery is serene. The section between 66 and 17 offers better views but the road is not paved and is rather bumpy. There is also a lot of traffic on this section of the road so in kind of inhibits a good pace and the bumpiness of the road along with pot holes keeps you a bit hesitant when trying to lean into the turns.

Not a bad ride though.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Enduro

I absolutely LOVE this road. I don't live far from the southern end, so I tend to zip up and down this little gem frequently. I have yet to see a speck of gravel. Road condition, except for a bit near Markham (south of 55), is splendid. There's a little store in Orlean where you can stop for gas, lunch, or other refreshments. If you are in the area, I'd rank it a must-ride.

0 McR Points

Motorcycle Type : Other

Really enjoyed this ride, even without leaves on the trees (March 2011). The very northern section of 688 is narrow, unstriped, and has some rough sections, but still a nice ride. And it gets better. The journey offers pastures, woods, mansions, shacks, country churches, cemeteries, vineyards, an orchard, and two four-way stop villages, Hume and Orlean. Except for the twists and turns, cruising was about 45 mph. South of Hume the road widened slightly and was striped. Cruising was about 50 mph. But with so little traffic you can easily cruise slower to enjoy the sights. South of Orlean the road straightens a good bit and the stripping even allows passing in a few sections. Sixty mph is easy here. I enjoyed the ride enough to plan on riding it again this summer.