Alternate start to Alleghaney Mts Loop route

[Reinhart Bigl]

Hi all, I am planning to do the Alleghaney Mts Loop route in October...
Coming from Canada, I am assuming that starting/ending from Glady, WV would be more logical as I'll be driving in from the north...driving down to Blacksburg just to ride a couple of hundred KM's north and south again seems a waste of time.
Can anyone here advise on any disadvantages to this alternative start/end?
Also, according to the weather stats, it's certainly colder in Oct than in Sept in VA/WV (and it appears that Oct has the lowest average rainfall for the average year)...that said, has anyone here rode this route during October...and if so, can you share your experience? 

Thanks folks!

Reinhart Bigl
Innisifil, ON

[CMajernik]

Glady, WV is a tiny community of several homes and 2 churches. There are no other services. Have you thought about where you would leave your vehicle? There is a parking area at the West Fork trailhead but I have no idea if it's OK to leave your car for a number of days. I suggest contacting Pocahontas County to ask about it.
https://pocahontascountywv.com/biking_hiking_trails.aspx#2

If you look at Glady in google maps I see there are 2 churches. One idea would be to contact them to ask if you could leave your car in either parking lot.

In the map's Riding Conditions there is one place that's mentioned but it is in Pembroke on map 1, which is on the south end of the route. "If you drive to the area, you can leave your vehicle at Tangent Outfitters, 201 Cascade Dr. in Pembroke, 540-626-4567, www.newrivertrail.com. Call in advance for this. They offer shuttles and other excursions."

Sincerely,

[Reinhart Bigl]

Thanks Carla...ya, parking was the first thing I thought of too when thinking of starting from Glady.  Seems very small...but I think I will do some calling to see if it's possible to leave my car in one of the church parking lots (perhaps an offer of a small donation to the parish might help...). 
As mentioned, coming from the north, it makes no sense to drive 2-300 km's south, only to ride back that way.  If I can make this happen, I'll report back to this forum on how it went...

Looking forward to receiving my AML maps from ACA!!

Reinhart Bigl
Innisfil, ON