As a mere noobie, I offer my opinion to the esteemed group with humility and humbleness. :winksmiley:
Accepting Skyline as just a relaxing scenic ride, not a white-knuckle burn up, makes it okay for riding. Not great for riding, just okay. It's usually pretty clear of traffic in the morning, with the afternoon having the bulk of sightseers. Deer are always around, but they're out in larger numbers in the early morning (an hour or two after dawn) and late afternoon (an hour or two before sunset). The Rangers--well, it's a crap shoot. Cruising at 40 MPH doesn't seem to provoke them.
For a sub-150 mile day, I'd like to propose a 9:00 departure from the Sheetz at Haymarket, with a second rally point at the Dickey Ridge Visitor Center on Skyline Drive around 10:00 for those who come from points west and north. We could ride Skyline to 211, then 211 toward Luray and perhaps have lunch at the Brookside or somewhere in Luray. Or stay on Skyline to Big Meadows or Skyland and have lunch at either of those spots.
Ride back toward Fairfax on 211 to 522, then some backroad work to The Plains, where folks can decide how they want to head home.
My two cents.
(kidding) Actually, it took me a few seconds when I first saw your name, but I figured it out.
