Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Trail Work - February 4, 2012

Great progress made at Dogwood Dell last week, but there's still a lot to do. We're happy that we had a great turnout last weekend, but we need to keep up the effort for the next couple of weeks. So what needs to be done? Lots of roots and sticks to be removed from the trail bed. Berms and grade reversal need to be fine tuned. The trail corridor needs to be cleaned up and narrowed. And the hiking trail needs to be finished. If you can come out all day, that's awesome. If you can only spare an hour, every little bit helps. We have tasks for people of all abilities from first timers to experienced trail workers. So come on out, lend a hand and help us get the trails closer to opening.

What: Dogwood Dell Trail Work

When: 9am Saturday, February 4, 2012

Where: Pumphouse Drive - across from the entrance to Pumphouse Park

Bring: Water, Snack, Gloves


Super Bowl Sunday Ride

Sunday, February 5th is Super Bowl Sunday and that means it's time for the SVBC Annual Super Bowl Sunday Ride. Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition has been hosting a ride to the top of Flagpole Knob on Superbowl Sunday for as long as anyone can remember. This year's ride will take place on Sunday, February 5th, 2012. Starting at Briery Branch Community Center, the ride climbs paved and gravel roads up to the top of Flagpole Knob. A group photo is taken, then riders are free to choose one of multiple singletrack descents off of the mountain.

For more information, contact Thomas: tj@shenandoahbicycle.com

To hitch a ride with some Richmonders heading up, check out the thread on CCVA: SuperBowl ride, 2012

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Good news from New Belgium

Good news from the New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins Colorado!

That’s right any news from New Belgium is usually good news. Our friends in PA at Dirt Rag already have this story covered so take a look.

So what’s so exciting about a Pale Lager in a can? Well friend, cans make a great container to assist in transporting your libations into the woods. Maybe you’d like a beer at the summit of your ride to celebrate having just spent the last two hours climbing in your granny ring up the side of that mountain or maybe you will decide to take your sweetheart on a nice hike that involves a picnic and beer at a romantic scenic view or maybe you just want to chug a 6 or 4 pack before you race your friends down the trail in some kind of drunken dirt crit. The choices are endless.

Speaking of New Belgium, don’t forget that Richmond will host the New Belgium Urban Assault Ride on March 25th 2012 so if you haven’t already be sure to mark your calendars. It’s going to be a blast. If you have some time to spare RaMORE is still looking for a few volunteers to help us with the event. (Please use this link to register to volunteer.

And last but certainly not least now that you are thinking about beer, bikes and the mountains please join us and many of our friends on Super Bowl Sunday for the longest running annual mountain bike ride in the state. The Super Bowl Sunday Ride. Like a fine wine it’s approaching 30 years of age and just keeps on getting better. You can take a peak here to see all of the hard work that the folks of the S.V.B.C. have been doing recently to get the S.B.S. trails in primo condition for this ride. If you make it out to Briery Branch on Super Sunday please be sure to thank those guys and offer up a beer.

Have a great weekend

Friday, January 27, 2012

Trail Work - January 28, 2012

The Dogwood Dell trails have been cut, now we need to get out there and turn them into some sweet singletrack.

The Sweco came through this week and took care of all of the back breaking bench cutting for us. Now for the fun part...

This week will be at Dogwood Dell fine turning the trails. We'll be cutting back slopes, tweaking the trail bed, closing off old trails, cutting the hiking trail and maybe even building some bridges.

We'd love to have lots of people come out the next several weekends for two big reasons. 1) We want the trails open so we can go ride and hike them and 2) we have a big project in the works on Belle Island, so we need to get Dogwood Dell finished up as soon as we can.

What: Dogwood Dell Trails

When: 9am Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Where: Park along Pumphouse Drive. We'll be meeting across the street from the entrance to Pumphouse Park.

Bring: Gloves, Water, Snack, Sturdy Shoes

Great things happening in 2012 already!

Andy Thompson of the Richmond Times Dispatch has it covered.

Bicyclists are riding high as area projects gain momentum

We hope that you can make it out for a few hours of Dogwood Dell trail work tomorrow morning.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Going on the books? Keep track?

Thanks to our friend and a great bicycle advocate in Harrisonburg Kyle Lawrence for giving us the heads up on these laws. We urge you to give them a look.

Here is a collection of bills in the current Virginia General Assembly that could impact bicycling in the state. You can learn more about each bill and track them!

VA Bicycling Federation’s Portfolio