Virginia Mountain Bike Trail video

[John G]

Promising.

Must add to my list.

<iframe src="

http://player.vimeo.com/video/31883015?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

[ActionJackson]

More details on it -> http://www.bikebfat.com/virginia_mountainbike_route.htm

[ruthslp]

cool already existing trail connections for sure. but my hunch is the first few runs of this are for credit card touring.until the route becomes known, i haven't seen them freely advertise the route at all, and this trial was even advertised for a paid fee (which i thought was a little pricey??) if anyone other than close friends wanted to go along......sweet area, but the fee for tour not what i prefer to see developed for a state's premier distance traverse!!! unless they change the set up moving forward?

[tonymason]

Great looking trail though I agree with ruthslp. Disengenuous to compare it to the very public CT or AZT when you withhold the route info unless you pay to tour. It will not garner the support it needs to become a trans state trail without becoming public knowledge.
Tony

[jhl99]

From the clues available, here is a guess at the route:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=http:%2F%2Fhome.windstream.net%2FJHLange%2F2011_VA_MTB_RTE_GUESS.kml&hl=en&ll=37.692514,-79.233398&spn=4.615485,9.019775&sll=40.06014,-79.278288&sspn=0.034883,0.070467&vpsrc=6&t=p&z=7

I'm pretty sure I have some connectors wrong.  Definitely long stretches of ridge riding.  There is also probably good reasons they were vehicle supported.

Guessing at a route using maps is definitely not the same as having first hand knowledge. 

Personally, I like that the route creators haven't formally posted the route.  They invested the effort, it theirs to distribute as they see fit.  For me, the puzzle of the trail of breadcrumbs is more intriguing, than having the route published.

[mbeardsl]

The "infamous" AZT and CT... guys needs a dictionary.

[orion_134]

I'd be all about this ride, but not to tour it at someone else's pace and pay money for amenities I'd rather not use.  I'd rather bikepack it using my own gear and resupplies.  $20 for a .gpx sounds fair...

[stevage]

Cool stuff - would love to see more background on how they came up with the route, the issues they went through etc, for people considering doing something similar in their own backyards. I don't really understand the secretive, sometimes cryptic attitude - surely it's in everyone's interests to publicise the route, and build momentum for some government funding, etc. But who knows - perhaps we all have the wrong end of the stick

[bikpdlr]

For those interested in riding these parts next Fall, there are plans to ride Adventure Cycling's "Allegheny Mountains Loop" next Fall (Second Friday of October) during peak leaf season.  Hopefully, there will be enough interest to make this a recurring ride each year.

The ride begins and ends on the Virginia Tech campus at the War Memorial Chapel.  This ride is a loop, so that is a plus with regards to logistics.

With a grand total of more than 400 miles and 25,000 feet of climbing it is sure to be a great bikepacking adventure.  The route has little or no singletrack and is made up mostly of gravel forest roads and rail trails with some pavement mixed in here and there.

Trail maps and cues are available at Adventurecycling.org and a .gpx file is available here on the forum.

More details available as the ride approaches and I look forward to pedalling this route with my fellow bikepackers next fall. 

Of course, there is NO fee for this great adventure.



Thanks,

Chris Tompkins
Danville, VA

[ruthslp]

jhl
you are sooo cool with those maps!!
i'm with you, just ride your own routes