NRVBA :: New River Valley Bicycle Association http://nrvbike.com building community through bicycling Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:55:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 Huckleberry Trail Update http://nrvbike.com/huckleberry-trail-update/ http://nrvbike.com/huckleberry-trail-update/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 23:19:28 +0000 admin http://nrvbike.com/?p=590 Friends of the Huckleberry Trail are hosting a brief informational session at 2 pm on Sunday, August 1st at Mill Mountain.  Bill Ellenbogen and Lance Matheson, two long time trail promoters, will be present to provide the latest information about trail expansions, time frames and funding needs.  The meeting will be informal and is open to the public.

 Please share this email with individuals or groups that might have a strong interest in working together on the Huckleberry Trail expansion.

]]> http://nrvbike.com/huckleberry-trail-update/feed/ 0 Six Hours of Dirty Dawg http://nrvbike.com/six-hours-of-dirty-dawg/ http://nrvbike.com/six-hours-of-dirty-dawg/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:04:26 +0000 admin http://nrvbike.com/?p=581 We mountain bikers finally decided to make the Dirty Dawg mountain bike race even more unique. Mountain Lake already offers so much in trail diversity so why not spend six hours riding those trails. So, The Six Hours of Dirty Dawg was born. 

The course is short but will provide riders with 4.5 miles of dreamy, single-track riding.  Most of the trails are lined with waist high ferns and twist in and out of house sized boulders.  There will be tear-jerking descents – and maybe tear-jerking climbs followed by rewarding views toward North Carolina and West Virginia.

Dirty Dawg will certainly be a race to remember.  Come out as a solo rider or as a duo team.  After the race join us for dinner and camping in the cool summer air above 4000 feet.

The race is scheduled for July 24, 2010, from 1 pm to 7 pm. Check out the Six Hours of Dirty Dawg race blog for more info on all the course, registration and camping options.  Please register online prior to the race.

]]> http://nrvbike.com/six-hours-of-dirty-dawg/feed/ 0 Burke’s Garden Century – UPDATED http://nrvbike.com/burkes-garden-century/ http://nrvbike.com/burkes-garden-century/#comments Fri, 16 Jul 2010 23:33:12 +0000 admin http://nrvbike.com/?p=565

CENTURY and “METRIC CENTURY”

August 21, 2010

This century has become a tradition for the New River Valley Bicycle Association since 1997 when a long time member initiated this ride for a casual outing to avoid campus traffic on ‘MOVE IN’ day for Virginia Tech. This ride has rapidly gained popularity as a fast, easy century for anyone who loves to ride bicycles. Many novice cyclists enjoy this century as their first, while advanced riders test their ability to ride 100 miles at a fast pace.

THE SUPPORT (OR LACK THEREOF)

In keeping with tradition, the NRVBA likes to run this ride as simply as possible.  There will be a few SAG wagons on the course to take care of disabled riders, but we need you to come prepared to ride WITHOUT SUPPORT. Our SAGs will be equipped to deal with minor mechanical problems and pick up riders in “dire need”.

The SAG vehicles will be on the course for emergency situations and mechanical problems.  Please do not depend on them to supply you with food or fluids for this ride!  Stores that sell food and drinks are spaced approximately 20 miles apart along the course.  Please patronize these establishments and be courteous to the owners and their customers.

REGISTRATION AND FEES

The entry fee is $8 online and $10 on the morning of the ride.  Registration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Online registration closes Thursday, August 19 at 10pm.  You can register for either ride here. 

On Saturday, August 21st, all riders must check in prior to the ride to receive a number and sign a ride waiver/release form. Century riders should check in at the Narrows Community Center between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. Metric Century riders should check in at the elementary school in Rocky Gap between 8:45 and 9:15 AM.

Please see our brochure for directions and further details.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Download a copy of the brochure here.  Please contact Dale & Beth Kipp at: (540) 320-1632 or beth@matweb.com

]]> http://nrvbike.com/burkes-garden-century/feed/ 0 Opportunities for Shoulder Improvements http://nrvbike.com/opportunities-for-shoulder-improvements/ http://nrvbike.com/opportunities-for-shoulder-improvements/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:56:47 +0000 admin http://nrvbike.com/?p=508 The NRVBA has been talking with the New River Valley Planning District Commission (NRVPDC), Montgomery County, and VDOT representatives about short-term options for improving cycling conditions on our favorite recreational routes in the area.  VDOT has suggested that road maintenance funding may be used to repair and improve shoulders, if and where sufficient graveled foundation or sub-base exists along a VDOT right-of-way and the pavement can be extended laterally by some distance to create additional space on the road for cyclists.

We need your help in creating an inventory of road segments that could be improved with some minimal shoulder work and paving.  So, what specifically do I need from you?  Send me the following information in an email:

  • Road name.
  • Segment, e.g., between ‘blank’ and ‘blank’.  If the segment doesn’t run between the intersection with one road and another road, try to provide landmarks or the distance from an intersecting road.
  • Approximate distance of the segment.
  • Pictures.  If you have a smart phone with camera, snap a picture and include it with your email.  If you have time to drive out to the site and snap a picture with a camera, do so.
  • For the Google Earth-savvy, send me a kmz file with your road segments mapped and annotated.
  • Comments.  Provide any relevant information that can help us prioritize the segment, e.g., road hazards, safety issues, connectivity problems to other safe riding locations, and so forth.

Please respond by June 10, 2010.  If you have any questions, contact Beth Lohman.

]]> http://nrvbike.com/opportunities-for-shoulder-improvements/feed/ 0 Bike the US for MS – Arrives in Blacksburg http://nrvbike.com/bike-the-us-for-ms-%e2%80%93-arrives-in-blacksburg/ http://nrvbike.com/bike-the-us-for-ms-%e2%80%93-arrives-in-blacksburg/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:56:09 +0000 admin http://nrvbike.com/?p=506 Bike the US for MS, a group based here in Blacksburg, organizes an annual cross-county bike rides to benefit Multiple Sclerosis causes.  This year, the organization is riding the Trans America route and will be coming through Blacksburg on Sunday, June 6th.  The organization would love for local cyclists to join the group on the ride into town.  There are 30 cyclists in the cross-country group, and they would like to have 50+ riders coming into town on Harding Avenue.

The cross-country group is camping in Troutville the night of June 5th and will be departing for Blacksburg around 8:00 am.  There is a planned refreshment stop near the Catawba Country Store around 10:00 am.   Riders and supporters are welcome to come out and join us for the whole ride or anywhere else in between Troutville and Blacksburg.  Riders can register online at here, or just email us and let us know they want to participate.  For more information, contact: Mason Cavell by email or by phone (206)498-7954.

]]> http://nrvbike.com/bike-the-us-for-ms-%e2%80%93-arrives-in-blacksburg/feed/ 0 Town Begins Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvements at Turner and Webb Streets http://nrvbike.com/town-begins-pedestrianbicycle-improvements-at-turner-and-webb-streets/ http://nrvbike.com/town-begins-pedestrianbicycle-improvements-at-turner-and-webb-streets/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:47:27 +0000 admin http://nrvbike.com/?p=502 The Town of Blacksburg Department of Public Works will begin roadway improvements at the intersections of Turner and Webb Streets and Price’s Fork beginning June 1st.  These improvements are proposed to increase bicycle and pedestrian safety at this heavily used midblock crosswalk.  Work will consist of roadway realignments designed to reduce vehicular speeds; however, with accommodations for larger truck traffic, wide sidewalks for bicycle and pedestrian shared use, directional curb ramps and bike ramps, minor drainage improvements, pavement marking and signage, and landscaping.

Turner Street from Perry Street to Price’s Fork Road will be closed for an approximate four week duration beginning June 1st.  Upon completion of improvements to Turner Street, work will begin on Webb Street.  Webb Street will be closed after the entrance to Shealor Apartments to Price’s Fork Road during the month of July.    Every effort is being made to complete this work as quickly as possible to reduce the inconvenience to the travelling public.  Once the road closure is in place, no through traffic will be allowed within the limits of construction.  Be advised of these road closures to make alternate commuting decisions for the duration of this construction project.  Budget time for possible delays which may occur to your alternate route.

For more information regarding this project, or to request special accommodations pursuant to the Americans with disabilities Act of 1990, please contact Mr. John Boyer at 540 449-8061 or Ms. Priscilla Cygielnik at 540 961-1145.

View Larger Map

]]> http://nrvbike.com/town-begins-pedestrianbicycle-improvements-at-turner-and-webb-streets/feed/ 0 Check Out Our New Website! http://nrvbike.com/check-out-our-new-website/ http://nrvbike.com/check-out-our-new-website/#comments Tue, 18 May 2010 10:04:59 +0000 admin http://nrvbike.com/?p=207 We’ve been working on our website, so that we can provide our members and the community great resources to get more people out and biking. We invite you to check it out and let us know what’s missing or what you love!

]]> http://nrvbike.com/check-out-our-new-website/feed/ 0 2010 Radford Ride for Silence http://nrvbike.com/2010-radford-ride-for-silence/ http://nrvbike.com/2010-radford-ride-for-silence/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 07:07:02 +0000 admin http://nrvbike.com/?p=134 Ride of Silence

Click on the image above to view more photos.

The annual International Ride of Silence was observed locally in Radford on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. Hosted by Pathways for Radford and the NRVBA, eighty-nine (89) riders and several supportive bystanders participated in the local ride. Uniformed and plain-clothed officers came out on bicycles to ride with the participants and show support. Several police vehicles and one ambulance escorted the long procession of riders; lights on, silently announcing our presence. We were a highly visible sign that the cycling community is strong, vibrant and willing to take its rightful spot on public roadways.

To those who spread the word and especially to the 89 cyclists who showed up to honor the lives of Bonnie Tinker, Bruce Rosar, Joe Mirenda, Rueben Williams and Adam Little, THANK YOU!

Thanks also to:

  • Ellen Taylor for printing up the safe riding tips that were distributed to all participants,
  • Pathways and the NRVBA for financing the 25 signs posted along the route, and
  • David and Leslie for helping collect signs after he ride.

Special thanks to fellow members of the members of the Ride of Silence Committee: Laurie Buchwald, Carol Colby, and Frank Taylor.

-Submitted by Katrina Cometa

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