Bicycle Activities

In any season, we have a whole series of rides, events and programs to keep you on your bike year-round. Check out more details below.

Ride Activities

    NRVBA supported ride

  • Weekly ride options – NRVBA members lead both road and mountain bike rides in the area.
  • Time trial series – NRVBA leads a road time-trial series, which consists of four or five different time trials held throughout the spring and summer. Points are earned for participation and placement, and prizes are awarded to the finishers with the best times.
  • Wilderness Road Ride  – A scenic and historical adventure through southwest Virginia’s beautiful New River Valley, the ride follows part of Daniel Boone’s Wilderness Road.  In 2010, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes began operating the ride.
  • Mountains of Misery  – There are 2 route options: The Challenge Century is 104 miles, with 10,000′ of climbing. The Double Metric Century is 200 kilometers or 125 miles, with over 13,000′ of climbing.
  • Burke’s Garden Century – The flatest and fastest century around. The ride is an out and back ride, starting and finishing in Narrows, that includes a spin around the beautiful Burke’s Garden.

Winter Activities

  • Winter Spin Classes – During the winter between December and mid-March, NRVBA offers free 1 ½ -hour spin classes every Sunday at the Blacksburg Health & Fitness at The Weight Club.   
  • The NRVBA Goes to the Movies – Every January, the NRVBA screens a bicycle-related film at the historic Lyric Theatre . Admission is free for members, and the general public is charged a nominal fee. In 2010, we hosted a celebration after the movie, at Gillies, to give everyone an opportunity to meet NRVBA officers and to celebrate our accomplishments from the previous year. We hope to make the post movie celebration an annual event, too.

Events & Trips

  • Ride of Silence – The Ride of Silence, which is held in May during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for those who have been killed or injured. Since 2008, NRVBA has partnered with Pathways for Radford to host a local Ride of Silence in conjunction with the national event.
  • Vermont Trip – For the last few years, our Program Director Ed Hokanson, and his wife, Liz, have organized and led a cycling trip in Vermont. The trip includes lodging, meals, riding options, and other entertainment options. Each year Ed changes up the location and the routes to keep everything fresh and interesting.
  • Fix Fest & Bike Swap – For several years, NRVBA has hosted bi-annual bike swaps, where the community can to sell, buy or swap old or extra bikes and bike parts. In 2010, we partnered with Ride Solutions, Sustainable Blacksburg and the Town of Blacksburg to host the Inaugural Fix Fest. Local bike shops are on hand to perform basic safety checks, tighten up loose components and lube chains.

New Program This Year…

The NRVBA, in partnership with other organizations, has started hosting energizer stations around Blacksburg to recognize (and reward) those who walk, bike or take the bus to work or school. We have breakfast foods and beverages on hand along with information on commuting.   Come out and join us for the next one!

  • Bike Month – Clean Commute Day:  On May 21st, the NRVBA, in partnership with Town of Blacksburg, Blacksburg Transit, Ride Solutions and Sustainable Blacksburg, hosted ‘energizer stations’ at the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market and the Corporate Research Center.  People who commuted by walking, biking or taking the bus to work or school were invited to stop by the stations to enjoy breakfast foods and beverages from Bollo’s and Wiki Cafeteria. 
  • Sustainable Blacksburg:  On September 24th, as part of the Sustainability Week activities, the NRVBA, Ride Solutions and Sustainable Blacksburg will host another energizer station at the Blacksburg Farmer’s Market with breakfast foods and beverages provided by Bollo’s. If you walk, bike or bus to work or school that day, please stop by and join us!!!