Bike Virginia Tour – 2014 Routes
Welcome to the Heart of Bike Virginia…The Routes! Riding is why we exist. Riding is what brings us all together.
Bike Virginia participant riding on Virginia’s beautiful rural roads.
For 2014 the tour will head back East. It’s been 7 years since we’ve gone East and we’re exploring some all new riding too! We want to show you (by bike) the beauty of the great state of Virginia. During the 2014 event we’ll offer 6 days of riding. Participants can sign up for a day or two, a long weekend, or all 6. We recommend that you read our general route information to learn about how the tour works.
Below you will find more information on the routes including interactive maps for each day. Please check back often as we will continue to update the routes with more information.
Bike Route Overview for 2014
Please note that routes are subject to change.FRIDAY (June 20th) will offer you a route that is a great way to unwind after traveling to the event. Departing from Headquarters at Pocahontas State Park we head south and meander near Lake Chesdin. The route is just shy of 30 miles and has about 1700’ of elevation gain.
Difficult rating = 3
Please click on the route sign(s) below for more detailed information on each day’s route options. Simple visual maps are also provided at the bottom of this page.
Pink 28 mi.
SATURDAY (June 21st) will offer you the chance to explore some of the rural back-roads of central Virginia as we head to historic Amelia Courthouse. We will have multiple ride options ranging from 21 – 104 miles with approximately 1000′ to 5000’ of elevation gain depending on the option you choose for the day.
Difficult rating: Red = 3, Pink = 6, Orange = 8
Please click on the route sign(s) below for more detailed information on each day’s route options.
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Red 21 mi.
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Pink 65 mi.
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Orange 104 mi.
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Rural Roads are wonderful!
Please note there are significant route changes for Sunday, June 22 — The course has been rerouted due to considerations identified by our preview team in April. We want to be sure that your experience is enjoyable, relaxing, and beautiful. Our previous routes took you through the heart of Richmond. If you still wish to go there, we suggest you drive over and bike around to key tourist spots or that you take one of the Trolley Tours.
SUNDAY (June 22nd) get ready for a beautiful day in the countryside. This adventure takes you west and north from Pocahontas through the farms and estates. There will be multiple ride options ranging from 26–89 miles with elevation gained ranges of 700′ – 3,300’.
Difficult rating: Red = 3, Pink = 6, Orange = 7
Please click on the route sign(s) below for more detailed information on each day’s route options. Note that routes are subject to change.
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Red 26 mi.
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Pink 58 mi.
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Orange 89 mi.
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MONDAY (June 23rd) is move day as we make our way to the next host community. On your ride you will enjoy historic cities such as Petersburg and Hopewell as you make your way across the James River. The route will be approximately 58 miles and just shy of a 2000’ elevation gain. Monday’s ride is one way from Chesterfield to Williamsburg.
Difficult rating: Pink = 6
Please click on the route sign(s) below for more detailed information on each day’s route options.
Pink 58 mi.
TUESDAY (June 24th) will give you a fun treat, crossing the James River via ferry! Enjoy the relatively flat terrain of the historic Smithfield area. Various route options will have you spinning between 35 – 100 miles with minimal elevation gains ranging from 700′ to 2500’. This is a great time to try a first time century (flat)!
Difficult rating: Blue/Green = 2, Red = 5, Pink = 7, Orange = 8
Please click on the route sign(s) below for more detailed information on each day’s route options.
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Green 13 mi.
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Red 41 mi.
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Pink 68 mi.
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Orange 100 mi.
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WEDNESDAY (June 25th) we will be heading back to where it all started, Pocahontas State Park. On your journey back you will travel along historic Route 5. This route will be approximately 55 miles with an elevation gain of 2200’ and is one way from Williamsburg to Chesterfield.
Difficult rating: Pink = 6
Please click on the route sign(s) below for more detailed information on each day’s route options.
Pink 55 mi.
If you would like to see an overview of all the routes please check out the route snapshot image to the left or scroll to the bottom of the page for daily snapshot images. Click to enlarge. Please remember that routes are subject to change.
2014 Route Snapshot
More Riding, Less Moving Than Other Tours!
In 2013 we offered 6 days of riding for the first time. Our riders loved it and so did we. Friday, June 20, 2014 will be kick-off day for our riding adventure in 2014. We wrap up on Wednesday, June 25, 2014. We offer 6 days of unique bike routes with only two camp locations. You’ll have more time to relax and enjoy leisurely evenings and mornings without having to pack up your camp. Some bike tours like Ride the Rockies, Cycle Oregon, Bike Florida, and GOBA move 5 or more times in a week. Our riders said they enjoyed more time at each camp, we listened and have built our event around this concept. Two host town locations and 6 days of route choices gives lots of great riding without the hassle of everyday moves.
Jamestown Settlement, Photo by Susan Constant
Route Time
The routes will be open starting at 7:00 am each day (except Friday which will be 12-noon) and will close at 5:00 pm. Getting on the route is up to you as we do not have a mass start; however, we do ask that you depart by 9:00 am to ensure you are back by the time routes close at 5:00 pm.
Route Lengths
Our main route (the Pink Route) is between 28-68 miles each day. Everyday (except move days) we will have different route options, varying from 21 miles up to 104 miles! Choose based on your preferences for distance, the sights, terrain, and points of interest. Please note that on move days, days that camp relocates, we will not have a short option as you will need to ride from our first host community, to the second (58 mi.). On the last day we will all ride back to the start (55 mi.).
Difficulty Ratings
The overall rating for the 2014 Tour is a 5 on a scale of 1-10. Each route option for the day will have a difficulty rating. After we finalize riding plans during our Preview Ride in late April, we will assign a difficulty rating to each day of the tour. Route difficulty is rated on a 1-10 scale and is determined by elevation gain (climbing), distance of route, and experience. Elevation for the 2014 tour has been determined using Ride with GPS software. We will be publishing individual route difficulty for each day as we near the event. Those ratings will be printed in your tour guide that you receive at registration check-in. 1 = Easy 10 = Most Difficult The 2013 ride in the Lexington to Botetourt corridor was rated a 7 with some routes 9+ in difficulty.
Register today to save your place on the tour!
Our rider cap for 2014 is 1,600 people.
Daily Route Snapshots
Click to enlarge, paste to Pinterest, Facebook or just admire them!
