PREVIEW
[custom_font size=”48px;” font=”Open Sans” line_height=””]EXPLORE, RELAX, ESCAPE[/custom_font]
The Virginia Highlands and neighboring Tennessee will play host to the 28th annual Bike Virginia Tour June 26–July 1, 2015.
With a rich musical and cultural history, and breathtaking scenery, the 2015 tour offers a great chance to explore, relax, and escape the mundane.
Our host communities will be Abingdon and Kingsport. Riding will visit the surrounding counties, and hit the region’s best cycling roads and historic sites.
The Bike Virginia Tour is so much more than a bike ride. We offer great opportunities to explore history, relax to live music, swim, meet new people, and enjoy time away from the hustle and bustle. It’s a great way to reconnect with the people you love and new friends you’ll make. Look for information here soon on the after riding activities the 2015 tour will feature. In the meantime check out some things to do in Abingdon and Kingsport
Watch for additional information to be added here as planning is finalized. More specific details about accommodations, routes, food, registration, and ride policies can be accessed from the Tour landing page.
Registration is open now!
[custom_font size=”48px;” font=”Open Sans” line_height=””]TURN BACK THE CLOCK[/custom_font]
[highlight text_color=”” background_color=””]NEW[/highlight] In 2008, the sold-out Bike Virginia Tour visited the region, with over 2,000 cyclists and volunteers in attendance. Below are but a few memorable excerpts taken from our post-ride survey. You can also read more in this blog post titled “Abingdon and Kingsport: A Sell Out Favorite for Bike Virginia.”
[custom_font size=”48px;” font=”Open Sans” line_height=””]REDISCOVER THE PAST[/custom_font]
[highlight text_color=”” background_color=””]NEW[/highlight] “For the last three days of this year’s tour we will be based at the Allandale Mansion grounds. Allandale Mansion is located on the western side of Kingsport and is very close to several historic locations. During your visit you may choose to visit Long Island, the Netherland Inn, Rotherwood Mansion, or the site of the Civil War battle of Kingsport. All of these sites are within 2.5 miles of our campground and are easily accessible from Allandale.”
Relive the past 300 years and whet your appetite for what’s to come in this blog post titled “History around the Allandale Mansion in Kingsport Tennessee“.
[custom_font size=”48px;” font=”Open Sans” line_height=””]EVENT HIGHLIGHTS[/custom_font]
[highlight text_color=”” background_color=””]NEW[/highlight] Riders arrive on Friday and kick off their vacation with a 16 mile prologue ride that afternoon. It’s the perfect way to shake off the work week! Later in the evening enjoy relaxing music, mingle with other participants, and settle in your camp.
Saturday offers beautiful rural bike riding on routes surrounding the Abingdon area. Enjoy a leisurely day or challenge yourself, the choice is yours on our loops with distances from 19 to 103. You’ll also have a chance to ride on one of the most popular Rail Trails in the East, the Virginia Creeper Trail. After your ride take our outing bus to historic Abingdon, or relax around camp with a beer and some music. On Saturday evening you will also have a chance to meet special guest, pro bike racer, George Hincapie.
Sunday’s riding gets you out on another great set of rural roads for some truly relaxing and beautiful riding. Go long or short (16 to 85 miles), regardless of which one you pick you’ll be riding in one of Virginia’s prettiest places. If you’re a racing enthusiast you might enjoy riding with George Hincapie as he hits the road with our event on Sunday morning.
Monday all of us move our cars to Kingsport where we settle into our new camp and then enjoy a full day of bike adventure on routes from 10-63 miles. You’ll love this headquarters location at the Allandale Mansion grounds. Monday night kick back to some local music, or take a free shuttle to town, or run about in your car to explore.
Tuesday is the perfect day to test your mettle on our long 106 mile Century will take you to Davey Crockett’s Birthplace. Or if you’re prefer to have a mid-milege day choose our 27 miler or 52 mile option. Enjoy a relaxing evening around camp with fellow riders as we celebrate our last night of the event. Or if you like, strike out with friends to see something local.
Wednesday might just be the best day of the ride. Our new format let’s you “have it your way” on Wednesday. Take a nice ride on the 28 mile loop or finish with a bang on the 44 miler, whatever suits your mood or your schedule. With our new Double Vision format you don’t have to ride back to camp 1, we finish up right in Kingsport so you can have a more leisurely day that doesn’t involve gear trucks or rushed riding.
Read more in this blog post titled “2015 June Event Highlights“.