ROUTES
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In 2015 we will head to the far southwest region and base our event in Abingdon, Virginia and Kingsport, Tennessee for our 6-day event. If you’re looking for a fun adventure by bicycle, mark your calendar now for June 26–July 1, 2015. We’ll host you for 6 days of exploration, relaxation, and camaraderie.
Draft routes are posted now. Read more below. Look for lots of options and riding to suit any level of rider.
New for 2015, our Double Vision format gives you more riding options and NO ONE-WAY routes! Be sure to read about all the exciting changes that come with the Double Vision format.
Our riders loved the 6 day format. We kick off the next annual event on Friday, June 26, 2015 . We wrap up on Wednesday, July 1, 2015. 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.
New for 2015, our Double Vision format gives you more riding options and NO ONE-WAY routes! Be sure to read about all the exciting changes that come with the Double Vision format.
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.
Our main route (the Pink Route) is between 45-65 miles each day average. Every day we will have different route options, varying from 20 miles up to 100 miles! Choose based on your preferences for distance, the sights, terrain, and points of interest.
[highlight text_color=”” background_color=””]NEW[/highlight] The overall rating for the 2015 tour is 7+ on a scale of 1–10, where 1 is the least difficult and 10 is the most difficult. The overall rating for the 2014 tour was a 5.
Each route option for the day has 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 was 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. The 2013 ride in the Lexington to Botetourt corridor was rated a 7 with some routes 9+ in difficulty.
Register early to save your place on the tour! Our rider cap for 2015 is 1,600 people.
Headquarters 1: SW VA 4H Education Center
Headquarters 2: Allandale Mansion
Route Descriptions
Welcome to the 2015 Bike Virginia Tour! We will start our tour with a short ride through the countryside to stretch out the legs and warm up the heart for what is sure to be one of the best Bike VA’s yet. After a brief jaunt through Washington County Virginia you will ride through the town of Abingdon. Abingdon is a great mountain town that loves the outdoors and welcomes people to enjoy its amenities. Abingdon is perhaps best known to cyclists for its connection to the Virginia Creeper Trail. One of the gems of Virginia, this trail is an old railroad that has been converted to a recreational trail. If you’re curious about riding on the trail just wait until Saturday when you will have the option to explore the trail and take in its splendor.
PINK
Saturday begins by getting you into the countryside and exploring the wonders of Washington County. We will ride through small communities such as Damascus, VA. Did you know that Damascus has 7 bike shops but only a population of 815? It’s true! The town is a hub for a lot, and when we say a lot we mean a lot of trails! The Virginia Creeper is just one of the trails that cross this little town. The Appalachian Trail, the Trans-America National Bicycle Trail, the Iron Mountain Trail, the Daniel Boone Heritage Trail, the Crooked Road Musical Heritage Trail, and Virginia’s Birding and Wildlife Trail all come together here!
You will have a great option for exploring the “Creeper” trail while you’re at the rest stop in Damascus. Book your shuttle here from the list of friendly shuttle companies (under Planning) all the way to the top of White Top Mountain and enjoy a 17 mile downhill (rail trail) all the way back to Damascus!
You will want to pre-arrange your shuttle ahead of time so they can grab you in Damascus. If you do add the 17-mile downhill via shuttling to the top, keep in mind that there are a lot of route choices to be had in Damascus. Even though the route is a downhill you will need to calculate that mileage into your day of riding.
Once you leave the rest stop in Damascus you can choose to stay on the pink route and head back to HQ. Or you can jump on the Blue Route Option to take you into the Shady Valley where you will enter the Back Bone Rock Recreation Area. This is an out and back route. Once you get back to Damascus you can then head back to HQ (Pink) or push on and grab the Orange Route Option (this combined with the Pink and Blue routes will get you a century) to explore and climb the wonderful mountains of the area. The most climbing for the day is in the Orange Route Option. The choice is yours. We will also have the road option on all routes.
As you make your way back to camp you will travel through beautiful rural countryside and pass through historic Meadowview, VA. Meadowview is a charming little town with lots of character. Be sure to check out the Harvest Table Restaurant, known for its local cuisine.
PINK > RED
PINK
PINK > BLUE
PINK > ORANGE
PINK > BLUE > ORANGE
Hope you like to explore! As you set out on Sunday you will meander through the Counties of Washington and Smyth Virginia. The first small town you will come to is Saltville, VA, and yes they are known for, well you guessed it, SALT! Take in the history of this quaint town as you ride and see things you can only see on a bike. From Saltville you can either begin making your way back to camp or continue your journey deeper into the wilderness along the Bluegrass Rd where you will make your way to Hungry Mother State Park. Enjoy this beautiful park; you earned it (notice that large bump in the elevation profile before you get to the park)! “Legend has it that when the Native Americans destroyed several settlements on the New River south of the park, Molly Marley and her small child were among the survivors taken to the raiders’ base north of the park. They eventually escaped, wandering through the wilderness eating berries. Molly finally collapsed, and her child wandered down a creek until the child found help. The only words the child could utter were “Hungry Mother.” The search party arrived at the foot of the mountain where Molly collapsed to find the child’s mother dead. Today that mountain is Molly’s Knob, and the stream is Hungry Mother Creek.”- Source DCR Whichever route you choose you will not be disappointed and you’re sure to make memories to share with all of your friends and family.
PINK > RED
PINK
PINK > ORANGE
Kingsport, hmm, isn’t that in Tennessee? I thought this was Bike VA? Yes to both! We love to visit our neighboring states from time to time and what a great town Kingsport is. How do we get there? Don’t worry; we will make sure you have directions, as you will be driving your own car to Kingsport and starting from that location. Once you get here you will set out and explore areas of both Virginia and Tennessee that will make you want to keep riding. The area is beautiful and very, well, country. Step back in time as you travel backcountry roads and explore the region. In fact, once you leave Kingsport you won’t pass through any towns, all countryside! You’ll get to unwind and simply enjoy the beautiful natural setting. This is the perfect way to settle into your new environment.
PINK > RED
PINK
PINK > ORANGE
Ok, this is going to be great! There are three options to choose from, and whichever option you choose, long or short or in between, you are going to see a lot. As you leave the comfy Allandale Mansion and head out on the route you will soon cross the mighty Holston River. Get used to this name as we will see it and ride along it quite a few times. You will enjoy rest stops at the river where you can relax and enjoy the sights. If you are up for the challenge and want to take in some great Tennessee history then make sure you ride the long route (Orange Route). This route will take you to Davey Crockett’s birthplace! At 106 miles you will feel like Davey Crockett as you traverse this wonderful countryside.
PINK > RED
PINK
PINK > BLUE
PINK > ORANGE
This is a perfect ending to a perfect week. On Wednesday you will have the choice of two routes, short and long. The short route will get you into the countryside one last time and have you back at camp in time to get on the road if you are in a hurry to leave. Or if you want a few more miles before you get back in the car then make sure you stay on the main route. We will explore the rural countryside and make our way near the Holston River one last time. Either route will be sure to please with friendly rest stops and great people. You will be making plans for next year as you pedal through this beautiful area of Tennessee.
NOTE: There is a 6 mile bonus route available on the PINK Route. Info will be available in your Tour Guide.
PINK > RED
PINK
PINK > ORANGE
Route Maps
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