2013 Giro d'Ville

2013 Giro d'Ville from Adventure Seen on Vimeo.

Lifestyle riders of the Commonwealth & beyond find an annual Bohemian Freebird celebration of mountain bicycle riding in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Harrisonburg shredders make the annual pilgrimage to "fight the foof".  Thanks to the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club for their efforts clearing trails & organizing the event. 

il Giro is a 4 day mountain bike stage race with 4-8 hour days in the saddle culminating in a timed section on Whetstone Ridge.  

Massanutten Hoo Ha Mountain Bike Race. June 8th & 9th...A 25 year tradition!

ALL SVBC MEMBERS RECEIVE A 25% DISCOUNT ON BIKE REG...COUPON "SVBC"




The "beer cave" on the "2k Trail". 2k is for the 2000 volunteer hours it took to
build this .9 mile trail (you will go down this trail this year)

Mountain bikes have changed over the past 25 years and along with them so has the Massanutten Hoo-Ha Mountain Bike Race.  The original Hoo-Ha in 1989 raced along fresh cut single track, a paved road (now mostly gravel road) and old logging roads. 25 year later the Hoo Ha course is on some of finest hand & machine built single track around.  The Hoo Ha weekend will also feature an Enduro event and a Super D race. You can either sign up for the entire Euduro Race or just the Super.  The Hoo Ha also offers a fun time for the little kids. There will be a kids race on the short track course as well as a drag race on the gravel road for little kids and scoot bikes!

Kids racing the short track at the Hoo-Ha!

 

Chris Scott racing the Super D in 2012..this year the Super D
will go down the 2K Trail.

 

 

Ride of Silence... honoring those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways

Ever since cyclist and vehicles have been sharing the road there have been accidents. There is time to advocate to safer roads and there is time just to remember those who have been hurt or killed. Yesterday was the seventh time Harrisonburg has participated in the international Ride of Silence. If you have never done this ride I would encourage you to do it next year.  It is friendly for every level of cyclist and any type of bike (there were trailers, single speeds, mountain bikes, trail-a-bikes, road bikes).  This ride of no talking is one of the loudest rides I have participated in!

Photo: Daily News Record...

"One ka-kaw means keep going. Two ka-kaws means turn around."

"You can die in the darkness, or you can live in the light. Also, where's the trail?"

This week's installment of the Friday Fatty ended in rainy jubilation. After climbing Tillman West under dark clouds, thunder clapped and things got wet. We played hide and seek with the Secret South trail descent. And decided to cut out early after mistaking a thickly accented "hell of a storm" for "hail storm" outside of Stokesville Market. Fun was had. Mud was slung. And we'll all dry out and clean our bikes sooner or later. 

Bike to School Day! ....2013

Bikes starting to line up this morning at Thomas Harrison Middle School

Early morning fog and chilly temperatures did not discourage the kids (or parents) from riding to school this morning during the National 2013 Bike to School Day. SBC was out this morning at Thomas Harrison Middle School (THMS) helping air tires, lube chains, adjust brakes and encouraging the kids to ride bikes. More and more folks in Harrisonburg are becoming interested in cycling, this was never more evident than today at THMS. As Harrisonburg plans for a new school we hope (and will push) for them to build a school that will encourage cycling and walking...this will keep the smiles coming!



Bike2School from Adventure Seen on Vimeo.

Trek Advocacy "We Believe in Action"

At Shenandoah Bicycle Company we are very proud to sell bikes from a company (Trek) that believes deeply in the power of Bicycles. Trek does phenomenal work advocating to get more people on Bicycles. Below is an interview with the owner of a bike shop located in Northern Virginia (The Bike Lane) who sets a great example for how bike shops can be active and involved with advocacy. At SBC we strive to live up to the same ideals and try to improve our community everyday and get more people on bikes.
 

Trek Retailer advocacy spotlight: Anne Mader of Bike Lane

05/01/2013

Trek Retailer advocacy spotlight

Anne Mader, owner of the Bike Lane (locations in Reston and Springfield, VA), recently met with newly-appointed department of Interior secretary, Sally Jewell, to discuss the future of America’s great outdoors. She convened with other stakeholders to explore public-private partnerships to better connect youth and families to the great outdoors.

Below is an interview with Trek’s Advocacy Manager, Brandon Buth:

Q: You just participated in a high-profile meeting with Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. What was the premise of the meeting?

A: The premise of the meeting was to celebrate national park week, discuss ways how we can get more kids and families outdoors, and help them create a long lasting connection with nature.

Q: Who all was in attendance?

A: The majority of attendees were from non-profits organizations. Tom Boyle from Gore-Tex and I were the only ones there from the bike industry.

Q: What were your main takeaways from the meeting with Secretary Jewell?

A: Creating meaningful partnerships between the parks, public, and private groups is of the utmost importance. If we want our beautiful parks to be around for our grandchildren, we all need to start working together to preserve and sustain them.

This point especially resonated with Sally Jewell, being the former CEO of REI who has always put a premium on stewardship. She really understands the business part of it as well which is refreshing.

Q: From your experience, what can other bike retailers do to get involved with these types of events, or advocacy in general?

A: The businesses who are interested in getting involved will benefit. Advocacy takes time, money, and the results don’t happen overnight which can be frustrating for some.
Find a way to say yes to your local groups, they really are the ones getting more people out riding in your community.

If you look at advocacy in the big picture as opposed to ‘what’s this going to get me today?’, great things will happen.

Jasper in New Mexico!

One of our favorite mustache-wearing #lifestylerider, Jasper, went on a big long mountain bike tour in New Mexico this month.  He took Mike Hughes' Trek Excalibur and towed his camping gear on a BOB trailer.  We can't tell you his route or his exact location, but from what we understand spare tubes are always a smart thing to carry on a ride. It appears that he is wearing a SBC embroidered wool Ibex jersey along with his stylish bell helmet.  We like to follow our customers and encourage YOU to share your adventures with us on our facebook page!

Building more than a Shelter!

Harrison Naftel has been busy the past two years doing the behind the scenes work on a new pavilion for the Western Slope of Massanutten.  Harrison's planning and fund raising has paid off as he begins the construction phase of his Eagle Scout Project.  This Eagle Scout Project is much more then just a new pavilion for the Western Slope, it will be a place were memories are made; a place were friends hang out  and folks seek shelter from the rain and sun. SBC is proud to support Harrison and his Eagle Scout project. Thank you Harrison and the Naftel Family!

3 Naftels and SVBC member Andy Danis work on setting a post for the new Pavilion!