The Mother of all 300Ks

Nothing to see here. Just rolling roads and mountains in West Virginia near Lost River

I like to ride my bike. I like to ride my bike for long periods of time. Often across numerous mountain ridges on beautiful and remote backcountry trails, typically on a fat tired mountain bike. I also like to ride my road bike. Typically 100ish miles is plenty long for a road ride and I would have no reason nor motivation to ride much longer. Then Matt Hassman started working at SBC and brought with him a great interest in a bizarre and quirky world of randonneuring (Randonneuring is long-distance, unsupported, noncompetitive cycling within prescribed time limits). 

Don't worry. Even the bike shop guys flat sometimes. In addition, sometimes we get so anxious about quickly pumping our tires back up that we SNAP the VALVE in HALF (Matt Hassman)

 Matt is an active member of the DC Randonneurs and is actually helping to put on an event this Saturday May 2 (The Mother of All 300Ks). Since he is somewhat responsible for the event, Matt wanted to be sure he went and pre-rode the course. Just to be clear, the course is NOT marked nor is there any aid provided. Instead, participants must navigate the course on their own (with a provided cue sheet or GPS track) and be sure to make it to specific "control" points, often gas stations where they need to buy something with a time stamped receipt to prove that they actually followed the entire course.

Full Meltdown. Two small bottles. Super dehydrated and 7 more hours to go. DRINK plenty of water out there!

On Sunday April 25, we set out to ride the "Mother of all 300k's" which leaves from Middletown VA just south of Stephens City and Winchester. The route first takes you over Wolf Gap and then through Lost River and into West Virginia and up north towards the Potomac and the small towns of Romeny, Slanesville, and Gore, West Virginia before sneaking back through apple orchards and ridges to the Shenandoah Valley. When first looking at the course I thought to myself "14,000 feet of climbing over 190 miles. That sounds mostly flat compared to something like the Alpine Loop Gran Fondo." I guess what I missed was how many small hills we would hit throughout the ride. Post-ride I read the event website and saw this, "appallingly hilly but GORGEOUS 2005 West Virginia 300km.”

We aren't going to make it!? Breakfast at the Lost River Grill in West Virginia 53 miles into the ride and 10AM

The DC Randonneuring page recaps the early post breakfast part of the ride best, "The terrain here is ridge and valley. The route goes along several valleys. You are always following a stream uphill until it starts, then you have to climb over a little pass, then you start following the next stream downstream." Blah Blah Blah. Ride recaps aren't always that much fun but beautiful new routes and wacky long 190 mile rides are fun sometimes. Glad I pulled this one off but not sure I really need to sit on my road bike that long again in the future.

OK so we might make it. Sunset with 2 more hours to go

The Route!

THMS PE Class, AWESOME!

Over the past decade, Harrisonburg City Schools and Rockingham County Schools put bicycles into their Phyiscal Education programs. These cycling programs have a tremendous amount of momentum due to SVBC rock stars like Nathan Burge, Becky Johnston and others.

This past Friday, I volunteered to help with two morning PE Classes at Thomas Harrison Middle School. Despite the very chilly spring weather, the kids made sure they were committed to fashion.

A gym of bikes waiting for riders!

THMS is perfectly located to provide students with an opportunity to actually mountain bike as part of their cycling block class. Even though this school is only a 1/4 mile ride to the trail head of the Rocktown Trails it is still a challenge to get he students on the bikes, to trails and back in the 50 minutes of class. This past week PE Teacher Andy Thompson showed that this adventure  can be done in the alloted time, but volunters are always needed (do you have a hour or two to spare?).  I encoruage everyone to give volunteering a try, it is great to watch these kids find the magic of two wheels.

Reading to leave the grounds!

My hat goes off to all the teachers in our school system who keep the kids in line and learning. A big thanks especially to Andy Thompson for his willingness to take these groups of kids on  a magnificant adventure. Even though a lot of kids complained of "pain and suffering" they all came back with smiles. I assure you it will be a PE class that they will remember and from which they will grow!

Get the youth on two wheels - Thomas

Heading into the trails!

One Night Bike Tour

One night bike tours hold all the magic. Here to Staunton then onto Vesuvius VA for an evening at the "Doghouse" in celebration of Whitney March's 30th birthday. We planned a tour where we could grab lunch in Staunton on Saturday on the way to our destination and then lunch in Waynesboro on Sunday on our way back north back to the Burg.  

Map of our route south. 

Map of our route back north. 

For the first day, we hit some really fun and beautiful Augusta County dirt roads but not before realizing that Whitney's rear hydraulic disc brake was rubbing so bad that it smoked while she pedaled uphill and barely allowed the wheel to turn. After burping out a little bit of fluid we were good to go and on our way to cruise south down Stonewall rd and onto Flint Hill rd only to slide into Satunton via Limestone/Barry Farm rd. Once in Stauton we took in the Farmer's market, Black Dog Bikes, Redbeard Brewery, and the Split Banana for some delicious gelato. We never did find that whole lunch thing but the beer and ice cream was almost as good for the 2 more hours to our destination. 

Sneaking out of Stauton on Stingy Hollow rd lined us up for a nice Greenville connection over to Cold Springs rd (St. Marys area) and then a easy cruise to Gertie's Country store for french fries and onion rings before arriving at the Doghouse. Once at our destination we cooked real dinner, made a fire, read books, took in the red buds and watched the sunset. The best part was that we didn't have to carry any cookware or sleeping accessories since we arrived at an (off-grid) but furnished micro-cabin.

Redbeard Brewery in Staunton!

For the second day we were under threat of a flood warning so we tried to get on the road early but if you have ever gone on a bike tour you know just how hard it is to get going early in the morning when all you really want to do is hang out, make breakfast, and slowly pack up your things. We got on the road soon enough and headed north. Again, due to threat of rain we skipped Waynesboro for lunch and headed more directly north up through Fishersville. Shortly thereafter, my rear derailleur hanger snapped off. Turns out that I forgot to bring a spare. So...we were left with a chain tool and several attempts to find the perfect length chain that would hold a gear. After the fourth try, we were able to find the perfect length (in a gear that was a bit too hard) chain that held no matter how much I stood and stomped on the pedals with B.O.B. Trailer in tow. 

View from the door of the Doghouse. The Whetstone trail looms behind Adams Peak.

Gertie's Country Store in Vesuvius Va: http://www.virginia.org/Listings/Dining/GertiesCountryStoreandDeli/

Remember that sunscreen!

The Doghouse in beautiful Rockbridge County 

Always bring a spare hanger but if you forget one be sure you know how to single speed your bike

Super Park 19 in Seven Springs, PA

A quite massive hip.

Big Bear Zone.

This year was Super Park's 19th year and it finally held in the East Coast for the first time! Thanks to the colder than average winter, Seven Springs, PA had a ton of snow to make the 5 day event happen on April 5th. The best part about it is from the Burg to Seven Springs takes 3.5 hour drive. It seemed unreal since I attended Super Park 6, 10, and 11 and all that were in the West Coast. Really, no one thought it would happen in the East Coast. Joe Genovese, Seven Springs Terrain Park manager, grew up in Massanutten and also worked at Massanutten as a cat snow groomer for a few years before we moved to California in 2001. He was responsible for hosting Super Park 19 and changed the East Coast snowboarding history forever. He is the man. I truly had a blast riding in the event with my local friends. Maybe a little too much fun.

Days gone by

So pre Harrisonburg my life was a rolling bicycle party. The 90s were spent pulling packages couch surfing riding track bikes with other like minded renegades....that's right track bikes not fashion fixed gears living life on our terms and making enemies I mean memories! Lately a lot of my former partners in crime have gone on from this planet and that's had me going thru boxes looking at old photographs. These dudes all had an impact on me but non more than my brother Beaver. He was and is what bicycling will always be to me.......freedom. He wasn't impressed with fancy bicycles and could care less what kit you had. He just dug riding and ain't that what it's all about? Here are a few pictures from NYC in 96 or 97 maybe. Can't remember. We had too much fun back then! The first is Beaver and Lisa rolling to Grants tomb during a courier race. Second is me and Drago apparently having a great time at abc del rio. If you don't know it's long gone and was always a cool spot to see a band and chill. Third is me carrying 2 bags hustling up 8th ave making that money. And finally Beaver hydrating. My man could always put his hand on a Black Label. Most of my best memories from this time include #34 Beaver. 14 to 34 see you at dollar Bud night in the sky! Hope you dug walking down my memory lane. Now go get on your 2 wheeled machine and make some memories of your own.

Introduction To Myself...

Please allow me to introduce myself. I am Jeremy Cline.  I was born and raised here in Harrisonburg. The funny thing is, I used to hate living in the Burg when I turned a teenager.  For the past 19 years, I lived and traveled all over the States.  All the travelling helped me realize how beautiful the Valley really is.

If it wasn't for snowboarding, I wouldn't have a desire to get out and explore the world. I started snowboarding at Massanutten in 1989 and became my true passion and turned into a career. I was a five year contracted snowboarder for Ride Snowboards before I started to ride for Monument Snowboards for ten years.

Five months ago, I moved back to Harrisonburg from Oregon.  I love being out here with my family and friends, as well as enjoying this four season weather.

While I lived in Oregon, I attended three classes (Professional Repair & Shop Operation, UBI & DT Swiss Certified Wheel Building, and Certified Suspension Technician) at United Bicycle Institute in Portland. I used to love riding BMX when I was much younger and always worked on bikes.  I took these classes because I figured I would enjoy working at a local bike shop somewhere in Portland. Now I ended up working for SBC in my hometown! Psyched!

Yee-Ha! Post Work Shop Ride Weekend.

Wootten Wants to know:

• Does anyone want to do a Saturday Night Post Shop Party Pace to the Nutt on the 25th, leaving from SBC around 5:00PM or meeting us out there around 5:45?
• Does anyone want to camp out on the Western Slope or at the bottom of the Yee-Ha after the ride?
• Can't get there till later? No worries.  Does anyone want to drive a pre loaded support wagon with camping gear and meet us out there?

The adventure would be good clean fun, riding from town in the evening with camping supplies dropped at the Yee-Ha camping area or on the Western Slope.

The YeeHa is always worth a good spectate and a lift poach to explore some rarely ridden ridge dangling to the East.


2012 Massanutten Yee-Ha! from Shenandoah Bicycle on Vimeo.

Anyone want to try a hard way trail from the Peak to the Western Slope on Sunday to get back to town?  Sunday could be a ride back to town or a ride into the seldom ridden ridges of elsewhere.

SIGN UP HERE IF YOU WANT TO GO WITH THE GROUP!

For your consideration: REvents

Joy ride on 2014 Harris-Roubaix course

With all of the excellent cycling events offered in the Valley, I submit the REvent model as an excellent method of recreation.  Get out the week after an event and do it again or for the first time if you missed it on the day.  Do it unsupported.  Do it with your buddies.  Do it by yourself.  Do it faster or slower or on a different bike.  Do your favorite part twice.  Do it on your terms.  The point is, right after an event, course markings are fresh, trails are cleared, and you can enjoy a different experience than when the clock is ticking.  Consider the possibilities of the Shenandoah Valley CentuRE, the HarRE-Roubaix, the Stokesville Sixty/FortRE, or the Shenandoah Mountain One HundREd.  There's fun to be had that fits your schedule, and aside from an adjustment here or there, the planning is done for you.  Try it.
-DL

Pump Track Saturday

   Before I start this post, I want to take a few seconds to introduce my self as 'the new guy' in the shop. I moved to Harrisonburg four years ago to start my education at James Madison University. It didn't take me long to become a regular face, maybe even nuisance in the shop consistently asking for advice, purchasing parts and donning anything that had the SBC logo on it. Someone needs to keep me away from the nearest tattoo parlor.......

   I've deemed myself somewhat of the campus rep for the shop over the past four years and am humbled to do so. All of this finally came to fruition a little over a month ago when Tim (Papi) Richardson came to me with an opportunity for employment. It was a no brainer and truly a blessing to be adopted into a such a wonderful business, and better yet, a welcoming family.

   Saturday, following a steady day at the shop, David Lee took me out to the Hillandale pump track for the first time.

Jason Williams built the frame. Lee pieced this bike together. 

   It was a part of the park that I had never explored before and in the midst of a beautiful spring afternoon, we traded off turns on the bike making laps. Lee was obviously much faster than I, but the experience definitely sucked me in to this facet of Hillandale.

Lee graciously chased down the ice cream man and bought us pop ups, remember those?!

   Nothing caps off a Saturday in the sun like some cool ice cream and peacefulness in the woods.

Lee got a few laps on a local family's motorized dirt bike!

   The outing was capped off with a small ride through JMU's campus as we parked it on a bench near Gibbons Hall to talk bikes and life. I'm learning a lot here and I love to learn. My skills and knowledge will only grow exponentially from here and for that I am eternally thankful.

-Stephen Proffitt

Easter Ridge

Easter Sunday was spent riding the East Ridge of Massanutten, from Kennedy's Peak to Milford Gap. A grand total of 13 miles chock full of rock. A hard day of technical pedaling and holding on tight, with a sore body from riding in SMT's Stokesville 60k the day prior. Egg hunting with some of my favorite people was a perfect way to kick off spring and summer Sunday fatty season!

View to the East

Gnar sample

Some of our posse

The 2015 Harris-Roubaix

The Universal Sign for FUN AHEAD!!

It is time again for the second spring classic. This Sunday, April 12th, will be the 2015 Edition of the Harris-Roubaix, "A Celebration of Gravel Roads".   The Harris-Roubaix has been going on for 15 (?) years and has grown from a few riders to a diverse group of 100+ riders.  You will see every type of bike out there: road bikes, tandems, mountain bikes, fix gears, kids trailers, fat bikes.

With road names like this you know it will be a party!

The format is based around fun while also paying respect to the finest single day road race in the world, the Paris-Roubaix . This year's Harris Roubaix, like always, falls on the same day as the European Spring Classic which races on some of the roughest cobblestone roads France.

A spring classic road..can you name it?

Make sure you bring some snacks or drinks to share, for this is a potluck event. Just bring your meal donation to Court Square a little before the striking on the noon clock. The ride leaves sharp at 12pm and will be a casual 7 miles ride to the farm, where the celebration and a great 16 mile lap is set up for your enjoyment.  Ride one, two or three laps or just hang out and cheer the riders.

"May your tires always be full of air"

-Director Jenkini

#Pennsyltechy riding at the School of Hard Rocks

Wootten, Kiki and Fflur ventured north to the land of Amish, Fracking and technical rock riding.  Pennsylvania contains some awesome riding, less than 3 hours from Harrisonburg!  Thanks to Wootten's insatiable appetite for punny sayings, he conjured up "Pennsyltechy" to replace what is usually known as Pennsyltucky.  The term couldn't be more spot on.  PA trails are just as technical as their elusive cousins, PA whitewater.  The rocks just keep going, into the horizon, beyond the setting sun!

Enjoy a video Wootten made, with no further adieu: Michaux MTB School.

Michaux MTB School from Adventure Seen on Vimeo.

On Any Friday.

Katy Martin Smith mechanically separating the apple for the audience

At the crest of wanoazee peak overlook 

Storms a brewing 

The Golden Pony rides! Open for business

Elliot Downs can pretty up a wall 

May we suggest the Frida Kale-o pizza with a Tom Collins 

Product review: Pearl Izumi X-Alp Enduro IV

Wootten recently got a pair of the new X-Alp Enduro IV mountain bike shoes.  He got to try them out this past week at Michaux, High Knob & Massanutten.  These shoes offer a fully molded grippy rubber sole with spd inserts that go plenty far back towards the arch for our rocky technical riding we have here.   The three strap design allows for a snug fit.  A flexible toe box makes these rock walkers ideal for those that like to get off and push up the hill or shoot video of their friends.

The Enduro IVs rule as a pedaling platform.  The shoe is responsive; stiff where you need it, between the cleat and the heel.  You can really feel the bike through the sole.  Plus, they're easy to clip in and out of.  This is a lot of shoe for $110.

Annual Spring Pilgramage to Richmond

Each Spring I make it a point to take a trip to Richmond and ride the trails.  Folks always ask me why I go to Richmond to ride trails when you live in Harrisonburg.  Here are a few simple answers:

The map of the downtown trail system.

• It is usually 10 degrees warmer in Richmond (good in spring, bad in summer)
• To get the reminder that the flowers do come up each year.
• The downtown Richmond trail systems is awesome and fun! 

On a beatiful Tuesday evening, after spending 8 hours in a State zoning class, I was super excited to hook up with long time friend Bryan Moody and find dirt, ride flowing trails and see many outdoor folks enjoy the downtown trails.

Yes, you get the ride this bridge then the stairs down!

If you have not been to Richmond to ride I would suggest doing this trip sooner the later. The rolling, relatively flat trails are a great way to wake up the spring riding legs after a long winter hibernation. The Forest Hill trails are my favorite place to play the no pedal, no break game.  This game is a fantastic way to improve your turning ability and efficiency, something that can be hard to do in our steep neck of the woods.

Sunset on the James River!

When you are there you will also get a chance to check out some fantastic trail work, the Richmond MORE group has some of the finest trail builders on the east coast!

Old Man Freeride - Thomas

Friday Fatty!

Kennedy's new platform 

Early spring and clean grippy rock

On any Friday..  

Ledge n Airy with Scotty!

One of the finest bits of single ever!

Like a boss

Picking thru the thin lines

Duwayne climbing the extra credit

C watters pluggin n chuggin