Bicycle Adventure on Virginia's section of the Great Eastern Trail

The Highland Retreat is a great HQ to base your Carr Mountain Trail Build day from

Always amazing in the Criders/Bergton area - Shenandoah Mountain is off in the distance

It does get quite narrow when the road turns into Fr. 232

A church is always a great navagational tool - almost always an icon on the map

This store on the corner is home to a wealth of local history and knowledge

Snake Hollow brings you up the backside towards Whitegrass Knob

This is actually the area where Chipper created his "Whitegrass" dream

Left turn is Fr. 232 - right side is a dead end

It is private property all around, but is the road?

Is this really the deal - help me out here?

Is this where the hostility comes from?

Thanks!

The Turners is on the right, please stay left on Fr. 232

Nice idea

This little bear likes it too!

Nice of the locals to make this warming fire for me

I am so excited that we have 150 miles of this amazing trail in Virginia's George Washington National Forest that is prime bicycle trail. Only a tiny section that is not currently open to bikes (7 miles) in the Ramsey's Draft Wilderness Area. Carr Mountain Trail is still yet to be finished. That is why I went out for this great ride on Carr Mountain's parallel route Fr. 232. It's a great ride up onto Shenandoah Mountain. We just have to sort the access issue. Yes, it may not be a United States Forest Service (USFS) access through-road for motorized users. But it is a access through-road for non-motorized users. Huge props to the Turners for keeping their nice section of road clean, and putting in the trash barrel. Looks like Mr. Bear
is checking it often. I am guessing it is some of the other neighbors that are putting up the threatening posts about access. Bummer! Time to get this straight because it could be a few years until the Carr Mountain trail takes us high and dry above these folks and their "private" road.

Shenandoah Valley Evening Bicycle Ride

Got out for a quick one just before dark
Was able to multi-task while on the bike
Time is short these days
Sooo many things to do
Sooo little time!

Bicycling the Shenandoah Valley

Did a great slow ride into Rockingham County before dark
Carp had some business to finish
Snows melting in the bright sunlight
Great wispy clouds in the clear sky
The gravel is firm and rolling well
Sun is dipping with a nice flow
Massanutten is getting all lit up in the distance
Cool sundog directly over Mole Hill
The Bike Lane (paved shoulder) is really nice to have on Rt. 42
Missed this shot of the bike lane, it woulda been cool!

George Washington National Forest Mgt. Plan to Resume March 2010

Check out this great news from the Virginia Mountain Bike Council

The George Washington National Forest is home to some of the best riding in Virginia. Check out some of these rides, routes or events that happen in the GW - the Shenandoah Mountain 100, Stokesville - Douthat - Stokesville ride, Shenandoah Mountain Bike Festival trails, Massanutten Mountain, Big Schloss, Reddish Knob, Elliotts Knob, Southern Traverse IMBA Epic, Tour d Burg, Giro d Ville, Sherando, Torry Ridge, Whetstone Ridge, and Alleghany Highlands Trail System that connects and surrounds Douthat State Park. WOW - that is over 1,000 miles of great bicycling trails. Hope you have time to represent!!

A great 1 hr road ride with Carpenter, talking bicycle advocacy!

Just what the doctor ordered

A bit of the Great Eastern Trail discussion
Some of the SVBC DCR Recreational Trail Grant chatter
Our yearly statewide mountain bike meeting
GW National Forest Management Plan Revision meetings about to resume
How much trail can we maintain?
VA's Recreational Use Statute modifications - railroads indemnified!
Virginia's Interstate 81 Freight Rail Study issued for public comment
SVBC SuperBowl ride and fundraiser weekend in Hburg Feb 6-7
IMBA's RLAC meeting and how to expand the resources and dial in the focus
Richmond MORE's Fundraiser on Feb 27th
VA's HB 2088 stating that no Rail Enhancement Funds (REF) be used for access when it seems that should be one of the major uses of this fund as it would benefit communities to have safer crossing of railroad tracks to trail systems, river put in's, and ball fields.

Mike wishes I wouldn't have bombarded him with these issues
But it's been the only thing I have worked on since Sunday night at 8 pm
And I needed his help making sense of it all

Whitegrass is going off - powder supreme

Such a great time in the mountains
Bob and Alice Vernon joined in
Mike Sayer took a break and showed us the secret powder stashes
Sue Haywood showed us how to link the deep powder turns
Carpenter, Jenkini, the Sultan and Matty Smith were making amazing turns
Joel was killing it on his lightweight gear

Trek rider Ryan Fawley is not letting the cold snowy winter keep him from riding his bicycle - Hoo Ha!

Ryan is done with his SMT internship and is psyched to be riding as much as he can.

Rocktown Trails are frozen n riding great!