Three of USA’s Great Cyclists to Appear at ‘Conquer the Cobbles’

Just this morning I was eating brunch at Helen’s with my wife, daughter and some friends. The rain hadn’t started, and I had ridden my bike there from my office near VCU. After downing a killer plate of crabcakes benedict, I went outside with my friend just as a team of pro cyclists pedaled by on Main Street.

“There’s Greipel!” my friend, Dave Salley, called out.

Indeed it was. The greatest sprinter in the world, Andre Greipel, was rolling down Main with the rest of the German cycling team. The guys must have been out preparing for Sunday’s Elite men’s road race. Tony Martin, the world’s best time trialist (despite Wednesday’s seventh-place finish in the ITT) must have been in the group too, though I never saw him.

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Sprinter Andre Greipel cuts an imposing figure on a bike.

I looked at Salley, then hopped on my bike. “Go get ’em,” he yelled, and I was off. They were half a block past me, but not pedalling hard. I caught them around Boulevard. At that point I didn’t really know what to do. I was right behind Greipel (you should see the calves on this guy!) and his boys, close enough that one of them turned around and gave me a look like, “What are you doing, bro (only in German)?”

So, I dropped back a bit, snapped a shaky picture, then peeled off through the Museum District back to the office, where I called a bunch of friends to tell them. It was a thrill for a bike racing geek like me, and as far as I can tell the only way to duplicate it is to wait outside team hotels for guys to get on their bikes and ride. That doesn’t sound very healthy to me, and it’s possibly illegal.

But if you’re a cycling geek too, and you want the same thrill I had, you’re in luck. I just received an email from Pete Woody of the Sports Backers about tonight’s Conquer the Cobbles ride, where everyday amateurs like you and me can ride the same course the world’s best will this weekend.

I just wanted to give you a heads up on some special guests serving as official starters for Conquer the Cobbles tonight. George Hincapie will be present at the start of Conquer the Cobbles to lead the riders out as the official Grand Marshall for the event. He will be joined by NBC Sports and Tour de France analyst Bob Roll and seven time Tour de France finisher and former Olympian Frankie Andreu, and the three of them will lead the riders out to the course.

I asked Woody if those guys would be available to the public in any way:

My understanding is that George, Frankie, and Bob are riding their bikes to the stadium and plan to arrive around 6:15-6:30. There’s no ‘official’ interaction plan, but my guess is that there would be some opportunities for photos and other interaction before they commence with their official ‘marshall’ duties.

So there you go, bike geeks (and so far there are 1,300 of you signed up for tonight), get there early and you might get to hobnob with a few of America’s all-time greats. And take note, procrastinators: Walk-up registration is still open.

 

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Deep Breath, Richmond

“It’s unbelieveable. You can’t get any where near downtown in a car. It’s totally shut down.”

My dad said this to me on the phone Sunday, describing a scene of brutal gridlock and dozens upon dozens of road closures near the scene of the big event.

But he wasn’t talking about bike races. He doesn’t even live in Richmond. My parents live in Philadelphia, and this weekend the Pope arrives. That’s right, the Pope isn’t doing anything in Philly until this coming Saturday, yet Center City was barricaded off last Sunday.

By contrast, I took the family downtown on Sunday to watch the team time trials at the UCI World Championships, and parking was a breeze. First we parked in the Fan, only to find out we’d missed the elite women coming by on Monument Ave. Then we cruised down to Cary and 6th and walked up to the finish line and took in the entire men’s race.

Fans pack in to see the podium after the men's team time trial. Photo: Casey B. Gibson

Fans pack in to see the podium after the men’s team time trial. Photo: Casey B. Gibson

Not only was all of that easy, but there were lots of people out. The finish area was packed from the line out at least until the 250m-to-go mark, with fans pounding the placards on the barricades as teams came thundering by. The Fan Fest had plenty of traffic, as well. And keep in mind, this was for the team time trial — not exactly The Big Races. Those would be the Elite men’s and women’s road races. Heck, it’s not even the biggest time trial of the week. Cycling fans are much more into the individual version of those races — the women’s is this afternoon. The men’s is tomorrow.

Maybe I need a more varied Twitter feed, but I feel like I’ve heard a lot of grousing three days into this event. If it’s not road closures; it’s restaurants complaining about being sold a false bill of goods. The road closures I’ve already addressed. Simply put, it is not difficult to get around this city. Go to www.richmond2015.com and find out what roads will be closed. Then go around them. It’s not complicated. There are lots of options.

On the “Hey, where are all the people?” front. Yes, we were initially led to believe that 450,000 Belgians and Dutch would descend on this city for these races. But did that ever really make sense? And anyone who dug a little deeper would have found stories in the T-D, Style Weekly and other local news sources explaining that the vast majority of out-of-towners start showing up mid-week for the men’s individual time trial and really start arriving for the weekend road races.

Women's Team Time Trial. Credit: Washingtonian

Women’s Team Time Trial. Credit: Washingtonian

I know people from Durham, N.C., Washington, D.C. and Charlottesville coming in to watch tomorrow’s time trial. An old friend is coming from Atlanta on Friday. And I know a friend of friend coming from Utah to watch the weekend racing.

The people will come, Richmond. And from what I’ve seen, there are plenty of people already here. Deep breaths, and remember it could be worse. The Pope could be on his way.

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UPDATE! 2015 Underground Cycling World Championships Almost Upon Us

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Team cars are being spotted all over town

Nervousness, agitation, restlessness…I got race fever, people!  Might as well phone in sick, ’cause judging by the sheer volume of texts I am getting, the Richmond area is not contributing much to the GDP this week. Next week doesn’t look good either. In celebration, I am switching to the metric system.

Remember last week when I penetrated RichmondOutside’s paltry web defenses to announce my underground race series? Well, as promised, this week I’m back with an update on the rules and schedule of events, and this time with RichmondOutside’s blessing. This is real, people.

But first I am pleased to announce that we have brought on Whitworth Cycles as a sponsor. Whit is in the process of cranking out some rockin’ custom prizes for the male and female champions. I am not quite ready to tease those yet. Additionally, we have some very nice daily prizes donated from a major outdoor retailer.

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Custom 0.4327 litre cups are in…$15 gets you all you can drink, and credit cards are accepted.

Start times are rolling times. Show up early or expect to chase. If you have your nameplate from a previous event, feel free to rock it, otherwise it’s paper plates and a giant sharpie.  Don’t forget to bring something for the common cause, food, beer, something…

Friday, September 18: Opening Ceremony, Brown’s Island. 6:30 p.m. Free, but you need a ducat.

Saturday, September 19: Know Good Beer Fest, Brown’s Island 2 to 9 p.m. $40 now or at the gate.

Sunday, September 20: 

Pros Ride – Team Time Trial 11:30-3:30 p.m.

You Ride – Poop Loop Individual Time Trial, 5 p.m., Ancarrow’s Landing Parking Area (4.5 miles, brakes optional. The first 60 riders will enjoy extended split times, but after that we’re sending you at 0:15 intervals)

Afterparty – West 33rd Street (Southside, ask around)

Time Bonus – Porn Star Mustache Competition (top 3 mustaches win a time bonus, as judged by your fellow racers)

Monday, September 21:

You Ride – New Kent County, Road and Gravel, 10 a.m., New Kent Visitors Center (comes out to 100k, with about 15k of gravel to keep it interesting)

Tuesday, September 22:

Pros Ride – Womens Elite Time Trial, 1:30 p.m.

You Ride – James River Park, 9 a.m., Dogwood Dell (2 timed sections)

Afterparty – China Street bailed out, but we have you covered

Wednesday, September 23:

Pros Ride – Mens Elite Time Trial, 1:30 p.m.

You Ride – Powhite Hot Laps, 5 p.m., Powhite Park (2k loop, 1 hour plus 1 lap)

Afterparty – Chez Andre, Blakemore Road (Southside), just like every Wednesday

Thursday, September 24:

No pro racing

You Ride – Pocahontas State Park, 10 a.m., Amphitheater Parking Area (a unique lap of Blueberry Hill, Lakeview and Blue/Intermediate trails, with connecting fire roads.  Parking is $5.  Grab a trail map from the concierge, if you think you will need it.)

Afterparty – TBD, but I have some info on a cool scavenger race downtown

Friday, September 25:

Pros Ride – Womens Jr./Mens U-23 Road Race 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Shmoes Ride – Conquer The Cobbles 7 to 9 p.m.

You Ride – Road Course Poach – 2 laps, 4:30 pm, Starts/Finishes at Libbie Hill Park

Afterparty, Awards and Heckling – Pit O’ Disrepair, E. Franklin Street (Libby Hill on Church Hill)

Not only is the women’s race heating up, but the mustache competition is heating up as well.

Parking and car travel city-wide could of course be limited, so ride to the ride wherever possible.

 

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Ride to Jamestown: Virginia Capital Trail Nears Completion

The now complete Virginia Capital Trail crosses Gillies Creek in Richmond. The silos in the background have been demolished.

The now complete Virginia Capital Trail crosses Gillies Creek in Richmond. The silos in the background have been demolished.

Earlier this summer I wondered openly in a post if the Virginia Capital Trail would be ready in time for the hundreds of thousands of visitors who are supposed to accompany the UCI World Cycling Championships in late September (19th-27th). It still seemed like a long shot in early July, but since then the Richmond portion of the trail has exploded with paving and lighting and the demolition of the Lehigh Cement Silos.

I spoke with Beth Weisbrod this past Friday and she confirmed that the trail is nearly complete. As of this writing, you only had to hop off the trail in the New Market Heights sections briefly. And by the time you read this, you might be able to ride from Richmond to Jamestown and on a paved ribbon of asphalt separate from the road. The Times-Dispatch’s Brandon Shulleeta wrote about the trail’s soon-to-be completion in today’s Metro section.

Back in May, Weisbrod said the landscaping along the trail and at certain trailheads likely wouldn’t be finished until the end of the year, but now it looks like most of that will be done before the race as well. Pretty cool. If you get the chance, head out to Great Shiplock Park at Dock and Pear streets and walk east toward Rocketts Landing. It’s a gorgeous stroll that will only get nicer as the Lehigh Cement silos come fully down and the landscaping is complete.

 

 

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Breaking News: 2015 Underground Cycling International World Championships Also Coming to RVA

Editor’s Note: The RichmondOutside.com WordPress account was hacked by someone, presumably a man, calling himself Foghorn Leghorn. He posted the below late last night. I considered pulling it from the site, but after a profane email exchange this morning and the promise of free entry into all race events, I decided to let it ride. This post is strange, no doubt, but, best I can tell, it is 100 percent real. Please direct questions to foghorn.leghorn.productions@gmail.com

The World is Coming to the Poop Loop

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I say, I say, I say, now here we find ourselves on the doorstep of the biggest durn party to hit this city since Sherman burned it to the ground. Or was it Grant? Or did we burn it? No matter, it burned, and the rest is…history.

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One of these cups is $15, but the beer is free.

Now we rally under the colors that unite us, and it’s our turn to burn this city down. As promised, the details have been sorted and the Barnyard Crew is coming to the fore to volunteer their services. First order of business: BEER. The craftsmen at Blakemore Brewing Company have worked up six custom brews for this event, along with these commemorative pint glasses (see pic at left). Racin’ is free, so is the beer (ABC laws, ya know), but you’re gonna need this $15 souvenir cup to put it in. Keeps your whistle wet all week.

Next order of business: A few basic ground rules. No whining. Period. Don’t make an arse of yourself, this is just for fun. The Foghorn Leghorn Productions scoresheet is the official scoresheet, I don’t give two American turds what your Strava time was. Any scoring protests should be written on a $20 bill. This is a communal affair, so if you expect to eat, bring some food to share. We need to show our guests some Southern fried hospitality and all. Feel free to bring friends. If they like to ride bikes, they are welcome.

Finally: Schedule. We got ya covered, with a splendid mix of road, MTB & other. Some you may have ridden, some perhaps not. Plus we have already planned out most of your social calendar.

Friday, September 18: Opening Ceremony, Brown’s Island. Free but you need a ducat.

Saturday, September 19: Know Good Beer Fest, Brown’s Island 2 to 9 p.m.GetInline

Sunday, September 20: 

Pros Ride – Team Time Trial 11:30-3:30

You Ride – Poop Loop Individual Time Trial, 5 p.m., Ancarrow’s Landing Parking Area

Afterparty – West 33rd Street (Southside)

Time Bonus – Porn Star Mustache Competition

Monday, September 21:

You Ride – New Kent County, Road and Gravel, 10 a.m., New Kent Visitors Center

Afterparty – TBD (but it ain’t at my house!)

I know, I know “but Fogggggy, why do we have to drive all the way to New Kent?” Its 20 minutes from downtown. Get out of the city, the country air will be good for ya. I’ve seen some of you getting your ninja training out here, you know who you are. Minimum 25c tires and a few spare tubes recommended. Slap on the Gatorskins, expect about 60 miles.

Tuesday, September 22:

Pros Ride – Womens Elite Time Trial, 1:30 p.m.

You Ride – James River Park Enduro Style, 9 a.m., Dogwood Dell

Afterparty – China Street (Oregon Hill)

bike route sign with borderWednesday, September 23:

Pros Ride – Mens Elite Time Trial, 1:30 p.m.

You Ride – Powhite Hot Laps, 5 p.m., Powhite Park

Afterparty – Chez Andre, Blakemore Road (Southside), just like every Wednesday

Thursday, September 24:

No pro racing

You Ride – Pocahontas State Park, 10 a.m., Amphitheater Parking Area

Afterparty – TBD

Friday, September 25:

Pros Ride – Womens Jr./Mens U-23 Road Race 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Shmoes Ride – Conquer The Cobbles 7 to 9 p.m.

You Ride – Road Course Poach – 2 laps, 4:30 pm, Starts/Finishes at Libbie Hill Park

Afterparty, Awards and Heckling – Pit O’ Disrepair, E. Franklin Street (Church Hill)

If you can survive all that, then you may be a GC contender, and have your shot at some crappy homemade prizes. I have good intel that the women’s race is heating up already. I expect old grudges will be settled and new ones forged. Remember, the world will be watching.

Parking and car travel city-wide will of course be limited, so ride to the ride wherever possible.

As more details reveal themselves, I will update this page accordingly.

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Pello Bikes: ‘The Ultimate Kids Bike’

Shane Cusick is an avid local road and mountain biker, and the Event Director for the non-profit Bike Virginia. He spent much of the past year with business partner Chris Peel designing and manufacturing what they call “the ultimate kids bike.” Their company Pello Bikes aims to “give children the joy and freedom of cycling by providing bicycles that are high quality, lightweight, safe and designed specifically for them.”

I heard about Pello Bikes not too long ago and caught up with Cusick recently to hear about the project:

RO: With a 5 and a 2-year0old at home, I love the idea of a bike designed for kids. Where do things stand?

SC: Currently our focus is on finalizing the details for our cranksets.  We are working with a leading crank manufacturer to design our own cranksets that will tighten up the Q-Factor (the distance between the pedals). What this means is that the cranks will be more proportioned to kids “hip” sizing, making them fit better and be more fun to ride.

RO: What’s the timing on bringing the bikes to market?

SC: Once we have the cranksets dialed in, we are then going to have a final round of prototypes built to ensure everything is up to our standards. It’s our hope that we will have our prototypes in September, and provided all the details are worked out with the prototypes, we hope to have the first batch of bikes for sale in December!!!

RO: How are you promoting the Pello brand in the meantime?

SC: We are also in the process of getting T-Shirts (kids and adult sizes), little water bottles, and stickers made and should have all of this by the end of August. They’re available on our website. Also, we’re going to have a booth at the Pop Up Revolution during the UCI World Cycling Championships here in Richmond next month. Feel free to swing by and learn more. We will have bikes on hand for little ones to ride and cool things to give away!

SC: We’re really excited about the changes we’re making to the first version of the bikes. Check our site for updates on our progress of bringing the “Ultimate Kids Bike” to market, thank you again for your support!

 

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Virginia Capital Trail Makes Big Strides in Richmond

The Virginia Capital Trail now traverses this handsome bridge over Gillies Creek in Richmond.

The Virginia Capital Trail now traverses this handsome bridge over Gillies Creek in Richmond.

I went for a bike ride with a friend on Sunday that took me all over the city. We were on our mountain bikes, so we hit a few trails, but they were pretty muddy. Eventually we hopped on the road and tooled around downtown, ending up on Dock Street and then the Virginia Capital Trail near Great Shiplock Park. I hadn’t been out that way in a while and when we reached the Intermediate Terminal building and the Lehigh Cement silos, I was in for quite a surprise: The Capital Trail has been paved! Not only that, but the bridge over the Gillies Creek outflow is finished as well; and work has begun on the trail between Great Shiplock Park and Ash Street, where the silos are.

We rode the trail past the Boathouse and Conch Republic restaurants and Rocketts Landing, where the pavement ends. There, however, the crushed gravel has been tamped down and you got the sense the pavement will go down at any moment.

The last time I wrote about the trail, I wondered openly if it would be done in time for the UCI World Cycling Championships in mid-September. From what I saw Sunday, that seems much more likely now than it did two months ago.

This image shows Dock Street between Great Shiplock Park and the Lehigh Cement silos. The newly paved trailed begins just west of the silos.

This image shows Dock Street between Great Shiplock Park and the Lehigh Cement silos. The newly paved trailed begins just west of the silos between them and the river.

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‘On Richmond’s Wheel’ Second Edition Set for Release

“On Richmond’s Wheel – A Celebration of Cycling” will be released this June 27 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. It’s a project that I began back in 2010. The first self-published book came out in 2012. With the 2015 World Road Cycling Championships coming to Richmond in September, I felt like the book needed to be expanded to really connect with the world audience. Aynsley Miller Fisher co-wrote the new book to include more material on the culture of cycling in RVA. The book’s publisher, Wayne Dementi of Dementi Milestone Publishing, is the perfect person to take on the task of describing all things unique to Richmond.

Riders from Endorphin Fitness out for a pedal session.

Riders from Endorphin Fitness out for a pedal session.

So, you’re thinking, it’s a book about cycling in Richmond. Yes. And no. Yes, because cycling has become an important part of Richmond’s culture. No, because much of what makes cycling great in RVA has nothing to do with riding a bicycle.

Richmond has these great events that people from Central Virginia have been a part of. “On Richmond’s Wheel” describes many past events that no longer exist. It describes what riding a bicycle means, and meant, to Richmond.

When I talk to people about the book, I get to listen to fond memories of Richmond’s past. Then I get the question, “whatever happened to that ride?”

I began researching cycling in Richmond to celebrate the long running and popular Bryan Park Training Series. This is a weekly Tuesday night training event that is kept simple and is reasonably priced.

“It’s like an Amish barnraising,” said Matt Marchal, of the Altius Cycling Team and long-time promoter. “You cannot put a value on the work done on this race.”

Riders climb the famous Libby Hill cobblestones. Credit: Richmond.com

Riders from the U.S. National Team climb the famous Libby Hill cobblestones. Credit: Richmond.com

The volunteers who run Bryan Park make racing there special. The current promoter of the series, John Messersmith, said of the volunteers, “Wendy (Hawkins Conner) brings a competence, an enthusiasm and a love for the racers that simply cannot be purchased at any price.  The racers feel it, we feel it and it makes the difference between merely a race and an event look forward to being part of.  Likewise, Tom (Balaban), Carolyn (Gobles) and Dave (Richards) are integral parts of the series and their mere presence raises the comfort level and enjoyment of the races.  So much so that it is palpable at the start line.  Our team members and other volunteers who man our corners are not just warm bodies occupying space.  They know the racers, they cheer for them, they heckle and they share both the excitement of success and pain of being dropped with folks as they roll through corners.  Our volunteers are a critical component of our success and absolutely essential yet it has virtually nothing to do with economics.  They are essential because they are the personality and life of our series; they elevate it from merely 18/25 laps around a loop to an evening you don’t want to miss.”

Dick Howard, who is essentially the father of modern bicycle racing in Richmond because of his work promoting races and cycling events, began the Bryan Park Training Series more than 40 years ago. The race was initially a Richmond Area Bicycle Association event.

British cyclist Mark Cavendish his

The world will be watching when the UCI World Cycling Championships come to Richmond in September.

Then the race was taken over by Team Richmond. Then it was taken over by the small club PDO (no one remembers what PDO stands for). Then it was jointly run by Richmond Ciclismo and PDO. Then Richmond Ciclismo. Then Altius.

More than 40 years of racing at Bryan Park. The race was almost snuffed out a few times.

“Twenty percent of the people do 80 percent of the work,” Howard said. He was describing why the Capital Classic, a popular road bike race in Byrd Park, stopped. He said he couldn’t get enough people to volunteer for this elaborate race.

I can’t talk about Richmond’s cycling history without bringing up the importance of cycling to the city in the 1890s.

I find it interesting that one of the cultural differences between cyclists of the 1890s and the Richmond cyclists of the modern era is how race organizers and judges are viewed. In the 1890s, the judges are mentioned in high regard and the competitors are barely mentioned. Today, the competitors are the story and the judges are rarely mentioned.

I also find it interesting that Mark Junkermann created and promotes the cyclocross race in Pocahontas State Park called “Monster Cross.” This is a race that he would love to race but never has. Too bad because Mark would do well in his own race. All the joy of riding the event is Mark’s gift to you.

Aynsley, the co-writer of On Richmond’s Wheel, did a great job summarizing the work of many of the can-do advocacy groups in the city. Frankly, I needed her help. There are so many groups and too many projects going on in the City of Richmond for me to wrap my mind around.

Dementi Milestone Publishing recognized the importance of your cycling passion. The second edition of the book, “On Richmond’s Wheel – A Celebration of Cycling,” was made to show the world that Richmond’s cycling culture is unique but is as passionate, if not more so, about cycling than anywhere else in the world. You disagree?

As I’m typing this, another news flash comes across my computer. Bud Vye received the Governor’s “Lifetime Achievement” Transportation Safety Award. When Bud is not riding, he is walking around the General Assembly lobbying on cycling’s behalf.

The 2015 World Road Cycling Championships is around the corner. How many times have you been asked, “Are you going to be in it?”

How did you answer? Mark doesn’t ride in the Monster Cross but how should he answer “Are you in the Monster Cross?”

Hey Richmond, the World Championships is YOUR race. What are you going to do?

Here’s something. Go to https://richmond2015.volunteermanage.com and volunteer to help.

Or go to www.rvahosts.com. You see, not all of the bicycle racers coming to Richmond in September are millionaires. They are just passionate cyclists – like you. RVA Hosts gives the people of Richmond and opportunity to help racers make Richmond their home.

Richmond’s passion for cycling made On Richmond’s Wheel a success. Thank you. If you would like a copy of the book, please check first with your local bike shop or any of the sponsors of your favorite event.

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Virginia Capital Trail Enters Final Phase: Will it Be Done in Time?

This year’s Cap2Cap, the annual ride/fundraiser for the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, was a roaring success, according to foundation Executive Director Beth Weisbrod.

The 100-mile, 50-mile and 25-mile ride options brought in a record 2,400 (or so) participants. Only the century-ride option didn’t set a new attendance record.

The bridge over I-895 in Varina is one of the few in that section that is complete.

The bridge over I-895 in Varina is one of the few in that section that is complete.

“I’m trying to figure out which conclusions to draw,” Weisbrod said. “We sold a ton of beer. Everything was a Hardywood brew. The jerseys flew off the shelf, too.”

Surveys sent after the race showed a 93-percent satisfaction rate, Weisbrod added. “So, I’m happy about that.”

The Cap2Cap is the foundation’s largest fundraiser in support of the Virginia Capital Trail. But the money raised by the group doesn’t pay for the construction of the trail itself. State and federal dollars do that, and VDOT is in charge of overseeing its construction. I got a chance to see the progress up close a couple of weeks ago when I rode my bike from Deep Bottom Boat Landing to Richmond along Route 5.

My first thought was: Wow, they’ve done a lot since I was last out here. But that was quickly followed by: Man, they still have a lot to do to hit their projected completion date of the end of August. At the very least, officials have said it will be done by the time the UCI World Cycling Championships come to town in mid-September.

“VDOT continues to assure me that [the trail] will be substantially complete,” Weisbrod said. “What that means is that all the asphalt will be done.”

Progress continues in fits and starts on the Varina section of the Virginia Capital Trail.

Progress continues in fits and starts on the Varina section of the Virginia Capital Trail.

I passed a number of bridges in that Varina section in various stages of completion, and with less than 100 days to go, I wondered if those might not be more iffy than the asphalt.

“The bridges worry me a little bit, but I still think they’ll be done,” Weisbrod said. “What is not included in [substantially complete] is the landscaping. They’ll be doing that until the end of the year.”

So, we’ll keep our fingers crossed that when however many thousands of visitors descend on Richmond in September, they’ll be able, should they choose, to pedal a bike east of Great Shiplock Park. (That’s where the trail stops now.)

Should those visitors choose to stay a couple of weeks after the races, Weisbrod added, they could join us locals for a big ribbon-cutting on October 2nd and trail party on the 3rd.

In RVA, near Rocketts Landing, asphalt is going down. Credit: Justin Doyle

In RVA, near Rocketts Landing, asphalt is going down. Credit: Justin Doyle

“We’re gonna have a formal ribbon cutting somewhere along the downtown Richmond section,” she said. “probably Shiplock park. We’re hopeful Senators Warner and Kaine will be there. Their offices have said it’s too early to commit but they really want to be there. Then we’re going to do a big party up Pear Street by the Lucky Strike building.

“Then on Saturday, all the localities along the trail are scheduling celebrations, so that if someone wants to ride from the Richmond to the Williamsburg end they can hit each celebration.”

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Bike to Work Day and Other Events

Bike to Work Day is coming up next Friday (May 15).

Bike to Work Day is coming up next Friday (May 15).

If you ride a bike often or you’re into bike-related issues, I highly recommend BikeableRichmond.com. Today’s post highlighted the upcoming Bike Month events, something I was about to post on myself.

Here’s BikeableRichmond’s highlight list (and make sure to sign up for his newsletter when you go to the site):

Monday May 11 – Downtown Bike Lanes meeting

May 12-14 – Bike Counts

Thursday May 14 – 5Point Film Festival opener to Dominion Riverrock

May 15-17 – Dominion Riverrock

Friday May 15 – Bike to Work Day Rally with Mayor Jones

Friday May 15 – Bon Air > Downtown Bike Train

Saturday May 16 – Church Hill Bike Parade and Rodeo

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