Eastern Panhandle Cycling Info!

 

Material by ways of EP/BC:

Hello Those about to Bike: I believe Fall is here, my favorite season and why I choose to live in Wild Wonderful WV! It’s hard to find any better place than WV to enjoy fall colors and festivities. Get out there and ride your bike and enjoy this wonderful time of the year. This issue: Take A Kid Mt. Biking Day Fall Cycling Breast Cancer Awareness Advice from the staff

This Sat October 6th is National Take A Kid Mountain Biking Day. With help from Specialized and IMBA, EP/BC will be hosting kids of all skill levels at Poor House Farm Park in Martinsburg, WV this Sat for some riding and mountain biking instuction. Date: Saturday, October 6th, 2012 Time: 12:00pm to 2:00pm Location: Poor House Farm Park At The Pavilion RSVP: epbicycles@gmail.com We Are Limited to 50 Participants      Please Bring: Parent Bike Helmet Good Riding Shoes Local experts will be on hand to discuss essentials for mountain biking. Give some helpful hints and help with skills. We will also discuss trail building opportunities for Poor House Farm Park

Fall Cycling Opportunities Fall is one of the best times of the year to ride (My Favorite!) and here are a few places that are wonderful to check out: The C&O Canal Towpath (No Brainer) one of the best bike paths in the country and it’s in our back yard. Mountain Biking Canaan Valley The Western Maryland Rail Trail The Great Allegheny Passage Sleepy Creek. Mainly hiking trails but the red multi use trails are good for mountain biking Gambrills State Park Greenbrier River Trail Just remember to pack the essentials and dress properly. Come in and we will happily show you the many ways to properly pack for the adventure.

 

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Don’t Forget: June 2nd – WV RAVE

As iPlayOutside says:

“Please join the Habitat for Humanity of Nicholas and Webster Counties for their annual scenic bike tour along the Scenic Williams River, through the Monongahela National Forest‘s breathtaking views, and astounding climbs”

This ride is one of the best supported charity rides in the state. The scenery and climbs are out of this world, and everyone I encountered last year were all courteous, and were interested in riding, but also being able to take the time to say hi and get to know one another.

One of the best parts is the post-ride dinner:

Cookout-style dinner upon returning to Camp Caesar after ride. The cost of the Saturday dinner is included in the registration fee.

Be sure to finish the ride in good time to be getting the goodies first 🙂

I’ve posted a lot about the ride already, so here are some links:

https://wvcycling.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/wv-rave-2012-update/

https://wvcycling.wordpress.com/2012/02/17/wv-rave-2012-must-ride/

https://wvcycling.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/wv-rave-post-ride-report/

https://wvcycling.wordpress.com/2011/05/15/upcoming-event-wv-rave-bike-tour/

More info:

http://www.helpbuilditwv.org/rave—annual-bike-tour.html

If you would like to donate, without attending, please contact: Betsy Morris, Camp Caesar Director, at 304-226-3888 or email at campcaesar@frontiernet.net and send checks to: Humanity of Nicholas and Webster Counties PO Box 544 Summersville, WV 26651

A stop along the Highland Scenic Highway. This photo is of the parkway section between SR 39 and US 219 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

http://www.iplayoutside.com/Events/2012/06/13898.html

http://raceit.com/search/event.aspx?event=8abf2546-83fd-415e-aa5e-77b9a0d6e9af.aspx

http://www.visitwebsterwv.com/

http://www.active.com/cycling/cowen-wv/wv-rave-bike-tour-2012

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WV Rave 2012 – MUST RIDE

I’ve been a fan of the WV Rave events since 2008. LBS owner, Gene Wells and I wanted to do this since it’s first year, but something always got in the way for me, and I was fortunate enough to ride in 2011.

This event is organized by the Habitat for Humanity of Nicholas and Webster County As they state, their goal is:

To Provide families with simple, decent, and affordable quality housing while spreading God’s love through our faith and actions.

You can see past projects of their work by click in the picture below.

In 2011, according to their site, they earned $5000 from the WV RAVE bike ride!

I know, I know, it’s a charity ride…. not a race, but still…. this is a GREAT COURSE… Hence the all caps.

The Camp Caesar starting point is a 4-H camp with little log cabins that we slept at the night before. It is a really rustic feel, sleeping on cots that you could imagine being in a school nurse’s station, or in a really old dormitory. Luckily, the next morning, they had an awesome breakfast incuded in the price of lodging. All of the typical breakfast fixings were there, and very well made!

The course that we did was the 100 mile, and it was fun, but rough. I think I bonked at about mile 70 or so, and had a hard time keeping my speed up. The climbs aren’t bad… They’re steady, but not bad. Bring your compact unless you’re a complete B.A.

At the end, oh gosh…. They have a truly wonderful post-ride barbecue that was to die for. I think I ended up eating all of the desserts. All of them. So good!

If you’re going to do any kind of charity ride in West Virginia this year, this must be it. The event volunteers are all friendly, wholesome, awesome people. The course is well marked, and cleaned. I can’t really think of anything negative to say other than me bonking… 😛

I’m going to list some info and documents to link to the appropriate places to register… Maybe some photos too!

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Ridge And Valley Excursion (RAVE) Bike Tour 2012

RAVE 2011 was a success! Tell your friends and family for next year, and come ride!

Route options

There are five different routes of varying difficulty to choose. All cyclists begin and end at Camp Caesar 4H camp.

+Family Fun Ride is the 15 mile option and is also relatively flat. The route runs part way up Williams River and back.

+Endurance Ride is 50 miles long and is also relatively flat. The route runs to Tea Creek Campground and back. Map found HERE

+Ridge Riders is 75 miles long, includes a 4-mile climb and 8-mile descent on the Highland Scenic Highway (Rt. 150). Map found HERE

+Metric Century New course added for 2012 at request of cyclists. Experience the challenge of climbing Black Mountain on Rt. 150 to turn around at Big Spruce Overlook (SAG station) and enjoy the descent! 

+Top of the World Century (100 mile) Ride includes a 5-mile climb and 5 to 6 other challenging, but shorter, climbs on the Highland Scenic Highway. Route goes into Marlinton and returns to Williams River Rd. Map found HERE

There will be a cookout style dinner at Camp Caesar upon return for all riders! Cost included in registration fee.

Lodging

A $50 lodging fee (seperate from riding fee) includes 1 night lodging at Camp Caesar, Friday evening meal, and breakfast Saturday morning. Please call Betsy Morris, Camp Caesar Director, at 304-226-3888 or email at campcaesar@frontiernet.net.

Bike clubs or groups may choose to rent a cabin for their entire group.

Late registrants (after May 14th) will pay $9 for dinner on Friday and $7 for breakfast the following morning.

Payment Options

Since we are not able to handle credit/debit cards on this site, check or money order must be mailed to:  Habitat for Humanity of Nicholas and Webster Counties PO Box 544 Summersville, WV 26651. Please print off registration form and submit with payment. OR
you may click on this link www.raceit.com.to use credit card. Please print off receipt from raceit and bring with you day of ride.
The route fees are as follows:
Family Fun Ride: $25/Child, $30/Adult
     Endurance Ride: $50
     Ridge Runners: $50
     Metric Century:  $50
     Top of the World: $50
These do not include lodging.

All fees are non-refundable unless event is cancelled.

Confirmation of entry and payment will be made by either email, phone, or mail.

Ride Packet

Packets can be picked up on Friday evening from 5pm-7pm at Burton Hall at Camp Caesar, or Saturday morning before the ride and will include a map of your chosen course. Ride packets will not be mailed.

Buckhannon's very own Tom Woods

Kelly and Les at one of the fully stocked Rest Stops

A bunch of guys standing around looking PRO.

Important links:

Event Info: http://www.helpbuilditwv.org/rave—annual-bike-tour.html

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/120803621289871/

Registration Page #2: http://iplayoutside.com/Events/2012/06/13898.html

If you have any questions, feel more than free to ask, and I can try to answer them, or direct you in the proper direction!

 

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Race Events in 2012

ABRA Racing just sent out this tentative schedule for 2012’s races. I thought I would share:

 

Calendar Advisory: 2012 ABRA Event Schedule Release

More than 4000 athletes and cycling fans will be marking their calendars for the 2012 ABRA Events!

Subject: 2012 Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association (ABRA) Event Schedule Release

Date: March 18, 2012 – Dec. 9, 2012

Event Locations: Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Maryland

Morgantown, WV (Dec. 14, 2011) — The Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association is pleased to announce the release of its 2012 racing calendar. This coming season we are pleased to bring you the additions of an Oval (track) and Mountain Bike series to the professional list of events that the Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association already promotes in the Mid-Atlantic region.

More than 4000 cyclists and fans are expected to compete, participate and cheer athletes through 39 races for the coming 2012 racing year. Cyclists and fans are invited to ‘save the dates’ for the 2012 editions of the ABRA Road, Criterium, Oval, Cyclocross and Mountain Series as well as favorites like the Hilly Billy Roubaix.

2012 ABRA Cyclocross Series dates along with the dates of the 2012 Pennsylvania Cyclocross State Championship and 2012 West Virginia Cyclocross State Championship, ABRA promoted events, will be released in the coming spring.

A complete list of the 2012 schedule is now live on the ABRAracing.com website under the schedule page at http://www.abraracing.com/Schedule.html

About the Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association
The Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association is in its fifth year promotions and things just keep getting bigger and better! Point series events can be found in and around Western Maryland, North Central WV, South Western PA., and Eastern Ohio in 2012.

Schedule Info:

§  Number of 2012 Events: 39 Races

§  Race Series: Road, Criterium, Track, Mountain and Cyclocross

§  Host Cities Hot Spots: Pittsburgh, PA – Morgantown, WV – McHenry, MD – Youngstown, OH….

§  Estimated Total race miles for 2012: 1745 miles in Pro/Expert category

§  Predicted total number of registrations for 2012: 4333 entries

§  Riders’ origin: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Virginia, West Virginia, New York…

 

Sponsors needed for the coming season!  Contact us!

Media/Sponsor Contact
J.R. Petsko,

Appalachian Bicycle Racing Association

985 Bethel Church Road

Maidsville, WV 26541

info@ABRAracing.com

Website: www.ABRAracing.com

 

 

If you have any news or info you’d like to share with WV Cycling, feel free to contact me!

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Not Fast, But I Can’t Slow Down

Went to Elkins yesterday to hop on the Allegheny Highlands Trail,what I like to call it, the Elkins Rail Trail. There’s sparse snow on the ground, and the trail is starting to feel kind of sloppy due to the excess moisture. With the terrain slowing me down a bit, I wasn’t expecting to be going that slow, but I still pushed my hardest.

That is my problem. When casually riding, I still end up in Zone 4-5, trying to finish as fast as possible, regardless if my goal is time or distance. I mean… this is a rail trail… Isn’t it supposed to be about fun and leisure, not blowing up at 186bpm for no reason other than trying to go faster? I don’t race, but this is still off-season.

How do people tell their selves to go slower? Do they bring along their girlfriend/wife (ba dum tsssssh!)? About 2/3rds of the way through the ride, I told myself that redlining this is silly, and I should just be going aerobic… I planned on keeping my heart rate around 140-150.

Didn’t happen. I don’t even think I grabbed my waterbottle until mile 12 or something? I did stop at the Tucker County border (unintentionally) and took some photos and video. Awesome rock walls with ice and snow aplenty. I had to jump over a two foot wide creek to get some of these shots, and this made me feel like a genius wearing carbon road shoes… I never said I was brilliant.

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