09 BIKE VIRGINIA
On Friday June 19, 2009 we drove to Charlottesville, VA for Bike Virginia. I cycled 282.2 miles in 5 days averaging 13.31 miles per hour (mph) reaching a maximum speed of 38.6 mph. I spent 33 hours 50 minutes on the road while cycling 21 hours 11 minutes and 32 seconds.
We biked in the foothills of the Shenandoah Mountains around Charlottesville, Orange and Culpepper. This area is very beautiful and historic with 3 US presidents coming from here. The hills are luscious green with beautiful panoramic views of the mountains for a backdrop. The hills were numerous and many quite steep making the cycling challenging. Most days we climbed around 3000’. The roads were generally in good shape, very rural and virtually no traffic. Everywhere there were large old farms and estates, all impeccably designed and maintained so that each was prettier than the last
We had no rain during the 6 days of Bike Virginia. Saturday was hot and humid with the temperature reaching 88° and the heat index at 98°. Sunday and Monday were cooler with some breeze and less humidity so they were fairly comfortable. It warmed up again on Tuesday and Wednesday with temperatures in the mid to high 80s. We biked in the mornings starting around 7:00 a.m. when it was cooler and we had a lot of shade each day so the cycling was tolerable.
We were served breakfast each morning in the school cafeteria starting at 6:00 a.m. or before. There were 4 or more serving lines in Charlottesville and Culpepper so service was quick. Orange had one line resulting in a long wait. Each morning’s buffet had oatmeal, eggs, bacon, sausage, cold cereal, biscuits, bagels, fruit salad, bananas, apples, orange juice, milk, coffee, tea, etc. Lunches were provided. All had sandwiches, fruit, cold drinks, cookies, pasta salad and sometimes bean salad. Saturday’s lunch had chicken as well that was very good. Tuesday’s lunch at the Madison firehouse had chicken, beef or shrimp kebabs that were great. The 2 to 3 rest stops each day were well stocked with fruit, Gatorade, water, cookies, snacks, etc. We had no dinner plan so we ate in local restaurants.
We spent 5 nights at 3 high schools with options for tenting, sleeping in the gym or staying in a motel. Since the schools were not centrally located in the towns there were shuttles from the school to the business district and another shuttle for the people in motels to the business district. There was a shower truck with about 8 men’s and 8 women’s showers. We could also use the school showers but they were cold in Charlottesville. School toilets were available and there were spot-a-pots except in Orange where I was told there were some hidden away way back away from everything. There was entertainment every night with talent shows, bands, street fairs, etc.
One of the joys of the trip was the people. I enjoyed biking, eating and camping with Barry Nelson, Lew Frain, Beth Cooper, Pete Flaton, Mary Menne, Ron Cully, John and Kazue Wickens and Gary Gentry. I also enjoyed getting reacquainted with old friends like Wilf Coulson from Canada with whom I hiked the Chilkoot Trail in 1998. I also met up with Gary Kelly, Deb Chaney, Julie Boughn, Marie Hertzler and Sue Clewell that I have biked with in the US and Europe and haven’t seen for some time.
Daily Data
| Day | Date | Activity | Milepost | Content | Miles | Avg mph | Max mph | From | To | Road time | Bike time | Cost
| Bike Virginia | $325.00
| Friday | 09/06/19 | Drive | Columbia=>Charlottesville | 10:00 | 1:48 | 3:48
| Lunch | | Culpepper Five Guys | $9.11
| | Rootbeer float | $3.00
| Dinner | | South Street Brewery | $21.00
| Camp | Charlottesville High School
| Saturday | 09/06/20 | Breakfast | Charlottesville High School
| Bike | | South loop | 58.5 | 12.6 | 38.4 | 7:20 | 2:10 | 6:50 | 4:36:38
| Rest stop | 14 | Blenheim Vineyards
| Lunch | 25 | Scottsville
| Rest stop | 41 | Alberene Baptist Church
| Drink | | Root beer float | $3.00
| Dinner | | Henry's | $17.93
| Camp | | Charlottesville High School
| Sunday | 09/06/21 | Breakfast | | Charlottesville High School buffet
| Bike | | Charlottesville=>Culpepper | 65.2 | 13.1 | 33.8 | 7:03 | 1:50 | 6:47 | 5:00:16
| Rest stop | 10 | Stoney Point Ruritan Club
| Rest stop | 26 | Barboursville Winery & Ruins
| Lunch | 40 | Porterfield Park in Orange
| Rest stop | 48 | Rapidan VFD
| Drink | | Root beer float | $3.00
| Dinner | | Hazel River Inn | $23.80
| Camp | | Culpepper Eastern View High School
| Monday | 09/06/22 | Breakfast | | Eastern View High School buffet
| Bike | | Northeast loop | 48.6 | 14.4 | 38.6 | 6:56 | 12:30 | 5:34 | 3:22:50
| Rest stop | 18 | Inn at Kelly's Ford
| Lunch | 25 | Remington VFD
| Rest stop | 39 | Mt Zion Church
| Drink | | Root beer float | $3.00
| Dinner | | Hazel River Inn | $23.80
| Drink | | Root beer float | $3.00
| Camp | | Culpepper Eastern View High School
| Tuesday | 09/06/23 | Breakfast | | Eastern View High School buffet
| Bike | | Culpepper=>Orange | 56.6 | 14.0 | 35.1 | 6:50 | 1:02 | 6:12 | 4:02:28
| | Rest stop | 21 | Novum Baptist Church
| | Lunch | 32 | Madison County VFD
| | Rest stop | 39 | Good Hope Baptist Churrch
| | Rest stop | 50 | Montpelier
| | Drink | | Root beer float | $3.00
| | Dinner | | Silk Mill | $18.36
| | Drink | | Milkshake | $4.00
| | Camp | | Orange County High School
| Wednesday | 09/06/24 | Breakfast | | Orange County High School buffet
| | Bike | | Orange=>Charlottesville | 53.3 | 12.8 | 35.7 | 6:51 | 11:30 | 4:39 | 4:09:40
| | Rest stop | 18 | Union Grove Christian Church
| | Rest stop | 34 | Chestnut Grove Baptist Church
| | Lunch | 52 | Charlottesville McIntire Park
| | Drive | | Charlottesville=>Columbia | 1:04 | 4:35 | 3:31
| | Drink | | McDonalds Milkshake | $3.70
| | Drink | | McDonalds Ice tea | $2.12
| |
| | | | | 282.2 | 13.31 | 38.6 | 33:50:00 | 21:11:52 | $466.82
| |
COST
| Bike Virginia | $325.00 | |
| Food & Drink | $141.82 | |
| Total | $466.82 |
PACKING LIST
| Bike | Cards & Documents | Medicare | |
| Bike | GEHA | ||
| Helmut | Bible | ||
| Shoes | Mastercard | ||
| Socks (5) | Seat Pack | Debit card | |
| Shorts (5) | Multi tool | Log & pens | |
| Gloves | Tube | AA Batteries | |
| Glasses & mirror | Cassette tool | Towel | |
| Cyclometer | Spare nuts & bolts | Shower shoes | |
| Water bottles | Brake cable | Toothbrush | |
| Sandals | Shifter cable | Toothpaste | |
| Shirts (5) | Tire tools | Deodorant | |
| T shirts (3) | Shampoo | ||
| Clothes | Shoes | Scissors | |
| Burmudas (3) | Razor comb | ||
| Socks (3) | Comb | ||
| Underwear (6) | Brush | ||
| Shirts (6) | Battery Razor | ||
| Raincoat | Soap | ||
| Camp | Pillow & case | Sunscreen | |
| Sleeping bag | |||
| Sheet | |||
| Air mattress |
Accesses since June 26, 2009.
Last updated June 26, 2009