Cancelled Virginia Horse Country, 2020

This Ride has been Cancelled

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW:  Experience the fall foliage, rural beauty, history, charm, and tranquility of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley during this loop tour which includes 9 days of required riding and 3 days of optional rides, hiking, or relaxing in beautiful, peaceful settings. Cycle along quiet country roads, passing prosperous horse farms and lush family farms. We’ll ride from Leesburg, crossing the Potomac River into rural Maryland and on into West Virginia at the start of our trip, then proceed south through the Shenandoah Valley to Waynesboro, VA. From Waynesboro we head back north via Skyline Drive, enjoying spectacular views of the changing foliage in the valley below from high in the Blue Ridge mountains of Shenandoah National Park. We find cycling in this area to be sheer joy and look forward to sharing it with you! The Ride leader led this tour in the spring of 2009 and 2019, but in the reverse direction.

Additional highlights of this tour include:

• Opportunity to ride the entire length of Skyline Drive (Waynesboro to Front Royal)
• Three nights in the luxurious and charming Iris Inn overlooking the Shenandoah Valley in Waynesboro
• Opportunity to visit Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Charlottesville, VA (entry fee is not included in the tour cost)
• Two nights in historic Big Meadows Lodge with an opportunity to hike in Shenandoah National Park

RIDE RATING: Ride rating is “3B!” with daily averages of 47 miles and 3000’ of elevation gain, based on the easiest routes for required riding days. Mileage and elevation gains range from 36-59 miles with 1860’-4660’ of climbing. Most days there will be options for longer distances. Contact the Ride Leader for a list of daily mileage and elevation gains.  Three days exceed the max mileage and elevation rating for level 3B:

• The ride from Shepherdstown, WV to Stephens City, VA (day 2 of the tour) – 59 miles with 2700’ of climbing.
• The ride from Warrenton to Big Meadows Lodge (day 8 of the tour) includes 15 miles of the southern portion of Skyline Drive – 58 miles with 4660’ of climbing. The following day is a rest day in Shenandoah National Park.  An optional route will be available for those who wish to ride the entire length of Skyline Drive on this tour – 62 miles with 6700’ of climbing.
• The ride from Big Meadows Lodge (day 10 of the tour) follows the rest day in SNP – 57 miles with 4400’ of climbing, and 7500’ of descending.

All roads will be paved and most will be quiet and lightly trafficked although there will be occasional short stretches of busy roads. There’s one short tunnel on Skyline Drive for which you must have bright front and rear lights. The Ride Leader has ridden all of the routes within the past year and will scout them again prior to the tour’s start. This ride is for strong, independent cyclists. Be prepared to ride the entire distance each day; transport in the luggage van will be restricted to true emergencies!

WEATHER: The average high temperature in the Shenandoah Valley in October is 66 degrees with a range between 50 and 82. Expect temperatures in Shenandoah National Park to be 5-10 degrees cooler than the valley. Average total precipitation for October is 3 inches. Come prepared for warm, cold, wet, dry, calm and windy conditions.

LODGING & MEALS: We’ll stay in both commercial hotels and charming country inns, including the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown, WV (1 night); the Iris Inn in Waynesboro (3 nights), Hotel Madison in downtown Harrisonburg (1 night), and historic Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah National Park. There are 9 breakfasts and 5 group dinners included in the tour cost. As several days will have few options available for a lunch stop, PB&J, fruit, and cookies will be available for those who wish to make lunches to take on the road. Vegetarian options will be available for all meals included in the cost of the trip.

LOGISTICS: The tour starts at the Comfort Suites Leesburg with our first BAC Happy Hour and meeting at 5pm, Sunday, October 4, 2020, and ends after breakfast on Saturday, October 17, 2020. Leesburg is 15 miles from Dulles International Airport (IAD), and about 40 miles northwest of Washington, DC and Reagan National Airport (DCA). Free shuttle service is available from Dulles to the Comfort Suites Leesburg with an advance reservation (703-669-1650). If you’re considering flying into Reagan National, you can take the Metro Silver line to the Wiehle Avenue stop in Reston, take the shuttle bus service from the Metro to Dulles Airport, and then take the free shuttle to the Comfort Suites Leesburg. Cars and bike boxes can be left at the Comfort Suites Leesburg during the tour at no charge.  Additional nights at the Comfort Suites Leesburg, before or after the tour, can be booked at the “BAC rate” by calling the hotel directly (703-669-1650).

Bikes: Please contact the Ride Leader prior to signing up if you are planning to bring an eBike or tandem. For anyone who wishes to rent a bike, you can contact Tom Knoerzer at Get Out and Go (Tom@getoutandgo.biz or 571-572-BIKE) to make arrangements directly. Whether you rent a bike or bring your own, it is your responsibility to change your own flats and take care of any mechanical problems. A list of bike shops in the vicinity of our route will be provided.

GPS Devices & Routes: GPS tracks will be provided for all routes, but it is up to you to know how to use your GPS device before the trip begins. Ride with GPS links will also be provided for all routes.

COST & ADMINISTRATION: Estimated cost per rider is $2,400, plus the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee of $50, and includes: 13 nights lodging (double occupancy), 9 breakfasts; 5 group dinners; daily route review meeting and BAC Happy Hour with wine, beer, soft drinks and snacks; cue sheets and GPS files; luggage van expense; and expense reimbursement for the Ride Leader and Van Driver. A deposit of $1000 is due at sign-up, and the remaining payment of $1400 is due July 31, 2020. The solo supplement fee of $800 is also due July 31, 2020.

SINGLES & SOLOS POLICY: Due to room limitations at two of the inns, a maximum of 4 singles will be accepted, of which no more than 2 can be solos (singles who do not wish to share a room). Solos accepted onto the ride must be willing to share a room for four (4) nights of the tour. The solo supplement fee is $800. Singles who are accepted onto the tour without a roommate will have until January 31, 2020 to find one. As space permits, if a single is unable to find a roommate, they may opt. to participate as a solo and pay the solo supplement, or receive a refund, less the BAC fee and payment processing fee. The solo supplement payment must be sent via check made out to “BAC” to the BAC office (Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193), and must include a notation of the tour name and dates.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The BAC ride registration fee and payment processing fee are not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the cancelling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the cancelling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped, the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the solo supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour. BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY: Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support. Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.  All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read this ride description carefully and respond to requests from Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have, or any problems you encounter, and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

SIGN-UP: To submit a request to join this ride use the "links" displayed above this Ride Description. If you are accepted onto the ride, the Ride Leader will move you from the Waitlist to the Pending List.  At that time, you’ll receive an email notification to login to the BAC website to sign the release of liability form and pay the non-refundable BAC ride registration fee and the initial tour deposit of $1000 by credit card.  As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the tour’s Participant List.  To contact the Ride Leader, "click" the name at the top of this Ride Description.