Fifty Plus (50+) - Bike Virginia 2011 Pics

As usual I'm terrible at taking as many pictures as I should, but I got a few nice shots of this week's Bike Virginia 2011. The ride was in Dublin and Radford VA, with rides up through Blacksburg to the Catawba area as well as over and onto the Blue Ride Parkway.

I got in a ton of miles, including back-to-back century rides of 101 and 108 miles, with 8000 and 7000 feet of climbing respectively. The terrain was fun for me -- up and down and up and down -- but a lot of people were complaining that it was just too hard. I saw more people walking their bikes up those steep little hills than I've ever seen before.

Here's the link to a representative slide show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYMW1_9gX2Q

Valley Overlook:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/JimF22003/Bike%20Virginia%202011/BikeVirginia2011041.jpg

More valley:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/JimF22003/Bike%20Virginia%202011/BikeVirginia2011026.jpg

New River
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/JimF22003/Bike%20Virginia%202011/BikeVirginia2011016.jpg

Me getting pumped up:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/JimF22003/Bike%20Virginia%202011/BikeVirginia2011007.jpg

Typical rest stop:
http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/JimF22003/Bike%20Virginia%202011/BikeVirginia2011021.jpg

Nice!

Pretty scenery. Nice job! :thumb:

Great!!

How many folks?

Your "slide show" is actually a neat YouTube. How come everyong else is going the other direction? :)

Good Vid...thanks

Loved the downhill video!

Nice pictures and video Jim. I rode around Marion and up towards Tazwell this past weekend. It was gorgeous, much like your routes. I might try to ride the VA event next year, at least a day or two of it. I hope they do the same thing but I bet they will head east some.

I had several friends from here doing the ride as well. Great area to ride! Did you climb up Mountain Lake again while you were around Blacksburg by chance??????

Absolutely beautiful country side.

Nice country, thanks for the pics.

Ooops, here's the slideshow:

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii159/JimF22003/Bike%20Virginia%202011/?albumview=slideshow

The video was by me, after I climbed up a fairly easy hill. I coasted back down taking the video. I meant to trim off the start and end bits, but haven't done it yet.

jppe: no I did not even consider going near Mountain Lake :)

Usually they sell out at 2000 riders, but I don't think they made that many this year. They were still taking last-minute registrations.

Next year is supposed to be in Berryville/Winchester/Harpers Ferry. I ride that area a lot normally so I'll have to decide whether I really want to do it as part of BV 2012.

Great stuff. I'd forgotten how beautiful Virginia is.

But I didn't do the Centuries...still a great ride. Had every intention of doing Tuesday's Century but I missed the turn-off and didn't realize it until I saw where they joined back in! My wife and had had a wonderful time, that was our second one. Glad to hear that it will be back in Winchester again, used to live there and looking forward to riding those roads again.
Here's some of my pics

Nice pics. I went to college in Blacksburg a few eons ago. It's nice to get back there again if only in pictures.

Jim,

I grew up in your zip code and lived in various parts of the state most of my life. My family has roots in the state dating back before the revolution. Unfortunately they don't speak to me since I became a convert to the great North ;-). I too spent a stent in Blacksburg as a Hokie, again - following the family tradition. It is a beautiful place - enjoy it.