it's been a while, but I lived in RVA a few years back. If you're gonna be near/in downtown, it's very bike friendly. Downtown is very chill, and there is some great riding around the area --VERY easy to get out into country roads. Wander into any bike shop and ask about riding to Ashland for coffee. And there are couple quality mtn bike trails right there in downtown across the river. I really enjoyed the year I spent there (except the humidity didn't agree with me, I'm now in Colorado). Some good peeps.

It's not quite 4-season riding --it does snow and it does get crazy storms, but it's fairly doable. 40F and humid is bitter cold. 95F and 80% humidity sucks. You'll get a good dose of that in a few weeks

Be optimistic and aim downtown--