News/Events

Sunday, April 27: We’re headed back to Blue Ridge School (north of Charlottesville) as a warm-up for the Douthat trip.  Professionally built (mostly) trails with some climbing, some rocks, and fun downhills. Meet and start riding by 10:30 AM.  4 people confirmed so far. *PLEASE REPLY TO THE MOST RECENT EVMA E-MAIL IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND OR JUST WANT MORE INFO, and to make plans to carpool.  We’ll send a confirm e-mail to attendees Fri or Sat.Trail map & REQUIRED waiver here: https://www.blueridgeschool.com/outdoor/trails-facilities/.  Exact location: search Google maps for “Blue Ridge School Grass Field, Unnamed Road, Dyke, VA 22935.”

This Wednesday's (23 Apr) retirees ride will be at Mariner's, 2 PM.

The EVMA has an agreement with JCC Parks & Rec to offer periodic Beginners Rides that are open to the public, but are also good for newer riders, family members who aren’t regular riders, etc.  Join us if you are new to mountain biking, or want to bring inexperienced friends/family, or introduce somebody to the sport.  Kids are welcome if accompanied by a parent/guardian.  This is a casual pace, introductory ride.

Required: bring your own mountain bike, helmet, and water. 

Meet at 9:30 AM in the small parking lot near the Bunny Trail trailhead and log cabins.  We plan to ride sections of the mountain bike trails, taking lots of stops, catering to the skill and interest of the group, and with plenty of places to "bail out" if needed.  

Join us for a group ride Friday, April 18 at the James River Trails in downtown Richmond.  Looks like great weather!  If you've never ridden these trails, this is a good opportunity for a guided tour. 

Details: meet at 10:00 AM at Forest Hill Park, 4021 New Kent Ave (at intersection of W 42nd St) in the parking lot.  There is a less than ideal bathroom, and possibly a porta-potty.  So far we have at least 9 people confirmed.

Our route will probably be about 20 miles including Forest Hill Park, Buttermilk, Dogwood Dell, Northbank, Belle Isle, Poop Loop, etc. We'll be in and out of sun & shade, with a very little bit pavement riding but not on streets with cars.  Be prepared for some more rocky tech and short climbs than you'd expect for trails right in the middle of a city.

We're hoping for fewer pedestrians than on a weekend day.

Dirt Divas Ride & Women’s Trail Festival, Sat, 3/29/25, Freedom Park: The 1^st annual Women’s Trail Festival (https://happycatfitness.com/races-and-results/womens-trail-festival/) asked the EVMA to send a female EVMA rep to talk about what we do, so EVMA Secretary Salley Rowe will speak about the EVMA between noon & 1:00 PM.  And separate from and not an official part of the festival, we’re doing a Dirt Divas group ride (females only, please) at 10:00 AM on 3/29/25. Our own Kiwi Dirt Diva, Penny Rich, will lead the ride at a casual pace.  DIRT DIVAS and all female EVMA members – please join us for this ride and help us recruit some new members.  Any other EVMA ladies interested in being a Dirty Diva, let us know and we’ll add you to the group.  And please post this on EVMA Chatter to encourage more female riders to attend!

Come help us build a rock garden at YRSP, on John Blair section B at intersection of Majestic Oak trail.  Colonial Revolution youth race team requested this rock garden for practice for when they race in the mountains, and will be co-leading this project with EVMA. 

Details:

• Time: Meet at noon, and we plan to start no later than 12:30.  We’ll end either when we finish the rock garden or get tired.  Work for a while, then ride if you want.
• Location: Meet at the maintenance shed which is part way down the park road, on a turn-off on the right, BEFORE you get to the pay station.  Look for the EVMA banners.  No parking fee applies! 
• Bring: Work gloves, water, and your bike if you want to ride to the work site (and/or hit the trails afterwards).  We’ll bring the tools.  We’ll be digging, moving/placing rocks, and shoveling/hauling dirt.

A huge thanks to YRSP staff Scott & David who spent their day Tues, March 18 picking up 2.57 tons of brown river rock and almost 4 tons of dirt, and delivering them to the work site.  And to Park Manager Charlie for authorizing this.  This was a HUGE help that saves us from a lot of work unloading/reloading/transporting over 6 tons of material.

Something different!  ML is a maze of trails, so good to have a guide if you’re not familiar with it.  Meet at the trailhead at 10:00 AM at 1698 Gatewood Rd, Newport News.  ***Parking is extremely limited, so if you don’t get one of the 4 or so spots at the trailhead, please find legal parking nearby, maybe 0.7 mile down Gatewood Rd. at Warwick High School, along Copeland Lane. Please don’t park at Temple Sinai next door, where they have No Parking signs.  Thanks to Wynn Yang for suggesting this ride. 

This Wednesday's (19 March) retirees group ride will be at Harwood's, 2 PM.

Harwood's riders - there is a new reroute about halfway through the "B" trail, immediately after the two camelback humps and their small downhill. The new reroute includes two downhill runs, one with a small drop. The new section is marked with orange tape, and will replace the old run towards the water, which was badly eroding. The old section will be closed after everyone gets familiar with the new reroute, probably around the beginning of May. The new reroute was approved by NN Parks department.

You don't have to actually be retired to join us.  Anybody who wants a social, casual paced ride is welcome to join.  Thanks to Mark Willmann for leading these regular. weekly rides (weather dependent).