News/Events

Retirees! (And anybody who is not working on Wednesday afternoons!) Several of our older retired riders are getting together to enjoy the variety of the EVMA trails during the weekdays. The intent is to ride a different trail system each week as opposed to your usual local sessions. This would be an informal once per week ride, weather and holidays permitting.

Next scheduled ride: Weds, 17 April, 2:00 PM, at Harwoods Mill.  Check back here every week for ride location.

***These rides are always weather-dependent, so  check the forecast.  We'll post here if we have to cancel.

HUGE NEWS – NEW TRAIL AT YRSP!!!  Over the last few years you may have seen blue flags through the woods near the pump track at York River State Park.  Kirk Moore (with some help) flagged out a new trail.  After lots of environmental studies and waiting, in April 2024 the state approved us to start construction on part of the trail!  After 3 weekends of work we got over a mile of trail raked in and into ride-able shape.  We're still waiting on approval to build more which we'll continue in fall 2024 (pending approval). 

In the meantime, while this bi-directional trail is not officially open, if you happen to check it out, realize that it is not done yet.  And new trails are always soft and slow until they get ridden in, rained on, and packed down.  We have plans (pending approval) to add more mileage and likely berms and dirt features (also pending approval).  Come help us when we resume building in the fall and give us your feedback.

1. April 26-28, 2024, Douthat state park & Carvin's Cove (registration now open at EVMA.org home page)
   
2. Sept 26-29, 2024, Allegrippis Trails at Ray's Town Lake, PA (this changed from Sept 19-22 so we could get the group campsite!)
3. October 16-20, 2024, Brevard, NC to ride Dupont & Pisgah
   

Here's something new: Group ride on Sun, April 14 at Blue Ridge School near Charlottesville. (*This was changed from Ragged Mountain - see below.)  Meet at 10:30 AM at the gravel parking lot directly across from the school and football field.  Use 273 Mayo Dr, St George, VA 22935 as an address.

Description from ride leader Patrick B: "Riders should expect about 12 miles and 1729’ of climbing. Trails are single track with a mix of technical and flow. Plenty of opportunities for hops and pops and laying it over in turns.  Climbing pace will be slow and we’ll regroup periodically on descents."

*You may have seen that recent political events in C'ville have closed the Ragged Mountain trails to bikes, but CAMBC (the C'ville area equivalent to EVMA) is working to reverse that.  Until it gets sorted out, CAMBC asks that we not ride these trails.  So we'll ride Blue Ridge School instead and head to Ragged Mountain when we can.

Want to get push notifications when trails are closed due to weather/wet conditions?  James City County just added Freedom Park to their Rainout Line.  Sign up at the Rainout Line Website https://rainoutline.com/subscribe/notify/7572392002/0 and use the tabs to choose app, text, or e-mail alerts.  You can sign up to get alerts only for Freedom Park Trails A-E, or any JCC facilities that face weather closures.  (*This is ONLY for Freedom Park bike trail closures, but if Freedom trails are closed, we should probably avoid nearby trails like New Quarter, YRSP, Wahrani, Harwoods Mill.)  You can also still call 757-259-4022 x1, or visit here: https://jamescitycountyva.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Freedom-Park-7.

Also, Freedom Park trails will remain closed until at least Friday, March 29th afternoon (per park staff).  Sign up at the Rainout line to see when they re-open!

If you can spare some time on Friday March 15, Mike Benton could use some help at Wahrani Nature Trail working on the Slingshot section (quick downhill and 2 tabletops).  Meet at 10:00 AM in the parking lot for a very short walk into Slingshot.  Bring work gloves and water.  We'll have the tools.

Night rides for the 2023-2024 winter season have officially ended now that Daylight Savings Time has begun.  Enjoy riding after work in the daylight!

Sorry that we missed the entire last week of night rides due to rain.  Oh well. 

Thanks to everybody who rode with us, and to the parks who allowed us to stay after normal hours.

We could use about 6 to 8 folks to help this Friday afternoon at Freedom Park.  Bring a shovel and wheelbarrow if you can.  Meet at the Boy Scout loop, at the intersection of Trail C and the paved multiuse trail 3, near the Go Ape ziplines. 

The plan is to move dirt to re-shape the first two “roll-downs” that we worked on 2 weeks ago that turned out steeper than intended (these were not intended to be drops or poorly-designed jumps, which is almost how they are now).  We’ll extend out the roll-downs to make them less steep and “divey.”  The goal is to keep some “whoop” factor but allow for speed and flow, with the rocks meant to prevent erosion.  Thanks to the several dozen people who provided input by e-mail, in-person on the trail, etc.  Some said keep them as-is.  More said make them into more/bigger jumps!  Most said they’re too steep and should be flatter/flowier, which is what we’re aiming for Friday.

Something different!  Meet at 10:00 AM at Forest Hill Park (4021 Forest Hill Ave, Richmond, south side of the James River).  Carpooling encouraged.  We’ll make a big loop around Forest Hill, Buttermilk, Northbank, Poop Loop, etc.  A little bit of everything: some flow, some rocks, a skills park, two James River crossings, some pedestrians to dodge, etc.

EVMA night rides - please see important info:

1.Rides may be cancelled due to weather or holidays.  Check back here and check your e-mail for cancellations by about 4:00-ish PM the day of the ride. 

2. Night rides are for current EVMA members only.  (EVMA.org, Join Us)  Sign-in sheet is required. 

3. Rides start promptly at 6:00 PM so we can be off the trails by 7:45 and out of the parking lot by 8:00 PM.  Please arrive early to sign in and gear up so we can roll at 6:00.

4. Weekly schedule: Tuesdays at Harwoods Mill; Wednesdays at New Quarter Park; Thursdays at Freedom Park.  Rides start Tues, Nov 7, 2023 and end Thurs, March 7, 2024.

5. These are GROUP rides per our agreements with the 3 municipalities that have given us special permission to ride at night following certain rules.  All riders must start with the group and follow the same agreed-upon route.  The parks are not open for riding on your own.  Only the EVMA group is allowed.