I wrote about this when it first became news, and I think it’s worth highlighting now that it’s entered the public input phase. The James River Association is inviting residents of the Richmond and Tri-cities regions to attend one of two community meetings to engage in a discussion on the Regional Rivers Plan. This plan for the rivers of the Richmond region will make recommendations and identify strategies to leverage our waterways to improve quality of life and catalyze river-based economic activity.

Your input is need to craft the area’s “Regional Rivers Plan.” Credit: City of Richmond

The study team, which is composed of planning professionals from the JRA, Timmons Group, 3north, and Richmond Regional Planning District Commission, is focusing on public access and economic development along the four major river corridors of the Richmond region: James River, Appomattox River, Chickahominy River, and Pamunkey River.

“With the help of local experts, we’re answering questions like ‘what’s there?’, ‘what’s missing?,’ and ‘what’s next?’,” said Andy Boenau, lead planner with Timmons Group.

“We are excited to share our progress to date and engage members of the community in a conversation about the future of our region’s rivers,” said Justin Doyle, Community Conservation Manager with the James River Association. “The Regional Rivers Plan will identify three to five catalytic projects that will expand access to the James River and its tributaries to increase opportunities for river recreation and riverfront economic development.”

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

July 15, 6 pm — Chimborazo Park Roundhouse, Grace Street at N. 36^th Street, Richmond, VA

July 22, 6 pm — The Cameron Foundation, 228 S. Sycamore Street, Petersburg, VA

The creation of the Regional Rivers Plan was one of four strategies presented by the James River Work Group of the Capital Regional Collaborative – a partnership between government, business and community to improve the quality of life across the Capital Region and to address issues that are not confined by city or county limits.

Competitors in last year’s James River Rundown. Credit: Angie Williams

Earlier this season the James River Association announced details for our 2nd Annual James River Rundown, a series of paddle races that take place June 27-28, 2015 in the heart of central Virginia on the mighty James. With its ala carte menu of race options, both seasoned paddlers and lollygaggers alike will be pleased to hit incredible stretches along this historic river. A grueling 100-mile endurance race begins the morning of June 27 at James River State Park in Gladstone and is touted as one of the longest races of its kind on the East Coast, testing even the most seasoned paddlers.

But wait, there’s more! This year the JRA has added two shorter races to the event in the hopes of enticing paddlers of all skill levels to register. On June 28, a 40-mile race starts in Cartersville, and later that morning a 20-mile race starts at Powhatan State Park. All of the races will culminate just past Robious Landing in Richmond at American Legion Post 354 for a post-race celebration complete with local bluegrass faves 14 ½ Strings, barbecue, and beverages from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Boom.

Competitors will traverse the river in kayaks, canoes, rafts and paddleboards, either as solo paddlers or in teams. There are no restrictions on what they paddle, just as long as there is no motor, sail, or anchored oar configuration and participants reach the finish line within the 40 hour cutoff. Designated safety checkpoints will be set up along the way, offering paddlers a chance to rest or camp.

I caught up with a few of the adventurous early adopters of the paddle in hopes they would pass along some wisdom to anyone caught up in the idea of running any one of these amazing paddles. Rusty and Leza McClain dominated last year’s run with a searing 17 hour win. Saw no one for hours. Epic. Kevin Odberg founded the race after paddling a 340 mile stretch of the Missouri. Raced with his brother Mike. They still like one another. And John Nestler was first place solo, second overall. Tremendous effort.

RO: Before the James River Rundown, what was the longest distance you paddled?

R&L: We paddled the 120 mile Ausable River Canoe Marathon in Michigan

KO: I paddled the 340-mile Missouri River 340. That was my first big race and it took my brother and I 62 hours to finish. Prior to taking the leap and signing up for that race, however, my longest paddle had been about 10 miles but I got in some good training runs prior to that race.

Ready for action before last year’s Rundown.

RO: How did you prepare for the Rundown?

R&L: We paddle/race all year round. For example did the General Clinton 70-miler on Memorial Day several weeks before the JRR-100. Ran several sections of the race course in the weeks between the 70-miler and JRR-100.

KO: I paddled most sections of the course and got in a few longer paddles of 4-6 hours to make sure I was comfortable in the boat, which I was, for a short time. But if you paddle for 18 + hours in a padded lounge chair eventually you will not be comfortable so you just need to prepare to hurt.

RO: Looking back, what would you do differently to prepare? Punching slabs of beef? Lifting logs? P90X?

KO: Any cardio is great, however, paddling 100 miles is more about enduring than it is about fitness. If you are willing to paddle through the exhaustion and pain you are more prepared than someone in great shape prone to giving up. One of the best things you can do is learn good paddling technique so you use big core muscles more than smaller arm muscles. That will help with muscle fatigue.

JN: I brought plenty of water and food which kept me comfortable, but totally neglected the wear and tear that would happen on my hands. I was using a whitewater paddle in a sea kayak, so the water dripping down the shaft and constant friction gave me pretty bad blisters by mile 30. I started wrapping my hands in duct tape, but it wasn’t that effective. So a couple pairs of dry gloves could be really good – and a longer paddle to prevent a wet shaft. I also peed in my kayak since I thought taking my skirt off took too much time – worked well while I was racing, but smelled pretty foul after. So maybe that wasn’t necessary….

RO: Was there a section of the James you found most challenging? Most awe inspiring?

R&L: Some of the ledges in the first half of the race and after dark seeing large numbers of lightening bugs twinkling like Christmas lights in the trees along the shore.

JN: None of the course was all that technical for a plastic sea kayak, but people definitely had trouble in composite boats. I saw one canoe flip in a rapid, which really slowed them down, and a couple boats had issues with the rocks. I’d say that was my biggest advantage – I really paddled fast through the rock gardens since I didn’t have anything to worry about with a durable, fast boat. Those sections were the most fun too as I could play around with my whitewater skills, whereas the flat water gets pretty monotonous sometimes.I also passed the annual Batteau Festival (http://www.vacanals.org/batteau/) during the race, and it was quite a sight to see those boats being poled down the river!

All human-powered vessels are fair game at the JR Rundown. Credit: Angie Williams

RO: Give me an “oh $h*@” moment during the race.

R&L: We were told at the last check-point at 900 pm that there were no more rapids to contend with in the dark, however there were at least two ledges that caught us by surprise, and were a little un-nerving in the dark.

KO: My brother and I were paddling an 18.5-foot canoe which is not easy to maneuver. We found a chute in a rapids section only to find out there was a very large rock straight ahead of the chute we were running. We were already committed and just had to accept the fact we were about to crash into it. We did and slowly tipped sideways and got to cool off for a second before continuing.

RO:   Was there any point in the race where you thought “What the hell am I doing ? “

R&L: Of course, luckily not to both of us at the same time, so we kept each other going.

KO: Multiple points. You tend to go through energy cycles. One minute you feel great and you’re loving life and paddling is easy and enjoyable. Ten minutes later and you feel exhausted and want to hit someone with a paddle. It’s usually happens around the 60-80 mile mark. You’ve paddled longer than ever before, most of your body hurts, especially your butt, you are exhausted, possibly nauseous, and realize you still have 20-40 miles left to paddle. Once you get closer to the finish, the end is in sight and you get re-energized by the fact you know you’ll make it.

RO: What’s one piece of wisdom, advice you would pass on to this year’s Rundowners?

R&L: Keep paddling and pre-paddle as many sections beforehand as possible.

KO:  Don’t show up to the race already dehydrated. Hydrate for 4-7 days prior to the race, bring plenty of water and eat a little something every hour to keep energy levels steady. Also, just stay in the boat and keep going.

JN: Don’t stop until you finish – the hurt really comes on when your body realizes that it’s done racing and it can shut down. Also take it easy at the beginning – people really blasted off the starting line, but it’s a long race.

RO:   Besides pulling into Robious Landing, any moments of Zen you’d care to share?

KO: There was one moment when a bald eagle holding a bass flew over our heads and we got to watch it cross the river. We both saw it so it wasn’t a hallucination.

JN: You get in the zone. God knows how many strokes it takes to go 100 miles, but there’s definitely a zen associated with it. It’s a cool feeling that’s hard to get in shorter events.

Think you have what it takes? The James River Rundown is still accepting registrations until June 24. RichmondOutside.com is a proud sponsor of this year’s Rundown. Get out in a boat, and maybe we’ll be interviewing you this time next season.

The madness on Buttermilk Trail last year as fans watch riders go by.

If you’ve followed XTERRA’s history in Richmond, you know that in the past few years a raucous party zone has popped up on Buttermilk Trail along the mountain bike course of the off-road triathlon. As you can tell from the pictures here, this isn’t just any party zone. Every year it seems like, more crazies come out of the woodwork to cheer on, and sometimes heckle, the riders as they pass that narrow section of trail.

Well, I guess the demand for that space is now such that another party zone is planned for the bike course at tomorrow’s XTERRA East Coast Championship race. I got a text from one of those crazies today saying that a large group had tested out a new location during last month’s Urban Assault MTB race. They went to Forest Hill Park, where the trail crosses Reedy Creek just below Patrick Henry Elementary School and across the street from Crossroads Coffee. It’s a tricky crossing, and the rocks will be wet, which should mean more than a few crashes.

“We’re taking it up a notch this year,” he said.

The creek crossing in Forest Hill Park where fans will set up a second party zone. A wooden bridge near this spot was washed out by a storm last year. Credit: Alex Modestou

What that means, exactly, I’m not sure. But if you’re in the market for a Sunday morning spectacle tomorrow, head to either the Buttermilk Trail (below Riverside and Southcliff roads) or the Forest Hill Park Trail where it crosses Reedy Creek. The races start at 8 a.m. You won’t be disappointed.

It’s XTERRA weekend in Richmond, and that means off-road triathletes from all over the world have descended on RVA to test their mettle on the James River (1K swim) and it’s surrounding trails (20K mountain bike, 10K run). To quote Trey Garman, XTERRA VP in charge of media relations, “XTERRA has been racing in Richmond since 1999, and the city has firmly established itself as the sports’ finest urban adventure with a hip city culture that compliments ripping trails and the unpredictable James River.”

Here’s some more from Garman on what to expect at the XTERRA East Championship on Sunday:

Josiah Middaugh on Buttermilk Trail. Credit: Jesse Peters

The course itself annually attracts professional and amateur racers from across the country and around the world to discover the epic trails in the James River Park System – where they are greeted by a raucous bunch of bike and trail fanatics who annually throw a trail party at the trickiest section in Buttermilk Heights known as “Rock Face.” They blast music, BBQ, dress in costumes, scream, shout encouragement, and blast on vuvuzela’s to the delight of riders all day long. 

As for the run, it has been best described as the “Fugitive 10K” because of its similarity to some of the chase scenes in the movie The Fugitive including river crossings, rock jumpings, the “Mayan Ruins” stair climb, and train track crossings.  There is simply no XTERRA course in the world like the one in Richmond. 

A solid pro field is in RVA to take on the challenge highlighted by Josiah Middaugh, who won the 20-24 age group race back in 2002 before turning pro, won it all in ’08, and has finished in the top 3 here five times.  Middaugh is fresh off his eighth straight GoPro Games Ultimate Mountain Challenge title in his hometown of Vail, Colorado last weekend (as is women’s XTERRA star Emma Garrard).

Middaugh will be up against Kiwi great Braden Currie, who’s been perfect so far this season.  Middaugh and Currie had an epic race at the Southeast Championship last month, going neck-and-neck from the bike all the way through the run and into the finish line.  Currie, who took the tape in Alabama, says he expects another close one on Sunday here in Richmond.

“The swim is a bit shorter so Josiah will be out of the water not too far behind, and the ride is so technical that there is only so much time you’re going to make on that ride and not a huge amount of long climbs that Josiah sinks his teeth into and really likes so that’ll play a little bit in my favor, so then it’ll come down to the run.  We’ll see, should be a lot of fun,” said Currie.

The party scene on the bike route makes Richmond unique. Credit: Jesse Peters

After Josiah and Braden there are a lot of guys to mention, like Craig Evans who has been in the top 5 here five times and will be competing for the last time as a full-fledged pro.

“I’ve been close a few times here,” said Evans.  “I’m excited to race, and I came to fight this weekend.”

Chris Ganter has been hot this year, finishing third at the first two regionals, the tall Canadian Karsten Madsen was riding great in Alabama last month before a crash and a trio of flats took him out of contention, Kiwi Olly Shaw has had some time to comfortable here in the U.S. and the new look courses, Branden Rakita – the consummate professional has lots of experience here, regulars Ryan Ignatz, Brad Zoller, and Alex Modestou are in the mix, plus Ian King in his first pro race and road tri star Ben Collins making his debut in the U.S. Pro Series.

The women’s race will see a new champion emerge as none of the past XTERRA East winners are here.  There’s no Flora Duffy (last year’s champ), no Lesley Paterson (2013 Champ), no Melanie McQuaid or Jamie Whitmore (both four-time winners), no Shonny Vanlandingham (2011), no Renata Bucher (2010), nor Jody Mielke, Anke Erlank, or Kerstin Weule.

There is, however, Emma Garrard and Suzie Snyder, both eager to take home their first XTERRA U.S. Pro Series win. A couple of fast Canadians – Christine Jeffrey and Brittany Webster – are sure to put them to the test.  Five other women in the top 10 of the Series standings will start with Kara LaPoint (4th), Maia Ignatz (6th), Sara McLarty (7th), Debby Sullivan (8th), and Catherine Sterling.  For local knowledge look no further than hometown favorite Emily Bashton, who’s been racing in Richmond since 2000, and Rebecca Blatt who got her doctorate in medicine at the University of Virginia.

It’s supposed to be a scorcher on Sunday, with temps in the 90’s and the humidity to go with it, so just to finish will be an accomplishment for all involved.  Add in the unpredictable James River, the crazy fan-base in the forest, the one-of-a-kind obstacles and a host of finely-tuned XTERRA elites and you’ve got all the right ingredients for another amazing edition of XTERRA in Richmond.  We’ll document the elite race on twitter @xterraoffroad #xterraRVA starting Sunday at 7:40am EST.

In 2011, I spent over three months in Nepal traveling and kayaking in various remote areas.  During that time I developed a strong connection and marvel for a country of humble and compassionate people.  This wonder brought me back again in 2014, though with different goals.  There were still rivers and places I wanted to see, though I always found myself wanting to spend more time staying put in the villages than my paddling partners.  From my kayaking experience in the remote district of Dolpa & Humla I knew that I wanted to spend time in area where there were no cars or buses, only walking trails.  I wanted to frequent the same houses and get to know the locals and how they got on in their daily lives.  I had met so many Nepalis who lived the agrarian lifestyle and radiated some of the warmest smiles I had encountered, it was addicting.

Humla

Late November as I wandered the maze of cobbled streets in Kathmandu I found myself in a volunteer office inquiring about teaching opportunities.  I had done some shorter stints of teaching in Upper Dolpa & Mysore, India and knew how energetic the young population could be.  When the coordinator suggested a working with Sherpas on their English in Kathmandu, I stopped her and explained I wanted to be far from these crowded and polluted streets.  So I was place in the town of Surkhe of the Ramechapp District.  To get there I would take a 9 hour bus ride, 3 of which were on mountainous roads and then still have to walk about an hour to get to my host family.  Having just got off a 24-hour bus from Western Nepal, this commute was quite inviting.  The village even overlooked one of my favorite paddling destinations, the Tamba Kosi River.

Surkhe

For the next month I lived with a host family and their 4 adorable children.  Every morning I woke up at 6:00 am had a cup of tea, some corn nuts, and walked about half an hour to the school while the sun rose and caste its first light on the Himalayas across the valley.  I taught English and Literature in the mornings to the upper level (class 11 & 12) before walking home again for lunch.  After lunch, I again took the walk through mustard fields, past chickens & marigolds back to school by 11:00 am for my other classes.  The afternoons was filled with English and some Math for the 8th, 9th, & 10th classes.  Over 80 students were packed into my 10th class geometry course!  In the evenings I returned to my host family for dinner and early to bed.  Six days a week the process repeated.

12th Class Literature

On my days off I was able to explore the incredible landscape that surrounded me.  A 7-hour hike brought me to the top of Sailung (3200 meters) and views of the entire Rolwaling Himal Range.  A morning sunrise atop the meadows of Sailung with prayer flags snapping all around was a rare special moment in life where time seems to stop.  On another weekend I was able to link up with paddlers and run the continuous big water class IV Tamba Kosi River.  The endless single track, hospitable guesthouses, & rich culture create a unique area to explore Nepal and yourself.

About a month ago, two very powerful earthquakes and countless aftershocks struck this area and many other parts of central Nepal.  My host family was forced to sleep underneath their plastic greenhouse because damage to their home made it too dangerous to inhabit.  Since the earthquake, the country I love has been turned upside down with its citizens questioning even the ground they walk on.  Even weeks later the entire country slept outside in the rain as aftershocks continued to rattle the fragile infrastructure and their lives. The stream of social media of friends in the country who have shared first person accounts of the disaster has been humbling.

Many friends locally set up grass roots efforts to respond to the some of the most remote and hard hit areas outside of the major centers.  First response efforts were led by fellow rafting & kayaking guides who used their knowledge of the area, local connections, & money raised from social media campaigns to save lives and assess the situation.  Quickly it became apparent that more long-term projects were needed.  Improvised housings would need to be replaced by more permanent structures, & quickly due to the impending monsoon.

Nepal will take many years to rebuild, though one of the constant messages I see from friends is they want to build a better Nepal by the hands of the Nepalis locals.  These dark haired short statured Mongols have adapted to live EVERYWHERE in their country.  Their resourcefulness and ingenuity of making do with what the land provides is something to marvel at.  Their bonds of social security are held together through families and villages.

Earthquake Resistant House

Temporary School

For a better Nepal to endure they will still need help from the outside.  Programs like Medical Trek Nepal & Mandala Organization continue to take in funds and turn donors money into houses.  Houses for a better Nepal, more resistant to earthquakes, yet extremely cost efficient.  Just $200 is enough to change a family’s life.

Local efforts and outside donations will make an amazing contribution, but Nepal will also need its biggest resource to return, tourist.  Tourism accounts for nearly 10% of Nepal’s GDP and has been growing over the past decade.  Out of 75 districts in Nepal less than 10 were severely affected by the earthquake.  The airport is totally operational and buses in Kathmandu are waiting.  If you have a love of the outdoors and mountains, there is no better destination on earth.  Nepal has it all and can be done on a shoestring budget, just make sure you like rice & lentils.  I can’t wait to get back!

Elevate Nepal

Come climb and Elevate Nepal on Friday, June 19th from 6pm-9pm at Peak Experiences Climbing Center. Enjoy climbing and Nepali snacks while learning more about Nepal’s needs and people.  Entrance cost to the event will be a donation to support Nepali earthquake disaster relief. 100% of the money donated will be sent directly to a remote village through Medical Trek Nepal for housing during the upcoming monsoon season.

Remember the old rockfish art competition/auction from over a decade ago? This could be like that…or it could be something else entirely.

To promote the James River as the single most important attraction and natural resource of the Richmond region, the James River Association is conducting its first-ever Regional River Feature contest. This design competition encourages residents to identify and create an iconic regional river feature that symbolizes, creates an identity for, and promotes the rivers of the Richmond region.

Other regions have used iconic natural or constructed features to help distinguish and identify their locality and this contest is an opportunity for Richmond to do the same. Examples of similar projects in the area include Richmond’s Rockfish, the Jefferson Pocket Park Design Competition and the RVA Street Art Festival.

The James River Association will accept submissions including but not limited to permanent or temporary art installations, conceptual designs to enhance underutilized riverfront spaces, and conceptual designs to promote the riverfront as a whole. Design concepts to consider include community spaces, gateways, public art, and low-impact design.

You know what would be cool? A James River cairn competition. Imagine thousands of these on rocks in the James through RVA when the water is low. Genius, I know.

The Regional River Feature contest is open to residents of the Richmond region. Submissions will be accepted from May 1, 2015 through July 31, 2015. A selection committee will review all submissions and select finalists for public voting. Feasibility, creativity and public benefit will be considered in judging process.

The selected submission will be announced during the final presentation of the Regional Rivers Plan in September. The winning submission will be included as one of the catalytic projects recommended in the plan for implementation.

For more information contact Justin Doyle, Community Conservation Manager, at jdoyle@jrava.org.

Bike to Work Day is coming up next Friday (May 15).

If you ride a bike often or you’re into bike-related issues, I highly recommend BikeableRichmond.com. Today’s post highlighted the upcoming Bike Month events, something I was about to post on myself.

Here’s BikeableRichmond’s highlight list (and make sure to sign up for his newsletter when you go to the site):

Monday May 11 – Downtown Bike Lanes meeting

May 12-14 – Bike Counts

Thursday May 14 – 5Point Film Festival opener to Dominion Riverrock

May 15-17 – Dominion Riverrock

Friday May 15 – Bike to Work Day Rally with Mayor Jones

Friday May 15 – Bon Air > Downtown Bike Train

Saturday May 16 – Church Hill Bike Parade and Rodeo

Bike Month aims to promote more of this.

Today marks the launch of Bike Month in the Richmond region. Bike Walk RVA is in its second year of coordinating a full month of bike-related events, with the help of dozens of volunteers from all over the region.

Events range from family-friendly neighborhood events, like kids’ bike parades (aka ‘Kidical Mass’), to rides with history, food, and even Star Wars themes. Activities will also include group bike commutes and bigger festivals like Dominion Riverrock (May 15-17). With over 30 events planned so far, there is something for everyone in different parts of the region.

“Bike Month is the time of year when Bike Walk RVA can have a little fun encouraging grassroots volunteers and enthusiasts to not only focus on building safe spaces for people who walk and bike but enjoy the social and active benefits of getting out to ride,” said Brantley Tyndall, Community Engagement Coordinator for Bike Walk RVA. “Understanding that Richmond’s Bike Month is part of a national movement helps folks feel like part of a bigger vision – that anyone, anywhere, should be able to enjoy riding at any time for any reason or trip.”

Click here for a full list of bike month events, and to see the Bike Month poster.

Richmonders ride through Monroe Park during Bike to Work Day 2013. Credit: Phil Riggan

Bike-Friendly Business District Announced as Part of Bike Month
Also in celebration of Bike Month, a group of businesses in the Bellevue neighborhood along MacArthur and Bellevue Avenues have partnered in collaboration with Bike Walk RVA and Bellevue resident and BikeableRichmond.com blogger Jason James to form the ‘Bellevue Bike-Friendly Business District.’

It will serve as the city’s first self-proclaimed bicycle-friendly business district, and participating businesses will offer discounts and other special deals for people who arrive by bike during the month of May. Participating businesses will be identified by window-clings displayed in their front windows starting May 1.

“As a resident of Bellevue, among the things I love about the neighborhood are the many restaurants and shops within biking distance from pretty much anywhere in Northside,” said Jason James. “It’s already a pretty bike-friendly area if you’re traveling within it, and yet I get the feeling that not many people use bicycles to run errands or visit local shops and restaurants. The idea is that people might be tempted to try it if they have a little extra incentive. ”

Click here for a map of participating Bellevue businesses and nearby bike racks

Outside Magazine is at it again, this time exclusively on Instagram. The bastion of all things outdoors posted a contest announcement yesterday to its Instagram account encouraging IGers everywhere to help them find the best towns in America. The contest doesn’t specifically say it’s looking to crown the best outdoor town, but it is Outside Magazine, after all, and Richmond knows what that means.

Floodwall Park overlooking the James. One of many reason RVA is a great river town. Credit: Chris Johnson

The contest is exclusive to Instagram, and the rules are simple: “Take or tag something perfect about your town using the hashtag #BestTowns2015. Clearly include the full name of your town and state and why this place rules. Enter as many times as you want until April 30th.”

That’s not a lot of time to work with, but we think Richmond is up for the challenge. If this idea sounds familiar, some of you might remember that in 2012, Outside named Richmond the best river town in the country after Richmond’s social media users cast enough votes to put the RVA ahead of Hood River, Oregon, Durango, Colorado, and Boise, Idaho, among other amazing outdoor destinations.

Let’s see if we can do it again. Have a great shot of mountain biking on the Buttermilk Trail? Tag it with #BestTowns2015. Snapped a picture of that American shad you caught on the James? Tag it with #BestTowns2015. Out walking on the floodwall and got a dozen images of blue herons mingling with cormorants? Tag one with #BestTowns2015. Be sure to include “Richmond, VA” in your caption, or some variation in your hashtags.

Be sure to tell your friends. Let’s show Outside Magazine and its readers that 2012 wasn’t a fluke.

Now that the weather is warming, our friends at Home on the James and Crossroads Coffee and Ice Cream are bringing back a popular movie series: Bike-In Theater.

From their press release

It’s bikes. It’s movies. It’s beer and fun! Bike-In-Theater is back this weekend at Crossroads on Saturday, April 11 for an evening of Adventure Cycling. The show starts at 7 p.m. with Joey Parent and Paul Hansbarger (Wanderlust Gear) presenting a multimedia exhibit on Bikepacking.

Following their display (and a couple beverages), we fire up the screens with a couple locally-edited films including the highly anticipated GAPCOT edit from Richmond’s nicest outdoor personality, Max Posner. The evening concludes with Mike Dion’s feature film ‘Inspired to Ride’, which chronicles the inaugural self-support TransAmerica Race!

Coqui Cyclery will be on location joining our Bike-In-Theater block party to make sure everybody who attends has a great time. Best of all, it’s free! Ride bikes, drink beer, watch movies: Bike-In-Theater.