The Sports Backers’ weekly online newsletter had a piece on the Richmond Area Bicycling Association’s Heart of Virginia Bike Festival last week. The festival takes place this Saturday at Hanover County courthouse. From the newsletter:

This month bike lovers have a chance to celebrate the early days of fall by participating in a ride with a historical twist. On September 15th the Hanover Habitat for Humanity, along with the Richmond Area Bicycle Association, will present the 12th annual Heart of Virginia Bike Festival.

Credit: Jesse Peters

The Festival features Century (101 miles), Metric Century (62 miles), Short (31 miles) and Family Rides (10 miles). Although the ride has previously taken place at the YMCA, the location has been switched to the Historic Hanover County Courthouse. And the backdrop isn’t the only thing changing. According to century director Matthew Bizzarri, participants and attendees alike are in for quite the revamp.

“It’s an entirely new route. It’s more scenic and it has expanded,” Bizzarri said. “Parking is in one location, before we’ve had several, and there is a group start. The most exciting thing is we’ll have the Yorktown Fife and Drum Corps to play the National Anthem.”

Bizzarri said this year’s event will look more like a festival with live music, entertainment, a country barbeque lunch, and fun for individuals of all ages.  For more information on the event and to register, visit the 2012 Heart of Virginia Bike Festival online at http://www.heartofvabikefestival.org/index.htm.