Biking & Cycling

Cycling and biking are HUGE in Botetourt County.  Whether you are a road cyclist or mountain biker, you can find the perfect destination to get outside and ride!

As America's East Coast Mountain Biking Capital, an IMBA Silver-Level Ride Center and part of the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail, Virginia's Blue Ridge is earning a reputation as a bucket list destination for bike riders from around the world.  Whether you are hitting the trails at Carvin's Cove on your mountain bike, cycling on the Blue Ridge Parkway or taking the family on a leisurely ride on the scenic Cherry Blossom Trail, Botetourt County has you covered for adventure on two wheels! 

For a list of cycling and biking events, resources and outdoor adventures stay connected with Visit Virginia's Blue Ridge. 

We want all of our cyclists that visit Botetourt County to be safe on the roads.  

We also want to remind motorists to be aware and give them space - learn more about laws and safety tips for cycling.

Make sure your children are safe when biking by following these safety tips from Safe Kids Worldwide.

In January of 2022, cycling in the valley was elevated to a new level when it was announced that the Women's Pro Cycling Team was relocating their base of operations to Virginia's Blue Ridge in Botetourt County. The Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 program is responsible for developing many of the most successful American female cyclists to date, creating opportunities for elite, junior and para-cycling athletes. Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 has established a consistent pipeline for talented road and track cyclists and has provided opportunities for athletes who excel in the virtual world of eSports (such as Zwift) and the new dynamic discipline of gravel racing.

Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY24 is more than a diverse team of professional athletes, eSports athletes and a junior program. It’s a team of female mentors and role models (request a speaker from Team Twenty24). For 10 consecutive years, the team has been presented with the USA Cycling Centers of Excellence Award, which is awarded to select junior and under 23-years-of-age development teams that excel in the development of young cyclists into nationally competitive athletes. One cannot overlook the compelling pillars of our campaign’s mission – empowering women, championing diversity & promoting fitness, promoting VBR as a cycling & outdoor paradise, and supporting an economic win for VBR and the Commonwealth of Virginia.

We are excited to have this team in Botetourt County! Follow the team and make sure to give them and all of our bikers and cyclists room on the road when you see them out training.  

*Photos courtesy of Virginia's Blue Ridge

The Carilion Clinic IRONMAN 70.3 Virginia's Blue Ridge Race returned to the valley June 5, 2022. Athletes participated in swimming, running and cycling! Participants took on the 56-mile bike course that is surrounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Volunteers  and community cheerleaders greeted athletes as they made their way through Botetourt County! IRONMAN will return in 2023!

In October, gear up for the VBR Gran Fondo! This event starts and finishes in Historic Fincastle. The ride feature three different routes -- 33, 45, and 75 miles. Each route has been carefully crafted to "showcase Botetourt County's rich scenic beauty and it's warm & welcoming communities. Riders will enjoy the area's natural beauty including the rolling terrain, open farmland, forested mountains, and the James River. Each route will also feature memorable aid stations and charming small towns." This ride will NOT be timed from start to finish.  Each route will have several sections that will be chip timed. Registration opens June 1, 2022! 

Botetourt County is a hub for cycling and we have some other exciting news and we need your help! 

Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge, with support from Botetourt County and the City of Roanoke, will host the 2022 USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships. Several hundred athletes from all over the country will compete for a chance to earn national titles in the road race, individual time trial, and criterium.

“Botetourt County is thrilled to be a part of this esteemed event that will bring visitors and activity to the region,” said Chairman Dr. Richard Bailey, of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors. “We are known for outdoor recreation and stunning scenery.  From the mountains to the river to our scenic county roads, we are a destination for those seeking adventure. These athletes will have the opportunity to experience Botetourt County’s beauty and the rolling landscape for three days of racing.”

During the week racers will compete in age groups from 11 to 22 years of age in three different races. On Wednesday, June 29, racing kicks off with the Individual Time Trial in Botetourt County on U.S. Route 11, basing operations at the Troutville Elementary School. Distances include, 6 miles, 14 miles, 17 miles and 19 miles.  

On Thursday, June 30th and Friday, July 1st the road races will begin at the Botetourt Sports Complex and traverse the county with age dependent challenging 23-mile and 7-mile courses. The top athletes will climb just under 9,000 feet throughout their races.

The four-day event concludes on Saturday, July 2, with a sprinters’ race or criterium. The race will take place in Downtown Roanoke. Racers will tackle a unique, broad, five-corner course that will test all riders. The races will kick off at 8:00 a.m. and run until 7:15 p.m. With speeds approaching 30 mph on a technical course this event is like a Formula 1 car race on bicycles.

To sign up to volunteer or to learn more visit the USA Cycling Volunteer page.