8.9.2015 - Any road cycling.

Once a year cyclists have a chance to get their name added to the short list riders who've completed "The toughest group road ride in the history of Virginia" ... the Suiride route of the Star City Vicious Randonnée.

Climbing, adventure, dirt road climbing, astonishingly beautiful terrain ... and it's FREE!

There are 6 route options, and whether you're making history by attempting the Suiride, or enjoying the Vicious, Gran, Medio, Challenge or Prologue routes ... you are in for an incredibly beautiful and physically challenging experience. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILED ROUTE INFORMATION

Arrive at 8:30am, all rides start promptly 9am from the East Coasters Bike Shop, 3224 Brambleton Ave, Roanoke, VA 24018. 540.774.7933

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CUE SHEETS - Please print and bring your own. They're all very conveniently located here www.viciousrandonnee.com Thank you!
*FREE* To enter simply "Join" the facebook event: www.tinyurl.com/starcityvicious

Ride at your own risk.

Randonneuring is long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. A randonnée is an organized group ride, with some emphasis on speed, but it is not a race, and self-sufficiency is paramount. When riders participate in randonneuring events, they are part of a long tradition that goes back to the beginning of the sport of cycling in France and Italy. Friendly camaraderie is the hallmark of randonneuring.

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The 15 rated climbs of the Suiride route:

WDBJ7.com "Roanoke Valley cyclists attempt the toughest group ride in Virginia history."

To view the WDBJ7 television news video coverage please visit: http://youtu.be/FurNRoUe_Wc

wdbj7.com

Roanoke Valley ride challenges cyclists with steep terrain

The Star City Vicious Randonnee' covered 116 miles and 14 rated climbs

Joe Dashiell
Reporter
5:22 PM EDT, August 23, 2012
ROANOKE CO.,Va.

Sunday morning is a great time for a bike ride, unless it's raining and foggy, and you're attempting some of the steepest climbs in the Roanoke Valley.

Last weekend, a group of riders attempted the Star City Vicious Randonnee', billed as the toughest group ride in Virginia history.

The storm clouds were hanging overhead, as the riders gathered at East Coasters Bike Shop.
Less than ideal conditions deterred some who were planning to be there, but not the diehards who headed out on a 116 mile trek through some of the Roanoke Valley's most challenging terrain.

Early in the ride on Mount Chestnut Road, the riders were shrouded in fog as they tested their climbing skills.  In all, the riders would attempt 14 climbs, with more than 15,000 feet of elevation gain.

Robert Issem organized the ride. "It's like comparable to a tough Tour de France stage in terms of elevation gain and distance," Issem told WDBJ7, "except the climbing's harder."
On some stretches, including a portion of the Blue Ridge Parkway, the riders were able to catch their breath, but that's not what they were talking about at the halfway point.

Mark Smith and Barry Pugh came from Waynesboro for the event. "The climbs have been pretty brutal," Smith told us. "They're hard climbs, and I've just been trying to ride 'em steady."

"I knew it was going to be tough from the word go," Pugh said, "and it's lived up to that."
 
A series of world-class climbs, all within 20 miles of Roanoke.     

"And if you look at the course that we've laid out, every climb is amazing," Issem said. "It's both beautiful and challenging.  I'm hoping that people would recognize that Roanoke is just an unbelievable place to ride."

The three riders we interviewed had covered about 65 miles when we left them. And just a few minutes later, one of them took a hard fall on wet pavement, ending their day.

Two riders, Marcos Lazzarotto and Bernie Sanders did complete the course. Organizer Robert Issem hopes to finish the route this weekend, and says he's already planning to hold the Star City Vicious Randonnee' again next year.

Copyright © 2012, WDBJ7-TV

A lot of rain, incredible resolve ... and bicycling history has been made!

Eight riders showed up for the rain drenched start ... and two riders, Marcos Lazzarotto from Blacksburg and Bernie Sanders from Roanoke, made Virginia bicycling history last Sunday by completing the Suiride course - 116.8 miles and 15,225 ft of climbing!

Congratulations to both of these elite riders for completing the toughest group road bike ride in the history of Virginia! The other starters were Wake Fulp, Barry Pugh, Mark Smith, Wes Wilmer, Rob Garry and Rob Issem.

Stay tuned for more news from the ride as well as WDBJ 7 television news coverage of the ride later this week.

Many many thanks to Wes Best and East Coasters Bicycle Shop for opening the shop and making coffee for the riders, Patrick and John Oberg for their amazing neutral support for the first 30 miles, Rick Woods, owner of Woods Family Heating & Air Conditioning for generously donating 150 bicycle water bottles, Laura & Annelise White for setting up & staffing the mile 65 rest stop, and thanks to my beautiful wife Lisa Thomas, son Andrew Issem and step-son Mark Thomas for supporting me during the many hours of my planning, preparing for, and participating in the event.

I didn't finish the Suiride course this past Sunday because my friend crashed hard at about mile 70, so ... I'm going to be attempting the Suiride again this coming Sunday 8/26.

My wife's going to drop some bottles off for me in the woods at mile 65, but that's it. No other support. If anyone wants to join me they're welcome to, and my wife could drop your gear off in the woods too.

Also, the 8/26 ride will start from the Bike Sherpas Touring Co. headquarters (my house) 3228 Lawndale Rd. promptly at 7:30am. We'll ride 1.3 miles to East Coasters (the official course start/end point) and immediately start the Suiride.

There will be no fanfare 8/26. Just bicycles, riders and lots of incredible mountains.

Wet ... but riding!

Bernie & Marcos nearing the Mt. Chestnut summit ... on their way to making history!

Wake, Barry and ... did I mention visibility was an issue?

Mark, Barry and Rob ... into the woods.
Riding the short singletrack trail from BRP MP126 to Raintree Rd..

Weather

Most people who are aware of the Star City Vicious Randonnée know in their gut, without making a call or checking a website, if weather will influence this event. If you're unsure, please click here Velominati - THE RULES and refer to rule #9 and then rule #5.

Spectacular Spectating at the summit of Mt. Chestnut!

UCI World Road Race Champion Bernie Sanders & a view near the top of Mt Chestnut!

One of the very best places for fans and spectators to watch the randonnée riders is near the entrance to the Valhalla Vineyards at the summit of Mt. Chestnut - just 4.7 miles from the randonnée start!

All 6 route / distance options begin the randonnée at 9am and climb Mt. Chestnut. The top riders will be roaring up the climb shortly thereafter, so fans should plan to arrive at the summit by 9:10am, at latest, to get a good spot.

Spectators setting up near the Mt. Chestnut summit will be treated to stunning panoramic views of Roanoke and a perfect vantage point for watching the ribbon of history-making cyclists conquer the switchbacks of this famous climb!

Bring your cowbells!

Click here http://goo.gl/maps/q0gbY to view a detailed map of this spot, including street views and driving directions.

This video is a cyclist *descending* from the summit via the route that the randonnée participants will be climbing.

Refueling along the SCV Randonnée Route

Here are the refueling points along the the Suiride Randonnée Route. (The cue sheets for all 6 routes  include the refueling points.)

Since the directly on-route first refueling opportunity is 28.8 miles and 3 tough climbs into the route be sure to be very well hydrated at the start and carry at least two large water bottles.

• mile 28.8 Apple Market on W Riverside Dr.
• mile 44.8 - a B & S Mart on 221.
• mile 65.1 - Stash at Mason's Knob Overlook BRP MP126. At the ride start, riders can give a bag with their own drinks & food to a volunteer who will stash everything in the woods across from the Mason's Knob Overlook at BRP MP126.
• mile 84.5 -  B & S Mart on 221 (closes at 8pm).
• mile 90.6 - Country Way on 211 (Closes at 6pm)
• mile 99.9 - Apple Market BP is 300ft to the left on 11.

[At mile 19.4 mile the Country Way on 221 is just 0.1 from the Randonnée route, it opens at 10am, and instead of turning L onto 12 O'Clock Knob Rd, you can continue straight / N on 221 for 0.1 miles and Country Way will be on your right.]

Climb #2 - Poage Valley Road Extension ... is brutal

I love climbing and think of myself as a good climber ... but this climb humbled me today. I can't wait to ride it again!

STRAVA Detailed Climb Information

I'm beginning to catalog all 12 rated climbs on the Vicious route and the 14 rated climbs on the Suiride route. 


During the August 19th event we encourage riders to GPS-track their ride with a Garmin bike computer or the STRAVA app on their phone. After the ride, when we all get a chance to upload to STRAVA, we'll have a really cool leaderboard  for this ultra mega epic event.


I just rode these two during lunch - living here in Roanoke is awesome :) 

Climb #1


Climb #3