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