SVMBA plans Fall EPIC ride in Western North Carolina

Mark your calendars . . . September 18th thru 21st

SVMBA sets the date for this year's EPIC ride as we return to the EPIC that started it all ! ! ! 

In 2002, SVMBA's first ever EPIC ride took place in Western North Carolina.  The two-day EPIC adventure took in trails throughout DuPont State Forest and Pisgah National Forest.  Inspired by one of IMBA's first-ever EPIC rides a year earlier (click here), we mirrored their original 35 mile route for a day-long event that blew everyone's mind.  This year (six years later). . . we're going BACK !!!

SVMBA's past EPIC rides have been awesome.  This year's trip will feature 2 full days of riding which will accommodate everyone's strength, skill level and desire.  With multiple takeout points, your ride is up to you.  Slow and steady, we ride all day at a pace that almost everyone can manage making stops to take in the waterfalls and the scenery.  We also take time to resupply Camelbaks and food throughout the day.

Where will we stay?

Overnight accommodations will be at the Black Forest Family Campground where the cabins and other amenities are a welcome site at the end of each day.  Cabins sleep 4 people comfortably and with a price that's just right (i.e. $15.00 per person per night - 3 nights is $45.00 per person).

At this time, SVMBA has reserved two of the eight cabins available at the campground.  Keep in mind that Black Forest Family Campground requires full payment (in advance) for cabins and the payment is NON-REFUNDABLE.

More cabins are available, but they will book up fast.  As soon as your able to commit to the trip, please send us a $45.00 deposit so that we can reserve additional cabins before they book up.  Mail a check to "SVMBA - 328 Grenadier Circle - Danville, VA 24541".  The sooner you can let us know you're in, the better.

How are we getting there?

We plan on carpooling and each passenger chipping in for fuel (approximately $50.00 per person for fuel for the weekend depending on fuel prices and the mpg rating of the vehicle used.

At this time two-vehicles have been volunteered.  Chris Tompkins will be driving his Expedition (room for 5 additional passengers) and Scott Buckner will be driving his Toyota Tundra (room for 3 additional passengers).  Spots are filling up fast so send us an e-mail to reserve your seat (specify vehicle and owner).

If you have an SUV that you'd like to volunteer to make the trip, please let us know and we will do our best to put riders with drivers.

When do we leave?

SVMBA will be leaving from Danville on Thursday evening at 6:00 pm SHARP.  The latest we can check in without penalty is 10:30pm.  Leaving Danville at 6:00 pm will give us 4 1/2 hours to make the drive safely.

Those going on the trip should plan to meet at Riverside Shopping Center between 5:15 pm and 5:45 pm to load bikes and gear and get on the road by 6:00 pm.

By leaving Thursday night, we give ourselves two FULL days of riding.

Who can ride in SVMBA's EPIC ride?

This ride is open to SVMBA members, non-members, and other groups are welcome as well.  If your group (i.e. TORC, GVC, CVMA, etc.) would like to coordinate with SVMBA and join us, please drop us an e-mail to let us know.  You can follow the links to the campground to reserve additional cabins for your group.  SVMBA will coordinate food drops and drinks along our ride route as we position vehicles, food and drinks around the park to support the ride.

Will I be able to ride the entire route or ride ALL day?

Not everyone will have the legs or desire to ride all day . . . and that's OK.  There will be opportunities to bail throughout the day.  If you haven't ridden long rides before, join us for half the day or take a break and rejoin us later in the day or head back to camp and spend the rest of the day in the pool.

 

For more information, e-mail us and we will get back to you ASAP.  Please R.S.V.P. via e-mail and send us your cabin deposit check as soon as possible.  To get you thinking more about the trip, check out the great pictures and video from our 2002 trip at the top of the article.

Long Live Long Rides . . . See you at DuPont !!!

Chris Tompkins

SVMBA EPIC ride guide

  

Please click on the "JOIN SVMBA" link (above)  to print out your membership form.

And for more information about joining SVMBA, click on the "JOIN" link (left).

Your continued support of SVMBA will be vital to our success this year as we continue making Southside Virginia and The Anglers Ridge Trail System the best that it can be.  Your contributions help us to buy gas for machines (blowers, string trimmers and the DitchWitch SK500), build bridges, buy Gatorade and Clif Bars to fuel trailwork, replace tools, pay for club insurance, fund great events like our first-ever Southern Classic Series event "The Shootout on Anglers Ridge" by helping us to feed race day volunteers and provide other incentives to promote our events and efforts here in Danville.

All contributions are tax deductible minus any free gifts you receive.

Even at the $10.00 level your support helps out in a big way by adding volume to the voice of the ever-expanding community of Mountain Bicyclists here in Southside Virginia and beyond.

Thanks to every supporter of SVMBA . . . your efforts on the trail and your contributions mean everything.

 

Long Live the Ridge ! ! !