February 2024
There are lots of good things to report this month, so please read on…
The First “First Thursday” – As noted previously, for 2024 CBC is modifying the weekday ride schedule due to the year-long closing of the bridge on Frays Mill Road, which affected dozens of previously scheduled Tuesday/Thursday rides out of Spring Hill Baptist Church (as well as other CBC routes). Tuesday rides will continue to originate from SHBC (please check carefully for updated routes), while Thursday rides will start from different locations throughout the C’ville area.
In connection with this schedule change, beginning Feb. 1, 2024, CBC will inaugurate its “First Thursday” coffee rides each month out of Crozet. Post-ride, enjoy a recovery beverage and pastry with friends at Grit Coffee. Check the calendar for details.
Free CPR Class – Two spots remain to participate in the FREE CPR class CBC is hosting for club members. Frank Lawson, who teaches classes in anatomy and physiology, sports medicine, and medical terminology at Western Albemarle High School (WAHS), will teach the basic class on CPR, AED and basic first aid. The class will be Wednesday, February 7, 2024 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. If you have been present during a crash and been hesitant/unsure what to do, come to this class and become more informed. This will be hands on; there are multiple mannequins available. CLICK HERE to sign up. If you have previously signed up but your plans have changed, please let us know so that we can fill your spot.
Winter Potluck – In what has quickly become a club tradition, CBC will host its annual winter potluck on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at 5 PM at the Baldwin Center in North Garden. Bring a dish and join the festivities. See the calendar for details. Have other suggestions for getting together with friends off the bike? Let us know.
Please renew! – Your CBC membership includes all the great benefits of access to the club’s Ride With GPS account, insurance, hundreds of scheduled group rides annually, and the opportunity to ride and socialize with some great people. Your participation also helps the club be an effective voice for cyclists in this area. As your 12-month membership comes up for renewal, please continue your support. We can’t do what we do without you. Thanks!
The Blue Ridge Hills and Hollows Gravel Backpacking Loop – Check out this website detailing a new gravel bikepacking route circumnavigating Shenandoah National Park. The Blue Ridge Hills and Hollows (BRHH) was commissioned by Greene County and Rockingham County and designed by David Landis/V2V Trails of Harrisonburg, VA., creator of the TransVirginia Bike Route. The BRHH is a 300-plus mile mixed-surface loop that connects eight county memorials that pay homage to the families and communities in the Blue Ridge Mountains that were displaced to create the national park in the 1930’s. The route is designed to encourage visitors to go “beyond the typical national park experience, and get to know the mountain and its history and culture from every angle. Ride with the mountain as your constant companion as you travel through layer upon layer of Appalachian culture and history.” The BRHH is currently undergoing a soft rollout, with a formal launch to follow later this year or early 2025. Explore Blue Ridge Hills & Hollows – Gravel Bikepacking Loop for details about the route and history of our fascinating “local” national park.
Jersey Sale – Based on the positive response from members to a recent survey, CBC will hold a new jersey and apparel sale. We are currently working with the vendor Voler to finalize terms and pricing. Be on the lookout for an announcement with details soon. We expect to open the sales window late February/early March.
Trucks on Plank – Plank Road west of Highway 29 is a narrow and highly scenic road used on many classic CBC routes. Recent reconstruction of a bridge just west of Batesville on Plank has made it possible for heavy trucks to use this route as a shortcut between Highway 29 and 250. However, the town of Batesville and the local community are urging the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to impose a “Through Truck Traffic Restriction” on this segment of Plank. VDOT is accepting comments on this proposal through February 20, 2024. Please take a minute to express your views as a local cyclist to VDOT. Here are the details for submitting comments:
Questions about Scheduling – We’ve received some inquiries about whether the start times for published rides may be modified or postponed due to forecast weather. Start times are based on seasonal averages. Because of the inability to ensure everyone is informed of a last-minute change, scheduled rides will not change based on predicted weather and temperature. Also, club rides generally will not show as “canceled” on the calendar. All riders have their personal thresholds for temperature, wind, and moisture, and are expected to use their best judgment about whether to ride on a given day. CBC encourages all members to exercise caution. If in doubt, please use the comment section on the ride calendar page to communicate with other potentially interested riders.
“Close Call” Reports – The City of Charlottesville recently launched an initiative to encourage cyclists and pedestrians to file “close call” reports where vehicles got too close or failed to provide right of way for riders and walkers. The goal is to identity areas in the city where a crash didn’t occur, but a safety risk can be identified and remedied. You can file a report here.
Website Improvements – As a reminder, you now have the ability to be notified when others comment on a ride that you have commented on. This is a great way to learn if others are interested in the same ride without having to return to the website. Just click the box, and new comments will automatically be forwarded to you.
Please welcome this month’s newest members – Bob Devereux and Michele Zaccagnini.
The CBC