What really horrifies cyclists

[skibum]

I did the century and it was brutal. I handled the heat okay, several weeks of riding in 95+ weather in GA had me somewhat acclimated. Although, honestly, when it's that hot, it's rough even if you're used to it.

The placement of the water stops almost did me in -- no water from just before the vesuvius climb until the lunch stop. I probably rode 10 miles with empty water bottles. I was trying to get up the nerve to knock on someone's door to ask for water when the rest stop came into view.

I know I was fairly dehydrated at that point and am amazed I was able to recover and finish. The final rest stop (I think that was the one at the winery) was a big help -- they had a sprinkler going and ice for our water bottles.

I was only doing two days of the ride. I would have opted out of the century because of the heat if I new I had several more days to ride.

[Cataboo]

It was a strange spring for acclimatizing to the heat - at least in Maryland, we would swing from 90 + degree days to 50-60 degree days. And it just basically made me kayak on the hot days and bike on the cool days...

So I'd completely not adjusted to biking in the heat.

One guy I talked to said he stopped at a church and used their hose to get water while on the century.

But even on the 58 mile ride that day, I filled up the 2-3 liter bladder in my hydration pack at least 3 times, and was drinking 2 cups of water at every rest stop. I think I had like 4 glasses of water with dinner, and I was still dehydrated.

[IFjane]

I did not ride Bike VA this year but know the Vesuvius route well. I heard the same complaints from a friend who only rode that day (the century). He was out of water at the top. Not good planning for the BVA folks. There is nothing between Tye River & Love Gaps for refilling bottles.

Last year the route was literally in my backyard & I never heard complaints like I have this year. Not sure what happened ~ I hope next year is better!

[Becky]

I did not ride Bike VA this year but know the Vesuvius route well. I heard the same complaints from a friend who only rode that day (the century). He was out of water at the top. Not good planning for the BVA folks. There is nothing between Tye River & Love Gaps for refilling bottles.

Last year the route was literally in my backyard & I never heard complaints like I have this year. Not sure what happened ~ I hope next year is better!

I'm glad to hear that this was not normal. We didn't have any issues with water, but had a few with rest stops not being "open" for food when we arrived. Hoping for better planning next year, because we really did have a good time. Food in general seemed to be the biggest challenge.

Do the Bike VA folks send out a questionaire/review form? after the event?

[Cataboo]

I heard a ton of people saying that they'd been going to bike virginia yearly for X # of years and that they'd been getting progressively worse, and this years was going to be their last.

While I had fun - it was my first bike VA and I don't think I'm doing it again.

[Bike Chick]

If it had been my new Luna that was backed over, I would've been the one with the heart attack!

[tulip]

This was my fourth BVA. I don't think they've been getting worse at all; it's always been very well-organized. I'm just tired of the group ride thing after I made up my own 10-day tour in Texas earlier this spring. I'm entering a different phase, is all. BVA does a fine job. Except for the no water on the century. That was bad.

Riders who leave very early may arrive too early for the lunch stop. That's easy to fix--leave a bit later or ride a bit slower or stop and take more photos. I arrived at the lunch stop one day at 9:30, which was not too early. People who arrived at 8:30 were disappointed. But it's lunch, after all, not breakfast.

I would still recommend BVA to anyone who is interested in doing an organized ride that goes through beautiful countryside. This year's riding was fantastic, with very little traffic and beautiful terrain and landscape.