The Battle of North Valley's Hills

[bluefrogpurpled]

July 27-29, 2007 Town Park Strasburg, VA

The Battle of North Valley's Hills '07

Come join us as we traverse the foothills of the famous Shenandoah Valley that lies comfortably between the majestic Massanutten and Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

Options for Family Rides, 30, 60, & 100 mile recreational rides, hikes, guided walking tours, and MTB tours will carry you on a journey through history and focus on some of the Civil War's most famous battles... such as Fisher's Hill, Tom's Brook, New Market, Cedar Creek, and Hupp's Hill.

Part of the ride will carry you across one of Virginia's most charming scenic byways as well as part of the Civil War Trail... the rest will keep you pumping and coasting, pumping and coasting, & pumping and coasting through the rolling hills of some of the most breathtaking, back-road scenery you've ever beheld.

It can be pretty hot in these parts at that time of year, but we've got you covered! Rest Stops will be set up every 7-10 miles with almost all being at the 7 mile mark for a total of 14 unique Rest Stops in all (including lunch on-course). You'll delight in local favorites, amiable small towns, historic charm, good ol' country hospitality, and a thoroughly rich and enticing culture.

Rest Stop delights include frozen custard, warm chocolate chip cookies, fresh berries, nuts, ripe pickin's from a local orchard, Route 11 Potato Chips along with bananas and watermelon, Tea & Pastries at Belle Grove Plantation, and Radler, grapes, and cookies at the North Mountain Vineyard in authentic Bavarian style! (Extra charges apply for certain Rest Stops unless you choose the all-inclusive package)

Some of the sites you'll enjoy at special or reduced rates along the way include Shenandoah Caverns, America on Parade, The Yellow Barn, The Historic New Market Battlefield Park, Hall of Valor Civil War Museum, Meem's Bottom Covered Bridge, Route 11 Potato Chip Factory, Belle Grove Plantation, and so much more!

Camping will be primitive-style (tent camping only) right beside the legendary Shenandoah River in Town Park in Strasburg, VA (no open fires allowed please). Bring your boat as you'll be right beside the boat launch for easy access to fishing and swimming. Historically renowned Signal Knob Mountain will serve as your backdrop. Hot showers will be available at the pool and pool passes can be purchased for day use at a nominal cost. The park also includes tennis and basketball courts, volleyball net, large playground area, and is within walking distance of Town.

Strasburg, VA is known as "The Antique Capital of Virginia" and is famous for its handmade pottery... they say this is the only place in Virginia where you can find white clay! The charming shops along Strasburg's traditional Main Street will offer the non-rider plenty of enticements, as will the heart-warningly friendly local townsfolk. The community is rolling out the red carpet in offering discounts on many local attractions, including the local fitness center and indoor pool.

A masseuse will be on-hand at Town Park before and after rides. Coffee and tea will be plentiful and evenings will be alive with some very merry, local entertainment. This is definitely a family-oriented event so bring everyone with you -- young and old -- rider or non-rider... there will be something for everyone.

SAG support will be provided on all rides and Half Moon Outfitters will be available for assistance with adjustments and repairs (extra charges may apply).

Event will occur regardless of weather. Registrations are transferable, but not refundable. In the event of severe weather, an indoor location has been secured for tent campers.

The pool at Town Park will be free to guests from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, July 27, and is only $4 for adults and $3 for children on the other days. They have a wonderful snack bar with great selections at reasonable prices.

For RV parking, contact:
Battle of Cedar Creek Campground
8950 Valley Pike
Middletown, Virginia 22645
540-869-1888 (VA)
800-343-1562

http://www.forba.org

[Kalidurga]

That sounds really cool. An old friend of my mom's lives in Tom's Brook, I wonder if I could stay overnight with her...

How far in advance should one register for this, bluefrog? Are there a cue sheets of the routes? And, of course, what's the elevation like?

[Zen]

That does sound delightful. Hmmm. Anybody wanna carpool?

The battle of North Valley's Hills

[bluefrogpurpled]

That sounds really cool. An old friend of my mom's lives in Tom's Brook, I wonder if I could stay overnight with her...

How far in advance should one register for this, bluefrog? Are there a cue sheets of the routes? And, of course, what's the elevation like?

Thanks for your interest! :0) I just knew someone was going to ask me for info on the elevation and I should have been prepared... here's the elevation for the County, but, of course, you won't be hitting the highest peak on this ride:

"The highest elevation is 3293 feet (summit of Mill Mountain) and the lowest elevation is 490 feet (where Cedar Creek meets with the North Fork of the Shenandoah River). (Source: Shenandoah Co Gazetteer and Historical Geography, Irvin D. Magin, 1991)"

Cue sheets will be detailed and in the registration packets... all roads and turns will be marked with great detail... we're taking extra precautions to make sure no one gets lost. There should be a more detailed schedule on the website soon... we're just finalizing a few last minute additions :0)

You can register right up to the ride, but there's discounts for registering before 6/30 and before 7/10.

Sure hope to see some of you there!

Thanks!
http://www.forba.org
The Battle of North Valley's Hills

[bluefrogpurpled]

Thanks SO much for your interest. We'll have detailed cue sheets in the registration packets and all roads will be marked and posted with signs/streamers at turns. There's discounts for registering early and the first break is for registering by 6/30. The area is beautiful and the sites along the ride itself are breathtaking! Here's some info on the elevation (but, of course, you won't be going to the highest elevation on this trip):

"The highest elevation is 3293 feet (summit of Mill Mountain) and the lowest elevation is 490 feet (where Cedar Creek meets with the North Fork of the Shenandoah River). (Source: Shenandoah Co Gazetteer and Historical Geography, Irvin D. Magin, 1991)"

Sure hope to see some of you there!

http://www.forba.org

Registration and more details:
http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1460811

thanks!

[bluefrogpurpled]

Dear Mountain Bikers and Road Cyclists:

We really need your help. As you know, we've planned "The Battle of North Valley's Hills" (www.forba.org) as a fund raising ride for a local group that modifies homes for special needs families. It's a great organization and they provide their services free of charge... I know most of us can't imagine what it would be like to not be able to hop on our bikes and ride as far and as long as we wanted, but some folks can't even get in the front door of their home, because of things as simple as one stair... and, believe it or not, the State of Virginia comes in second to dead last at meeting the needs of persons with special needs in our state. (source:
http://www.ucp.org/medicaid/index.cf...s&thisState=VA)

Anyway, we did get a late start planning The Battle of North Valley's Hills (www.forba.org) and so we missed the deadline for advertising in virtually every cycling periodical in existence. We've had to make some modifications and eliminate some extras for this year's ride, but we've also reduced the rate to reflect the changes. The entire county rallied behind us in this effort and offered great deals on all kinds of area attractions.

What we need are 50 cyclists who enjoy either Metrics, Centuries, or MTB tours to believe in us enough to come out this year, experience the ride, and give us input to help us grow it to become a premiere annual event that folks will brag about all year long.

We've reduced the rate of the ride to $40 for this year and that will include cue sheets, Rest Stops every 15 miles, lunch at Shenandoah Caverns, and limited SAG support.

If we don't have 30 registrants by this Friday and 50 by next Friday, we lose the participation of some of the most awesome Rest Stops and attractions :0(

We believe these relationships are so important to this event that we're willing to offer 50% off next year's registration to anyone who will come out for the reduced rate of $40 (which really will just cover our expenses) this year and help us grow this baby :0)

Details on the charity this event benefits can be found at www.onestepclosertv.org and details on the event (both this year's and next year's) can be found at www.forba.org

We promise, if you'll come and help us grow this event, we'll make it worth your while. We need you! We need your input!

Thanks for considering this and, hey, please do tell all your friends. We want this to be successful and we're willing to wear a little egg on our faces to see it happen :0)

With heartfelt thanks,
Margaret
The Battle of North Valley's Hills
www.forba.org
(540) 465-1972

Details follow:

July 28, 2007

The Battle of North Valley's Hills '07

Saturday's Metric and Century will take you from Town Park in Strasburg, VA down one of Virginia's most enchanting Scenic Byways, through all of Shenandoah County's charming and historical small towns, past the famous battlefields of Fisher's Hill, Toms Brook, and New Market (only 100 milers will visit New Market) and on to Shenandoah Caverns for lunch.

After leaving Shenandoah Caverns, the real workout begins as you traverse the foothills of the Massanutten and Blue Ridge Mountains. Steep climbs and rolling hills take you past beautiful vintage farmlands while enjoying breathtaking mountain views. This is some of the most beautiful countryside Virginia has to offer.

(The highest elevation in Shenandoah County is 3293 feet at the summit of Mill Mountain and the lowest elevation is 490 feet where Cedar Creek meets with the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. Source: Shenandoah Co Gazetteer and Historical Geography, Irvin D. Magin, 1991)

Paugh's Orchard and North Mountain Vineyard will be featured Rest Stops along the way as you make your way to Middletown for a sampling of Route 11 Potato Chips... fresh from the factory... and on to Belle Grove Plantation for Tea & Pastries as they may have been served in Belle Grove's hey-day... before and after the Battle of Cedar Creek which raged right on her very grounds.

The Battle of Hupp's Hill offers one more glimpse of history as you make your way back to Strasburg, "The Antique Capital of Virginia" to enjoy a hot shower and all this charming and extremely friendly little town has to offer.

Rest Stops will be set up every 15 miles and as you relax and relish in the sense of pride in having conquered all those Shenandoah Valley hills, you can smile extra hard for knowing your efforts will have helped provide home modifications for special needs families living in the area surrounding you.

There's also THREE AWESOME OPTIONS FOR MTB TOURS on all three days!!!! CLICK HERE for details.

We got a late start on this year's event and so we've had to make some changes and adjustments, but we hope you'll come join us and help us build this event into a premiere annual event that cyclists all over the world will brag about all year long!

For Details, Information, and Registration for:
The Battle of North Valley's Hills '07
taking place
July 28, 2007
CLICK HERE

SPECIAL NOTE: We regret that we were really late getting the word out about the '07 event and, therefore, we missed all the deadlines for cycling publications and advertising :0( Although we've had to trim the '07 event and work toward building it bigger and better for '08, we're making a special offer to anyone who comes out to join us for the 60 and 100 mile rides on July 28, 2007. You can still camp both nights (Friday and Saturday and there are still options for MTB tours on all three days, but this year's road event is limited to Saturday only).

Those who attend this year will receive a 50% discount on next year's registration! Rest Stops will be every 15 miles for the '07 event and every 7 miles for the '08 event. The price for registration for this year's Metric and Century has been reduced to $40 to reflect the changes and includes lunch and some really great Rest Stops AND you'll be helping a really great cause!

For all those who come out this year to give the ride a test drive and give us input to help us fine tune it for next year, we promise to make it worth your while! THANKS! :0)

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The Battle of North Valley's Hills

http://www.forba.org