Overview

Your Trek Travel guides will meet you at Hotel Madison at 11:00 AM on the first day of the trip. After a 30-minute private shuttle, you’ll arrive in the small community of Briery Branch. Enjoy a picnic lunch prepared by your guides and get to know your fellow travelers. After a short round of introductions, your guides will discuss the rules of bike safety and specific cycling tips for riding in the Shenandoah Valley before familiarizing you with your Trek Checkpoint gravel bike and ensuring a comfortable fit. Afterward you will set out on your first ride of the week, which traverses the farmland west of Harrisonburg. Long range views and well-kept farms abound as you get your first taste of the gravel roads of the Shenandoah Valley. Once back at Hotel Madison, take some time to settle into your room and grab a drink at the hotel bar on Trek Travel. This evening you will walk a short distance into downtown Harrisonburg with the group to enjoy a delicious dinner of Italian-inspired dishes and wood-fired pizza at Bella Luna.

Overview

Following breakfast, you'll board a private shuttle for a 40-minute transfer to a coffee shop in Staunton, known as the Queen City of the Shenandoah Valley. Here you will begin a challenging and fantastically scenic loop ride through the farms and forests south of town. The road turns from pavement to gravel and back again numerous times throughout today's routes. Take in views of historic mills, beautiful barns, and cattle and sheep farms as you make your way around the loop of your choice. Afterwards, a fresh lunch awaits at Bryer Street Bistro in downtown Staunton. Take some time to wander the historic streets of this centuries-old town before boarding the shuttle back to Harrisonburg. This evening you are on your own for dinner, with Harrisonburg's array of restaurants a short walk away.

Overview

After fueling up for the day you'll ride from Hotel Madison to explore the roads that lie to the northwest of Harrisonburg. As with the first two days, you can expect a lot of twists and turns and consistently hilly terrain. You'll ride through historic downtown and neighborhood roads before transitioning into the pastoral countryside that defines so much of the Shenandoah Valley. With three loop options to choose from, you decide how many miles you want to pedal before returning to town for lunch of your choice. This afternoon is your opportunity to walk around downtown and visit the shops and restaurants of Harrisonburg. The campus of James Madison University is adjacent to our hotel and also makes for a beautiful walk. Your guides will offer their suggestions for how to make the most of your time this afternoon as well as a list of the best restaurants and breweries to visit this evening.

Overview

Following breakfast, you'll shuttle 30 minutes to Stokesville for what promises to be the most memorable ride of the week! You'll have two options - one paved and one gravel - to reach the summit of the iconic Reddish Knob. At 4,398 feet (1,340 m) , Reddish Knob stands above most other peaks in Virginia and the eastern Allegheny Mountains, offering stunning panoramic views once you reach the summit. Today's ride will venture north on gravel, before turning onto Briery Branch Road to begin a paved nine-mile (14 km) climb, with an average grade of 5.8%. The avid option heads out in the opposite direction for a punchy warm-up followed by a true gravel adventure, climbing over 14 gravel miles (22 km) through the forest including several miles of chunky forest service roads that will challenge and delight experienced gravel riders. The support van will follow today's ride, while the avid option will be supported by a ride guide. Both routes meet at the summit to savor the views and take some photos before enjoying the long flowing paved descent. Back in Stokesville, a well-earned picnic style lunch awaits. Revel in this beautiful and challenging day as you shuttle back to Harrisonburg and prepare for your final night's farm-to-table dinner at the bustling Rocktown Kitchen.

Overview

For this morning's final ride you will head out to the east of Harrisonburg for a paved loop through the tiny community of Keezletown. Enjoy spinning along Mountain Valley Road with views of Massanutten Mountain before returning to the hotel to prepare for departure. If you’d rather skip the ride, you are welcome to sleep and enjoy a leisurely breakfast. A private Trek Travel shuttle will depart from the hotel at 11:00 AM. You’ll then say farewell to your guides at the Shenandoah Valley Airport at 11:30 AM or the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport at 12:30 PM.