Overview

Your Trek Travel guides will meet you at Hotel Madison at 11:00 AM on the first day of the trip. After a 10-minute private shuttle, you’ll arrive at a local park to 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'll set out on your first ride of the week, which heads North 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 before dinner. This evening, enjoy a short walk with the group into downtown Harrisonburg for Italian-inspired dishes and wood-fired pizza at Bella Luna.

Overview

Following breakfast, you'll shuttle 30 minutes to the town of Stokesville for a blend of local history and excellent gravel forest roads. Begin by riding through a dense forest along smooth, fast gravel along the foothills of the Allegheny mountains. After emerging from the densely forested roads, you will enter the small community of Briery Branch where you will traverse through Mennonite farmland and enjoy a mix of smooth pavement and even more incredible gravel. Just before arriving back to the hotel, we’ll stop at Broad Porch Coffee to enjoy a delicious lunch and perhaps a coffee. The afternoon is yours to enjoy downtown and dinner on your own at one of Harrisonburg’s many restaurants just 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 can 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. This evening you will enjoy farm-to-table fare at your leisure to refuel for our "queen's stage" tomorrow.

Overview

After breakfast, you'll board a private shuttle for a 40-minute ride to our favorite coffee shop in Staunton, known as the Queen City of the Shenandoah Valley. From here, begin a challenging and incredibly scenic loop ride through the farms and forests south of town. The road shifts from pavement to gravel and back again several times throughout today’s routes, offering a mix of textures and terrain. Take in views of historic mills, weathered barns, and rolling cattle and sheep farms as you ride the loop of your choice. Afterward, enjoy a fresh lunch at Byers Street Bistro in downtown Staunton. Spend a little time wandering the centuries-old streets and appreciating the character of this historic town before you shuttle back to Harrisonburg and settle in for your final dinner at Illyria Mediterranean Restaurant.

Overview

For this morning's final ride, you'll 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 relax, you are welcome to sleep in 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.