Snowshoe

This past weekend (June 30 - July 02), the Richmond Cycling Corps was invited to take part in a short film being made about Angelo Washington. Angelo is a mountain bike coach that grew up in public housing here in Richmond, VA and now races and coaches mountain biking all over the East Coast. He invited us out to ride at Snowshoe Bike Park in West Virginia to take part in a clinic led by him, and then some real-time coaching while we were riding.

Leaving Friday afternoon, we took a squad of four of our senior riders and five new members to RCC. These five have ridden with us a little bit, but so far have preferred to cruise around the city or ride bmx to any actual mountain biking. With Angelo’s expert help, they were able to confidently ride and handle features on the mountain that otherwise would have been overwhelming to a beginner rider. They were able to take on the mountain with ease (and style!)

For four of the kids, it was their first time seeing/being in the mountains. It is very fun crossing over Rockfish Gap and seeing the view of the Shenandoah Valley for the first time and there are even better views when you get to the top of Snowshoe. It really is something.

Saturday morning, we woke up, made breakfast, and then got going! Angelo and the film crew met us at the bike rental place and helped make sure the team got everything they needed. From there, we rolled to an empty blacktop at the top of the mountain for a pre-ride clinic. We worked on fundamentals like accelerating, braking, bike/body movement, bike/body positions, etc. This sort of thing is so good for the newer riders to learn to connect with the bike and ride it confidently. It is also a great refresher for our older, teenaged riders that know everything about everything but could still use a reminder every now and then.

Coach Angelo talks about pedal position when riding

Once we went through all the basics, it was time to ride! We took a Green trail (easiest) down the mountain first as a team. Stopping every now and then to check in on riders or practice a feature, it was a great way for the newer riders to dip their toes into downhill mountain biking. And once we got to the bottom, we got to take the ski lift back up! The lift can be intimidating at first, but once you do it once, it gets a lot less scary.

The team had an absolute blast riding all day Saturday and part of the day Sunday. Even a little rain couldn’t dampen anyone’s spirits, they just kept on going in the mud. At the end of the day Sunday, after we returned all our bikes, we let all of our riders choose a t-shirt from the Snowshoe Gift shop.

This sort of trip is the kind of experience that we believe every teenager should be able to have - going on a trip with their peers, doing something challenging and fun, and gaining stories to tell. This is what the Richmond Cycling Corps is all about.

We want to say thank you again to Angelo, his crew: Jonathan Mehring and Korey Hopkins, and Snowshoe Resort. Thanks to them, RCC was given lift tickets, downhill bike rentals, AND hotel rooms for the weekend.

Unfortunately, even with all of those huge expenses covered, trips like these aren’t cheap. Between shirts for the team, gas to/from West Virginia, and food for 11 people for three days, things really add up!

We would be grateful if you would consider making a donation to help us offset the costs of this trip and support future endeavors. Your generosity will make a tangible difference in the lives of our aspiring athletes, empowering them to pursue their dreams and reach new heights.

To contribute, please visit our website or reach out to us directly. We are also open to discussing partnership opportunities or sponsorship arrangements that align with your philanthropic goals and values.

CAN’T STOP. WON’T STOP.

Kickstand Event

Last Wednesday, we hosted a volunteer clean-up day at The Kickstand. The past few years have not been very kind to our little shipping container and due to the weather, graffiti, and time, she was in desperate need of a face-lift. With your help, we were able to move a gigantic pile of gravel to fill in low spots in the parking lot, and get the container painted to cover up old graffiti marks.

RCC Alumni Nigel came out to help and did all the fine detail work around the letters.

We can’t thank everyone who came out to help enough! The Kickstand looks brand new!

MTB Nationals

This weekend, Korey and Matt are headed to the USAC 2023 Cross-Country Mountain Bike Nationals in Pennsylvania! Korey is excited and nervous to toe the line with the nation’s best in the U23 Cross-Country (XC) race Saturday, and U23 Short Track (STXC) race on Sunday.

Last year, MTB Nationals was hosted in Winter Park, Colorado. While it was beautiful to visit, and the trip of a lifetime for Korey, the altitude of the race (10,000ft!) ultimately decided the outcome of his race. This year, with the race venue on the East Coast at Bear Creek Mountain Resort near Allentown, Pennsylvania, he’ll be able to breathe and concentrate on the actual racing.

Our goal this year is to stay with the pack and see how we stack up. With a technical course already, it’s looking like thunderstorms several days in a row leading up to the race. This will give Korey a technical advantage as bike handling is one of his specialties, but he’ll have to have his game face on for sure. Anything can happen in the mud!

Follow along on our Instagram page to see how he’s doing and what else we’re up to!

Bonus points: On Friday, after registration and a course recon in the evening, we are headed to T-Town! The Valley Preferred Cycling Center (Trexlertown Velodrome) it’s directly in between the race venue and our hotel. On Friday after our pre-ride, we plan to head to the velodrome to watch their Friday Night Under the Lights series!

Wedding Ride

A few weeks ago, The Kickstand hosted a group ride from Colonial Jamestown to the Kickstand along the Virginia Capital Trail. While trip shuttling and tour guiding are not something we normally would do, it is something that we are considering expanding to do and this was a great way to test out the waters.

As you probably know, RCC has been working with Anna Julia Cooper School in Creighton Court for some years. This summer, one of our favorite teachers at the school let us know that her daughter was the Maid of Honor in a wedding and that the wedding party was looking for fun things to do during the week that they were staying in Richmond. As they were getting married at Shirley Plantation, a Capital Trail ride seemed like the perfect option.

For those unfamiliar with the Cap Trail, it is a dedicated, paved bicycle and pedestrian trail crossing four counties and 51.7 miles between Jamestown and Richmond, Virginia — that is, between the Colony of Virginia's first capital and Virginia's current capital, with an alternate end at Williamsburg, the last colonial capital.

Quite a haul for a wedding party of fourteen! Seven of the party brought their own bicycles with them, but the other seven out-of-towners that were unable to bring rides were able to rent from The Kickstand.

The morning-of, we met everyone at The Kickstand, made sure everyone was situated with bikes helmets and water and set off. First, we stopped at Upper Shirley Plantation to pick up a few more riders who were only going to ride the first part (Jamestown to Upper Shirley Plantation - the wedding venue!). After picking up the last of the crew, we drove the rest of the way down to Colonial Jamestown, Mile 0.

Knowing that food and water make the difference between a good day and a bad day on the bike, we drove ahead with the van and set up a little rest stop every ~10 miles with snacks, water, and tools/supplies in case anyone had any mechanical problems.

We also had Monte ride with the group and act as tour guide. He rode the whole way with them, answered questions, and gave trivia about the area. With only one flat tire, and one small crash (we were able to get them patched up and back on the bike in no time), everyone had a great day.

Crossing the Chickahominy Bridge at Mile 8

The entire week leading up to the ride, the forecast said rain all day long for our chosen ride date. The Wedding Crew was down for anything though and said they didn’t mind a little rain. We all did our rain dances anyway, and something must have worked because it turned out perfectly. At the end of the day, the entire group rolled back up to the Kickstand around 2:00pm, seconds before the rain started coming down.

We’d like to thank Laurie Shadowen from AJC for getting us connected with the group (and for just being a rockstar in general), and Sue Christopherson for managing the family side of the arrangements/logistics. We had a lot of fun riding with everyone, and are so happy that we were able to help them have a great event. We’d also like to congratulate the happy couple!

Smiles all around

While this is not the sort of programming that The Kickstand or RCC normally does, we had a great time with this group and are considering making shuttles/group trips something that we offer for everyone - is this something that you or your friends would be interested in? Let us know!

Chip - Then and Now

In 2021, when the team was training for a ride from Richmond to Jamestown along the Virginia Capital Trail, Chip wasn’t ready. He had a problem with stopping. Eventually, we made a goal to ride from the Armstrong Bike Park to Four Mile Creek Park with only three stops (about 12 miles each way)

He did great and met his goal of only stopping to rest three times on the way to Four Mile Creek, but on the way back, had to stop probably nine times. It was a hot day, and a looong 12 miles back to the Armstrong Bike Park.

Chip, August 10, 2021, after only stopping three times

But that was two years ago. Chip has been riding a lot and training hard since then. Last week, I found a loop out East that I had never done before and wanted to try. It was about 40 miles long - Heading out of town on the Cap Trail, you go several miles past Four Mile Creek, make a left up Malvern Hill to a gravel road through a corn field, then back down a fun hill all the way back to the Cap Trail.

As we were blowing through Four Mile Creek, Chip asked if he could stop at the huge bike to recreate his photo from last year. We did the full 40 mile loop, and our only stop was to take that picture. Not only are Ryan and I crazy proud of him, but he is proud of himself. He is able to recognize the progress that he has made on the bike, and sees that it is the direct result of his hard work.

When we finished the ride back at Headquarters (frustratingly at Mile 39.6), we talked about how it really is only 12 more miles to do the full Jamestown → Richmond ride. Two days later on Thursday morning, we got Ryan to drop the two of us in Jamestown. Three and a half hours later, Chip and I rolled into Shockoe Bottom in Richmond after averaging about 17mph the whole ride, only stopping to refill our waters.

We are super proud of Chip and his progress. Cycling is a sport of marginal gains and getting stronger is mostly a battle of mental fortitude. Not only has he improved and grown physically, but his dedication and hardwork have improved his confidence on/off the bike. We’re excited to see him continue to grow!

🚴 Pedaling for Purpose Challenge: Join Our Dollar-Per-Mile-Donation Ride! 🚴

Calling all cyclists and RCC supporters! We are thrilled to announce our upcoming fundraiser, the Pedaling for Purpose Challenge, and we invite you to be a part of this fun weekend. Get ready to hop on your bike, pedal for a cause, and make a difference in the lives of young people living in Richmond’s East End!

Here's how it works: We're asking participants to donate a dollar for every mile they ride. It's that simple! Whether you're an avid cyclist or just starting out, you can choose a donation amount that matches your riding goals. Donate $20 and challenge yourself to ride 20 miles, or go the extra mile by donating $50 and cycling 50 miles. For those seeking an ultimate challenge, a $100 donation will motivate you to conquer 100 miles!

To kick off the Pedaling for Purpose Challenge, we will be leading a 40-mile group ride on Saturday, August 19th and Sunday, August 20th. This ride will not only provide an opportunity to ride with your friends, but also contribute to our fundraising efforts. Together, we can empower the youth in our community, and promote a healthy and active lifestyle.

Your generous contributions will directly benefit our team by assisting with essential expenses such as transportation, equipment, training, and competition fees.

We encourage you to spread the word about this incredible opportunity to your friends, family, and colleagues. Together, we can make a significant impact and ensure that our youth continues to flourish. So grab your helmet, strap on your cycling shoes, and join us for the Pedaling for Purpose Challenge!

To learn more and sign up for the challenge, please visit our website or contact us at info@richmondcyclingcorps.org

Thank you for your unwavering support and enthusiasm.

Happy Cycling!

Matt Kuhn

Richmond Cycling Corps

CAN’T STOP. WON’T STOP.