September 27th, 2014 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM starting and finishing on Mayo Island.
A Scenic Tour of the James River Basin by mountain bike or boat. Explore the length of the James River’s fall line.
Hosted by RVA MORE and JROC to raise money for the trail building cause. All proceeds directly benefit your outdoor experience. Come out and explore with your fellow cycling and paddling enthusiasts.
Learn more here: http://new.rvamore.org/events/tour-de-fall-line/
September 27th, 2014 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM starting and finishing on Mayo Island.
A Scenic Tour of the James River Basin by mountain bike or boat. Explore the length of the James River’s fall line.
Hosted by RVA MORE and JROC to raise money for the trail building cause. All proceeds directly benefit your outdoor experience. Come out and explore with your fellow cycling and paddling enthusiasts.
Register Online at https://www.bikereg.com/tour-de-fall-line
Ride Day Brief – MTB Participants Please Read
Mountain Bike Course
You will be directed on a route that hits all the major trail systems in the City of Richmond in one 50 mile loop. You will ride trails in a number of Richmond’s Parks including the James River Park System, Forest Hill, Ancarrow’s Landing, Forest Hill, Dogwood Dell, Powhite, Pony Pasture and Larus. Smaller ride options of roughly 28 and 14 miles are available as well.
Mountain bikes are recommended as this course will have plenty of dirt and lots of technical singletrack. You will receive a map and a marked course with aid stations along the way. Also finish and receive a beer, a pint glass, Lee’s Chicken, potato wedges and biscuits and then additional frosty cold beverages for purchase. Please don’t forget your helmet, tubes, and other bike repair items you might need along the way.
Please note you will be riding on an open course, in an urban environment on a mix of singletrack linked with on road connections. Most roads will be low traffic but the course does require short sections of some high volume roads. Although the trails on the course will be marked please keep a cell phone with google maps and make sure know how to navigate via the course map.
The maps below look much better in full scree, see the links below:
50 Mile Route
Full screen 50 mile route here
Ride with GPS Map of 50 mile route
50 miler route on Strava (thanks Rob)
28 Mile Route
28 miler Full Screen here
14 Mile Route
14 miler full screen here
Paddling Course
Whether you are new to the James River, or a longtime local, paddling the 7.5 the fall line rapids of the James will allow you to experience the best urban whitewater in the United States. Participants will explore the entire length of the fall line from Huguenot Flatwater to Mayo Island aboard their craft of choice, be it kayak, canoe, C1, raft, ducky, shredder, or stand up paddle board!
The Upper James through Richmond is a 5 mile section of river with nothing harder than class ll rapids. This section will take paddlers past Williams Island and the Z-Dam, and through the rapids of Pony Pasture, Powhite Ledges, Choo Choo, and Mitchell’s Gut. After completing Mitchell’s Gut, paddlers will have the option of ending at Reedy Creek and partaking in the aid station, or continuing down the Lower James to Mayo Island.
NOTE: The Upper James section of The Tour de Fall Line is recommended for novice boaters who have never paddled the Lower James and do not have experience running class lll rapids. Paddlers who participate in this section will have a cheaper entry fee but will be responsible for their own transportation to Mayo Island after they finish. Upper paddlers will be shuttled to Huguenot flat water from Reedy Creek.
The Lower James through Richmond is the highlight of paddling the fall line rapids in Richmond. After an optional stop at the Reedy Creek aid station, participants will continue downstream to experience the 2.5 miles of class lll/lV rapids (water level dependent) directly adjacent to the downtown skyline. Paddlers will have a myriad of options on this section. Above Belle Isle alone, paddlers can choose between Grumman, Variations, and First Break. However, after these rapids paddlers will not want to miss the centerpiece of the fall line rapids: Hollywood (named for Hollywood Cemetery, overlooking the river from the river left shore). After Hollywood paddlers can take in the city skyline as they continue through the flatwater of Tredegar pool, and continue down Fishladders, and experience the finale at Pipeline.
Those interested in participating in the paddle but unsure of what category to enter are encouraged to email the organizers with questions.
Times:
Huguenot to Mayo participants meet at Mayo island: 9am
Shuttle leaves Mayo island: 9:30am
Shuttle for Upper James participants leaves Reedy creek: 10:00am
Paddler meet up, course debrief at Huguenot Flatwater: 10:30am
Paddle start: by 11am
Prize for first paddle to complete the whole course: $50 gift certificate to Appomattox River Company
Afterwards partake in games, live music, vendors, and the Richmond outdoor community.
This is a family friendly event so bring your family and your non riding friends down to Mayo Island to enjoy the event with after you finish.
Your registration includes:
• Food and drinks at all aid stations
• A donation to Richmond MORE as a large portion of your fee goes back to the trails and river you’re riding!
• Lee’s Chicken, potato wedges and biscuits
• Post-ride party
• Marked trails
• A large, beautiful map and cue sheet
• Course Sweepers and sag support via cell phone
• Official event Pint Glass with a complementary beer
• Basic bike assistance at aid stations (lube, floor pumps, tools etc.)