Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club
Weekly Rides

CAMBC currently sponsors one weekly ride: the Wednesday Night Ride (WNR). In the past, there have been Fast-paced Rides (FPR) Sunday Social Rides (SSR), but we are looking for volunteers to help lead these rides! If you're interested in volunteering to host a ride or two in either category, or have a group ride that you want to start up, please be in touch with info@cambc.org.

Wednesday Night Rides | Fast-paced Rides | Sunday Social Rides

Wednesday Night Ride

The WNR occurs year-round, weather permitting, at 8:00pm every Wednesday night. The venue varies, but we most commonly ride at Observatory Hill (See the Local Trails page for descriptions, directions and maps.) Since this is a night ride, working lights suitable for off-road riding at night are required. As with all rides, a working bike in good working order, water, and a HELMET are required. A spare tube, air pump and bike-specific multi-tool are recommended. This is a no-drop ride ranging in skill-level from intermediate to advanced, depending on ride attendance. Ride length, route, distance, and pace are decided based on the riders in attendance.

The WNR occasionally visits the Sherando/Big Levels area. Every spring when the Rhododendron are in bloom, we go there for the annual WNR Rhododendron ride. Usually we start earlier in the evening since this is a slightly longer ride.

If weather prohibits off-road riding, we've been known to convert the ride into an on-road ride starting in or near town, a city ride (Urban) to practice slow-speed skills in a safe environment, or a social event at a local eatery or residence (aka Wednesday Night Beer).
Now for a little WNR history...The WNRs started 8 years ago in 1998 long before CAMBC existed. Sue George (co-founder and former CAMBC president) was one of several grad students who, after meeting at the spring O'hill Meltdown, decided to start riding at night together to prepare for the upcoming 24 hours of Canaan to be held that June. Well, we all enjoyed our weekly night rides so much that we kept on doing it.

Who were the other original regulars? Mike Cox, Andy Kinley, Paul Deeble, and Mark Sondeen. Mike Smoot was almost an original, and Al Inigo was there regularly in the early days. Many new folks have come and gone, both from C'ville and the WNR, since then. As of this writing, we're wrapping up the second or third generation of regular participants.

In the early days, we rode at O'hill and Walnut Creek. About the time night riding became off-limits at Walnut Creek, Panorama came online. Now Panorama is gone. Only time will tell what new venue(s) will be next.

From folks with little or no night riding experience, we often hear impressions that night riding is dangerous. So here is an interesting tidbit to contemplate...in 8 years of weekly night riding with probably 100 or more people participating over the years, we've only had one bone broken on a ride, and that was a broken finger. (insert sound of knocking on wood here!)

Special thanks to Dave Wotton for taking over from long time leader Sue George and continuing the WNR for its fourth generation of regulars!

Check the Announcements page for more information on this week's WNR!

Sunday Blue Ridge School Rides | Wednesday Night Rides | Fast-paced Rides | Sunday Social Rides

Fast-paced Rides (FPR) Seeking ride leaders!

This weekly ride is currently seeking volunteers! If you're interested in this ride and can lead a ride or two (could be any day/time of the week), email info@cambc.org.

CAMBC is pleased to announce the start of fast paced group rides organized by Shawn Tevendale. These are intended for riders looking for a fun, fast paced ride for an evening. (Don't expect to find a killer pace, just a solid one.)

We are going to try to hold two of these a month, most likely on Thursdays, but this may flex around as we figure out peoples' schedules so keep an eye on the email list or CAMBC website for updates.

The first ride was on Thursday, July 27th, 2006 at 6:45 pm on the Tevendale farm in the Earlysville area. This is the same place that the Brownie Crits were being held in 2006. If this is your first time on the farm, you will need to sign a waiver on arrival.

Directions to Tevendale Farm: From Charlottesville take Earlysville Road past Whyte's Supermarket. At the Earlysville General Store, bear left onto Buck Mtn. Road. After Chestnut Grove Baptist Church, turn right onto Markwood Road. After about 1-1.5 Miles, turn left onto Allen Road. Pull into the first drive on the left. After you enter the driveway, there will be a small dirt path to the left. Pull in here and park.

Physical address for those that prefer Mapquest: 551 Allen Road Earlysville, Va. 22936. Protective gear mandatory (helmets, gloves, eye protection, etc). Questions day of ride: 434-964-1796 (Shawn) The Tevendale Farm is private property. Unless you are riding with the club when Shawn has invited us out to ride, then you are not permitted to ride these trails. If you are riding without permission from the Tevendale's you are trespassing. Please obey our host's generosity so we can continue to ride here in the future.

Sunday Blue Ridge School Rides | Wednesday Night Rides | Fast-paced Rides | Sunday Social Rides

Sunday Social Ride Seeking ride leaders!

This weekly ride is currently seeking volunteers! If you're interested in this ride and can lead a ride or two (doesn't have to be a Sunday and could be any day/time of the week), email info@cambc.org.

The Sunday Social Ride occurs every Sunday, weather permitting. We frequent the Local Trails, or when they're too soggy, we try to find alternate ways to be social.

The SSR is a no-drop ride, geared towards going out and having fun in a social group setting. Pace is relaxed and riders of all skill levels from first-time riders to very advanced riders are welcome to join us.

We're still deciding whether this ride will happen all year or just during daylight savings. Voice your opinion to the ride leader about whether you'd be interested in doing a social ride when it's cold, dark, and/or windy.

In 2006, the Blue Ridge School was been kind enough to start inviting CAMBC members to ride their private trails. Thanks Blue Ridge School! (Sorry, due to legal and insurance reasons, rides at BRS are limited to CAMBC members only. You can join CAMBC if you wish to attend the BRS rides. Sunday Social Rides at other venues are open to everyone.)

Check the Announcements page for more information on this week's SSR!

Special thanks to Craig Spear for leading this ride in 2005 and 2006!

Wednesday Night Rides | Fast-paced Rides | Sunday Social Rides



Interested in leading a weekly ride? Contact CAMBC (info@cambc.org) to discuss the details!