Spring has arrived here in the Roanoke Region in Virginia’s Blue Ridge! Everything is blooming, and it is beautiful outside! It is a great time to get outside and enjoy the outdoors. My favorite way to enjoy the spring season is on my bike, and Roanoke offers an assortment of cycling-related activities for all abilities! 

Save the Date: USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike National Championships - July 14-20

Spring also means the USA Cycling Endurance Mountain Bike Nationals are quickly approaching. The event will be held this July in Roanoke!

One of the national races, Short Track, will be held downtown at Elmwood Park. Short Track is a short race (hence the name), only about 20 minutes, competed on a small lap at an intense pace.

There will be a Short Track Preview Race on April 30th, hosted by Play Roanoke. Consider participating, volunteering, or just stopping by to check it out! The races will start at 6:00 p.m. Register here >

Cardinal Bicycle - Group Rides

Now that the time has changed and we have sprung forward, group bike rides have started again! Cardinal Bicycles hosts several group rides, which meet at their shop in Roanoke's Historic Grandin Village neighborhood. There are a few additions and updates to the group rides from last year.

The “Tuesday Road Ride” includes four groups, ranging from Beginner (sticks to the greenway) to Advanced (has 1-2 regroup points). This ride begins at 5:45 p.m.

A Group of cyclers at Cardinal Bicycle

On Wednesdays, “The Mullet” Mountain Bike Ride leaves from Cardinal Bicycle at 6:00 p.m. It is a fun, no-drop mountain bike ride at Mill Mountain! As a change for 2025, the Mullet has two groups: the classic group and an intermediate group that will go at a slightly more mellow pace.

Another Wednesday option is a “Casual Ride’ that explores the greenway and local side streets. No experience is needed.

On Saturdays, there is a “Morning Road Ride” that leaves at 8:30 a.m. and is between 25-40+ miles. This is a no-drop ride, and the route changes every week.

Also on Saturdays, “Singletrack Shenanigans” leaves at 9:30 a.m. This is an intermediate no-drop ride that can include mountain bike trails, gravel roads, and a little pavement and lasts about 3-5 hours.

Learn More: Cardinal Bicycle Weekly Group Rides > 

Roanoke Valley Riveters Mountain Bike Group 

For any women mountain bikers out there (new or experienced), joining the Rosie Riveters may be a great idea! The Riveters are a women-identifying group of mountain bikers who support and grow with one another both on and off the bike. The goal of the Riveters is to develop a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable space for women to have fun together.

It can be intimidating for women to show up to male-dominated group rides. The group was created to hold open space for individuals who don’t see themselves represented in the mountain bike community regularly. The Riveters meet weekly on Wednesdays at Carvins Cove at the Bennetts Spring Parking lot. The ride leaves at 6:00 p.m., and they hang out in the parking lot after. The rides are supportive, fun, and open to all abilities.