BIKE Virginia Tour coming to Floyd -Warren G. Lineberry Park

Virginia’s Annual BIKE VA TOUR is in New River Valley this year and coming through Floyd County, Saturday June 23 throughout county.
AND major stop Saturday, June 23, 8:30am-3:30pm  in town park, Warren G. Lineberry Park

“Bike Virginia’s 31st annual bicycle adventure is June 22–27, 2018 and themed “Ride The River” as it is based in Radford and Clayor Lake,” shared Floyd tourism director, Pat Sharkey.

“This is a 6-day annual event that moves around the state each year.  This year it is based in the New River Valley with routes coming through Floyd County on Saturday, June 23 with a major stop in our Floyd Town Park, Warren G. Lineberry Park.”

The annual Bike Virginia Tour draws up to 2,000 regional, national, and international visitors during a 6 day period each June. Participants enjoy 300–400 miles of bicycling in rural areas, enjoying the history, culture, scenery, and geography. The event is a program of Bike Virginia, a 501(C)(3), non-profit that works to improve Virginia’s health, environment, and economy through bicycling.

Cycle Floyd, the Floyd Tourism Office’s first outdoor recreation project, is a key sponsor of the event.
We are hosting Bike VA’s premium stop on Saturday, June 23.  Bike VA provides snacks and drinks at the stop and pays a local non-profit to host the booth.

“Over 1,500 riders have registered this year and Bike VA estimates we will have about 1,200 riders coming through Floyd on June 23 between 8:30am and 3:30pm and stopping downtown,” Sharkey added.  “This is wonderful timing as we roll out our Cycle Floyd project – and have our new print Floyd County bicycling guide ready to share.”

We will be ready for our visitors!  We have extra sheriffs on duty throughout the day to help move the cyclists around – especially in town at the light and at entrance to the park.  Bike VA riders are touring cyclists, not racers, and they look for local cultural activities as they visit.  Bike VA awards cash for the “coolest” stops and we are welcoming the bikers in our classic Floyd style!
Our “Floyd Time”  Stop in Warren G. Lineberry Park will offer them a rest, food and entertainment and info about Floyd – both what they can do in their stop that day, for the week during their visit to the area, and in future visits!

We wanted to make sure residents and business owners are aware of the cyclists coming through for reasons of safety for all, convenience for our residents – and also for economic opportunities for our businesses.   “Businesses are welcome to contact me and have info at our Floyd Welcome Booth in the park about their businesses and any special opportunities they want to offer the riders that day, as well as throughout the week.

The tour generates considerable tourism spending for the region as riders enjoy lodging, dining, entertainment, and retail opportunities.  The average age of riders is 54; 60 percent are male, 40 percent are female, with a large return ridership (60% or greater each year).

The town park BIKE VA “Floyd Time” Stop will be open from 8:30am to 3:30pm on Saturday.

Specific routes are available on the BIKE VA website, www.bikevirginia.org – as well as on our VisitFloydVA.com Cycle Floyd page and at the Floyd Visitor Center.   www.VisitFloydVA.com/Cycle-Floyd/  

Basic route Cyclistst will be coming in on Rt 615 Cburg Pike from Pilot, onto Rt. 694/Newtown Rd., Oxford, on to Locust St. to the Park.   Leaving town will be on Rt 221 S from the park until Rt 619/ Laurel Branch Rd at Slaughters, onto Rt 729/ Wills Ridge Rd NW to Rt. 8 N for short time until Rt. 730/Ridgeview Rd NW, Posey Rd NW,

They will have the option to add an additional  loop Baker St, to Rt 798, to Rt 710/Woods Gap Rd., to Rt 637 New Haven Rd., to Rt 615/Barberry Rd SE, Rt. 615, to Rt. 635/Haycock Rd SE, to Rt. 860/Shooting Creek Rd SE, Rt. 681/ Franklin Pike, back to Floyd.

For more information, contact Pat Sharkey, tourismdirector@floydcova.org, 540-239-8509-