🚲 How we Celebrated Bike Month
- Opening TWO new trails!!! Three new miles of trail at Seven Bends State Park in Woodstock AND three new miles of trail at Sunset Park in Waynesboro were finished and opened to the public this Bike Month!
- Klines First Friday Ice Cream Ride (Harrisonburg): A long-standing tradition to kick off Bike Month on the streets, with friends and family, blasting music and having a heck-of-a fun time before hanging out on a warm spring evening, enjoying a cone of your favorite ice cream.
- Hillandale Bike Rodeo: Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation collaborated with the Police and Fire Departments, and Shenandoah Bicycle Company to ensure everyone was rolling right, learning, and playing in the park.
- DIY Bike Clinic: We brought this one back after it was a crowd favorite the past few years. Switching things up, we had this going at the same time as the Bike Rodeo in Hillandale – Ben Wyse gave us a masterclass on bike maintenance, answered all the questions, and you can always count on him to make sure every bike left rolling well.
- Bike and Roll to School Day: More than 2,503 Bike & Roll events took place across the country, so it was exciting to see how Harrisonburg was part of this larger celebration. There were 28 (!!!) biking/walking routes led by staff and volunteers throughout the City of Harrisonburg, with over 400 students actively participating in the morning. Kudso to Andrea Troyer with Harrisonburg Safe Routes to School for organizing this big event, and connected with students through active movement while raising awareness about safe walking and biking practices.
- Bike Anywhere Day: Formerly “Bike to Work Day”, we gathered at Court Square with Chestnut Ridge Coffee, J’s Bagels, and plenty of breakfast fruits and treats to greet the day the best way we know how – on our bikes, the sun shining on our face, and chatting it up with our pals. We were joined by Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation (our whole Bike Month-long partner), Rocktown Bikes, the Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley, Mole Hill, Lauf Cycles, Park View Credit Union, and Virginia Clean Cities.
- Ride of Silence: This ride is an over 25-year-old tradition. Our steadfast volunteer, Marshall Hammond, led the ride again from the EMU campus.
- Staunton Ice Cream Ride (Staunton): Wrapping up the month, we rolled through Gyspy Hill Park, into downtown Staunton, and ended at the Split Banana with over 50 new friends who joined us. It was the greatest
- ShenRock and SAW Youth MTB Team: These two youth after-school mountain bike teams wrapped up their spring season – entirely run by volunteers and parents who are committed to sharing their love of riding and the trails.
- Women’s Weekly MTB Rides and Downhill Joy Ride: Every Monday, a highly-anticipated ride is led by Coalition volunteers, Leigh Evans and Terri Sexton. This crew has introduced many women to the Western Slope and continues to spread the love of riding each week. For the first time, they organized a downhill shuttle day at the Western Slope on the weekend, with free shuttles donated by Massanutten Resort.
- Weekly Trail Work Parties and Big Dig Day: Volunteers got their hands dirty maintaining and improving the Western Slope singletrack that makes our region a mountain biking destination. These trails don’t build themselves, and the massive turnout of our culminating seasonal BIG digging day showed the power in numbers. This year, they have been busy implementing part of the Phase 1 plan – a new, beginner-friendly climbing trail!
- Bikes for Neighbors Collaboration w/ SLAQ: As part of the Newcomer Program to guide recent immigrant and refugee middle schoolers in the outdoors, Ben Wyse got these kids on BIKES! They made lasting friendships and integrated into the community. The bike is the bridge to connect us, socially and physically, and while it’s one small part of their journey, we can only hope the bike opens up doors to create a lasting positive experience for them
💬 Why It Matters…
Bike Month isn’t just about bicycles—it’s about building a better future. It’s about kids getting to school safely, neighbors conversing on the trails, and streets designed for people—not just cars.
And all of this is only possible because people like you believe in the power of a bike (and trails!).
❤️ Thank You
To the Coalition: friends, volunteers, partners, local leaders, teachers, families, and businesses who showed up this year—we’re endlessly grateful.
🔜 What’s Next?
Let’s keep it rolling:
- Join our upcoming Summer Ice Cream Ride Series (schedule coming soon!)
- Volunteer at a trail work day
- Buy a raffle ticket
- Share your story with us!
💥 And if you believe in this work, help us keep it going.
Everything we celebrate during Bike Month—safer streets, thriving trails, kids getting their first bike, neighbors riding together—it’s only possible because people like you care enough to show up and give.
This work doesn’t just happen. It’s built, ride by ride, with each donation, by a community that believes everyone deserves the freedom and fun of two wheels.
Be part of shaping the next 43 years.
Make a gift today. Help us keep this momentum alive—on every street, every trail, and in every neighborhood.
Here’s to the next 10 years—and the miles still to come!
