Monthly Rides for August, 2026

August 1 (Saturday)

Virginia Capital Trail Ride

Pace	Time	Miles	Terrain	Stops	Leader
B+	8 am	40-80	5	3	JRod Rodriguez, jedijrod@yahoo.com or 540-645-3812, and Nick Elliott, 804-229-321

Description: Please join us Saturday, August 1, for our monthly Capital Trail ride. Wheels roll at 8:00 AM from 4 Mile Creek Park. We'll ride down to Spoke & Art and back to log 75 miles.

Options:

• Riders may opt to do the Jamestown loop for the 5 additional miles, while the rest of the crew fuels up at Spoke & Art.
• Riders may opt for a shorter route (40 miles) by riding with the group to the first rest stop at the Charles City Courthouse, then riding back to the start.

I will lead a group looking to average 17.0 mph. There may be a group looking to do 19+, as well.

I've shared the details below; wheels roll at 8 AM.

• Start/finish: Four Mile Creek Park, 3256 New Market Road, Henrico, VA 23231
• Distance is 75 miles (w/ optional + 5 miles to Jamestown making it 80)
• Ride 20 miles to the Charles City Courthouse, where we'll take a bio and water refill break.
• Ride 18 miles to the Spoke & Art Coffee Shop, where we'll take a 15-20 minute break.
• Ride 18 miles back to the Charles City Courthouse for another bio and water refill break.
• Ride the final 20 miles back to Four Mile Creek Park.

We may take additional shade breaks along the route, as desired or necessary.

Start/finish: Four Mile Creek Park, 3256 New Market Road Henrico, VA 23231

August 1 (Saturday)

Group Rides for New Riders

Pace	Time	Miles	Terrain	Stops	Leader
All	8:30 am (Safety) / 9 am (Ride)	20 / more (opt)	3	one	Gregg Hillmar, bike@hillmardesign.com

Description: This is the last of 5 2026 rides for riders who are new to riding in groups, to be held on the first Saturday (except in July) in April, May, June, July, and August. This ride is aimed at attracting new cyclists to RABA and getting more riders into the sport. The ride will depart from the RF&P portion of Crump Park (3400 Mountain Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060) and follow the normal ABC route with a stopover at Ashland. For stronger riders, there will be a 12-mile extension. If you would like to volunteer to help out, please arrive at 8:30 am. Contact Gregg for details.

Directions: The ride will depart from the RF&P portion of Crump Park (3400 Mountain Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060)

August 15 (Saturday)

Cambell's Mountain

Pace	Time	Miles	Terrain	Stops	Leader
B+**	10 am	40	1	1	Ryan Callahan , rycallah@gmail.com
B**	10 am	73	1	1	Reed Shomaker, 804-292-4220, reedshomaker@gmail.com

**Pace Note: Mountain route paces and Central Virginia route paces are not the same. Reed says the effort to maintain his B pace would be the same as an A/A+ ride here. Ryan is planning on Central Virginia B+ effort which will probably translate to a less than B mountain pace.

Description: We will start at Blue Mountain Barrel House Brewery and Restaurant and ride up Cambells Mountain up to the parkway, where we will pretty quickly descend Love's and back up Reid's Gap from the western side. Then along the parkway for as long as we like before descending down Crabtree Falls for a quick return in the valley to the cars. This route is intended to have extensive cutoffs (Love/Reid and BRP) for riders that prefer an easier day. There is a store near the top of Crabtree if needed.

I will be leading an "A Group" but obviously the mountains blow groups apart, so there will be considerable regrouping. Other paces are more than welcome; this is a pretty good introduction to proper mountains riding and is a relatively easy route starting from the eastern valley (especially with the cutoffs).

Cue Sheet: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/56009084

Start/finish: 495 Cooperative Way, Arrington, VA 22922.

August 22 (Saturday)

Chill Pace Capital Trail Ride (26 Miles +/-)

Pace	Time	Miles	Terrain	Stops	Leader
All	9 am	26	4	0	John Shomaker, 804-982-3056, jfshomaker@msn.com

Description: Have you done the New Riders Ride & want more? Have you been off the bike for a while? Want to do a group ride but something a little shorter & slower? Whatever your reason, we are offering something new: a bridge ride between New Riders & regular group rides. If this proves to be popular, look for it to be a regular ride.

We will start at Four Mile Creek trailhead on the Va Capital Trail & ride to Herring Creek trailhead, turn around & return. Entire ride is VCT so you can’t get lost. And you can turn around before Herring Creek if you wish.

Directions: Four Mile Creek Park, 3256 New Market Road Henrico, VA 23231.