The Inaugural Page County Grown Century

Despite the rain, Saturday was the first annual riding of the Page County Grown Century - a bicycle ride collaboration that combines the local interests in active sports tourism with local agriculture and family farms.  Mary and I were some of the several volunteers who came out - we supported over 60 riders who came from across Virginia, DC, and Maryland to participate.

Chris Gould gives a ride overview before the roll-out.

The event included optional quarter century, half century, and full century rides - circuits of 25 miles, 50 miles, and 100 miles for readers who can't do the math - with stops along the course at several of the farms that make up Page County Grown.  As the ride came to a close, a hot lunch pf local ingredients was served, prepared by the staff at The Mimslyn Inn, also a Page County Grown member.

Taking a pause at Public House Produce.

After the event, Chris Gould of Hawksbill Bicycles and also the promoter, said, "Despite the challenges presented by the lousy weather, I think it went really well and people enjoyed the ride, made possible through the cooperation of all the amazing volunteers, the host organizations, and some really nice folks at the pit stops showing real Page County hospitality. I really love showing off the roads out here to friends from elsewhere, and it was also heartening to see Page County residents taking on these rides too!"

There's a Facebook page for the annual event at https://www.facebook.com/events/184589341724186/.

David Sours, who also led and organized the event, thanked the riders and volunteers in a Facebook post on Saturday afternoon:

One of the pit stops along the route - Valley Star Farm. Other
stops included Long Acres Farm, Survivor Farm, Public House
Produce, Shenandoah Town Hall, and Wisteria Farm
and Vineyard.

"A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came out and rode in the Page County Grown Century today! Another big Thank You to Pamela McNeely Flasch, Christopher Gould, Heather Sours, Carla Sours, Eric Sours, Jim Turner, Mary Konsoulis, John and Nina Wolfe, Bill Fisher, Kevin and Elisa Crisler, Katelyn, and all of the other volunteers that helped out on a very unpleasant day. ...It was a great day and a great event. Looking forward to the future and spreading the word about this fabulous event!"

Checking the "Tour of Page County" Facebook page, I see that next year's event has been tentatively scheduled for October 11.  Hopefully, that'll be a sunny one, as it usually is, but even if it's not, I'll plan to be there.

There are a couple of other bicycle races in the works for next year - check them out here:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tour-of-Page-County/294861855754