Each year we receive a handful of questions from riders with specific food allergies about our our meal plan. As someone who has multiple food allergies, I understand how important arranging your food is. I am allergic to more and more things these days: eggs, wheat, peanuts, mushrooms, and pineapple. I’m hoping that I don’t add any more to that list!

Unfortunately due to a number of constraints we cannot specifically address food allergies for our riders or staff. We cater 13 meals to 2,000 riders in 5 days, and use local civic groups like the boy scouts to facilitate snacks at over 25 rest stops.  As you can imagine it would be extremely difficult, and dangerous to try to assure that specific allergens are eliminated from our meals and snacks.

I book the catering for the event, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it is impossible for our caterers and rest stop providers to keep those food allergies in mind. On most days of the tour I am surrounded by food that contains one or more of my allergens. As a result, I carry all my own food with me while at the tour. It is a very important week for me to be healthy, I have 2,000 of my friends to take care of so I try to control all my exposure to food very carefully.

We are very sorry at this time to not be able to offer gluten-free guarantees and to make sure that you can eat allergen free safely. I know that more and more people have dietary restrictions. And I hope like I did that once you find your allergens you are feeling happier and healthier.

I’m hopeful as more caterers and more facilities start to understand food allergies that we will be able to do more. This year in fact we are hoping to attract a gluten free food vendor to our tent city this year. If you know of anyone offering such service, please let us know.

If you can make suggestions on ways we can creatively help riders in this situation, please let us know as well.

Each year we receive a handful of questions from riders with specific food allergies about our our meal plan. As someone who has multiple food allergies, I understand how important arranging your food is. I am allergic to more and more things these days: eggs, wheat, peanuts, mushrooms, and pineapple. I’m hoping that I don’t add any more to that list!

Unfortunately due to a number of constraints we cannot specifically address food allergies for our riders or staff. We cater 13 meals to 2,000 riders in 5 days, and use local civic groups like the boy scouts to facilitate snacks at over 25 rest stops.  As you can imagine it would be extremely difficult, and dangerous to try to assure that specific allergens are eliminated from our meals and snacks.

I book the catering for the event, and I’ve come to the conclusion that it is impossible for our caterers and rest stop providers to keep those food allergies in mind. On most days of the tour I am surrounded by food that contains one or more of my allergens. As a result, I carry all my own food with me while at the tour. It is a very important week for me to be healthy, I have 2,000 of my friends to take care of so I try to control all my exposure to food very carefully.

We are very sorry at this time to not be able to offer gluten-free guarantees and to make sure that you can eat allergen free safely. I know that more and more people have dietary restrictions. And I hope like I did that once you find your allergens you are feeling happier and healthier.

I’m hopeful as more caterers and more facilities start to understand food allergies that we will be able to do more. This year in fact we are hoping to attract a gluten free food vendor to our tent city this year. If you know of anyone offering such service, please let us know.

If you can make suggestions on ways we can creatively help riders in this situation, please let us know as well.

We will ride a loop ride in the Berryville area on Saturday June 23.

On Sunday June 24 we pack up camp and move our Headquarters to Shenandoah Junction in West Virginia. The ride will be a point to point on Sunday (leaving Berryville, concluding at Shenandoah Junction).

On Monday June 25 and Tuesday June 26 we will ride loop rides in the areas surrounding Charles Town, Harper’s Ferry, and Shepherdstown. All rides on Monday and Tuesday will begin and end at event Headquarters in Shenandoah Junction.

Wednesday June 27 will be our final day of riding and will be a point to point ride starting in Shenandoah Junction and concluding in Berryville at the long term car parking area. Showers will be available in Berryville at the conclusion of the ride.

Camping Schedule:

• June 22- Friday-  Berryville
• June 23- Saturday- Berryville
• June 24- Sunday- Shenandoah Junction
• June 25- Monday- Shenandoah Junction
• June 26- Tuesday- Shenandoah Junction

Hotel Schedule

• June 22- Friday-  Winchester
• June 23- Saturday- Winchester
• June 24- Sunday- Charles Town or Harper’s Ferry
• June 25- Monday- Charles Town or Harper’s Ferry
• June 26- Tuesday- Charles Town or Harper’s Ferry

Our Official Hotel List is now available. Be sure to book in an official hotel if you wish to take part in the Shuttle service or the Hotel Luggage Transfer. More information for planning available on our Accommodations page.

If you like the quaintness of a bed and breakfast be sure to check out the B&B list, also on the accommodations page.  Please note that shuttles or hotel luggage transfers are not offered for B&B’s.

Role on tour riders!

Each and every year brings new opportunities for riding and exploration as we move around the state. And as a result of our relocation each time we create the event from the ground up each year.

We have many traditions that continue on year to year like the “You Did It!” celebration lunch and our much loved route signage. But each location has unique qualities and challenges (or as we like to think of them, opportunities for creativity).

At our Berryville headquarters (first tent city) we will bring back the “airport” style gear drop like the one used in 2010. This is needed because our tent city location cannot accommodate the 1,000 cars we need to park. A gear drop is used for riders to drop off their bike and camping gear before moving cars off-site to the nearby parking area.

New services/features for 2012:

Products- In 2012 we’ll offer an all new line of gear for sale. Bike Virginia Tour Arm Warmers, Shorts, Socks, Jacket, Vest, and Knee Warmers will be available for advance purchase through the online registration system.

Smart Phone App- This year we will partner with Guidebook to offer your tour book schedule in a Smart Phone app. This service will provide you with up to date information on scheduled activities and notices from event organizers. Details on Guidebook will be distributed by email to registered riders before the event start.

New GPS Data- Our route profiles and GPS files will be developed using a more accurate company, Ride with GPS.  Look for better ride profiles and information on daily climbing totals. You asked us to say goodbye to Map My Ride! We listened. Route information will be available on the website as routes are finalized in spring 2012.

Hotel Bus Pass- Look for more efficient bus service to hotels this year. We will offer shuttles that service  the official hotels. The pass system allows us to have better counts of the number of guests and location of those using this service. The fee for this services is a $10 charge for the 5 days. The fee helps offset rising transportation costs and allow us to manage our bus scheduling better for hotel guests. Purchase the hotel bus pass at the time of online registration.

One final change for 2012 is a new health department regulation that requires us to identify zones in our campground and be able to identify where our campers are in those zones. We will assign you a zone at registration, but you will be able to change the zone once at Tent City. Thanks for your understanding on this matter, we are working to make this as easy as possible.

Stay tuned for news on Facebook , our website  , or sign up for our email news here.

Also, check out some of the cool merchandise we have this year.  All these items can be purchased along with your registration.

Check out our other Sponsors.