By Dr. Kim Perry, Executive Director
Previous riders on the Bike Virginia Tour will notice a price increase for our registration in 2013. This increase comes with long evaluation and was not made lightly. We are a small non-profit. The decision to raise prices was not based on profit. It was based on bringing you a quality experience and making sure our organization can continue to serve cyclists and Virginia for many years to come.
Within our new fee we are offering several new services to improve the riding experience for you.
We’ve added a day of riding. 6 Days instead of 5.
We are adding 1 staff person to help our staff of 3.5 better serve your needs and to help coordinate safety, permits, and route planning.
We are bringing you more meals. We will now offer an “All Included Meals Option”. Getting food was quite challenging in some small communities. Instead of buying meal plans which were an additional cost last year, or trying to eat with vendors, or searching out restaurants in often small rural areas we offer you convenient fuel and enjoyable dining right at camp with our All Included Option. Riders asked us to make it easy and casual so they can rest after a day of riding. That’s what we’ve done. If you take part in this plan we’ll serve 15 catered meals at camp, and provide you with a chance to mingle, learn about the next day’s ride, and enjoy special activities.
Entertainment will be provided every night and brought right to you at headquarters.
We will be a smaller tour. Bigger is not better in bike tours. Having fewer riders makes it possible for us to visit more rural areas where roads are quiet. We have less impact on traffic and are more likely to be welcome by citizens of the communities we visit. Fewer riders means less bike traffic, more open roads for you. And even though we will accept fewer riders we will not reduce the amount of SAG support and our volunteer ratios. You’ll get better service all in all.
There will be more portable showers and portable rest room facilities at every location in 2013.
Hotel Booking service will be provided for the first time. You’ll get helpful service and improved event experiences through this tried and true company. Read more about Alpine Cycle Connections.
We’ve had 25 great years, our story though has been lumpy and bumpy and not at all smooth. This course of action was a culmination of a lot of soul searching for our board, staff, and riders. Read our story on the State of the Union page to understand the struggles and decisions that have brought us to this point today.
Thank you for your support of Bike Virginia. We hope that you will choose to ride with us in 2013. We promise to give you an enjoyable experience like none before.
Sincerely,
Dr. Kim Perry