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RockStar VA Grand Depart is an annual challenge idea "Bike from Rocktown (Harrisonburg) to the Star City (Roanoke) along the RockStar TRAIL, GRAVEL or PAVE routes!"The Grand Depart inspires folks to enjoy the incredible RockStar routes, maybe test themselves, and it stimulates massive annual trail clearing efforts that all trail users benefit from. Also, by enjoying and caring for these wild backcountry routes and trails we're helping to protect and preserve these places and experiences.
Crucial Note: None of the below is required. Zero. Just like the Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, Arizona Trail or Great Divide route - all RockStar routes are on public land and can be travelled by anyone at any time for free!
Registration:
Step 1: Grand Depart Registration: (live NOW!)
www.tinyurl.com/rockstar25register
(how to edit your registration)
Step 2: Trackleaders.com Registration: (goes live March 2025)
https://form.jotform.com/trackleaders/rockstar25
(how to edit your Trackleaders registration)
Step 3 - Shuttle Registration:
https://www.roanokemountainadventures.com/rockstar
One-way shuttle ride on Friday from Roanoke to Harrisonburg. Leave your car near the RockStar finish, RMA transports you and your bike to the RockStar start.
Official Routes: www.tinyurl.com/rockstarroutes
Maps: www.tinyurl.com/rockstargooglemap
Start Location = Black Sheep Coffee Harrisonburg | 80 E Market St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Finishing Location = Texas Tavern Roanoke, 114 Church Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24011, https://texastavern-inc.com
Results / RockStar Hall of Fame: https://tinyurl.com/rockstarHOF
If renting a SPOT from Trackleaders complete your registration 1 week *before* the Grand Depart. All rented SPOT units will be shipped to Black Sheep Coffee and available for pickup beginning 9am the Friday before the Grand Depart. If you have your own SPOT unit (or similar) then you can Trackleaders register up until the Thursday before the Grand Depart.
Trackleaders RockStar VA 270 2025 Live Tracker: http://trackleaders.com/rockstar25
(This ^ is the page where fans, family and friends can follow riders and view how the event is unfolding in real-time.)
We recommend that all solo riders and teams have a SPOT tracking device with them and on for the duration of this event and registered with Trackleaders.com. Trackleaders registration is $20 if you have your own tracking device and $80 if you will be renting a Spot Gen3 tracker.
Rental SPOT Return Info:
http://goo.gl/EzXP6Z
Important Notes:
1) Team - Only 1 rider per team registers on Trackleaders, the team stays together for the entire event. (Suggested - all team members either do trail work or donate to the Virginia Endurance Series Venmo @virginiaenduranceseries )
2) Install fresh batteries, and turn on and test your tracking device to be sure you’re showing up on Trackleaders the Friday before the Grand Depart! If not, contact Trackleaders to get it sorted out on Friday - don’t wait until Saturday morning!
3) Independent Time Trial (ITT) - anyone attempting the route at a date or time other than the Grand Depart is encouraged to still register on with Trackleaders so their attempt will be documented/verified and their family, friends and fans can see their progress.
Categories: TRAIL or GRAVEL A) Solo Team (Female, Male, Non-Binary, COED). Team = 2 or more riders who ride & finish together.
Google Map (All Routes + Lodging & POI layers): http://tinyurl.com/rockstargooglemap
**Stage Event Option** (4-Stages)
Stages will start 7am each day and be roughly 70 miles.
Live tracking and results provided by Trackleaders.com
Stage 1: Saturday Start = Black Sheep Coffee Harrisonburg, Finish = Braley Pond Dispersed Campground
Stage 2: Sunday Start = Braley Pond Dispersed Campground, Finish = Douthat State Park
Stage 3: Monday Start: = Douthat State Park, Finish = Eagle Rock / Patterson Creek area
Stage 4: Tuesday Start = Eagle Rock area, Finish = Texas Tavern Roanoke
Regarding the courses:
TRAIL - The Trail route is amazing and regarded as a legendary challenge ride. The route does not exhaustively explore all trail areas it touches BUT it will give folks a good taste of each destination. Make no mistake, this is a rider's course. It's not a get you from A to B on dirt as directly as possible. It's a route that will thrill and delight and it's very tough physically, technically and mentally. Before attempting the RockStar Trail route be sure your MTB is in excellent working order and fitted with durable tires that have sidewall protection. (Approx: 65% Trail, 20% Gravel, 15% Pavement)
GRAVEL - Unbelievably beautiful and much more challenging than a traditional gravel event. Gravel bikes with 38c or larger tires or hardtail MTBs work well for this route. (Approx: 65% Dirt/Gravel Roads, 32% Paved Backroads / Paths, 2% Trail)
PAVE - The Pave route is also stunning and it stays mostly in the valleys alongside the ridgelines that the Trail and Gravel routes use. A road bike with 28c or larger tires is the recommended steed. (Approx: 85% Country Backroads, 15% Road-bikeable Dirt Roads)
Racers will be finishing over a number of days and at all kinds of hours, so, after summiting at the Roanoke Star racers will DH to downtown and finish at the one and only iconic Roanoke downtown destination where you're guaranteed a friendly greeting 24/7 every day, all year - the Texas Tavern!!!!
Support Rules / Categories for the RockStar Challenge =
“Unsupported” or “Supported”.
Unsupported = the exact same Modus Operandi as the Tour Divide. From https://tourdivide.org/the_rules
“To complete the Route, a rider may resupply food / equipment, rent a room, launder clothing, even service their bike at commercial shops along the way. The intent is to ride unsupported between towns, and function self-supported when in towns. Any services utilized must always be commercially available to all challengers and not pre-arranged[1]. No private resupply, no private lodging.
Tour Divide strives for equal opportunity within the GC. Whether doing an independent time trial or tackling the grand départ, TD requires that every challenger—from those living along the route to those living on other continents—have an equal playing field. Therefore, outside assistance with navigation, lodging or resupply (especially receipt of supplies from a non-commercial shipper) is prohibited. Visitation: Divide racing is not intended to be a spectator sport! However, route-town locals only may interact with (i.e. visit briefly, cheer on) thru-racers as they pass through their locale. Out-of-town visitation to the GDMBR mid-race from challengers' family or friends—even if only a 'loosely-planned', remote possibility for rider rendezvous—is prohibited.”
Supported = riders receiving any level of support at any time are scored in the supported category.
Support Safety and Fun - Riders should conservatively arrange for enough support for them to be safe and have fun. If support at any time will increase your safety and / or maximize your fun - then arrange for and enjoy some support! Completing RockStar is difficult. Supported or not! If the weather becomes severe it can even be dangerous. Please be safe out there! And, have fun!
Future RockStar Grand Departs:
2026 = April 18
2027 = April 17
2028 = April 22
2029 = April 21
2030 = April 27
Mark your calendars!!!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Black Sheep Coffee Harrisonburg, 141 W Bruce St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801-3681, United States,Harrisonburg, Virginia
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