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Put it on your calendar!https://www.transvirginia.org/grand-depart/ for latest details
The 2024 Grand Depart (mass start) of individual time trials (ITTs) of the TransVirginia route will be held May 18, 2024 at 06:00 from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. Riders are encouraged to tour or race the route at their preference and self-determined challenge level. Northbound riders can start at the same time from the caboose in Damascus, VA.
The course is open for ITTs at any time.
Registration
Participants in the Grand Depart are asked to:
1) Fill out the Letter of Intent Form: https://forms.gle/mzz4nxZkBynJAD179
2) Register on Trackleaders: https://form.jotform.com/trackleaders/transva24
3) RSVP on Facebook to this event
Please register on TrackLeaders and obtain a tracker linked to the event (either a rental unit or use your own).
Navigation
The route is unmarked and remote with areas of no mobile phone service. Self-navigation is a critical skill for all riders.
- RideWithGPS links for GPX files: https://ridewithgps.com/collections/11894
- Paper Maps – See FAQs on the website for specific paper map info.
Disclaimer – Ride at your own risk!
All travel on the TransVirginia Bike Route is at your own risk. The route is unmarked, remote, and very physically challenging with a large amount of climbing. All navigation, planning, safety considerations, re-supply, sleeping arrangements, etc. are the sole responsibility of each rider. Cyclists should follow all laws and accepted etiquette for roads and trails utilized including yielding to pedestrian and equestrian traffic.
Touring the TransVA 550
Riders are encouraged to tour the TransVA route at the time of the Grand Depart at a more leisurely pace, either on the tougher main TransVA Mountain 565 (565 miles/ 47k’) or the Valley 535 (537 miles / 33k’) route. An option also exists from DC to Harrisonburg, VA (213 miles, 12k’), along with a return loop back to DC (398 miles, 23k' total). For those racing, see below.
Racing the TransVA 565
For those racing for the fastest time, the aim is to complete the entire route in a self-sufficient manner, self-timed with non-stop timing from start to finish. ITTs can be recorded any time of the year, the idea of the Grand Depart is simply for the fun and motivation of a voluntary mass start. Self-sufficient means each rider may only use resources available to all riders (for example, you can resupply at a store during normal business hours, but NOT receive re-supply from a friend or family member).
Fastest Known Times
If you intend to record your time and contend for the fastest known time FKT / Course Record, the following guidelines apply. A more robust explanation of the ethos and guidelines of this style of challenge can be found on the Tour Divide website: http://tourdivide.org/the_rules
TransVA FKTs: https://www.transvirginia.org/grand-depart/fkts/
You must be self-supported without any outside help not available to other riders nor pre-arranged in advance. You must complete the entire course self-powered by bicycle (or hike-a-bike). If you depart the course, you must re-enter within 100 ft of your departure point.
Your course run must be recorded by GPS device via Track Leader with continuous tracking and timing from start to finish.
Results are self-reported and rely on rider honesty, in the spirit of a challenge that has no prizes other than pride and bragging rights.
For ideas on getting from Damascus to DC before or after riding, check out FAQ #14. The simplest option is to coordinate with other riders via the TransVA Bikepackers FB group: https://www.facebook.com/share/G4zbeR8JBBeGvduF/?mibextid=K35XfP
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, United States
