The Roanoker - January/February 2019 - 29

IN ROANOKE,
WE DO Outside
SERIOUSLY.
There are more ways to enjoy the outdoors than hours
in a day (or space on a page).
Hiking on the Appalchian Trail

CYCLOCROSS: COURTESY OF THE ROANOKE OUTSIDE FOUNDATION

#1
TAKE A HIKE.
Hundreds of miles of trails weave through our region, from steep
overlooks to meandering creek beds. Hike with a group or choose
a less-traveled path. Plan a multi-day backpacking trip on the
Appalachian Trail or a two-mile loop at Roanoke County's Happy
Hollow Gardens. Each season has its standouts: In Giles County,
Pembroke's Cascade Falls can be enchantingly frozen in winter or
offer a delightful summer dip; search for wildflowers at Montgomery
County's Bottom Creek Gorge and take in spectacular rhododendron
spreads at Bedford's Peaks of Otter. For fall foliage don't miss Floyd's
Rock Castle Gorge or Catawba's McAfee Knob.

#2

BIKE A
TRAIL.
In 2018, the International
Mountain Bicycling
Association (IMB A)

recognized Roanoke as one
of only 15 Silver-Level ride
centers in the world and the
only one on America's East
Coast. What that means
to you is: all the trails at
all the levels. From the
fairytale forests and steep
switchbacks at Car vins
Cove Natural Reserve , to
the rocky, wooded uphills
and bends of Mill Mountain
Park, to a skills loop plus 10
miles of riding at Falling
Creek Park in Bedford,
there are so many places to
take your fat tires.

Want a buddy?
Roanoke's IMBA chapter
leads weekly group rides.

#4
BIKE IN
TOWN.

If gnarly's not your style,
no worries. With Roanoke's
greenway system, bike-able
neighborhoods and Zagster
bike share program , there
are plenty of ways to tool
around on skinny tires,
too. Downshift Hand
Crafted Bikes & Brews

offers monthly historic bike
tours, a Saturday morning
inclusive group ride and a
bike commuter happy hour
at their downtown Roanoke
shop. UnderDog Bikes
and Roanoke M ountain
Adventures both rent and
service bikes from their
shops along the greenway.

EXPERIENCE
CYCLOCROSS.

RUN FOR A
CAUSE.

Thirteen years ago the Rescue
Mission of Roanoke planned
its first Thanksgiving 5K. These
days the Drumstick Dash raises some $290,000
and attracts more than 12,000 people. It's not
alone in its efforts to combine charity with a
workout. Other notable fund-races: The Arthritis
Foundation's Jingle Bell Run; the Roanoke Valley
SPCA Tail Chaser 5K ; the Marine Mud Run ,
benefitting Toys for Tots and Camp Roanoke.

TheRoanoker.com

#3

#5

GoCross Race

You might not have heard of CX biking (think: obstacle
course on two-wheels). But it's all the rage and Roanoke is
front and center. East Coasters Bike Shop and Downshift
Bikes each sponsor teams. Fallon Park boasts a course.
Roanoke's Parks and Rec runs a September series for
juniors, beginners and advanced racers. But the real deal
took place last Labor Day weekend when USA Cycling
kicked off its ProCX season with a race at Fallon Park that
attracted more than 1,200 professional riders gunning
for a $10,000 prize purse. Watch, ride, you decide.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019

29
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The Roanoker - January/February 2019

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