Register here: https://www.bikereg.com/rocktown-rambler

Welcome to the Rocktown Rambler! We are so very excited for you to be joining us!

The Rocktown Rambler is a celebration of riding backcountry roads in the Shenandoah Valley. There will be gravel, some climbing, some descending, some singletrack, and a lot of fun! We welcome everyone that wants to have a good time - whether that is by racing, riding, or partying (or doing all three at once)! 

Inclusivity is important to us at the Rambler. Cycling is for everyone, and we want all participants/volunteers to feel excited and safe racing/riding/partying out on their bikes. 

The Rambler is for everyone to enjoy!

WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH ENTRY:

• Free T-shirt

• Free post-event meal

• Aid station support - food, bike mechanic, gravel party!

INSURANCE: While our event is insured through USACycling, it is NOT required to have a USAC License to participate in the Rocktown Rambler.

SCHEDULE: Race Day is May 19, 2024

Packet pickup 8am - 9:30am at Bryce Resort
Race Brief at 9:45am
Race Start: 10AM for both races
Food/After-Party: 12-4pm

PARKING: There is plenty of parking right at Bryce Resort. Start/Finish also right at Bryce Resort

GEAR: HELMETS ARE REQUIRED. As for tires and bike choice, we recommend a bike that can handle at least a 32c tire. 35-42c wide tires will most likely be your optimal choice for the Rambler. You are welcome to test your limits on a road bike with smaller tires, but we would like to caution you to be extra safe on course if you choose to do so. Sturdy road, gravel, or mountain bike - pick what you'd like to ride and have a good (and safe) time!

FOOD: A post-event meal will be available for free to racers who pre-register, There will be food available to purchase for friends & family. Vegetarian option will be available.

VOLUNTEERS: We will need volunteers! Each volunteer will receive a water bottle and meal. If you would like to volunteer with us, please email adam@rocktownbicycles.com, or register under the Volunteer spot on this event page. Please expect to be volunteering anywhere from 2-4 hours (depending on what job we can have you do/you are available for).

THE COURSE: It is a 26-ish mile course, over 70% of it is gravel/dirt. Those doing the 50 mile event will do the course twice. There will be an aid station with some food and mechanical help about halfway through the course.

You may view and download the 25 mile course by clicking "Rocktown Rambler" on the Ride With GPS widget below.
The route for the 50 mile course can be found here: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39425252. It's 2 loops of the 25 mile course.

LODGING: 
If you are looking to stay overnight and make a weekend of it, here are some helpful links for finding places to stay!

There will also be free primitive camping with bathrooms and showers available right in Bryce Resort the night before the Rambler.

Bryce, VA/Surrounding Area: https://bryceresort.com/mountain-resort-lodging/

Harrisonburg, VA: https://www.visitharrisonburgva.com/places-to-stay/

Refunds/Transfers

There are no refunds, but transfer of entry to another rider will be an option until registration closes.

Rocktown Roller-Rama!

Register here: https://www.bikereg.com/rocktown-roller-rama

What is a roller race?

• 250m all-out sprint on fixed gear bikes attached to steel bases

• Simple head-to-head race. Winner moves on to next round

• Times range from 15sec to 20sec

• Once a rider gets up to speed, it becomes a race to see who has the fastest legs, not necessarily the strongest muscles

• We remove the front wheel and bolt the bikes to the rollers, no need to balance

• Leave your spandex at home, this is a party first, bike race second

Date/Time/Location

• January 26, 2024

• 7:00pm-10:00pm

• Three Notch’d Brewing
  241 E Market St.
  Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Day of Registration

• Day of registration will be available with a price jump to $15

Prizes (Rocktown Bicycles Gift Cards) - EQUAL PAYOUT!! :)

    Women’s Prizes:   

• 1st: $75

• 2nd: $50

• 3rd: $25

    Men's Prizes:   

• 1st: $75

• 2nd: $50

• 3rd: $25

Seeding

• Come by Rocktown Bicycles the week before the event to lay down a seeding run on one of our roller bikes

• We will continue seed times at Rocktown up until 5pm of the day of the Rollerama. Seed times will pick up for one last chance at Three Notch'd between 5:45pm and 6:15pm, before the event begins.

Join us for one of our favorite nights of the year - the Rocktown Holiday Party! We’ll have food, drinks, and treats! Just bring your awesome self and family/friends!

There will also be a fun holiday craft for anyone who would like to participate - there’s glitter!

Can’t wait to see you all!

Join us for our annual summer cookout on the deck of Rocktown! We’ll have burgers, drinks, and snacks, you just bring your awesome self!

Keep an eye out for more announcements, we may host a bike ride beforehand!

Rocktown will be closed January 2, 2023 in observance of New Year’s. Happy New Year!

Rocktown Holiday Party! Join us December 16, from 6-9pm, for pizza, drinks, and tasty treats! Kelly will have the glitter ornament craft going and we hope you can join for a good time of visiting with friends.

#happyholidays #holidayparty #rocktownbicycles

Welcome to our 11th YEAR OF THE ROCKTOWN CYCLOCROSS FESTIVAL!

Race day is September 24, 2022!

The Rocktown Cyclocross Festival is an awesome event, and we are so stoked you are joining us!

This year, we are extra excited to be the host race for the VACX STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS! If you're a racer from Virginia, you'll be eligible to race for the state championship.

Our course features tight turns, off-camber sections, a steep run-up, barriers, some pavement, and a fun gravel climb! One of the best features of our course is how spectator friendly it is!

With the CX race happening right in the city of Harrisonburg, you have quite a variety of options for checking out the shops, bars, breweries, and restaurants! Bring your race number by Brothers Craft Brewing after the race for a FREE pint from the OG craft brewery in Harrisonburg.

Also, the riding options in Harrisonburg are endless! We have Hillandale Park just a few streets away from the race venue, the National Forest is just a thirty-minute drive away, Massanutten Western Slope is close by as well, and it only takes a short mile to get out of the city and hit awesome country roads!

Visit https://www.rocktownbicycles.com/bike-routes/ for more detailed info on where to ride!

Rocktown Bicycles will be open normal hours to help with all of your bicycle needs!

Normal hours: M-F 11am-7pm, Sa 10am - 4pm

Additional Registration Information:

• Free Chanellos Pizza for all racers, only $2/slice for friends and family.

• 2x the Fun? Second CX races are only $10!

• Is this your first time? You will have to purchase a one-day license at the race - we'll have them! Please show up at least one hour early.

• Day-Of registration - we accept Credit Card, Check, and Cash.

• $10.00 late fee for registering day-of.

Venue and Course Info

• Bathrooms and Showers onsite.

• Extremely spectator friendly course. Wooded and hilly but nearly entirely visible from all points.

• Course features: off camber sections, dirt trails, grassy run-ups, moderate elevation change, barriers, a gravel climb, paved finish drag.

Activities for Friends And Family

• Children's' Race

• Playground on course for the kids

Directions

For GPS use: 

305 S. Dogwood Dr.
Harrisonburg, VA 22801 

For the directions we recommend (we live here) see below:  

From NORTH/Washington DC (simplest route, fastest):

• Take 66 West

• Merge onto I-81 South

• Take Exit 247 B for Route 33 West

• Merge onto 33 West and follow for 1.4 miles.

• You will hit Court Square in downtown Harrisonburg.

• Loop around Court Square to stay on 33 West for .7 miles.

• Left at S Dogwood.

• Destination on right.

From SOUTH/Richmond Virginia (simplest route, fastest)

• Take 64 West

• Merge onto I-81 North

• Take Exit 245 for Port Republic Road/JMU Entrance

• Left onto Port Republic Road for .5 miles.

• At the intersection of S Main St and Port Republic Rd, Port Republic Road becomes Maryland Ave.

• Continue on Maryland Avenue for .7 miles

• Right onto Dogwood Drive for .5 miles.

• Destination on your left.

Contact Race Director Ken Bell with interest in sponsoring the event, or general inquires, at ken@rocktownbicycles.com. If you need immediate contact, call the shop at 540-689-0070.

Join Kelly for our 3rd Women’s Bike Maintenance Clinic of 2022!

On Thursday, September 8, from 5:30-7:30pm, we’ll cover the ins-and-outs of keeping your bike rolling as well as other tips and tricks to keep cycling fun and safe!

This is women’s-only bike maintenance clinic. It’s free, with no need to register or bring anything.

It's been too long since we've had a Rocktown Cookout!
We are so excited to bring this back that we will also be having an optional gravel ride beforehand!

You don't have to do the ride to join in on the food and rest of the good times, we're happy to see you either way!

Cookout/Food Officially Starts @ 6:30pm

If you would like to join our gravel ride beforehand:

• leaving Rocktown Bicycles @ 5pm

• Be prepared to deal with a flat

• Please have a rear taillight

• We will have 2 route options:

  • Kelly will lead a 19-ish mile ride - avg speed about 12-14mph

    • Strava route: https://www.strava.com/routes/2981999027431384898

    • Ride with GPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40169829

  • Chris will lead a 25-ish mile ride - avg speed about 14-16mph

    • Strava route: https://www.strava.com/routes/2981999909851442502

    • Ride with GPS route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40169818

    
    

Join Kelly for the first our summer Women’s Bike Maintenance clinics!

We can cover everything from parts of a bicycle, to flat repair, to more involved bike adjustments… this is your opportunity to ask any/all bike-related questions!

These clinics are free, with no reservation necessary.

Our first Women’s Bike Maintenance Clinic will be June 23, 2022, from 6-8pm.

That’s right! The Rocktown Christmas party has returned!

Join us for a good time with friends and food! Ken will be at the grill, Kelly will supply the glitter, and we cannot wait for you to show up!

If you think you’ll be coming, give us a shout (540-689-0070) or email kelly@rocktownbicycles.com so we can prepare appropriately.

See you Friday, December 10 at 6pm!

Happy Holidays!

Ride start time: 5:30pm

Location: Rocktown Bicycles

Length: 1.0 to 2.5 hours (maybe longer depending on light)

Distance: 15 to 40 miles (again depending on light available)

Required to Bring:  A working taillight, headlight, and flat repair kit. Also, nutrition/hydration as rider needs.

Ride pace: Steady; sometimes quicker than a social ride, we will be sitting somewhere in the 11-16mph range (dependent on group; we will not leave anyone behind). This is not a "crush everyone" ride. I want to emphasize that. We are not out here to intimidate or "race". This ride is meant to bring women together to have fun, and encourage and challenge each other in a friendly environment.

Some notes on group riding:

View fullsize

• We don't cross over the yellow line

• On busier roads, we will ride single file, the widest we will ride is 2 riders next to each other, still riding more on the right side of the lane

• If a car is coming up from behind the group, please call out "car back" for the group, we will go single file if necessary

• On rural roads, we don't ride across the whole road

• On rural roads, please call out "car up" if a car is coming the opposite direction

Ride start time: 5:30pm

Location: Rocktown Bicycles

Length: 1.0 to 2.5 hours (maybe longer depending on light)

Distance: 15 to 40 miles (again depending on light available)

Required to Bring:  A working taillight, headlight, and flat repair kit. Also, nutrition/hydration as rider needs.

Ride pace: Steady; sometimes quicker than a social ride, we will be sitting somewhere in the 11-16mph range (dependent on group; we will not leave anyone behind). This is not a "crush everyone" ride. I want to emphasize that. We are not out here to intimidate or "race". This ride is meant to bring women together to have fun, and encourage and challenge each other in a friendly environment.

Some notes on group riding:

View fullsize

• We don't cross over the yellow line

• On busier roads, we will ride single file, the widest we will ride is 2 riders next to each other, still riding more on the right side of the lane

• If a car is coming up from behind the group, please call out "car back" for the group, we will go single file if necessary

• On rural roads, we don't ride across the whole road

• On rural roads, please call out "car up" if a car is coming the opposite direction

Race/Registration Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2290329991297692/

This is a race you won’t want to miss! It sold out in 2019!

Race/Registration Info: https://www.bikereg.com/44198

Event Website: https://www.midsouthgravel.com/

Kelly will be headed out to this event again!

Welcome to the Rocktown Roller-rama!

A friendly head-to-head competition to find out who has the fastest leg speed around!

Date: February 21, 2020

Time: Seed times for the Roller-rama will take place the whole week of the event. Seed times before our 7pm START for the Roller-rama will take place up until 6:30pm! If you do not make it to a seed time, we will just place you randomly on the bracket.
The Roller-rama starts at 7pm and usually runs to 9:30pm.

Location: Three Notch’d Valley Collab House - 241 E Market St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801 (right around the corner from Rocktown!)

Our 2019 event was featured on the Washington DC news! Check out the video below!.

• What is a roller race?

  • 250m all-out sprint on fixed gear bikes attached to steel bases

  • Simple head-to-head race. Winner moves on to next round. We use a bracket system.

  • Times range from 10sec to 20sec

  • Once a rider gets up to speed, it becomes a race to see who has the fastest legs, not necessarily the strongest muscles

  • We remove the front wheel and bolt the bikes to the rollers, no need to balance

  • Leave your spandex at home, this is a party first, bike race second :)

• Prizes

  • Prizes are awarded to the top three women and top three men of the night

  • Last year, every racer got a limited edition Roller-rama sticker. We’ll see what Rocktown Ken has in store for racers in 2020!

• Seeding/setting up brackets

  • Come by Rocktown Bicycles the week before the event to lay down a seeding run on one of our roller bikes

  • If you do not stop by before, you will have to lay down a seed time at Three Notch’d between 5 and 6 pm the night of the event.

  • Seed times help us line all of the racers up for the evening’s event

To see our past Roller-rama events, click the buttons below: