TOUR GUIDE

Hello and Welcome to 3 Day Bike About.

I’ll be posting a new entry every month to point out what is new on our website, things to see and do in the area, and provide more information about our tours, so check back often.

Oh, and feel free to send in questions via the Contact Me link. I’ll be answering some of those in the blog also because if you have a question, someone else probably has the same one.

April 29, 30 & May 1, 2022 - 3 Day Bike About the Historic Triangle - Williamsburg, VA '22

Benefitting The Arc of Greater Williamsburg

June 10, 11 & 12, 2022 - 3 Day Bike About the Shenandoah Valley - Strasburg, VA '22

Benefitting the Shenandoah Rail Trail

January Tour Guide

January 3, 2022

As I sit here in my corner office (ok, so it’s just a small room on the second floor of my townhouse, but it is in the corner of the house and overlooks a walking trail and wooded area on one side and a courtyard between my building and the next building on the street out the other window), watching the snow fall while drinking a tea latte, I am happy. I like snow in winter, especially after having spent a good portion of my life living in the desert (both concrete and sand) of southern California.

Just a few days ago, January 1 to be specific, it was 70 degrees here, so now that the temperature has fallen to below 40 and the rain has stopped, it’s snowing. Lovely.

Some of you reading this probably live in the northern tier of the U. S. and therefore can still get out to cycle, having purchased the right type of bike with the right type of tires. I have two bicycles but neither are equipped to ride in these conditions. Having spent one winter living in Minnesota, I do appreciate a good walk in the snow.

While I do not wish to hasten winter along, (it is more than welcome to stick around until the end of February), I do look forward to spring (except for the part when my allergies nearly drive me crazy), when 3 Day Bike About – Williamsburg ’22 will take place at the end of April. There are so many beautiful gardens in Colonial Williamsburg and parks in surrounding counties to enjoy in the spring time and of course the weather is nice (warms days, but not humid, and cool nights, but not cold).

And just in from AAA…. “Best of Virginia: 22 must-see places to visit this year” includes:

· Williamsburg

· Canal Walk – Richmond

· Va Museum of Fine Arts – Richmond

· Edgar Allen Poe Museum – Richmond

· Isle of Wight County Museum – Smithfield

· Shenandoah National Park

· Luray Caverns

And you can see the first five while on 3 Day Bike About – Williamsburg, then visit the last two while in Strasburg. Cool, huh? 😊

So here’s hoping to see you in a couple of months….like end of April in Williamsburg or mid-June in Strasburg where the weather is going to be pretty nice also.

Keep Smilin’

Deana

Find out more

December Tour Guide

December Tour Guide

Good heavens! Time is flying by. It’s nearly Christmas!

Have you bought yourself a present yet? Like a registration to one of the most fun cycling tours on the planet? How about one for that special someone in your life?

Yes, I’m talking about registering for one (or both) of the 3 Day Bike About cycling tours in 2022…Williamsburg – home of so many historic moments in our nation’s past (and lovely spring gardens also) or Strasburg – birthplace of the Shenandoah Rail Trail. Do something nice for yourself, or someone else, and register so we can donate even more money towards getting this trail built asap!

Since my November tour guide was published, we have signed on two more sponsors: Sentara Regional Hospital and my dear friend Kathy Chambers, a realtor with Coldwell Banker – Williamsburg. (She helped me find my current residence.)

We have secured contracts for our Sunday boxed lunches and Saturday night catered dinners at both locations, are reviewing the routes and making decisions about Gathering Places….speaking of which (drum roll, please).

In Strasburg, on Friday (at least I think it’s going to be on Friday), we are planning a Shop by Bike Tour. “What is that?” you say. Off you go on your ride Friday morning and along the way we are highlighting markets and wineries where you can shop. Purchases will be held until the end of the day when one of our drivers will pick them up and return them to “Main Street” at Strasburg Square, where you can retrieve them. How about that for service!

Our world-famous Signage Crew is back, and we have recruited a new (but experienced) SAG Crew Chief.

From the Info Line:

· Want to pitch your tent Thursday night? Send us an email and we’ll do our best to make those arrangements for you.

· E-bikes: I was wondering when someone would ask about e-bikes. I personally would be getting one to do the Shenandoah tour (I am TERRIBLE on hills.)

o So yes, by all means feel free to bring your Class 1 E-bike if you so desire, even if you are coming to Williamsburg as they are allowed on the Virginia Capital Trail as well as local roads. (The VCT is paved, btw.)

Keep sending us any questions you have about our tours. We answer as quickly as we can. And don’t forget to register!!!

Merry Christmas to all and to all Happy Trails!

November Tour Guide

“What’s going on at 3 Day Bike About?” That was the question a friend asked me the other day. My reply? “Where do I even begin?”

So I shall try to bring you up to date, but please keep in mind the planning is like rafting down a river. The water is always moving. 😊

We’re returning to Williamsburg (so convenient since I live here 😊). 3 Day Bike About the Historic Triangle will be April 29 – May 1, 2022.

We’re going to Strasburg!!!!! 3 Day Bike About the Shenandoah Valley will be June 10, 11, 12, 2022. We reached out to people we know there about the proposed Shenandoah Rail Trail, and they put us in contact with the town officials…and we have just been so excited about this event ever since. The town of Strasburg has rolled out the red carpet for us and so many people have offered to help. It’s going to be a great tour!!!

Just like in Williamsburg where we raise money for The Arc of Greater Williamsburg which provides support and activities for adults with disabilities, we are raising money at the Strasburg tour for the Shenandoah Rail Trail – and we really want to raise a lot because WE want to get that baby done and go ride it!!!

(Ok, I’ll try to hold off on the exclamation points, but it’s hard.)

While we don’t have “traditional” cycling event rest stops, in 2022 we will have “Gathering Places.” These are locations along our routes where we want our riders to stop, have a snack (or lunch) and mingle with other cyclists. I have been driving all the routes to identify these special spots and I think you are going to really enjoy this opportunity to get to know your fellow 3 Day Bike About cyclists.

One Gathering Place for Friday in Williamsburg is Cul’s Courthouse Grille. If you were on the 2021 Williamsburg tour you may remember the (awesome) brownies my friend Cullen at Cul’s Courthouse Grille gave all the cyclists. Well Cullen has upped his game and built (yes, BUILT) a pavilion behind the Grille as the Friday Gathering Place for us. There will be tables to sit at, heaters if it happens to be a bit chilly that day, a bar to get a beer, wait staff available for ordering lunch and of course, free brownies. (Gathering Place will be open from 9am – 4pm; lunch service begins at 11am.)

Check your tour guide for more Gathering Places on both tours.

New also for 2022 is a catered dinner Saturday night at both tours. The Williamsburg dinner will be at our Main Street tents at Chickahominy Riverfront Park. The dinner in Strasburg will be at Box Office Brewery right across the street from the 3 Day Bike About “Main Street” at Strasburg Square. A huge shout out to Mary Beth & Tom Price of Box Office Brewery for hosting the dinner.

I would be remiss if I did not say thank you to our wonderful sponsors:

TOWNE BANK in Williamsburg is our Presenting Sponsor.

Williamsburg Financial Group for continuing their support.

Pendleton Bank, United Bank & F&M Bank in the Shenandoah Valley

Mechanical Support:

· Element Sport of Winchester in Strasburg

· Contes Bike Shop in Williamsburg.

Snacks:

Virginia Peanut Growers Association

Daelmans Stroopwafels

Sqwincher

October Tour Guide

You Spoke, We Listened.

This latest Tour Guide must start with a Thank You to everyone who had enough faith in us to register for our first 3 Day Bike About in Williamsburg, VA. You gave us such courage to “carry on” along with the joy of making new friends.

We will admit not everything went off as planned and there were a few “hiccups” over the weekend. Most of those we noticed, and you very nicely pointed out a few more. With that in mind, we’ve made some changes we hope will make the 2022 tours even better.

1. Cue sheets – We are doing our best to produce a “as green as possible” tour so did not and will not be printing cue sheets for everyone. Most of you used Ride with GPS navigation, but a few asked for paper cue sheets.

* Individual route cue sheets will be printed upon request at our 2022 tours. If you would like one, please go to Hospitality when it is open (check the schedule as they will only be there in the morning and evening, not all day) and ask the volunteer for the specific cue sheet you want. A copy will be printed for you on the spot.

* We only ask that you please consider donating $1.00 per route cue sheet to The Arc of Greater Williamsburg or the Shenandoah Rail Trail. A donation jar will be on hand at Hospitality.

2. “Never saw a SAG vehicle.” Here again we are trying to “be green” so our SAG vehicles do not cruise the routes. They are positioned at key points in the area which provides them with access to all the routes and riders within a reasonable time after receiving a call. The SAG Chief’s number is on your wristband.

3. “No info on camping Thursday night” before the tour begins Friday morning. We did not have permission from the campground to allow campers in the Group Camping area on Thursday.

* Anyone who inquired about Thursday evening camping this year was informed the Group Camping site was not available but individual camp sites at Chickahominy Riverfront Park were and we provided the contact information to make those arrangements.

* We may or may not be able to remedy this in 2022, so if you are interested in camping Thursday night, please reach out to us info@3daybikeabout.com

4. No breakfast. – Unfortunately, for several reasons, we were unable to secure a vendor who would provide breakfast onsite for the limited number of riders we had this year.

* We are working on resolving this for 2022.

"Bring Your Own Mug" coffee, tea and hot water will be available at both events.

5. Too expensive – We admit this was/is a no-frills tour. We are hoping to add amenities as our registrations increase. Just putting on a tour in early 2021 was a challenge.

* Both 2022 tours will have a catered Saturday night dinner as well as a boxed lunch on Sunday.

6. Lack of water on Saturday Gold Route…Unfortunately there are only so many roads and even fewer places to get water in Surry County. Water is always available at the start and we listed as many places along the route as were available. Please carry more water than you think you will need especially if it is going to be a warm/hot day.

p.s. We are working to improve our Hydration Station to produce colder water.

7. Why include the Virginia Capital Trail? “I can ride it without being part of an event.”

The VCT is the pride and joy of the local cycling community, and we like to showcase it as much as possible. The vast majority of our attendees were from outside the immediate area – coming from Oregon, Alabama, Florida, North & South Carolina.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US

3 DBA Team Leader - Deana Sun

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

That’s me. I’m the writer, bookkeeper, list maker, idea person, “no, Cynthia, there is no need to panic,” and road cyclist. I was raised in Virginia but spent the middle half of my life in Southern California. I have two adult sons, only one of which shares my passion for cycling. (Very likely you will also meet them at 3 Day Bike About as I “encourage” them to volunteer a lot.) I met Cynthia in 2015 when I first started volunteering at Bike Virginia. It was clear to me she could use some help, so I pitched in and never looked back.

In my former life: Worked for “the man.” Yes, I was a bona fide Special Agent with the U. S. Secret Service, among other agencies in the U. S. government. I’d tell you all about it, but well, you know what happens then……After that illustrious career, I raised my sons and became a Professional Volunteer – long list there. And now I’m here…..with Cynthia and friends.

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

3 DBA Team Partner - Cynthia Bashton

WHO ARE WE AND WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?

3 DBA Team Partner - Cynthia Bashton

Cynthia is a diehard mountain biker and self-supported bike camping enthusiast. And where she goes, oftentimes you will find her immediate family, consisting of her husband of 49 years, two adult daughters and their respective husbands as well. They love traveling, camping, and biking together. They also like karaoke. I speak from personal experience when I say they are a blast to be around. You will meet the entire Bashton clan at 3 Day Bike About. (I told you they travel together. 😊 )

She is also the designer of the website, the jerseys, social media, and anything else that is beyond my comprehension and ability.

In her former life: That list is pretty long and diverse so let’s just say she’s originally from Texas and spent 7 years with Bike Virginia as the Health and Safety Coordinator until last year (you know, 2020, when everything got canceled).