September 11-13, 2009
By RoanokeOutside.com

Weekend Update – OUTSIDE!

• Veer The Movie (Taubman Museum) – 9/11
• Band Night at Valhalla Vineyards – 9/11
• Mountain Bike Class/Ride at Carvins Cove (Roanoke County Parks & Rec.) – 9/12
• Olde Salem Days Fair – 9/12
• Big Lick Conspiracy Comedy Improv (Jefferson Center) – 9/12
• New River Trail Bike Ride (with Roanoke Ski Club) – 9/12
• Conservation Celebration (Western VA Land Trust) – 9/13
• Orvis Beginner Fly Fishing School – 9/13 or 10/4
• North Mountain Trail Hike (towards Craig County) – 9/13
• Grassy Hill Natural Area Preserve Hike (Franklin County) – 9/13

Pete’s Picks

Go Explore – Each week a new hike will be added to the list as we compile the Top 10 Hikes in the
Roanoke Region. Click on the name and you will be able to download directions, map, and some tips:

1. McAfee Knob section of Appalachian Trail
2. Dragon’s Tooth section of Appalachian Trail
3. Chestnut Ridge off the Blue Ridge Parkway
4. Star Trail on Mill Mountain
5. Roaring Run Recreation Area (and natural water slide)
6. Explore Park trail system

Experience the Greenways! Grab your kids, dog, bike, stroller, running shoes, roller blades, or scooter and go discover what many consider one of Roanoke’s greatest assets – the Greenways.
Don’t have a bike? No worries – keep reading!

Visit www.greenways.org for details, locations, maps, volunteer opportunities and more

Got an idea? Send it to pete@roanoke.org

Get OUTSIDE!
Pete (friend me on Facebook)

River Greenway Bicycle Rental is Open For Business

More and more people want to experience Roanoke’s greenways via a bicycle, but don’t necessarily want to purchase a bike or deal with the hassles of transporting one to the greenway. It is with great pleasure to announce a new bike rental business – grab your family/friends and go experience one of Roanoke’s greatest assets!

River Greenway Bicycle Rental

• 1927 Franklin Road (Ramada Inn parking lot adjacent to Roanoke River Greenway)
• Hours of operation (initially):
  • Wednesday & Friday: 3:30-6:30pm
  • Saturday: 10am-4pm
  • Sunday: Noon-4pm
• Trek hybrid bicycles – perfect for cruising the greenways
• $10 per 1.5 hours (includes helmet)
• Map of Roanoke River Greenway
• For more information: bikerental@cox.net

The word “greenway” has been used by a lot of people to describe a lot of different things. The concept of Greenways is centered around a trail for non-motorized users, primarily serving bicyclists and pedestrians. Learn more about the extensive greenway network in Roanoke, including future development plans and volunteer opportunities.

Win a Hydration Pack Stuffed with Goodies from East Coasters Bike Shop

The Get Outside Expo and Radical Reels Film Festival is just around the corner! Have you bought your tickets yet? Between now and September 30 we are showcasing some of the outdoor organizations you can meet at the expo as well as the prizes they have donated. To be eligible for the prizes you need to have completed the survey located on RoanokeOutside.com.

Tickets are on sale now: tickets are limited and 100% of ticket price goes to benefit Mill Mountain Theatre! Buy your tickets now.

East Coasters bike shop in Roanoke has donated several cycling (or hiking) packages to be given away at the expo:

• Each package includes:
  • Hydrapak Streamline hydration pack
  • Smartwool PHD Lite socks
  • 24 oz water bottle
  • $20 Gift Card to East Coasters
• To be entered to win:
  • Complete this survey. If you’ve already completed it then you are already entered to win
  • Winners will be announced at the Get Outside Expo & Radical Reels Film Festival

Whether you are looking for an entry level bike for cruising the greenways, a full-suspension mountain bike, or an economic road bike East Coasters has you covered. They also have one of the most innovative features of a bike shop we’ve seen in a while – whether you are a beginner, or consider yourself an expert, you need to check out It’s All About The FIT!

Wes Best, owner of East Coasters, and his staff are among the many people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the Roanoke Region of Virginia has the best mountain biking trails and road cycling routes in the US.  From free demo days, a junior cycling team and repair classes, to weekly rides and regional races – East Coasters is more than just a bike shop!

Veer The Movie (Today, September 11)

Veer explores America’s fast-growing bicycling culture by profiling five people whose lives are inextricably tied to bicycling and the bike-centric social groups they belong to. The film follows these characters over the course of a year, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their personal struggles and triumphs. Veer examines what it means to be part of a community, and how social movements are formed.

Admission price is $8.50 and tickets are available at the door, or in advance by calling 540-342-5760.  The event takes place at 7PM at the Taubman Museum.

Watch the movie trailer and learn more about the event

Conservation Celebration 2009

The Western Virginia Land Trust will hold its fall Conservation Celebration on Sunday, September 13 from 4-7 pm on the campus of Hollins University. Governor Tim Kaine will accept the A. Victor Thomas Environmental Stewardship Award for his commitment to open space preservation in Virginia.

The Celebration will feature a catered dinner by Blue Ridge Catering, beer from Floyd’s Shooting Creek Brewery made with local hops, Valhalla wines, live music from Easy Pickin’s, and a silent auction.

Click Here to learn more, purchase your tickets, and see what is available in the silent auction.

Citizens Encouraged to Take Bicycle-User Survey – Deadline is September 15

Roanoke is working toward becoming a more bicycle-friendly city. To support that effort, citizens are encouraged to participate in an online bicycle-user survey to assist in updating the 2005 Bikeway Plan for the Roanoke Valley Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (RVAMPO). The online survey, which is being conducted in cooperation with the participating local governments, VDOT, and other stakeholders, is designed to glean information on bicycle use, perceptions, and preferences in the region.

This survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete – so grab a cup of coffee and start clicking. Click here to access the survey! The survey will be available until Sept. 15.

Additional information about RVAMPO and the Bikeway Plan is available at www.rvarc.org.