Due to uncertainties raised by the COVID 19 pandemic, the 2020 Heart of Virginia Bicycle Festival will be doing something a bit different this year. HoVA operates on two outstanding principles. First, the safety and care of the 700+ riders and volunteers is paramount in our planning. Ongoing COVID response suggests that we could not guarantee the level of safety that we strive for.

We are cancelling our signature event; the one-day of rides and festival on September 19th. This of course directly impacts our second principle- supporting our two charity partners, RABA Foundation’s Bikes for Kids and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia. The HoVA has raised thousands of dollars for each of these charities every year. The needs that these charities support don’t stop just because of a virus, so we want to continue to support them.

So, we present to you the Heart of Virginia COVID Challenge!

Register to join the Challenge between August 1st and September 17th at either the Metric Level or the Century Level.

Ride any number of rides on your own between when you register and September 30th that add up to either 65 miles (The HoVA Metric Century) or 101 miles (HoVA Century).

Email Hova2020covid@gmail.com to register before you ride (similar to signing in at a normal RABA Ride, and for the same reasons), and after the ride with proof; log entries from BikeJournal, Strava, RideWithGPS, etc., photos of your bike computer, or however you choose to record your miles.

Sometime after September 30th, we will host an event for those who finish the COVID Challenge. When and where will depend on current COVID restrictions, but we will be socially distancing and observing all other safe precautions of course. Those who finish the Challenge will receive a commemorative T-shirt tailored to either the Metric Challenge or the Century Challenge. Century Challenge winners will receive additional swag. More details such as time(s) and location will be available as the COVID situation evolves through the early fall.

The cost for participating in this Challenge will be $25. Any money raised by the HoVA COVID Challenge will go to our charity partners, RABA Foundation’s Bikes for Kids and the Brain Injury Association of Virginia.

For the first FIFTY riders who opt to kick in an additional $10, we will ride the HoVA Metric Century course on September 19th, leaving from Hanover Courthouse (7516 County Complex Road, Hanover, Va. 23069). This new course has proven to be a favorite! We will have multiple ride leaders to lead multiple paces so we can ride in small groups, keeping all mandated precautions in place. Once we reach 50 riders, this option will disappear. In addition to store stops available along the route, a “pop-up” rest stop will provide bottled water and pre-packaged nutrition. Rescue SAG support will also be provided on this ride. More information will be provided to those who register. This would of course fulfill the Metric Century COVID Challenge, and add 65 miles to your Century Challenge total!

Registration is now Closed.

Route: Download a PDF of the route here. Note that this PDF contains a link to a RideWithGPS file that has additional information like GPX files, route elevation profile etc.

Questions can be emailed to Hova2020covid@gmail.com.

Registration is Closed.