The following are selected notes from the RockStar Challenge Event promoter. Check out the Event Facebook pages below for details on the current year details.
RockStar VA Grand Depart is an annual biking event from Rocktown (Harrisonburg) to the Star City (Roanoke). There are TRAIL, GRAVEL and PAVE route options. . . .
Regarding the courses:
TRAIL – The Trail route is amazing and regarded as a legendary challenge ride. The route does not exhaustively explore all trail areas it touches BUT it will give folks a good taste of each destination. Make no mistake, this is a rider’s course. It’s not a get you from A to B on dirt as directly as possible. It’s a route that will thrill and delight and it’s very tough physically, technically and mentally. Before attempting the RockStar Trail route be sure your MTB is in excellent working order and fitted with durable tires that have sidewall protection. (Approx: 65% Trail, 20% Gravel, 15% Pavement)
GRAVEL – Unbelievably beautiful and much more challenging than a traditional gravel event. Gravel bikes with 38c or larger tires or hardtail MTBs work well for this route. (Approx: 65% Dirt/Gravel Roads, 32% Paved Backroads / Paths, 2% Trail)
PAVE – The Pave route is also stunning but it stays mostly in the valleys alongside the ridge lines that the Trail and Gravel routes use. A road bike with 28c or larger tires is the recommended steed. (Approx: 85% Country Backroads, 15% Road-bikeable Dirt Roads)
Racers will be finishing over a number of days and at all kinds of hours, so, after summiting at the Roanoke Star racers will DH to downtown and finish at the one and only iconic Roanoke downtown destination where you’re guaranteed a friendly greeting 24/7 every day, all year – the Texas Tavern!!!!
Please see the RockStar Challenge Event Promoter’s Facebook page, the bikepacking route Facebook page, and the the 2023 Facebook Event page for more.
Check out The Hub’s Events page for other cool happenings. Sign up to receive The Hub’s Newsletter to stay in the know (at the bottom and on the right of this post).