Photo Credit: Courtesy of Richmond Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities
Most people can remember the first time they rode a bike, but I suspect only a few can remember the first time they rode on a trail through the woods. The city of Richmond, Va., has joined the ranks of a small but growing group that is developing an off-road practice and training facility.
A History Lesson
To understand how the Off-Road Bike Skills Training Area was built, one must first understand the city, which includes the nation’s founding history, wonderful architecture, stately trees, and lush parks. Richmond was founded at the falls of the James River by early explorers navigating upstream; the river that flows through the city’s center also gave the city its name because it so closely resembled England’s Richmond on the Thames.
The James River Park now occupies more than 550 acres spanning over 7 miles of riverfront, and portions have been protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement. Both the river, with its Class IV white-water rapids and kayaking, and the park, which offers biking, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, swimming, and more, are annually frequented by almost a million people, and have become a mecca for outdoor-adventure recreation.