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Grand Depart – May 17, 2025

Letter of Intent for Grand Departs & ITTs

If you intend to ride a Grand Depart, ITT, or want to get email updates on any route updates, fill out this Letter of Intent and register on Follow My Challenge.

Ride from DC to Damascus to cross Virginia in 565 miles on mostly unpaved country and forest roads, double track and rail trails. Explore Virginia’s best backcountry riding on this new gravel bikepacking and touring route focused on rideable, non-technical, unpaved terrain intended for multi-day trips carrying overnight gear. The route traverses a variety of challenging climbs in remote areas of VA’s beautiful mountains, national forests and public lands. [about the route] [frequently asked questions]

TransVA Mountain 565:

  • Total Distance: 566 miles (912km)
  • Total climbing: 47,284 ft (14,412m)
  • 9 Days at 62 miles/day, 5253 ft/day (a week and 2 weekends)

Check out recent trip reports and photos on Instagram and Facebook



Hurricane Helene Impact & Community Support

Hurricane Helene Impact

Latest route impact and ways to support local communities
transvirginia.org/hurricane-helene-impact-and-community-support/

Email bike@transvirginia.org with route questions,
ideas or anything relevant to the project!

Support the TransVA


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DC to Damascus - 565 mile gravel bikepacking route across Virginia- "The Gravel Road to Damascus"

The newest TransVA route is DC/Harrisonburg/DC - a The newest TransVA route is DC/Harrisonburg/DC - a 400 mile loop with 23,319 feet of elevation gain. This route shares the first 215 miles with the DC/Harrisonburg (also the Valley Route) and then charts its own path over Massanutten Mountain up through Fort Valley, Loudoun County and the Washington & Old Dominion Rail Trail back to DC. This route has a little bit of everything: rail trails, mountains, National Forest gravel, towns, and country. Most importantly, this is the most accessible of the TVA routes (opposed to the point to point routes) as it starts and ends in DC. 

Our FKTs! Cyndi Janetzko (80:00, 2023 Grand Depart) Women’s FKT. Fedor Sha (39:32, 2024 Grand Depart) Men’s FKT. Steve McDermott & Evan Ellicott (45:04, 2024 Grand Depart) Team FKT. 

Photos are from Cyndi Janetzko’s trip on the route on the 2023 grand depart!

#bikepacking #bikepackingVA #bikepackingadventures #transvirginia #transvirginiabikeroute #transva #transva2025
We’ve teamed up with our friends at Adventure Da We’ve teamed up with our friends at Adventure Damascus Bicycles in Damascus, VA to offer 2025 TransVA Mountain/Valley Route riders a shuttle option on the Wednesday and Friday after the Grand Depart! Getting back to DC from the finish (or just leaving Damascus with your bicycle after the ride) has proven to be a challenge in the past, and we are now so happy to share with you all that there is an opportunity to book a shuttle from Damascus to Roanoke! Roanoke has an Amtrak station that accommodates bicycles, as well as rental car options. 

Shuttle and LOI forms in our bio Linktree & stories. 

#bikepacking #bikepackingVA #bikepackingadventures #transvirginia #transvirginiabikeroute #transva #transva2025
The US Forest Service has published a project page The US Forest Service has published a project page for rebuilding the Virginia Creeper Trail. The USFS is requesting public comment through January 31st. 

The TransVA Mountain and Valley routes, and many of the Grayson Gravel routes use the affected section of the Creeper Trail from Whitetop to Damascus. Please use the USFS link to share your perspectives on the Creeper Trail project, or you can reply directly to this post or in our stories and we will compile comments from the Virginia bikepacking community and submit it as a whole on behalf of the TransVA & Grayson routes. 

The deadline is January 31st!

#bikepacking #bikepackingVA #bikepackingadventures #transvirginia #transvirginiabikeroute #transva #transva2025
4 months until the Grand Depart! What shake down r 4 months until the Grand Depart! What shake down rides and big training days do you have planned before your TransVA adventure?

And most important: if you’re doing the Valley Route what are you going to get at the Stokesville store?

#bikepacking #bikepackingVA #bikepackingadventures #transvirginia #transvirginiabikeroute #transva #transva2025
How do I plan for my TransVirginia adventure? tran How do I plan for my TransVirginia adventure? transvirginia.org is your resource! 

transvirginia.org has… 

FAQs

Itineraries that do the planning work for you, great for cyclists planning a tour of the route. 

Resupply sheets specific to each route with mile markers.

RWGPS route files

Trip Reports going back to 2018 that give firsthand accounts with photos of the routes under multiple conditions (seasons, weather, etc.) and some gripping race reports. 

Competition information: this is where you can go for questions about the Grand Depart or to size up FKT’s that you may be chasing. 

#bikepacking #bikepackingVA #bikepackingadventures #transvirginia #transvirginiabikeroute #transva #transva2025
The TransVA Valley 535 Route: 536 miles with 33,60 The TransVA Valley 535 Route: 536 miles with 33,602 feet of elevation gain. This was designed to give a more approachable (and tour-able) TransVA experience. The Valley Route favors state-maintained gravel (opposed to some of the singletrack and doubletrack challenges of the Mountain Route). It has 11k less climbing, and follows the valleys rather than the high elevations, this route strategically intersects with the Mountain Route, giving Mountain riders the option to dial down the challenge, and Valley riders the chance to jump up in challenge. There is also more frequent resupply and lodging. 

This is still a lengthy and challenging route, but in comparison to the Mountain Route the Valley Route is a good “moderate challenge” for bikepackers that want to see what TransVA is all about, with more options to keep the journey sustainable. Many Mountain Route riders have been thankful to have downloaded the Valley route ahead of time as it gives everyone a few more options to make it to the caboose in Damascus in mixing and matching the Valley and Mountain route. 

Our FKT holders! Jesse Davis (80:52, 2024 Grand Depart) Men’s FKT. Cyndi Janetzko (106:38, October 2020 Grand Depart) Women’s FKT. 

Who’s done the TVA Valley Route? What were your favorite sections or stops along the route?

#bikepacking #bikepackingVA #bikepackingadventures #transvirginia #transvirginiabikeroute #transva #transva2025
What are you doing to prepare for TransVirginia? I What are you doing to prepare for TransVirginia? It’s 5 months away!

5 month countdown until the Grand Depart! Make sure to fill out the LOI linked in our bio and stories to let us know if you’ll be riding any of the TransVirginia routes this year (there’s really something for everyone!)

Of course the routes are always open for ITTs, but it’s more fun to make friends at the Grand Depart. Good luck to everyone putting in those training miles inside and out this time of year, May 2025 is just around the corner and will be here soon!

#transvirginia #transva2025 #bikepackingva #bikepacking #bikepackingadventures
@endlessmountainsbikepacking, @transvirginia, and @endlessmountainsbikepacking, @transvirginia, and @graysongravel have all enjoyed support and encouragement from Bikepacking Roots, the only national nonprofit dedicated to supporting bikepacking communities. Today we’re encouraging you to give back (link in stories) if you can to support them in their work to develop more bikepacking routes and contribute to their regional steward program. All of these routes (Endless, TransVA, and Grayson Gravel) are Bikepacking Roots community routes. 

Through the end of the year, Bikepacking Roots is trying to hit a fundraising goal of $20,000 to continue to do some amazing work for the bikepacking community: 

🚴‍♀️More weekend and week-long routes that can fit into busy schedules.
🚴‍♀️More routes all across the country so everyone can enjoy great bikepacking close to home.
🚴‍♀️Expansion to Canada to support adventures and community north of the border!
🚴‍♀️More routes suitable for beginner and intermediate bikepackers.
🚴‍♀️Routes that are more easily accessible from urban areas and via public transportation.
🚴‍♀️More Community Campouts and Regional Bikepacking Summits to support community building.
🚴‍♀️More advocacy capacity to protect public lands

#bikepacking #bikeackingadventures #emgbl #graysongravel #loveva #endlessmountainsbikepacking #em430 #em250 #transva2025 @visitvirginia #transva #bikepackingva #bikepackingpa
The TransVirginia Mountain Route: quintessential V The TransVirginia Mountain Route: quintessential Virginia adventure riding and getting to be known as quite the challenge, in some of the most beautiful and rugged parts of the state. This route starts in DC and ends in Damascus, VA - 565 miles and 46,984 feet of elevation gain. 

Our FKT (fastest known time) holders: Abe Kaufman (55:21, May 2021 Grand Depart) Men’s FKT. Laura Hamm (84:22, October 2020 Grand Depart) Women’s FKT. Chris Joice (85:05, May 2024 ITT) Single Speed FKT. Jeremy Gardner (74:23, June 2023 ITT) Men’s & Single Speed Northbound FKT. 

Veterans of the Mountain Route, what is some of your best advice for our riders in 2025? What are some of the most memorable sections of this route?

#bikepacking #bikepackingVA #bikepackingadventures #transvirginia #transvirginiabikeroute #transva #transva2025 @abe__kaufman @tnjed76
It’s 6 months until the Grand Depart! If you’r It’s 6 months until the Grand Depart! If you’re planning to ride in 2025 make sure to fill out the “Letter of Intent” linked in our bio, and be sure to check out our website for plenty of planning information and resources (also in bio). The Facebook event is live, so RSVP, and check out the TransVA Bikepackers group on Facebook to commiserate with past and future riders of the TVA routes! As the Grand Depart approaches we’ll keep you updated with further information. Until then, happy pedaling and winter training!

#bikepacking #bikepackingva #bikepackingadventures #transvirginia #transvirginiabikeroute #transva
Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the dam Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the damage caused by flooding from Hurricane Helene, especially those in southwestern Virginia along these routes. The town of Damascus, the Virginia Creeper Trail, and Grayson County have all experienced significant damage in areas where bikepackers and gravel cyclists frequently ride, and these communities depend on the economic support of the cycling community to be sustainable.

See the latest on the impacts on the TransVA and Grayson Gravel routes through SW Virginia and how you can support local communities in the area. 

[Link in bio] https://www.transvirginia.org/hurricane-helene-impact-and-community-support/
Thanks to everyone to made it out for the 2024 @tr Thanks to everyone to made it out for the 2024 @trans.virginia Grand Depart! At least 50 of us gathered at the Lincoln at sunrise eager to take on the challenge! It’s a tough route and started with tougher conditions when mud and grit on the C&O took out at least 5 people’s brakes. The rest stop and mechanical support volunteered by Dawn & Doug of @ravensrockoutdoor was the boost we all needed to press forward through the rainy day. In the end about half of us who departed DC made it to our destination. It’s humbling to ride such a demanding route and experience all within and outside of our control along the way.

Looking back over the last seven years since the route was created, it’s been a privilege to see so many people come together for this ride across Virginia, building friendships and expanding a regional bikepacking community. I’m excited to watch the TVA tradition continue to connect us and remind us to that we can do difficult things together—and how facing challenges, risks and rewards puts everything in perspective.

📷 @dplandis @ravensrockoutdoor @ncsalle
2024 Grand Depart Tracking map is live! Follow the 2024 Grand Depart Tracking map is live! Follow the bikepackers across Virginia from DC to Damascus starting Saturday at 6am EST. [Link in bio - https://trackleaders.com/transva24f] @trackingscott @dplandis
Only 3 weeks until the Grand Depart! Any cycle-pat Only 3 weeks until the Grand Depart! Any cycle-paths out there? 😀
Email about the @trans.virginia Grand Depart will Email about the @trans.virginia Grand Depart will go out soon! If you haven’t already filled out the LOI form, please do so now to ensure you receive emails about the event! [link in @trans.virginia bio]
Grand Depart May 18, 2024! [Planning info and LOI Grand Depart May 18, 2024!
[Planning info and LOI links in bio]
30 riders braved record heat and headed south from 30 riders braved record heat and headed south from DC at sunrise for the 2022 grand depart! Follow on http://trackleaders.com/transva22f.php
TransVirginia Grand Depart is two weeks away! Fol TransVirginia Grand Depart is two weeks away!

Follow the riders at https://trackleaders.com/transva22f
And they’re off towards Damascus! Tracker link i And they’re off towards Damascus! Tracker link in bio.  #TransVA #GrandDepart #Bikepacking
Damascus awaits the fall TransVA Grand Depart! @da Damascus awaits the fall TransVA Grand Depart! @damascusvirginia
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Recent Posts

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