~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
PETE's PICKS
What's my recommendation?
It's time to head to one of my favorite places! Yes I am a little reluctant to tell you about it, but I've been told I can't keep secrets from you anymore. Ask those who know about Douthat State Park and they'll agree that it is truly a magical place. Speaking of magic, this weekend is the Magic in The Mountains festival in Clifton Forge which is right next to Douthat State Park. So, can you guess what my recommendation is? That's right! Head to Douthat for a quick hike (or ride) and then explore the Magic in the Mountains Festival. There will be arts, crafts, food, and live entertainment along with children activities, wine tasting, and a antique tractor show!  Pete Eshelman (friend me on Facebook) Director of Outdoor Branding Roanoke Regional
Partnership
|
|
Roanoke Designated Bicycle Friendly
Congratulations to the City of Roanoke for
being designated a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American
Bicyclists! The announcement was made at the Mayor's Ride on May 1st,
and the City sent out a press release, which you can read below.
The League of American
Bicyclists announced today that it has honored the City of Roanoke with
its  prestigious Bicycle Friendly Community award. Roanoke joins
Alexandria, Arlington and Charlottesville as Virginia's only Bicycle
Friendly Communities. Bicycle Friendly Communities are designated twice
each year based on feedback from cyclists in the community and an
extensive application that audits a community's efforts to provide a
more bicycle friendly environment. The audit reviews engineering,
education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation and planning
efforts for bicycling. Roanoke's application was prepared by its
volunteer Bicycle Advisory Committee made up of bicyclists, driving
educators, transportation professionals, concerned parents, engineers,
and regional planners, in consultation with city staff. "Roanoke is a great place for biking, with
its combination of smooth greenways, challenging hills and trails, and
low traffic, bike friendly neighborhood streets," said Mayor David
Bowers. "Our biking community has worked hard to achieve this award. We
thank the League for recognizing the efforts the city has taken to
improve the quality of life for our citizens by supporting safer biking,
walking and running. Our expanding greenways and off road trails, and
our bicycling and running events are making Roanoke one of the best
outdoor cities in the country. This designation is exciting and puts
Roanoke on the national biking map." Read the rest of the press release here>>> |
|
Come Out & Gallop For A Great Cause - 5/8
Gallop 4 The Greenways is an annual fund-raising
event to support our growing network of pedestrian and bike friendly
trails. The 4th annual Gallop 4 the Greenways will be held on May 8th,
2010 in Elmwood Park in downtown Roanoke. Mark your calendars today and
join us in supporting one of the most important quality of life assets
in the Roanoke Valley. 
Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors,
and to the more than 1600 runners and walkers who have taken part, the
Gallop has raised over $100,000.00 in the past three years. The most
obvious sign of our efforts is the recently completed connector section
of the Roanoke River Greenway at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Later this
year, money raised by the Gallop will be used to build a path around the
new Vic Thomas Park on the Roanoke River opposite Wasena Park. Why Are Greenways So Important?Greenways improve the quality of life in a
community by providing recreational opportunities, and promoting the
preservation of natural areas that might otherwise be lost to
development. Greenways also play an important role in economic
development by aiding in recruitment efforts and promoting a healthy
workforce. We're committed to our local greenways, and we believe that
completion of the Conceptual Greenway Plan will be a vital catalyst for
change in the Roanoke Valley. You can do your part to make the plan a
reality by participating in the 2010 Gallop 4 The Greenways. We look
forward to seeing you there. Volunteers Are Still Needed!Every volunteer gets a t-shirt, entrance
into the post race party and a free meal. Click Here to see volunteer shifts/times (please note that this document has a 2008 date on it, but the days/times are correct) and email seth.e.marlow@gmail.com to
sign up for a shift. Together we can connect all the greenways
-- just imageine what that will be like!
|
|
Volkswagen 'E-Bike'- Gear Review
Announced at the recent Auto China 2010
show, and as seen this week on tech blogs like Gizmodo, car maker Volkswagen has debuted a bike.
But this is no ordinary two-wheeler. The battery-powered bike is made to
fit in the trunk of a car near where a spare tire would go. It can roll
for about 12 miles on a single charge. The kicker? Look close, this
bike has no pedals. According to Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, VW's
research and development chief, the company's "focus on mobility"
extends beyond cars. This prototype bike, which is not yet available to
buy, has a range of 12.5 miles and a top speed of 12.5 mph. It folds
into a disc shape to fit in a car's spare tire compartment. Its name is "The Bik.e," and, yes, that
extra period after the "k" is on purpose. Says a Gizmodo blogger on the
naming: It was "presumably named by a VW marketing intern who made the
best typo of his life." -Stephen Regenold Check out more reviews here>>>
|
|
Three "Must Take" Courses... If you are like us, you spend a lot of time
outdoors. There are three upcoming courses that we'd like to put on
your radar. They are well worth the time and investment.  Wilderness
First Aid
Accidents happen. People get hurt, sick, or
lost. The temperature drops, the
wind picks up, and it starts to rain. Would you know what to do? Many
backcountry emergencies are preventable, and even when bad things
happen, sometimes the wrong care can make things worse. By learning a
few basic skills, you can make the difference between a good outcome and
a bad one-and maybe even save a life. The WFA is the perfect course for
the outdoor enthusiast who wants a basic level of first aid training
for short trips with family, friends, and outdoor groups. The WFA is 16
hours long (two days), and focuses on the basic skills of: Response and
Assessment, Musculoskeletal Injuries, Environmental Emergencies,
Survival Skills, Soft Tissue Injuries, and Medical Emergencies.Wilderness First
Aid Course To read about the other two courses - Learn
to Paddle Your Canoe/Kayak and Leave No Trace Master Educator's
Course - make sure to Click Here>>> |
Upcoming events to keep your eye oN
Visit The RoanokeOutside.com Calendar of Events for details on these upcoming events!
Weekly bike rides throughout Roanoke & NRV Valleys - Group Trainer Rides & Movies every Tuesday
Appalachian Power Festival 5K & 10K - mid May - Family Wall Climbing at Camp
Roanoke (May) - 5/12
- Wednesday Night Disco Bike
Race Series - 5/12
- Pandapas Mountain Bike Ride - 5/13
- Get Dirty at The Cove - Mtn.
Bike Ride - 5/14
- The Amazing County Treasure Hunt - 5/15
- Rolling Down the River -
Canoeing - 5/15
- Wild Water Rafting Weekend - 5/15
- Andy Layne Trail to Tinker
Cliffs Hike - 5/16
- A.T., Ribble Trail to New
River Hike - 5/16
- Discover Roanoke - Free Biking
Series - 5/17
-
Alleghany Highlands Triathlon - 5/22 - Whitewater Rafting - 5/22
- Mountains of Misery - 5/30
-
Trail Nut 10K and Half Marathon 6/5 -
Fat Tire Frenzy & Bike Festival - 6/18-19 New River Valley Triathlon 7/11
|
|
|
|
Roanoke Regional Partnership · 111 Franklin Plaza, Suite 333 · Roanoke, VA 24011540.343.1550 X 104 · www.roanoke.org
|
|
|
|
|
