Video: Gran Fondo traversed Botetourt on Sunday Oct. 14

 

 

The Gran Fondo took place on Sunday, Oct. 14 under rainy and overcast skies, but that did not deter the cyclers. The bicycle ride consisted of 30, 50 amd 80 mile rides through Botetourt County. The event drew 260 participants. Though often wet, most of the riders persevered for lunch and a beer at the finish at Ballast Point.

The trail wound through Botetourt and featured several breaks along the way. The Muddy Squirrel a local hike and outdoors operation was the architect of the event. Others that helped were Ballast Point the take-off and ending point, Altec which provided the bucket lifts for the ride start, The Bank of Botetourt, Lawrence Transfer, The Botetourt Chamber of Commerce, Barkett-Allen Capital, Virginia’s Blue Ridge, Botetourt County Parks and Recreation and Botetourt County as well as Hammer Nutrition. Fincastle United Methodist Church was also noted for the use of the Family Life Center Restrooms, Eagle Rock Ruritans and citizens in the Town of Buchanan and the Botetourt County Sheriff’s Department for providing a lead car.

The riders came from all over from Botetourt, the Roanoke Valley, to West Virginia to all points in Virginia.

The Gran Fondo is hoped to become an annual event.

Video: Riders began on the International Parkyway at Greenfield.  by Cathy Benson