News Flash

The big event happening this summer in the Roanoke Valley is the USA Cycling Mountain Biking National Championships and I decided to hop on the mountain biking bandwagon! Roanoke County’s Explore Park is hosting the cross country events, so I met Ryan Shazor, out there to get some tips.

We started at the bike center to learn some basic skills. This area includes a skills loop to practice features you’ll see along the trail.

As we were riding to the loop from the parking lot, Ryan pointed out that you want to keep level pedals as you’re biking, so you don’t accidentally hit the features as you go over them.

We started with the rock roller and log rumble strip to practice some of the basics you’ll see on the trail. Ryan then demonstrated a skinny and pointed out that if you’re approaching a new skill (or new section of trail) it’s good practice to walk through it with your bike before riding through to get comfortable.

 >> Watch the Mountain Biking video on YouTube.

While I was out at the park, I caught up with Greg Martin. He’s part of the team that has been working out at Explore Park to add new features and get it ready for the national championship events.

Greg walked us through a new area of the course that comes down the mountain quickly, into a rock feature and then back up switchbacks to the road.

“It will separate riders,” Greg said about this section. “It’s the reason why the national championships are here.”

As someone who usually just bikes on the road, it was fun to see all the different challenges that mountain bikers are faced with. The most important thing I learned is that I have a long way to go before I’m doing anything competitive!

If you’re interested in mountain biking, Parks and Rec has a beginner mountain biking skills clinic out at Explore Park. Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day is also a great way to get the whole family out, so come out to Explore Park the first Saturday in October to celebrate!

Want to learn more about the events happening in the Roanoke Valley? Watch the Out of the Office podcast episode with Roanoke-based cyclist Gordon Wadsworth and John Oney from Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

2025 USA Cycling National Championship Endurance Mountain Biking Events

• July 14: Marathon Championships at Carvins Cove
• July 16-17: Short Track Championships at Elmwood Park
• July 18-20: Cross Country Championships at Explore Park

Em Poertner is Roanoke County's Public Information Specialist. She hosts the Out of the Office podcast and Roam RoCo video series. If you have ideas for something to explore around Roanoke County, email her at epoertner@roanokecountyva.gov.