Video: Richmond Ride Center Rip

Oct 15, 2014 at 11:12
by Ryan Thompson  


Just a year ago there was little to no chance that you’d even heard of Richmond, VA, let alone recognize it as a burgeoning East Coast mountain bike destination.

Fast forward 12 months and the release of several area trail videos, the news of a possible IMBA Richmond Regional Ride Center designation and the subsequent winning of the Bell Helmets Trail grant has all helped to put Richmond on the map as one of the must ride trail destinations in Virginia.

Shot of amphitheater at Pocahontas State PArk in VA.

This video celebrates the forward movement of mountain bike culture here in Richmond, VA and aims to continue casting a positive light on the new trails being built in and around the city. Watch as two local riders take a quick rip through one of the existing trail loops at Pocahontas State Park; one of the trail systems that makes up the larger Richmond Regional Ride Center and the future home of 40 miles of new IMBA certified trails.

Hitting a root booter on the entrance of Moral Ravin at Pocahontas State Park.

If you’re on the East Coast and looking for some great trails to ride, be sure to put Richmond on the list. If you live in or around Richmond, be sure to get involved with the local trail building and advocacy community by visiting www.rvaridecenter.com.

The RideCenter.

( It should also be noted that the trails at Pocahontas State Park will be fully accessible to hand cyclists to help inspire the disabled by providing a safe, dedicated location specifically for cycling and potential cycling enthusiasts.)

Credits:
Edit House: www.mndl.com
Cinematography: Matthew Irving
Creative Direction: Eric Eisele and Matthew McDonald
Riders: RideKore (David Kern and Ryan Thompson)

Author Info:
RideKore avatar

Member since Aug 30, 2013
6 articles
Must Read This Week
Kona Bicycles' Parent Company Appoints New CFO, Intends to Sell Brand
64501 views
Downhill Bikes of Sea Otter - Part 1
46300 views
Randoms Round 3: Dario's Treasures
44345 views
Brian's Randoms from Sea Otter 2024
44183 views
Pinkbike's DH Fantasy League: Get Your Team On The Line - Fort William is in 10 DAYS!
39411 views
[UPDATED] Final Elite XC Results & Overall Standings from the Araxá XC World Cup 2024
38085 views
Randoms Round 1 - Sea Otter 2024
38063 views
Spotted: Frameworks Racing DH Bike with Electronic Fox Shock & Unreleased Enve Rims
37138 views
Sign Up for the Pinkbike Newsletter - All the Biggest, Most Interesting Stories in your Inbox
PB Newsletter Signup

77 Comments
  • 19 0
 Virginia keeps getting better and better. Fast flow, east coast gnar, or mammoth epics. Roanoke, Richmond, Blacksburg, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg. All worthy destinations. Proud to call VA home!
  • 3 0
 Don't forget Northern VA. Elizabeth Furnace is rocky goodness and Fountainhead is a rooty gem.
  • 3 0
 and Bryce Resort, 2 hours outside DC :-)
  • 3 0
 fountainhead is the best I ride it all the time
  • 2 0
 Yes. We love some Fountainhead!
  • 2 0
 meadowood…put that on your list if you're around the NOVA area
  • 2 0
 just hit up the new BOSS trail at Meadowood, it's really, really fun!
  • 2 0
 what kind of trail is meadowood? DH, AM, XC?
  • 2 0
 Meadow is XC with a few fun man-man features. Really small trail system. They tried to pack in the fun. Much smaller and less technical than fountainhead but still good times.
  • 2 0
 Just got finished riding the Buttermilk trail while visiting my in-laws in Richmond. I wish I would have known about this trail before!! Oh well, gives me something to look forward to when visiting the in-laws next time.
  • 29 10
 Looks more like walking paths, than mtb trails...
  • 11 8
 That's how a LOT of the purpose built trails are around here.... unfortunately
  • 8 6
 Warneja27 You can go adopt some old power-line trail and ride there and leave the built trial to the folks that want to ride it. Or do you just want to play negative Nelly?
  • 5 3
 trails like this are great for the MTB community since its ridable by just about anyone. I'd only start complaining if all trails started looking like this
  • 6 2
 Relax
  • 3 1
 Warnerja27 and tim-from-pa pretty much nailed it. These trails need to work for all users. To be honest they're not the steepest of trails, but the zones we captured are much steeper than the camera lets on. Still fun all the same!
  • 4 0
 still looks like a good time
  • 3 0
 What about north bank, buttermilk, and forest hill? Those are all pretty good trails, definitely have a bit more tech/fun factor than this trail from the looks of the video. Miss visiting and riding RVA!
  • 2 0
 RedzNC - Here's an edit we did about a year ago on the FH loop. We have plans for the North Bank. www.pinkbike.com/news/Short-Film-A-River-City-Rip-2013.html
  • 12 1
 I have ridden with these rippers before and have to say, they ride even faster than this video makes it look. Great edit and love seeing videos from home trails! Also, I gotta say, being a RideKore athlete, I know that they are a great brand who can really teach you how to ride faster! Great job guys!
  • 2 0
 Cheers. Thanks, Josh.
  • 6 0
 Ive ridden here since i was three and it is some of the best single track ever. It is fast, flowy, and in parts very technical. nice to see people putting it out there and telling people about it.
  • 1 0
 I thought this was the place that won the grant... you must be loving it even more now. Oh and I just texted my buddy who is doing a cross country bike trip to stop in if he can Smile dang, place looks insane.
  • 1 0
 Scott -townes, that's correct. RVA one the East Coast Bell Built grant. This loop is one of the older loops in the trail system at Pocahontas. The new flow trails will be built before the year's end. This video is an effort to get the stoke going so we can keep building more trails.
  • 2 0
 Ah I see, well damn its not a surprise why they won then!
  • 3 0
 What a great video showcasing awesome trails that we have in Richmond!! It great to see that our city is gaining so much popularity in the riding world and is becoming such a great city for a rider! Dave and Ryan give top class instruction for anyone teaching you how to ride faster, smoother, with more fun, and how to have total control over your bike! I am so proud to be an athlete for their genuine company! Great video guys!!!
  • 1 0
 Cheers. Thanks, Eddie!
  • 3 0
 Ride these trails all the time with some of the fastest guys in Richmond The trails are good but not very technical the speed is what makes it technical I am also good friends with most of the guys who build and maintain the trails around Richmond, great group of guys to say the least they are all very passionate about what they do, I am honored to be friends with them.
  • 1 0
 You nailed it. Any trail, flat or steep, can be as challenging as you make it. Cheers and hope to see you out on the trail!
  • 2 0
 That was one of the red trails highlighted and what is referred to as the "old trails" or original red blue green. The lake view will allow you to lay down some big ring speeds along with a touch of gnar if you know where to look. Great edit! There are several climbs on that trail that can having sucking wind. As local rider I can say everyone is looking forward to the new trails from the ride center despite the negative remarks by few. Really, who doesn't want more trails?
  • 2 0
 Ha. Good old Pocahontas state park. Used to ride here as a kid and cat fish too. All MTB was illegal in the late 80s early 90s. Only on that wide path at the end. All the riders poached the hell out if this place. And lots of secret trails we had park outside the park and hike into as well. It was all an open secret then, so really glad everything has been made legit and the city and park are behind it.
  • 1 0
 So are we. Thanks for the historical reference. It's important for everyone to know where the trails came from. It helps us contniue paving the way forward for new trails.
  • 2 0
 Of note, Richmond is hosting Road worlds next year. I'd love to see a dude like Peter Sagan take a hot lap out there when he's in town. That guy might be the best all around cyclist on the planet. Just nasty on any kind of bike.
  • 2 0
 Excellent easy beginner level trail with a small showing of intermediate technical features. This is an very good beginning.
Adding gnarly technical terrain for intermediates and some faster steeper runs with jumps for advanced level and it would be a ride center.
Check Glentress as an example.
www.7stanesmountainbiking.com/Glentress---Innerleithen
  • 1 0
 eb188, indeed. Thanks for sharing the link. That's very much what the Ride Center will be going for. RVA won the East Coast Bell Built grant. This loop is one of the older loops in the trail system at Pocahontas. The new flow trails will be built before the year's end. This video is an effort to get the stoke going so we can keep building more trails.
  • 3 0
 holy moly, sickkk edit and incredible shredding!! have a friend in VA and know what im doing when i go to visit... thanks for sharing, incredible edit really enjoyed
  • 1 0
 Awesome. Glad you liked it. Make sure your friend in VA gets involved with the local scene how ever he can. Now go ride!
  • 1 0
 I've ridden here a lot in the past 2 years and all in all is a great trail! It looks like they were riding lake view or blue trail but some of the parts on here are some what technical but most the trails out here are ment for everybody to enjoy them. The great thing about this area is that they really focus on getting younger kids into biking so the trails will keep getting better and better. I'm proud to call this place home even tho it's flatter than a cats ass the parks have the only slope around
  • 1 0
 They are riding the red trail
  • 3 0
 Good to see Virginia getting some popularity. Can't wait to see what they do with the money to upgrade Pocahontas State Park. Great Job
  • 2 0
 WHAT? I never knew about these trails! I just recently got to know the Buttermilk and Northbank trails down in Richmond but now I wanna hit up these trails!!

I can't wait!! WOOOHOOO!!!
  • 2 0
 Nice. Always glad to help people discover new trails. Also be sure to get involved with the local trail building scene if at all possible. It's a great way to give back and a really cool group of people behind everything. Cheers.
  • 1 0
 Poca is more of a aerobic work out than a technical one. My personal fav in the area is the JRPS (Buttermilk, Belle, North Bank, Forrest Hill). It is plenty technical and runs right through the city, meaning you can pop out and find eats and drinks nearby easily. Despite being in the middle of RVA, The trails are typical E Coast deep woods riding so it feels still remote and there are plenty of technical features to play on.
  • 2 0
 Someone needs to go make a high production video out at Elizabeth Furnace or Duncan Hollow. This trail does VA no justice. Nice riding though, boys.
  • 1 0
 Thanks, Johnny. We have plans to start highlighting trials outside of our local radius. We'll mark it on the list.
  • 2 0
 Sweet video, glad to say I can get to Pocahontas in 10 minutes by bike from my garage.
  • 1 0
 I've been to buttermilk. It was awesome. Great trail, and lots of nice people. Doesnt hurt that legends brewery is a short ride from the trail. I will go again.
  • 3 1
 ODESZA! looks like what i ride here in iowa, concrete. but they do look like a fun trail
  • 5 3
 Having ridden there, I'd say these guys are working super hard to make this trail look fun.
  • 4 3
 Looks flat...
  • 1 0
 Great video Dave and Ryan! Thanks for all you are doing to promote the RRRC and awesome riding in the RVA.
  • 3 0
 Good Work, Boys!
  • 2 1
 Hit me up if you want to ride!!! I'm always looking for fellow cyclists to ride with!
  • 1 0
 Yeah! These guys are flying. It looks like Poca has the goods for some good rides. Love the mushrooms!!
  • 1 0
 Very, very sick. Love seeing trails in State Parks. But, it still doesn't compare to Brown County State Park.
  • 2 0
 looks similar to oak mtn state park in birmingham alabama.
  • 1 0
 That reminds me of a trail in NC!!! good to see trails are growing the same around the states
  • 2 0
 I want to ride this trail
  • 2 0
 cool edit, can't wait to visit my sister in VA soon
  • 1 0
 what is the name of this song?
  • 1 0
 Ki: Theory - Open Wound (ODESZA Remix)
  • 1 0
 Awesome! Just put it on my Ipod. Thank you
  • 1 0
 I go to school at VCU and ride here! Very fun trails for sure!
  • 2 1
 the east is very cool when the conditions are nice
  • 1 0
 i see wood in their future
  • 1 0
 No full suspension needed there. Perfect for a nice hardtail. looks fun.
  • 1 0
 Excellent edit! East coast for life!
  • 2 0
 Twins!
  • 1 0
 Now ive got some where to ride when i come to see the GWAR BAR!!!
  • 1 0
 song title??
  • 1 0
 Ki:Theory - Open Wound (ODESZA Remix)
  • 2 2
 the matching kits took this to a whole new level
  • 1 0
 The kits may not be for everyone. These are essentially the uniforms we where for our mountain bike instruction service, which is what RideKore is. The continuity adds to the professionalism of our bran, service and the actual video to some degree. Hope you enjoyed it and appreciate the cause!
  • 2 5
 yeah……looks pretty weak for mtb…….
Below threshold threads are hidden







Copyright © 2000 - 2024. Pinkbike.com. All rights reserved.
dv65 0.025991
Mobile Version of Website