Right Around the River Blog
Cap2Cap Bike Ride a Success
Post Date: 05-21-2013
On Saturday, May 11, a record-breaking Cap2Cap Bike Ride attracted thousands to ride the Virginia Capital Trail -- and despite calls for thunderstorms, the rain held out and helped everyone have one of the best Cap2Cap rides to date.
Cyclists were in full gear this year, with 2,368 participants -- a 7 percent increase over 2012's event. Riders started at either Rocketts Landing or Charles City County and rode the 25-, 50- or 100-mile ride. Nearly 1,000 cyclists rode the 50-mile ride (the category's largest numbers to date), and bright and early Saturday morning, Mayor Jones even came out to Rocketts Landing to greet them with a warm, encouraging welcome!
"Mayor Jones gave a great pep talk to the swarms of 50-mile riders surrounding him," explains Beth Weisbrod, executive director of the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. "It was a really neat moment in the whole Cap2Cap history."
One of the event's other major highlights this year was the Virginia Capital Trail Pale Ale brewed by RVA's own Hardywood Park Brewery specifically for the Cap2Cap Bike Ride. A portion of the brew’s proceeds go directly to support the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation. And on packet-pickup day, cases and six-packs of the Ale were flying off the shelves. The brew was also served at the afterparty, where everyone winded down from their stellar and exhausting Cap2Cap rides with a variety of food (including Boka Truck), beer, live music and the event’s largest vendor expo yet.
And as far as raising money for the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation, Cap2Cap also saw a $20,000 sponsorship increase, which warms our Rocketts Landing hearts! And though they’re still finalizing the fundraising numbers, Weisbrod was happy to say that given the event’s increased participation and sponsorships, Cap2Cap was a fundraising success.
“Our awesome volunteers, sponsors and vendors are the ones who really make it possible to have an event of this scale and raise great funds,” explains Weisbrod. “We’re incredibly thankful for everyone’s support.”
As a contributing sponsor, we’re thrilled for this year’s Cap2Cap success, and can’t wait for next year’s event! To learn more about the Cap2Cap Bike Ride or the Virginia Capital Trail, be sure to check out the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation’s website.
