Virginia's state marketing slogan: Virginia is for Lovers. However, I am advocating for a minor adjustment. Virginia is for BIKE lovers! After a 10-hour drive on numerous toll roads in Ohio and Pennsylvania, we landed in the state for lovers so Josh could continue his pursuit of a Level 2 mountain bike instructor certification at Bryce Resort Bike Park. (The organization that facilitates is called GSMBC (Global Syndicate Mountain Bike Coaching).
We chose a fall timing, in mid-October, for some East Coast, Shenandoah County displays of peak color. Bryce Resort's bike park was the host, and Take Aim Cycling (Harlan Price) led the clinic for coaches to improve riding skills, coaching curriculum, and techniques. Bryce is situated in the quaint small town of Basye, approximately two hours west of Washington, D.C. The resort hosts skiers in winter, then in summer, bikers and golfers take over. One of the main chairlifts is converted in summer to carry bikes and bikers up to the top. The resort also boasts 18 holes of championship golf nestled in the Stony Creek valley below the ski slopes.
Stay & Play at Bryce Mountain Escapes
While Josh was in his coaches' clinic, I took advantage of all the Bryce amenities and nearby attractions. It's easy to get around; there's certainly no traffic in the distinctively quaint, rural vibe, no stoplight town. There's one gas station that doubles as the town's general store, one restaurant, a farm market, an ice cream shop, and a brew pub (Pale Fire Brewing). The resort itself is also compact and cozy with an on-site restaurant, the Copper Kettle, situated in the main lodge, near the bike shop and ski school areas. They were also nice enough to name the nearby lake after me, Lake Laura. There's a lovely hike around the perimeter and a spot to rent kayaks for a paddle.
Lake Laura, Bryce Resort, Virginia
Our slopeside condo had a name: The Slippery Slope. It was directly next to the south side chairlift, close enough you could toss a beer to a biker or a skier heading up for a run. From the third-story patio, we had a birds-eye view of the resort base activities and the layered peaks to the west. The views cost us three flights of stairs every day, but we decided the views were worth the extra effort. Bryce Mountain Management offers a variety of lodging options, including slopeside condos like ours, golf condos, and private cabins. Our condo had super cool triple-decker built-in bunk beds, and our favorite feature was the patio, where we would chill out for morning coffee or happy hour beverages. There's also a wood-burning fireplace and a cozy bedroom to rest for the next day's adventure.
View from the Slippery Slope at Bryce Resort
Bryce Resort Bike Park
Armed with my Transition Sentinel and my Nikon DSLR stashed in my hip pack, I spent two days at the bike park riding trails, capturing moments, and meeting new friends. Bryce Bike Park is just the right size, plenty of terrain to choose from, but not overwhelming in terms of how/where to start. There's one dedicated chairlift that deposits you at the top. From there, choose your challenge with about 12 main trails. Progression is the key to safe bike park riding, so I started on the classic green run, Sundowner, to get my legs under me. I quickly passed my first quiz and moved on to a blue-level test, such as Brew Through, Snake Bite, and Old Fashioned. The trails are professionally built, and some are crafted by the renowned builder, Gravity Logic.
Every chair ride up, I watched and nodded in appreciation as other riders tackled the expert trails, such as Car Bomb and Pickleback, for their signature wall jump and toilet bowl corkscrew feature. Moving around the park, I chatted with the friendly lifties and other riders at the top, and offered some advice to other newcomers on which run to take. I met fellow lady shredders Maria and Zully for a few runs together. I also staged trailside with my camera as a pack of dudes ripped down Pickleback's first jumportunity. Fall colors popped, just like the riders off the lips of jumps, creating a dramatic and colorful scene.
My favorite run (all trails are named after cocktails) was Gin & Juice, located off the back side, which linked together impressive berms and a series of approachable tabletops and jumps. It also flows into Old Fashioned, creating a more extended run around the perimeter of the hill. It was ride and repeat until I could catch up with Josh and the coaches in the evening to refuel.
Pickleback's corkscrew feature
Bryce Resort Golf
I hung up my full-face helmet and pads and swapped to preppy golf attire for a day on the greens. Luckily, I was paired with two talkative locals (Bill and Mike) who really knew the course nuances. They gave me some helpful advice on hazards, where to aim, and what to avoid. Unseasonably warm for a mid-October day, we had some trouble finding balls amongst the fallen leaves, and the speedy greens were responsible for several three-putts on my scorecard. I recall seeing a sign at the Pro Shop that actually listed the green speed as 11 MPH. My score seemed secondary to the views. I focused on the picturesque rolling greens, flanked by colorful hardwoods, and had fun chatting with the guys.
The ski hill watched over us, reminding us that winter would be coming soon. I finished up my golf day in the Pro Shop with a quick shop and conversation with Paul, the course professional. Throughout my time at the resort, I learned that Bryce is not owned by a corporation, but rather a group of about 300 members who collectively own/manage the operations. It makes sense; the vibe was always friendly and casual. I never tripped or rolled over any corporate bureaucracy.
A Pedal Up
With one day remaining, I decided to pedal my bike up a hill. Not needing anymore adrenaline-fueled runs at Bryce Resort Bike Park, I chose an XC route that led around the golf course, connecting with Crooked Run Road, which took me on a long, 8-mile climb to the top of the North Mountain Trail. It was a slow roll, and my quads seemed perturbed at the choice. I reminded them that the stunning Shenandoah views were worth the effort. My two-hour slow churn was rewarded by a fast gravel descent with bright falling leaves bouncing off my helmet. I arrived back at Bryce and plunked down in a recliner Adirondack chair to devour my PBJ lunch. From my perch, I watched bike park riders descending, jumping the wood wall gap, fist-bumping, and returning to the chair for the next run.
A view from the top of the Pedal UP
Hire a Certified Mountain Bike Coach
On our last day, an excited Josh informed me he had passed and was now officially a Level Two Certified Coach. We fist bumped his accomplishment. I learned that the Level Two Advanced Coach certification involves skills and maneuvers to improve flow and riding form through corners, as well as ways to better approach and teach drops, features, and jumps.
The need for certified coaches continues to grow, and for a sport that skews to the injurious side, learning fundamentals in mountain biking is a better plan. If you like your face, teeth, wrists, and collarbone in their natural positions – learning the fundamentals is key to staying out of rehab. In a sport where old-timers tell you to “Just send it,” thankfully, there's a more constructive way to improve skills and become a better rider without serious injury.
Hire a coach for a private lesson or join a group clinic near you. Hit up my hubs, Josh at Compass MTB, and I would recommend women's clinics at TOMMBA, CAMBA in Wisconsin, and For the Love of Bikes. Personally, I can attest to how helpful it has been to learn better body position, one-finger braking, proper braking/shifting techniques, bike/body separation, front wheel lifts, and more. Foundational bike skills make you a more capable rider, with less apprehension on technical terrain. Plus, who doesn't want to get some air, safely, of course!
After saying goodbye to Bryce Resort, the coach and I loaded up the car to head home to Michigan. Josh had plenty of car time to digest what he learned and plot how to raise the ceiling for the kids and riders he works with in clinics and private sessions.
Bike lovers unite, let's learn to shred and send it safely.
