History

be sure to slow down, you might just see some History

Our rides travel through historic towns and villages

that helped shape our nation's history. We start in Berryville, VA, a colonial crossroads settlement.  You’ll pass through the historic towns of Middleway and White Post; and one of our rest stops is at the Burwell-Morgan Mill, established in 1785.

During your ride, you'll stop at White Post Restorations, one of the premier antique automobile restorers in the nation. At White Post you'll see antique cars on display and you may even get to peek inside the garage, to see some "work in progress".

The White Post rest stop is where we serve our "world famous" tomato sandwiches. These are a favorite of cyclists, and the perfect boost to get you through that last 20 miles. Note: White Post is on the 100, 65 and 50 mile routes - not on the 25 mile route.

The Shenandoah Valley in western Virginia stretches about 140 miles north to south between the Allegheny Mountains on the west and the Blue Ridge Mountains on the east. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), the strategically important Valley was the site of two major campaigns and numerous battles and represents, in microcosm, many of the military, social, and cultural factors that ultimately explain why the Union won and the Confederacy lost the war.

Confederate control of the Shenandoah helped prolong the Confederate war effort until 1864, while the region provided sustenance to Confederate stomachs and succored Confederate nationalism. When those connections were destroyed by Union general Philip H. Sheridan and his Valley Campaign in the autumn of 1864—a campaign that culminated in what residents called "the Burning," and that also helped U.S. president Abraham Lincoln win re-election—victory for the Union and defeat for the Confederacy were all but assured.

The Valley, meanwhile, was largely stripped, but for years it had been steeped in mythology—known as the "Granary of the Confederacy," it was considered the very heart of the South. That mythology would survive Sheridan and even the war.

So be sure to stop and see the sights during your ride, history is around every corner.