Culpeper Update

Below is a tentative agenda for MATES 2017.  There is no mass start on Friday, as people will be arriving at various times on Friday.  We will be there Friday morning to provide cue sheets & welcome packages as you arrive.  On Saturday & Sunday, if people wish to leave together, we suggest departing the hotel at 8:30, but there is no expectation of a planned mass start.

The Town of Culpeper is putting together a welcome package for us that will have information on places to go in the area, things to do, places to eat. There are many historic sites in the area, so we hope you will have time to take in some of the local offerings.

Agenda

Friday, June 9
Registration	Best Western – down the hallway beside hotel registration area We will provide printed cue sheets and other information about Culpeper GPS files are available on ETR website
Rides	Depart from Willis Lane-street beside Best Western (which is beside Holiday Inn Express)
Dinner	On your own – many great places in downtown Culpeper
Socializing 8:00 +	-Hospitality Room:  Best Western -Terrie & Steve have booked a suite – it’s not large enough to accommodate all of us, but stop by for a drink and a snack any time after 8 pm. We might have to spill out onto the balcony or take our drinks down to the deck beside the pool. -Best Western has a bar & restaurant for another meeting spot to connect with your friends
Saturday, June 10
Breakfast	Best Western or Holiday Inn (included in your room registration)
Rides 8:30	Mass Start – Depart from Willis Lane-street beside Best Western (which is beside Holiday Inn Express)
Lunch	Len Park along route Catered by Thyme Market of Culpeper
Dinner	Tuscany Hall, 21125 Kettle Club Road – directions provided below Cocktails & appetizers from 6-7 (ticket for 1 free drink included in registration package) Dinner at 7, Cash bar
Sunday, June 11
Breakfast	Best Western or Holiday Inn (included in your room registration)
Rides 8:30	Mass Start – Depart from Willis Lane -street beside Best Western (which is beside Holiday Inn Express)
Lunch 11-1	Pepper’s, Best Western:  Ticket for buffet lunch included in registration package.

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Introduction to Ride Options

While this portion of Virginia can be known for hills as you get closer to the Blue Ridge – we have intentionally stayed to the East and South of Culpeper where you will generally be in flatter farm country.   As you will see from the ride profiles, all but the 2 longest rides stay under 2,000 ft of ascent.

There is lots of Civil War history in the area.   Saturday rides cross the Rappahannock River at Kelly’s Ford that was a frequent crossing for troops.   Later in the day, rides approach Brandy Station that is the site of the largest predominantly Cavalry battle in North American history.    On June 9, 1863, CSA horses and men under the J.E.B. Stuart battled with USA forces of Alfred Pleasonton. This is just weeks before they all headed north to Gettysburg.    Here we are that the 154^th anniversary!

Friday

There are 3 options from the hotels that varying from 29 to just shy of 50 miles.  These all head off in different directions.

In addition, Dave and Julie Harper provided us a lovely ride with a remote start at the Inn at Kelly’s Ford.   This would be a fine place for lunch before or after your ride.

Saturday

All rides are variations on a theme that cross Kelly’s Ford and near Brandy Station.   There are 2 remote start rides from Lenn Park, site of lunch.  Options are 30 or 40 miles.   A winery is close by for a nice option after lunch.    Two hotel starts add about 10 miles each way to access the loop of the remote loops and share common routes, for total mileage of either 50 or 60 miles.

Sunday

Three rides start at the hotel and head South.  All three rides share a common start for the first 8 miles.   Caution, there is a stretch of 1.5 miles on Rt 15 – a busy 2 lane highway (we tried to avoid but the area has too many dirt roads and few alternatives).   Your choice of miles of about 20,30,45 before lunch back at the Best Western.

Notes to GPS File Names

GPS file names have a standard convention.

• First 2 digits give the day: FR=Friday, SA=Saturday, SU=Sunday
• Next digit is route number: 1,2,3,4 for that day
• Next digit start type: H=Hotel, R=Remote

All end with _Mates17

Ride	Miles	Elevation	Description	Link
Friday
Town & Country	29.1	1,389	First portion for you to take a tour of town. Please be careful and take it slow. By mile 6, you will be in quiet countrside north of town. A good sample of what Culpeper has to offer.	link
Inn at Kelly’s Ford Remote	32.4	1,119	A fine addition from our friends Dave and Julie Harper. Inn at Kelly’s Ford is a fine place for lunch. While Saturday’s rides go by here, this route offers mostly different (and flat) roads to explore.	link
Culpeper Outer Circle	34.2	1,827	A suggested ride of Culpeper Cycling. Many rolling hills for 1st half -then flattens out at end. Many lunch options near mid-ride. Frankly, first half is not our favorite due to residential areas and then Culpeper suburbs – but partially compensates with ice cream at Mile 18.	link
Rapidan Ramble -50	48.7	2,096	A feature from prior MATES. Heads south to Rapidan near RE Lee Lookout. Some fabulous long stretches of open road to get the legs fired up.	link
Saturday
Kelly’s Short Remote	31.0	1,087	Remote start from Lenn Park. Nice sample of flat roads around Kelly’s Ford and Civil War history. Sorry to cross busy 15/29 twice (at light) – was hard to avoid given many dirt roads in the area.	link
Kelly’s Long Remote	40.4	1,660	Remote start from Lenn Park. Nice sample of flat roads around Kelly’s Ford and Civil War history. Heads further north than shorter loop into lovely countryside and river crossings.	link
Kelly’s Short Hotel	52.4	2,003	The same route as shorter remote – but with access to and from hotel using mostly flat and fairly quiet roads.	link
Kelly’s Long Hotel	61.9	2,566	The same route as longer remote – but with access to and from hotel using mostly flat and fairly quiet roads.	link
Sunday
Southbound 20	19.4	733	Heads southbound where it is still relatively flat. Small stretches of busier two lane roads (Rt 15 and 522) but mainly quiet roads.	link
Southbound 30	30.5	1,128	Similar to above but accesses more nice country roads – but comes at a small cost — a 1.5 mile stretch of packed dirt/gravel on Somerville Rd – but quite passable – just take it slow for the 10 minute section.	link
Rapidan Ramble -45	45.6	1,987	A shortened version of Rapidan 50. Shares first miles with other Sunday rides before heading further south. Passes by RE Lee Lookout. Nice sample of what countryside has to offer.	link

The cue sheets for the rally can be found here.  You do not need to print any of these as they will be handed out at the rally.

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We are pleased to announce that Culpeper, Virginia will be our destination for MATES 2017, from June 9-11. Culpeper offers beautiful rides, many options, and gorgeous countryside.

There are two options for hotels. We have booked a block at both places, where they will be held for us until early May. The two hotels are right next door to each other, so you can decide for yourselves which you prefer. When booking, refer to MATES TANDEM RALLY for the preferred rates.

The Holiday Inn Express is newer. The rates they are offering us are $139 per night.

The Best Western has a restaurant and bar, and a larger area for breakfast. Online ratings are still good – rated #2 in Culpeper, but not quite as good as the Holiday Inn express. The rates at the Best Western are $99 a night.

Breakfasts at both hotels are included. Both hotels have pools.

Meals included in your registration fees will include lunches on Saturday & Sunday, dinner on Saturday night. Friday night you will be on your own, and we will provide a suggested list of great options in Culpeper in your registration package.

Your hosts will be Steve Still, Terrie Tucker and Jim Pastorick.

Hotel	Address	Phone Number
Best Western	791 Madison Road, Culpeper, Va	540-825-1253
Holiday Inn Express	787 Madison Road, Culpeper, Va	540-825-7444

 

The following is the weekend’s itinerary:

Friday, June 9
Registration	Best Western
Rides	Depart from Best Western & Holiday Inn Express
Dinner	On your own
Hospitality Room	Best Western
Saturday, June 10
Breakfast	Best Western or Holiday Inn
Rides	Depart from Best Western & Holiday Inn Express
Lunch	Park along route Catered by Thyme
Dinner	Luigi’s Italian Restaurant, 235 Southgate Shopping Centre
Sunday, June 11
Breakfast	Best Western or Holiday Inn
Rides	Depart from Best Western & Holiday Inn Express
Lunch	Pepper’s, Best Western

 

Registration for Mates 2017 is $110 per person. We are limiting registration to 50 couples. Rooms will be held until early May.

Sorry, registration is closed as we have reached capacity.

If you have any questions, please contact Terrie at terrietucker@rogers.com or phone 416-245- 1933.

Looking forward to seeing you in June!

Safe riding!

The 2017 MATES will be dedicated to the memory of Kim Green, an avid tandem partner and amazing woman. Many of you will have experienced some of the great MATES rallies in Carlisle, Pennsylvania that were organized by Kim and her husband Jim Pastorick. To be in Kim’s presence was a privilege. She was fun, intelligent, and always had a smile for you. Kim’s laugh was infectious. We will carry with us a friend, companion, and spirit of the tandem community.