Looking for UnderDog Bikes?

The shop completed its move this weekend and is now open at a new location at the base of Mill Mountain at 1113 Piedmont St., SE next to Hit’s Frozen Treats.

UnderDog Bikes is a small, intimate bike shop located on the Roanoke River Greenway and is an authorized Scott and KHS dealer offering sales, service, and rentals.

And Roanoke Outside and UnderDog Bikes want you to get cycling with a free greenway rental for two. Fill out the form below and head over to Facebook for extra entries.

This is the perfect opportunity to try cycling for the first time or to spend a few hours enjoying the outdoors.

Deadline to enter is May 21. Winner will be notified via email.

Prize details: One greenway bicycle rental for two people for three hours from UnderDog Bikes (value $30). Winner should call ahead to confirm availability (204-4276). By entering, you agree to share your email address with Roanoke Outside and UnderDog Bikes.

Bring your sense of adventure to Franklin County this weekend for the three-day Pigg River Ramble.

The festival is packed with paddle adventures from simple floats to the competitive title race.

The event kicks off Friday at 7:30 with the Blackwater Blackout, a night group float down the Blackwater River.

The signature Pigg River Ramble starts Saturday at 10 a.m., with options for a competitive race or float down the Pigg River with canoeists and kayakers from all over the East Coast.

The weekend wraps up Sunday with Breakfast on the Blackwater at 7 a.m., including a home-cooked meal and leisurely float.

In addition to plenty of paddling, the weekend will be full of food and music. Primitive camping is also available at Waid Park.

Pigg River Ramble

• When: May 17-19
• Where: Waid Park and the Pigg and Blackwater rivers
• Contact: Franklin County Parks and Recreation, 483-9293
• Register online

Take a scenic drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway on your way to FloydFest this year.

And tell us your favorite spot along the 469 miles of meandering roadways for a chance to win a pair of tickets to FloydFest 12.

It’s super-easy to enter. Fill out the form below for one entry and then head over to Facebook for another entry, plus additional entries for every person who enters using your link. We’ll announce a winner later this month. (If you entered in March and April and did not win, you do need to enter again to be eligible.)

FloydFest 12, on July 25-28, will include four days of camping (if you want to), beer and wine gardens, performance art, a global village, kids’ universe, craft workshops, trapeze school, disc golf, mountain biking, and yes, plenty of great live music.

This year’s music lineup is incredible with shows from The Lumineers, Old Crow Medicine Show, John Butler Trio, Megan Jean & The KFB, and more.

Enter below by answering the question: "What is your favorite stop on the Blue Ridge Parkway?" And get bonus entries on Facebook. Enter today!

ENTER THE ROANOKE OUTSIDE FLOYDFEST 12 GIVEAWAY

1. Fill out the form below.
2. One entry per person (and yes we can tell if you enter multiple times).
3. Deadline to enter is Monday, May 27.
4. One winner will receive a pair of four-day passes to FloydFest 12. Passes are transferrable to another party if you can’t attend.
5. By entering, you agree to share your email address with FloydFest and Roanoke Outside.
6. Want to increase your odds of winning? Enter again on Facebook and receive more entries the more you share.

May is Bike Month, and what better way to celebrate than by showcasing responsible riding in the Roanoke Region?

Everyone knows that I am pro cycling. I’ve written on the subject dozens of times within the past year with no plans to stop anytime soon. The reason, bikes are good.

People ride bikes for a number of different reasons, almost all of which benefit the public. Whether is the improvement of a community’s health, connectivity, improvements to the local economy, the lessening of pollution to the environment or improvements to the transportation network, biking benefits society. Who doesn’t remember the first bike they got, or better yet seeing their child’s eyes light up when they take those training wheels off?

This is where you come into play. Roanoke’s cycling culture is in a transition, going from infancy into adolescence, and it’s critical we remember the importance of leading by example.

There have been several recent conflicts between cyclists and vehicles, as well as pedestrians and cyclists along the greenway. For the most part these are growing pains; these are the issues the sprout up as a result of communities learning how to interact. With time, each will learn their role and responsibility and the conflicts will diminish.

With that said, there are always a few bad seeds. This became very clear to me last week when (in my car) I happened to become part of the weekly Tuesday Night Ride. It was the first time I was embarrassed for the cycling community. The number of laws broken, not to mention the terrible image portrayed, was incredible. It’s a group ride folks, not a race. If you’re one of those who treat the weekly ride like a race or use the greenway for speed training, know that your actions are more far reaching than you realize – it jeopardizes the work being put in by countless people to improve the cycling infrastructure for the region. The Tuesday Night Ride has already been impacted by Blue Ridge Parkway officials … and if the blatant disregard for traffic laws continue, I have no doubt we’ll see changes within other localities.

So the next time you hop on your bike, ask yourself if you’re doing your part to portray cycling in a positive manner. Let’s all lead by example, and in doing so continue to make the Roanoke Region a positive and safe place for cycling.

Check out even more activities for the next week in the Get Outside Weekend Update.

Get Outside!

Pete Eshelman (friend me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter)
Director of Outdoor Branding
Roanoke Regional Partnership

Check out the Outdoor Calendar for upcoming events
you need to keep your eye on!

Open letter by Jeff Howard, Board Member Pathfinders for Greenways

The future of the Roanoke River Greenway will be decided on May 23.

On that day, the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will meet to make a big decision -- how to prioritize $28 million in federal funding for regional transportation projects.  One project, among many offered, is to complete the three remaining sections of the Roanoke River Greenway. Construction began on it in 1999 and 12 miles are finished to date, with nine more to complete.

The biggest obstacle to completion to date has been funding. Private funding has come -- albeit slowly. State funding has all but dried up. It will take $12.8 million more in funding to get it done.

Many of us are counting on a forward-thinking MPO to unite around this key regional initiative and make the decision to prioritize the greenway for funding. With that – we get a signature outdoor attraction to be proud of.

Take Action – Write a letter to the MPO encouraging their support. You can email the letter to mmccaskill@rvarc.org. We’ve even included a few talking points to help you get started. Letters have the most impact, but you can also just email a general note of encouragement, too.

We're all geared up about Gallop 4 the Greenways this weekend. Come on out for a race that supports a good cause and meet the friendly faces of Roanoke Outside. (We'll have a tent and would love for you to come say hello.)

Gallop 4 the Greenways features a 5K, 1 mile walk, and kid’s fun run with proceeds going to support the ever-growing network of pedestrian and bicycle trails in the Roanoke Region. At the conclusion of the race, there will be a festival for racers and spectators featuring live music from The Key West Band, food, and more for children and adults.

The 5K kicks off at 5 p.m. Saturday, right after the kid’s run (so make sure to cheer on the young runners). The walk will also start at 5. Awards will be given to the top finishers.

Net proceeds from the event go to Pathfinders for Greenways, a non-profit charitable organization. Pathfinders members volunteer 5,000 hours each year to maintain existing trails, and build new greenways. Membership is open to anyone interested in lending a hand with construction or maintenance projects, promotional efforts, or fundraising.

Gallop for the Greenways

• When: Saturday, May 11, 5-9 p.m.
• Where: Rivers Edge Sports Complex
• Cost: $30, kid’s race is free
• Register: Sign up for the 5K, 1 mile walk, or kid’s fun run
• Contact: 853-1276 or joe.hanning@roanokeva.gov

Not a runner? Support the greenways by participating in the inaugural Roanoke Valley Greenway Photo Contest. Submit your best greenway photo through Sept. 15.

Join in the fun for the first half marathon along the Jackson River Scenic Trail, sure to be one of the most scenic half marathons in the country.

Runners have three race options including the half marathon, a 10K, or 1-mile family run on June 29 in the Alleghany Highlands.

Roanoke Outside and Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism are partnering to help you run for free, and even throwing in overnight accommodations.

Congratulations to our winner Erin Straight!
(to choose our winner, we assign each entry a number (1, 2, 3...etc.) and then use www.random.org to generate a random number that corresponds to our winner).

The Jackson River Scenic Trail follows its namesake river, winding its way along an old railroad bed of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway (Hot Springs Branch) and through small communities, cultivated fields, and small patches of woodland.

There are also future plans to extend the trail another 10 miles. The Jackson River Scenic Trail Half Marathon, 10k and Family Fun Run/Walk is a great way to celebrate Phases 1 and 2 of the newly completed portion of the trail.

Race weekend is sure to be a fun one. In addition to the race, make sure to stay for the Covington Cork and Pork Festival with food, wine tasting, beer and entertainment after the finish.

Race registration is open and volunteer opportunities are available. Contact Sandra Wright for details at 540-962-2178.

Jackson River Scenic Trail Half Marathon, 10k and Family Fun Run/Walk

• When: June 29 at 8 a.m.
• Where: Covington trailhead
• Cost: Half marathon $40, 10K $35, family fun run/walk $15 (discounts available for those who register early)
• Register online

Prize details: One entry to the Jackson River Scenic Trail 10K or 1-Mile Family Run on June 29 and one night stay at the Quality Inn in Covington, Va. By entering, you agree to share your email address with Roanoke Outside and Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.