Storming of Thunder Ridge - The John Bell Memorial Ride

Storming of Thunder Ridge - The John Bell Memorial Ride Experience the great cycling found in Central Virginia - Sunday, May 18, 2025. This event offers routes of different lengths.

27mi | 45mi | 48mi | 75mi | 100mi

Join your friends and fellow cyclists in the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains of Central Virginia on Sunday, May 21st 2023 for the 14TH annual Storming of Thunder Ridge - John Bell Memorial road ride. This well-supported event offers camaraderie and challenge for every rider’s ability with a choice of 27, 45, 47, 75 and 100 mile routes as you ride at your own pace along safe and scenic well-mark

ed country roads. The 27 miler follows bits & pieces of the other routes - it is an out and back, with a loop -- there will be some small hills, but mostly it is gently rolling and flat for Central Virginia. The 45 mile route follows a challenging course of rolling hills and meandering back roads. A new option - The Mountain Only is approximately 47 miles starting in Sedalia, climbing Thunder Ridge, descending, then rolling back through Curtis to Sedalia. A longer 75 mile route tests rider stamina with a 13 mile ascent to Apple Orchard Mountain, the highest peak of the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. For an epic day in the saddle, the 100 mile route boasts over 9000 feet of climbing. Your registration helps fund the Community Support Campaign of the YMCA of Central Virginia. Included are cue sheets, fully stocked rest stops, mechanical support and monitoring of riders along the course. Hurry and Register EARLY -- RATES INCREASE on JAN 1st and again on MAY 1st and this ride has a rider limit of 850 riders !!!!

Only a few hours remain for riders to order the 2026 Storming of Thunder Ridge custom jersey. The ordering window closes...
03/24/2026

Only a few hours remain for riders to order the 2026 Storming of Thunder Ridge custom jersey. The ordering window closes at midnight tonight, and there won’t be a second order for 2026—order now or miss out on this beautiful jersey.

New for 2026, gravel routes are available in 77-mile and 33-mile options.

Register: https://www.bikereg.com/storming-of-thunder-ridge

Storming of Thunder Ridge returns May 17 — and we’ve got big news.👕 The 2026 official jersey design is here!Deadline to ...
02/26/2026

Storming of Thunder Ridge returns May 17 — and we’ve got big news.

👕 The 2026 official jersey design is here!
Deadline to order: March 25
There will be NO second jersey order this year. Register and order by March 25 to guarantee yours.

🚵 New for 2026 – 2 NEW Gravel Routes!
77.7-mile and 33.8-mile routes Starting and finishing at Sedalia Center (Big Island)

Real climbs. Real gravel. Real accomplishment.

👉 Register today and get ready to storm Thunder Ridge.
https://www.bikereg.com/storming-of-thunder-ridge

🚴 Exciting News, Riders! 🚴Registration for the 2026 Storming of Thunder Ridge opens Monday, November 24, 2025, at 12:01 ...
11/20/2025

🚴 Exciting News, Riders! 🚴

Registration for the 2026 Storming of Thunder Ridge opens Monday, November 24, 2025, at 12:01 AM — set your alarms! ⏰
Who’s going to snag the coveted #1 bib this year? 👀🔥

💥 Early Bird Special: Sign up by December 31, 2025, to lock in the best pricing. Don’t miss your chance to save!

Choose your challenge — from the scenic 27-mile route to the full 100-mile century — all with fully supported rest stops, beautiful Blue Ridge views, and of course, the legendary climb up Thunder Ridge, the longest sustained climb on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Every pedal stroke supports the YMCA of Central Virginia and strengthens programs that serve our community.

👉 Mark your calendar, tag your riding crew, and get ready to register early!

Let’s make 2026 the best year yet for Storming of Thunder Ridge!

https://www.bikereg.com/storming-of-thunder-ridge

SOTR jerseys are all over the USA!!!   Chuck Clay and Alan Dalton at FT Benning and loads of sightings in Monterey VA
08/10/2025

SOTR jerseys are all over the USA!!! Chuck Clay and Alan Dalton at FT Benning and loads of sightings in Monterey VA

What a great day to wear your 2023 SOTR kit — Happy Birthday USA!!
07/04/2025

What a great day to wear your 2023 SOTR kit — Happy Birthday USA!!

It’s 11:36 at night and I’m up looking at all the photos from the amazing day we had.The community that came out in an i...
05/19/2025

It’s 11:36 at night and I’m up looking at all the photos from the amazing day we had.

The community that came out in an incredible way, we stayed and cheered hard until the very last rider and we can’t thank you all enough again for choosing to be with us.

Thank you again to the YMCA, our sponsors, staff, volunteers, radio guys, aid station crews and everyone else I might be forgetting for helping us put this together.

These are some of my favorite moments of the day (there are so many it’s hard to choose)

The full gallery should be done by the end of the week and uploaded for download.

Thank you all again-

- Storming of Thunder Ridge Team



Photos by Brent Tyrrell

Hey Riders!Please make sure to read your digital Rider Packet—it’s super important! It has everything you need to know a...
05/15/2025

Hey Riders!

Please make sure to read your digital Rider Packet—it’s super important! It has everything you need to know about our weekend festivities, including schedules, locations, and other key details. Help us help you have the best weekend possible by being in the know.

Thanks and see you soon!

https://bit.ly/3F88uTu

🚴‍♂️ One Week to Go! Will You Be at Storming of Thunder Ridge?Next Sunday, May 18, cyclists from all over will take on t...
05/11/2025

🚴‍♂️ One Week to Go! Will You Be at Storming of Thunder Ridge?
Next Sunday, May 18, cyclists from all over will take on the Blue Ridge Mountains in one of Virginia’s most beautiful and meaningful rides.

🌤️ The forecast? Stellar.
🗺️ The views? Unmatched.
💙 The experience? Unforgettable.

This year is extra special—Paula Dahl, our beloved Event Director for the past 15 years, will be riding with us for the very first time after years of incredible leadership and dedication. Come ride alongside her and be part of the legacy.

Whether you’re climbing Thunder Ridge or choosing a shorter route, there’s a place for you in this story.

👉 Don’t wait—registration is still open!
🔗 https://www.bikereg.com/storming-of-thunder-ridge

📸 Feel free to share your favorite SOTR memories in the comments!

🚴‍♂️ BIG NEWS! 🚴‍♀️We’re thrilled to announce Moore's Electrical & Mechanical as the Title Sponsor for the YMCA of Centr...
04/23/2025

🚴‍♂️ BIG NEWS! 🚴‍♀️

We’re thrilled to announce Moore's Electrical & Mechanical as the Title Sponsor for the YMCA of Central Virginia's 2025 Storming of Thunder Ridge!

Their support means the world to us — we truly couldn’t put on this ride without the generosity of our sponsors. From helping us keep riders fueled to making sure everything runs smoothly, their partnership makes a huge difference.

🔧💡💦 Need help with Mechanical, Electrical, or Plumbing solutions? Be sure to check out Moore Electrical and Mechanical — they’re your go-to team for it all!

https://mooreselectric.com/

Let’s show our appreciation by supporting those who support us. Please consider patronizing Moore’s and our other amazing sponsors whenever you can. 🙌

Offering commercial and industrial electrical and mechanical services throughout Virginia & North Carolina, Moore's is committed to integrity.

🚴‍♂️ LAST CHANCE for Custom Gear! 🚴‍♀️Reminder: To guarantee your custom jersey or bibs for event day, your order must b...
03/24/2025

🚴‍♂️ LAST CHANCE for Custom Gear! 🚴‍♀️

Reminder: To guarantee your custom jersey or bibs for event day, your order must be in by NOON today, March 24! ⏳

You can select your size when registering, or if you're already registered, you can purchase jerseys and bibs separately on the BikeReg page.

Don’t miss out—place your order now! ✅

📌https://www.bikereg.com/storming-of-thunder-ridge

🚴‍♂️ Take Your Training to the Next Level! 🚴‍♀️We’re excited to have our longtime sponsor, Hunter Allen , sharing his ex...
03/23/2025

🚴‍♂️ Take Your Training to the Next Level! 🚴‍♀️

We’re excited to have our longtime sponsor, Hunter Allen , sharing his expert training knowledge with GCN! If you're preparing for SOTR, don’t miss out on the customized training plans from Peaks Coaching Group —designed to help you perform your best at this year’s event.

💪 Looking for even more ways to improve? Consider working with one of Peaks Training's experienced coaches to elevate your riding and achieve your goals!

📢 Check out the training plans here: https://shoppeaks.com/category/training-plans/cycling-events/storming-of-thunder-ridge/



Let me know if you want any tweaks!

🚴‍♂️⚡️After testing FTP every day for 7 days and questioning its relevance in modern-day cycling, Conor Dunne felt it was time to hear directly from its inventors.🔍

He sat down with the "Godfathers" of FTP - Andrew Coggan and Hunter Allen - to hear their side of the FTP story. 💬

Check out the full interview on now! 👀

👉 https://gcn.eu/GodfathersOfFTP

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Lynchburg, VA
24502

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