Muddy Squirrel

Updated 8/22/2025

Packet pick-up will be from 5-7 p.m., Saturday, August 23rd at the start/finish in Fincastle (corner of Main & Roanoke St, across from the Courthouse) AND Sunday morning, August 24th from 6:30 am until 15 minutes before your ride starts (see start times below) in the same location. Coffee will be available for purchase in the café on Sunday morning.

If you pick up your packet Saturday, you’ll still need to pick up your chip timer Sunday- this should be quick. 

If you plan to eat dinner at 1772 on Main and Rooftop after packet pick up Saturday, you’ll need to make a reservation. https://1772rooftop.com/

There is ample parking in town. Roanoke Street between Main and Murray will be closed for the event. 

The Ride with GPS routes are posted on the event web site. The GPX files for each route are available. Email us at muddysquirrelinfo@gmail.com. We strongly recommend using a bike computer for navigation, however all routes will also be marked using signs and adhesive “Route Arrows.” Note: in the event of heavy rain, route arrows are notorious for “disappearing” in areas of heavy traffic. This only applies to a handful of locations on the course, but it is possible. If you did this last year, all routes are the same.

We’ll give you a wrist band that matches the color of your route. Your wrist band doubles as your post-ride meal ticket, so don’t lose it.

Helmets are required and all roads are open to traffic. Please obey all traffic laws, especially stop signs!

We’ll have staggered start times again this year. The Mountain Ride (Gran Fondo) starts at 7:30 a.m., the River Ride (Medio Fondo) starts at 8:30 a.m., and the Valley Ride (Piccolo Fondo) starts at 9:30 a.m.  

Check-in closes 15 minutes before each start time. Please arrive AT LEAST 30 minutes before your start time. 

Aid stations will have water, fruit, sweet & salty snacks, and Hammer products (HEED and limited quantities of Hammer Gel and Hammer Fizz). We’ll have plenty of water, but if there is something special you need to get you through the ride, bring it with you. Hydration is vital in this part of Virginia at this time of year. Plan for hot and humid weather. Aid stations are as follows: 

                     Valley Ride – aid stations at mile 14* and mile 23* 

                     River Ride – aid stations at mile 24*, and 33*

                     Mountain Ride – aid stations at mile 19, 42*, 57*, and 66*

                     * = portable toilets available

Each ride will have timed segments. Each segment will be 2-4 miles long. The Valley Ride will have two timed segments; the River Ride and Mountain Ride will have three. All segments are free of stop signs and railroad crossings but ARE open to vehicle traffic. Segment and aid station locations are marked on Ride with GPS- http://www.muddysquirrel.com/gran-fondo.html

The start/finish of each segment will be clearly marked. Segments will have opening and closing times. Opening times are based on an average speed of 21 mph, and closing times are based on an average speed of 10 mph. 

We’ll recognize overall and age group winners as soon as possible, but plan to wait for results. Please realize that due to the nature of the segments, we cannot determine awards until most participants complete the ride. A person finishing after you could still have faster segment times! 

We will have some great door prizes from our sponsors (must be present to win).

Your segment times will be available when you finish (QR code on timing tent), but results will change throughout the day as more riders finish. If you win an award and can't stay, email us after the event and we’ll do our best to get your overall/age group award to you.

A post-ride meal will be catered by 1772 on Main and Rooftop and will be available at the start/finish beginning around noon. This is for participants and volunteers only, you must show your wristband to partake. Spectators can order food from the restaurant. 

We’ll have a “sweep” for each route, but there will be limited mechanical assistance. Be self-sufficient! 

Mountain Ride participants: the descent off Caldwell Mountain is steep and curvy with a tricky S-curve at the bottom. There will be a “Caution” sign at the start of the descent and another one just before the S-curve. 

In the event of an emergency, call 911. If anything else comes up, you can call Tim (540-797-0217) or Lisa (540-520-4988).

We hope you enjoy the gorgeous scenery and friendly communities of Botetourt County. We’re glad you can join us and hope to see you back again!