Presenting XVA: The Cross-Virginia Challenge

[Jon Gardner]

Presenting XVA: The Cross-Virginia Challenge

What: An attempt to set an UltraMarathon Cycling Association (UMCA) record =
for a crossing of Virginia from north to south.

Who: Jon Gardner, finisher, Paris-Brest-Paris 1999 and Potomac Pedalers =
Touring Club brevet series 1998 and 1999.

Start: Sept. 30, 5 a.m., U.S. 11 at West Virginia line (Ridgeway, W.Va.)

Finish: U.S. 11W at Tennessee line (Bristol, Tenn.)

Distance: About 300 miles

Crew chief: Josh Simonds, finisher, Paris-Brest-Paris 1999 and PAC-Tour

UMCA Judge: Keith Krombel, finisher, Race Across America, 1999 and 2000

Record: No record exists for N-S crossing, but existing record for S-N =
crossing using same endpoints was set by J.E. ``Jet'' Townley on June 18, =
1989, at 20 hours 28 minutes for 329 miles (16.05 mph avg.).

Notes: In addition to being my first ultradistance event with a crew, XVA =
will be my longest single-day ride ever (the longest until now was 275 =
miles from Paris to Loudeac, France, on the first day of last year's =
Paris-Brest-Paris). I owe thanks to many in the D.C. and national =
ultracycling community for their help as I've developed as a long-distance =
cyclist, and hope you all will think of me as I cross Virginia on the =
30th.

Jon Gardner