Volunteer Descriptions

Hospitality:
This is communications central and the home for the Bike Virginia Store. Hospitality is the place where cyclists come to get answers to questions, check for messages, search lost and found or buy Bike Virginia merchandise. Hospitality is open at Tent City from 6:00 am - 8:30 am and then again in the afternoon from 12 Noon - 6:00 pm. You can ride in the morning and help sell Bike Virginia jerseys, bike shorts, rain jackets and much more merchandise from the Bike Virginia Store in the afternoon. Are you a people person and want to be where the action is? Hospitality might be just the ticket.

Parking:
Want to help the tour start off well? Help us direct traffic as the cyclists check in for registration and get settled in their first tent city. Can you point? Ever wanted to tell a car where to go? Do you enjoy the outdoors? If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, then the Parking Team is for you. Let us know what time you can help, anytime from noon-8:00 p.m. on Friday, or 6:00-9:00 a.m on Saturday.

Registration:
We know everyone is eager to get settled and prepare for a fun week of biking. We need you and many other volunteers to help make registration as efficient as possible. Registration volunteers typically work a 3-4 hour shift from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday and 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Let us know when you are arriving and when you are available and we'll get you scheduled. Registration is a fun way to greet old friends and make new ones.

Safety Monitors:
Safety is priority # 1 at Bike Virginia. Over the years, our Safety monitor program has been one of our most successful efforts at promoting safety. Obviously, VDOT, the state police, and local sheriffs will help us through major intersections. It's the intersections that don't appear dangerous that have the potential for serious accidents. It's the blind curve on a steep downhill. It's cyclists drafting each other or following too close. It's a sharp left turn on a country road with blind oncoming traffic. These are the situations that our monitors cover to insure everyone's safety. They are there for the cyclists, not the motorists. They warn you to be cautious about various route conditions. With their help, Bike Virginia cyclists enjoy a safe ride each day.
The monitors generally cover an assigned place for 1 ½-2 hours. Out of the five cycling days, they work three days and are off the other two. Monitors usually bike the entire route each day. There is a need for non-biking monitors as well.

Sag Support:
No matter how experienced a cyclist might be, Sag Support may be needed to rescue someone if they have a mechanical failure, or just hit the wall. If you are going to have your vehicle on Bike Virginia during the week, then this might be the position for you. You'll need some way of carrying a couple bikes and you're now part of the Sag Support team. You can work a morning, an afternoon, one day, or the entire week. Remember, we're flexible. Simply work out your schedule with the Sag Team Captain. The only vehicles allowed on the route are official Bike Virginia Sag vehicles. Other non-riders must drive alternative routes given to them when they register.

Signage:
Are you an early riser or a late sleeper? Then we have the job for you! Bike Virginia is noted for its excellent signage along the route; not only the directions arrows, but also the safety cones and other precautions taken to make the route as safe as possible. Be a part of this award-winning team if you are a non-cyclist accompanying a spouse or friend, or if you're a cyclist wanting to take a day off the bike.
You can simply drive the 15 ft Penske truck or actually help place the signs. We have two Signage teams each day -- Placement and

Clean-up. The Placement team leaves about 5:00 am each morning and finishes about 10:30 in the next town. The Clean-up team leaves about 10:00 am and ends up about 5:00 in the next town. Again, you pick your days. We're appreciative of all volunteer effort, if only for a day.

Tent City:
Bike Virginia is similar to any small city with one major difference - it moves each day! You can imagine the logistics of setting up a Tent City, tearing it down, and then setting it up again the next day. Layover Day is our Sabbath - we rest! Generally, non-cyclists assist us with this operation, but our goal is to have each volunteer bike if they want. Schedules can be arranged whereby you can help with Tent City and still bike in the morning or afternoon. Or the Tent City volunteers can alternate days.

Bike Smart Virginia:
Our cyclists range from Category 5 racers to beginning novices. A part of our mission is to teach safe and effective cycling skills to cyclists, young and old, experienced or inexperienced. Bike Smart, Virginia trainers often are Effective Cycling instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists, but many are not. Different cycling skill and safety tips are taught at the Rest Stops on the first three days of Bike Virginia. A workshop might cover proper helmet fitting, repairing a flat tire, proper gear selection, cadence, or dodging rocks and potholes. We always need more instructors to serve the cyclist wanting to learn new techniques and improve their existing skills. We provide the training for the instructors - a great opportunity for you to learn.

We know that well-trained, well-equipped, happy volunteers are the bedrock of Bike Virginia. The Director and the Team Captains have formed bonds over the years that go beyond merely volunteering one week out of the year to help put on an event. We care about each other and our 2,000 member cycling family. Won't you join us this year?