By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Mountain biking enthusiasts want other like-minded bikers to know about Pleasant Grove Park’s beautiful and challenging trails. This past weekend (Oct. 6), the Virginia Racing Events hosted the 2024 Virginia State XCM Championship Race at Pleasant Grove Park. This is the third year the event has been at Pleasant Grove which boasts 22 miles of trails.
The XCM Championship race often referred to as cross-country marathon (XCM), is a demanding form of mountain bike racing. Riders had four hours to complete as many laps as they could over a 12.1-mile closed course with 995 feet of elevation, RVA Racing Events served as the event host, working closely with officials from USA Cycling, Fluvanna Parks and Recreation, Pleasant Grove Park staff, Fluvanna Heritage Trail Foundation, and Fluvanna County government.
Matt Stancil, also known as the trail guy wants this to be a premier destination for mountain biking. An experienced mountain biker, visiting trails in other parks, he discovered the secluded and serene beauty of 20-plus miles of trails at Pleasant Grove.
“For anybody who enjoys old-school single-track– this is the place to go,” he said. The challenge is the descent to the river creates major elevation changes on many of the trails, making them fast, and perfect for mountain biking. “Tight, flowy single track as well as areas that are flat and easy to ride. There’s a wide range of difficulty levels.”
Like most kids his age, he became interested in mountain biking in the early ‘90s.
“I started with a department store bike, riding around the neighborhood with friends before moving on to dirt and trail. I painstakingly saved up money, working odd jobs while in high school, to purchase my real mountain bike. It was a 1992 Trek Antelope and had all the bells and whistles at the time. Knobby tires, chromoly frame, vertical pull brakes, features that are now outdated and retro,” he said. “I had my first true mountain bike ride on that bike on Chubb Trail at Castlewood State Park in Missouri. After that, I was hooked. I recently rebuilt the bike and it is available for the mountain bike program at Pleasant Grove Park in Fluvanna County.”
He has turned his passion for mountain biking into a Facebook page – Fluvanna Trail Guy. For anyone new to mountain biking he says be prepared to walk your bike and not to worry about your pace being slower than other riders.
“Look for bike shops and groups that offer no-drop rides and make sure they stick to it. When looking to purchase a bike, ride as many as you can! Used, rebuilt, rentals, brand new demos, all of them! There are now so many options that it can be overwhelming.”
Getting out on trails helps riders become more proficient at the sport. He suggests getting out and finding as many places to ride as possible. There are so many trail systems and apps like Trailforks, that find systems riders didn’t know existed. Most apps have a rating system and a feature that helps plan your experience.
“If you’ve never raced it is a great way to get faster and elevate your current riding level. Many novice riders get into racing, and connect with riders of similar abilities.”
All levels of experience can enjoy the trails at Pleasant Grove.
“The biggest thing is knowing where to find favorable trails for a beginner. That is why I lead beginner rides at the park so riders don’t have to worry about navigation while trying to enjoy a new sport.”
Like many groups in Fluvanna, who engage in one thing or another, they constantly hear people from other areas say that they had no idea this was here, and Matt gets the same feedback about the trails. He said that when he started riding at Pleasant Grove 15 years ago, he felt the same way.
“Initially, I just wanted to use it as a way for people to see more information about the trails,” he said. “With more than 20 miles of trails, it can be overwhelming for a first-time visitor.”
After moving to Fluvanna, Stancil visited Pleasant Grove almost daily. He had a part-time seasonal job with Fluvanna County Parks and Recreation to maintain trails and then became full-time. In addition to trail maintenance and supporting park events, Stancil has become a mountain biking ambassador in Pleasant Grove, hosting Charlottesville-Area Mountain Biking Club and other groups, as well as serving as a trail guide resource for those riders new to Pleasant Grove.
“Biking does seem to be growing in this area and nationwide. There is a push to implement bike-friendly infrastructures and provide alternative forms of transportation,” he said. “Through grants and crowd-sourced fundraising, some parks are investing in skills areas and pump tracks which are a great way to attract new riders and give them a place to practice progressive skills in a controlled environment before heading out to the trails. A pump track costs less than a ball field and can attract many users besides bikers.”
He’s also developed a skills clinic for beginners new to mountain biking. The one-day clinics will be open every Saturday in November. Those new to the sport and do not yet have a bike can even borrow one that he refurbished with parks and recreation or contact him for other options.
For those who are hard-core mountain bikers, the rugged trail network at Pleasant Grove Park may become one of the best mountain biking destinations in Virginia.
For more information, visit FindFluvanna.org. Or contact Matt Stancil at mstancil@fluvannacounty.org.
