What is the Cap2Cap?

The Cap2Cap is the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation’s largest fundraiser of the year. It is a cycling event with two starting locations (Richmond and Williamsburg), and three different distances (100, 50 or 25 miles) to choose from. There is also a 15-mile Family Ride on the Virginia Capital Trail in Jamestown.

Is this a race?

No. The Cap2Cap is a ride. There are rest stops along the way, and riders are encouraged to enjoy riding through the beautiful scenery. Of course, be safe and observe the rules of the road while doing so.

What are the rules of the road?

The first rule is please use common courtesy towards cars and your fellow cyclists. (And of course the volunteers!) For new road riders, it’s important to move to a single file line to the far right of the road if there are cars behind you. In fact, we strongly encourage you to stay single file and to the right throughout your ride. People in Henrico, Charles City and James City Counties are sharing their roads with 2,000 of you during the ride. The Cap2Cap organizing committee is emphatic on this issue—share the road, be nice, and be safe.

Are there rest stops?

Yes. We will provide a rest stop every 9-12 miles on the routes. You will find water, an energy drink, and snacks to help refuel you. We do recommend you bring your own to supplement what we offer. If you have more than one water bottle, please don’t fill all of them up at one stop. It creates long lines at the coolers.

How do you get back to where you started after your ride?

Each route is a loop. If you start in Richmond, you will end in Richmond. If you start in Williamsburg, you will end in Williamsburg. If you end up at the wrong end after your ride, you will have to figure out how to get back!

Why is the century more expensive?

In an effort to keep all of the entry fees reasonable, we slightly increased the century, because it takes more resources to support a rider going 100 miles.

Why do you have youth pricing, and why is the family ride so cheap?

We want to draw as many young people to cycling through the Cap2Cap as we can. To encourage this, we’d like to make it economically feasible for families to ride together. The 15-mile family ride also only has one rest stop.

Can I get my money back if it rains, or something comes up and I can’t ride?

No. The registration fee is non-refundable and there will be no rain date.

Can I switch distances after I sign up?

You can email us to switch your pre-registration distance any day before close of online registration. We cannot refund money, however, so choose thoughtfully when you register.

When do I get my ride jersey?

Pre-ordered jersey’s can be picked up at checkin, either Friday night (5/11) or Saturday morning (5/12) before the ride begins.

Why does the Rocketts Landing side have beer and not the Williamsburg side?

James City County does not allow alcohol at the Chickahominy Riverfront Park. If you think you will want an ice cold adult beverage after your ride, we encourage you to choose Richmond as your start and ending location.

What happens if I finish after lunch is over?

We recommend you choose a distance you can complete in order to appreciate the entire Cap2Cap experience, which includes a delicious lunch. We make every effort to keep leftovers available until ride support ends at 4 pm. If you finish your ride before the venue has closed, your lunch should be available in a box under the tent or pavilion.

What happens if I’m still riding after 4 pm. Why can’t you be available after that?

Course support ends at 4:00. We strongly encourage you to choose a distance you can easily complete in that time. If you are still on the course after the published event hours, you may not be able to call for support if you need it. The Cap2Cap is a very long day for our volunteers. It is difficult to adequately staff the event for 8 hours, so a 9 or 10 hour support window is unfortunately, not feasible.

Where does the money go?

The VCTF works to oversee completion, enhancement and promotion of the Virginia Capital Trail. Proceeds from the Cap2Cap will go towards new trailheads and signs, ongoing community outreach through programs, and our larger efforts to gain necessary legislative support and draw tourism to the trail.