Tour De Hunter Mill Rolls Into Reston And Vienna This May

RESTON, VA — While it may not be as long nor as mountainous as the Tour de France, the new bike tour coming to the Hunter Mill District will offer plenty of challenges — and fun — for Northern Virginia bicyclists.

Registration opens Thursday for the 2021 Inaugural Tour de Hunter Mill bike ride. The May 15 event begins at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods and follows multiple routes from Reston to Vienna.

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn sees the event as an opportunity for bike riders to explore parts of the district they haven't ridden before. Also, with all the talk about "multimodal transportation," it's a chance for people to actually try it out.

"This will be my first time on a Capital Bikeshare bike," Alcorn said. "So, I will be trying it out, but I'll sign up ahead of time and make sure that everything's set."

The ride will offer several routes to choose from, depending on a rider's skill level. The 5-mile Family Route will take riders throughout the Reston Association pathway system. Along the route, families will encounter five locations for public art, where children can participate in a public art passport game in order to receive an award at the end of the ride.

More ambitious bicyclists can try one of two Long Routes, one of which includes ride on Metro.

The 15-mile Long Route follows the Washington & Old Dominion Trail from Reston to Vienna. Then riders will travel on quiet roads and trails to the Spring Hill Metro Station in Tysons Corner. They will then board a train and take an 8-minute ride to the Wiehle-Reston East Station. From there, they'll travel back to Hunters Woods.

The 20-mile Long Route is similar to the 15-mile route except that there is no ride on the Metro. Riders will follow the same route but instead of boarding a train in Tysons Corner, they'll return to Reston via paved trails, quiet streets, roads with bike infrastructure, and the W&OD Trail.

The day will commence with a welcome by Alcorn at 8:30 a.m. From 8:30-9:15 a.m., Long Route riders will depart; and the Family Route riders will leave from 9:15-10 a.m. All riders are invited to return to Hunters Woods, from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., for food, fun, and prizes.

Tour de Hunter Mill will be observing the Virginia Department of Health's recommendations for social gatherings during the pandemic. While at the Reston Community Center, everyone must wear a mask. Masks are also required at each rest stop and within the Metro system. People must maintain six feet of social distance between each other when they are not riding.

Online registration for Tour de Hunter Mill opens on Thursday, April 1, with a maximum number of 150 riders. The registration fee is $25 per adult (16 and older). The registration fee includes a $5 donation to the Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling and Tour de Hunter Mill socks. Families (up to 5 people) are asked to purchase one ticket and email the Hunter Mill District office for family pricing.

Fairfax County is partnering with the following groups to offer the Tour de Hunter Mill: Fairfax Alliance for Better Bicycling; Reston Community Center; Reston Association; Public Art Reston; Town of Vienna; Tysons Partnership; Reston Bike Club; and Fairfax County Police Department.

French Press Printing, a home-based business in Vienna, is selling Tour de Hunter Mill T-Shirts. Order are being accepted through May 2.