Men's Journal

This Memorial Weekend test your endurance on Daniel Boone’s historic trail through the Virginia hills, or relax old fashioned style on on a train ride to Kansas City with some BBQ and fireworks.

by Matt Skenazy

The Wilderness Road Ride and Mountains of Misery, May 23-25
Blacksburg, VA

Cycling nuts should head to southwest Virginia this weekend for the Mountains of Misery and Wilderness Road Ride where participants will follow the historic path of Daniel Boone and westward settlers aiming for Kentucky in the 1770’s. The Wilderness Road Ride kicks off on Saturday with a choice of four scenic, family-oriented routes ranging from 14-58 miles through the New River Valley. If a cruise through the woods doesn’t sound hard enough, don’t worry, because Sunday the Mountains of Misery ride will push even the most seasoned cyclists through some of the steepest terrain in the East. Choose either The Challenge Century, a 104-mile quad killer with 10,000 feet of climbing, or The Double Metric Century, a 125-mile endurance test with over 13,000 feet of climbing. After the race enjoy a post-ride BBQ, and 1-dollar, 1-minute massages to ease your aching legs. Registration, packet pick-up, and a pasta dinner will take place at The Inn at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. (Mountains of Misery is $95, Wilderness Road Ride is $20 with a family rate of $50, Both Mountains of Misery and Wilderness Road Ride is $110)

Travel and Accommodations:
Fly into Charleston (139 mi.) or Roanoke (43 mi.) and drive to Blacksburg. The Inn is offering cyclists a rate of $90 per night, just mention Cycling Double Header or Mountains of Misery.

Fireworks and Barbeque, May 23-25
St. Louis, MO – Kansas City, MO

If biking up hills for a hundred miles isn’t your thing, enjoy a relaxing train ride from St. Louis to Kansas City aboard the old-fashioned Pullman sleeper car, Cimarron River. It’s a picnic car, so bring your own food, but coffee and orange juice will be provided every morning. Once you get to Kansas City enjoy the Great American BBQ festival, complete with a blues party and tons of food vendors from around the country (a single day pass is $10, weekend pass is $15). Enjoy a fireworks display, and the Celebration at the Station, a free patriotic concert by the Kansas City Symphony. Or you can pay homage to our troops at the National World War I Memorial.

Travel and Accommodations:
Fly into St Louis. To make a reservation on Cimarron River call (314) 842-5980. Tickets for the train are $350 for a single roomette and $700 for a double bedroom. The price includes all rail transportation costs and three nights accommodation aboard Cimarron River.