NRAO Space Race Rumpus Family Cycling Festival

We’re excited about the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s fourth annual Space Race Rumpus! This unique cycling festival is located at the home of the world’s largest steerable telescope, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, or GBT as we call it around here. The Observatory is located in beautiful Pocahontas County with some of the most scenic roads and trails in the mid-Atlantic. The Space Race Rumpus routes explore both the Observatory’s unique property and the surrounding area.

Over the weekend long event you can participate in guided rides–for both mountain and road enthusiasts–and compete on a cyclocross course right next to eight radio telescopes, including the 485-foot tall GBT. There will be rides and races for all ages and levels, as well as cycling clinics and vendors.

Your registration includes

• a t-shirt
• cycling clinics by experts
• race/ride support
• post-race/ride refreshments
• kids’ activities
• a campsite and bathhouse facilities (with multi-day pass)
• live music Friday and Saturday
• movie showings in case of rain
• festive bonfires

Proceeds of the Space Race Rumpus will help the community build a Wellness and Fitness Center in the Green Bank area!

Check back often for updates- or contact us at rumpus-at-nrao.edu or 304-456-2150.

We had so much fun last year, let’s do it again!! Join the National Radio Astronomy Observatory for the fourth annual Space Race Rumpus, a three-day cycling festival.

Come participate in guided road and mountain bike rides and compete in a race amongst our radio telescopes! There will be rides and races for all ages and levels, as well as cycling clinics and vendors.

Pocahontas County, WV, has some of the most scenic roads and trails in the mid-Atlantic. The rides and races explore both the Observatory’s unique property and the surrounding area.

Each night will be a social event with tours of the night sky, bonfires, refreshments, and live music.

If you would just like to attend the  Friday  and Saturday night live concerts, you can buy tickets at the door: $10, each night.

Children under 12 are free. Just make a note in your registration of which rides your children will be participating in and what size t-shirts you would like to purchase (if any) for them. Kids’ t-shirts will be available on-site for $8.00
Please note that only the first 200 people who register will be eligible for campsites and on-site meal tickets. The observatory cafe will be open to all registrants and the public, and an off-site lodging guide is available on the website.
For a detailed schedule, visit www.gb.nrao.edu/rumpus. An outline is below, but subject to change! Meal tickets will be available for purchase during the event. For more information, send an email to rumpus@nrao.edu

Friday

Guided Mountain Rides (4 miles beginner and 10-15 miles intermediate)
Guided Road Rides (18 miles beginner/intermediate)
Observatory Site Ride (6 miles on telescope roads)
Kid-/Family-friendly Rides
Riding Clinics
Entertainment: Wyatt Turner Band, bonfire, Star Party

Saturday

Mini Time Trial on Observatory Site! (gender, age-group categories)
Short Track Mtn. Bike Race (events for kids, beginners, and elite levels)
Guided Road Rides (60-36 miles intermediate)
Guided Mountain Ride (20 miles, beginner, 10-15 miles intermediate)
Observatory Site Ride and/or Guided Bike Tour of Green Bank
Kid-Activities

Riding Clinics

Group Meal

Entertainment: Anthony Rosano and The Conqueroos, bonfire, Star Party, vendors, GBT Control Room Tours, tour, dinner meal included in registration

Sunday

Guided Mountain Ride (10 miles,advanced, 6-12 miles intermediate)
Guided Road Rides (20-40 miles, intermediate)
Guided Bike Tour of Green Bank (8 miles beginner)
Kid-/Family-friendly Rides: Toddler Trek Race!
Riding Clinics