RichmondBMX

Richmond, Virginia, is quickly becoming a cycling mecca and Richmond BMX is at the center of it all.

Richmond, Virginia is often referred to as the River City, with the James River and its class 4-5 rapids running right through downtown. However, it’s quickly becoming a cycling mecca and Richmond BMX is at the center of it all.

Host to the UCI Road Cycling World Championships in 2015, the city boasts over 50 miles of MTB trails in the city limits alone. Travel just 20 miles to the south and you’ll find world class trails in Pocahontas State Park. But you’ll find the real gem just three miles from downtown in Gillies Creek Park amongst the pre-civil war buildings, memorials, a ribbon of grey pavers, stone dust, and asphalt. Richmond BMX.

Originally built in 1998 by Carl Otto, just a couple of years after he created Gillies Creek Park in the remains of old Fulton Bottom, the track had very humble beginnings.

Art and Wendy Luck were among the early directors of the track, and continued to lead track operations until 2013 when they handed over the reigns to Gary Craig. But Art hasn’t gone far, often putting in more work than anyone else at the track during any given week and racing every Sunday.

Since 2013, Craig and Luck have been transforming Richmond BMX from a nice little track into a can’t-miss stop on any BMX vacation. From countless grounds improvements, to a recent rebuild by world-renowned builder Tom Ritz, and the fresh, new pavers on the starting hill (the only one in the US as far as we know), today’s track is nearly unrecognizable from its early days.