Dirt to D.C.

THE DIRT TO DC RIDE HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RIDE, PLEASE CONTACT BIKE@FULLERCENTER.ORG.

THE INFORMATION BELOW IS ARCHIVED FROM OUT 2017 RUNNING OF THE EVENT.

The idea for the Dirt to D.C. Ride came to us in our 10th year of the Fuller Center Bike Adventure, as we were looking for new ways to engage cyclists in the mission of the Fuller Center. Several of our past riders had recommended a Great Allegheny Passage / C&O Canal route over the years, and after riding the GAP for over 80 miles during the 2016 summer ride, our trip leaders were in full agreement!

As the newest member of the Bike Adventure family, the Dirt to D.C. ride represents an exciting expansion of our mission and offers a unique, off-road experience, while also staying true to the foundational principles shared by all Bike Adventure rides.

This week-long ride follows the wild, historic and unpaved routes of the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal (C&O) from Pittsburgh, PA to Washington, D.C. The GAP bike trail winds for 150 miles into the heart of Appalachia on crushed limestone, and meets the C&O in Cumberland, MD. The more rugged C&O trail – which is actually a National Park, end to end – traces the twists and turns of the mighty Potomac River for 200 miles of dirt riding, all the way to our nation’s capital.

We are excited for a unique opportunity to be tacked onto the 2019 Dirt to DC ride- participation in the Millard Fuller Legacy Build in Beckley, WV! The week before Dirt to DC, volunteers from all over the country will be joining us in Beckley to construct new homes for families in need. The Bike Adventure is excited to be offering transportation from Beckley at the end of the Legacy Build on Friday, September 13th to Pittsburgh to begin the Dirt to D.C. ride.

Why We Ride

Every day, millions of families are struggling in sub-standard housing conditions. The benefits of decent housing, though, extend beyond individual families. Neighborhoods with a high level of homeownership are cleaner, safer and better-educated than those with a prevalence of rental and derelict housing. When you improve housing, you don’t just strengthen families — you also build stronger neighborhoods and communities.

As with every Fuller Center Bike Adventure, Dirt to D.C. is not just about riding. The funds raised by this event will go directly towards the Fuller Center’s mission of ending poverty housing world-wide. So…join us for what is sure to be an amazing week of riding, but also join us to help provide decent, affordable homes — and hope for the future — for real families in-need!