adventure damascus bicycle & outdoors

Our family was part of a much larger party, the staff was super friendly working with all all the kids in our group and novice adults. When we saw they had dog carriers, they quickly adjusted plans so we could take our dog too! We had a great time, got good tips from the staff, but they don't over complicate things either. If you have questions just ask. The youngest in our party was 9 and had no problems at all. We rented bikes and were taken to the top, really for us it was the best deal because we were camping too and didn't want to haul bikes and gear on the trip to VA. The bathroom at the drop off point is the best option, the ones on the trail are few and far between and 'out houses'. This was a fun trip - pack a lunch and or snacks. Allow plenty of time to enjoy the trip.

So we had heard from several friends of ours who are also bicycle riders about a ride called The Creeper in Damascus Va. My husband and I like to ride and decided we would pick this up on our way home from Charleston SC. The town is quaint and the Adventure Bicycle Shop was very helpful in setting us for our ride. The Creeper is a 17 mile bike ride down a mountain through one of their state parks. We rented our bikes and was transported up the mountain by Adventure Bike shop. The ride was beautiful, the trail was a cinder material that followed a river for the entire 17 miles. Don't let the mileage scare you, the ride is very easy, a lot of just coasting for the first few miles and then depending on how fast you want to complete this ride is how much you pedal. We say all ages and all sizes on the trail. Take your camera since the views are beautiful. There is also places to take potty breaks on the way down and a snack place to grab a sandwich. Also take a long sleeve shirt cause it's cold coming off that mountain. We are from Dayton Oh so this was a trip out of the way for us coming home but it was well worth the time.

You will find everything that you could possibly need for hiking in this great little store from hiking shoes to backpacks to food for the trail. Don't miss this stop for your every trail need.

My husband and I stopped to walk in the park, take photos and stretch our legs. We have visited Damascus when it was in full swing, bicycles all around, people visiting or hikers passing through. Today it was quiet. All was out was the ducks.

I made a reservation for bikes and shuttle up to Whitetop. Cost was just over $100 for 4 bikes and the shuttle. If you just need the shuttle, it's way cheaper!This place is basically a bike shop that also rents bikes. When we arrived, they immediately took us to the back of the store and sized bikes to each person. We then had to wait a few minutes for the bikes to be loaded and then we were off on the shuttle.We had to make a stop at their other store to pick up a few more people and then we were off. The shuttle ride itself takes about 20 minutes to Whitetop. It is your typical mountain road, so if you suffer from motion sickness, sit near the front!The Virginia Creeper trail goes right by the store in Damascus, so returning the bikes is no big deal.Bikes were of good quality and worked well. The shifter on my daughter's bike was very difficult to move, but since the trail was almost all downhill, she never really needed to use it.

The ride itself was WONDERFUL! There's nothing like it. Days before my ride, I called Adventure Damascus Rentals, and they were polite and attentive. When I got there, they had us test our bikes, and they were fine. Then they shuttled us up the mountain in their van, a half hour drive. The driver was most friendly. He assumed I knew all about biking, and I sort of did, which is a good thing, because he gave me no instruction. He did give instruction to another woman. Standing behind him, I listened in as he told her not to use the front brakes at high speeds or you could go over the handlebars. I have always been careful with front brakes, but didn't know that. Then he left. I went to the rest room and when I came out, I saw that everyone had taken off. I was alone. I started down the hill, then learned that my back brakes were totally nonfunctional. I was quite concerned (to put it mildly). I asked a few other people I saw if they could help me, but their technical skills were as bad as mine, lol. I was so bummed. It was my birthday, and my ride, which I was looking so forward to (and spent hundreds of dollars in cabin fees and gas) was partially ruined. I would have to go very slowly. I was very upset. About 4 miles down the hill, a very kind man with a backpack and a tool box FIXED MY BRAKES!! I was delighted.A little further down there was the bike patrol guys. They were pretty shocked that a bike company set me off without checking the bikes off their rack. They checked me out and I was fine.I had the most phenomenal ride that I will always remember.After the ride, I very politely told them what happened. I did not complain at all. I was more like, "I just thought you should know. Someone could really get hurt." They did not apologize! Let me repeat, the did not apologize! Nor did they make any offer for partial reimbursement. In fact, they seem pretty apathetic. They insisted I had turned my handlebars around, and I am 100% sure I did not do this. While I understand that mishaps like this happen, I believe they should check the bikes not only at the shop, but also at the top of the mountain. Also, their apathetic reaction was unforgivable. I did not let it ruin my ride. I will definitely be back to do this ride again, but definitely not with this company.