The Virginia Capital Trail recently expanded our Trail Ambassador program to include a new volunteer leadership position, Capital Trail Coordinator. This volunteer position will be responsible for leading community events, assisting with advocacy and Trail activities, and helping guide new Trail Ambassadors. Trail Coordinators agree to serve a one-year term that may be renewed in December.
We are excited to announce that the following individuals were selected to serve as our inaugural Capital Trail Coordinators: Benjamin Ash, Ephraim Seidman, Dan Schmitt, Loretta Troen, and Nadine Zimmerli.
Meet ben
Ben has been an integral part of our community for over two years, generously devoting his time and energy to making the Capital Trail experience even more enjoyable for everyone. A true lover of outdoor adventures and a cycling enthusiast, Ben is a familiar face on the trail, often spotted taking after-work rides along the Capital Trail.
Known for his boundless energy and enthusiasm, Ben is a true go-getter. From donning creative costumes for our Halloween-themed Cap Trail Run to playing the role of "Waldo" in our most recent Trail scavenger hunt, Ben's infectious positivity and can-do attitude always leave a lasting impression.
Ben is a passionate vintage bicycle refurbisher. He loves sharing his knowledge and expertise with fellow enthusiasts, often engaging in conversations about bikepacking trips and the joys of cycling. With a glint in his eye, you can be sure he’s already mapping out his next exciting cycling adventure!
How long have you been an Ambassador?
I believe I joined in September of 2021, shortly after completing my first Cap2Cap (I think I volunteered at the Chickahominy stop that year too)!
What do you enjoy most about being a Trail Ambassador?
Simply being out on that trail and getting to know every single aspect of it, especially the areas I'm on most often. It's fun to see the same people riding around and see just how much things change (or stay the same). I particularly enjoy making sure the spots with runoff are clean because I know just how much fun I have zooming down the hill on Osborne Turnpike!
What excites you most about the Trail Coordinator position?
Involving more of the community with group rides and getting people more interested in tackling longer distances. I know it's tough to look at a 50, 75, or even 100+ mile ride and think it's doable, but breaking it down and training makes it much more approachable! Even more so when you have people who have ridden that distance before with you helping out. After starting to ride with some community-based rides around town, I would love to bring the same sense of community to the trail with rides along it!
What is something you would like to achieve while serving in this role?
Definitely a group ride (bikepacking or just a fun road ride) overnight to Chickahominy Riverfront Park. Few people seem to take advantage of just how accessible the trail is to that location and just how much fun can be had camping before a big ride! Beyond that, the trail definitely lends itself to rides that happen outside of normal hours. I've done plenty of solo night and overnight hikes in my home of the Shenandoah Valley and would love to bring that sense of adventure to the Capital Trail!
What are some of your passions or favorite activities?
To anyone that has seen me, it is no surprise that tattoos top this list. I just got an awesome-opossum from the local shop Unkindness Art (shoutout to vitriol there) and feel like it captures my spirit pretty well! Tangentially related to the trail, I started the hobby during the initial phase of COVID lockdowns of buying steel-frame bikes from the 70s and 80s and rebuilding them, with a lucky friend receiving a freshly-tuned bike and an open invite to hit the streets with me and my already-cycling friends. Hopefully, I can continue this down here and make sure no bike that has some miles left in it gets trashed or destroyed! Lastly, I guess I would toss out baking. Few in number are the big rides I tackle not fueled by some recipe passed down from my Mom and Grandma, laden with all the sugar and crisco a kid could want! I'm not a kid anymore, but my taste-buds never got that memo.
What was your favorite memory or most unique adventure on the Capital Trail?
While I am tempted to say my first Cap2Cap since it was the very first 100-mile Century ride after really diving into cycling back in 2019 following knee surgery, in truth, it has to be my (now) annual ride in August to commemorate my late Grandfather. Born in 1921, I've made it a tradition to remember him by tacking on another mile each year, with 102 up on the docket for 2023. It will only get more challenging each year, but he's always been a huge inspiration and this way I can honor his hard work and memory.
Any tips or tricks you would like to offer first-time Trail users?
Water is your best friend. Drink a lot, and then more. You'll seldom find yourself in a genuine bind that isn't an Uber ride or a stop at 7/11 away from complete rectification, so go for it, but bring some water! (Did I mention water?)
closing thoughts
A huge thank you to all the other Cap Trail staff and volunteers. I literally moved to Richmond in 2021 to continue to enjoy the trail and my stay here wouldn't be a fraction of what it has been without such an amazing resource. Friends, access to new locations, and discovering new hobbies like Disc Golf all tie back to the trail and I don't know what I would be doing without it.
