Fat Tire Nomad chases eBike adventures across Central Virginia and the wider Appalachian backroads, trading traffic for gravel, rail trails, and forgotten mill towns. Riding fat‑tire eBikes turns long days and big climbs into chances to slow down, film the landscape, and tell the stories hiding along rural roads, river valleys, and old railroad grades. Expect ride reports, route ideas, gear experiments, and field‑tested tips for anyone who wants to explore farther.
So, I recently came upon this little - I guess - Complex of abandoned houses. They're all off of a larger ranch in Nelson County, VA. The first two houses appear to have been identical prior to the first's porch falling in.
I'm thinking these were maybe part of staff housing for the ranch at some point? Not sure, what are your thoughts?
#ebikelife #ruralexploration #ruralphotography #historyinthewoods #abandonedhouse #bikeva #backroadadventure #ebikeadventures #visitnelsoncounty
Found this little gem on a recent maintenance ride in Nelson County. It sits right off of Wilson Rd (VA 653), but I couldn't find any information on it online.
Anyone know what this church is/was and when it was last receiving parishioners?
#visitnelsoncounty #bikelife #bikeva #historyinthewoods #backroadadventure #fattirenomad #fattirevagabond #ruralexploration #aventonbikes #ruralexploration #ruralamerica #ruralphotography #abandonedplaces #abandonedworld #EBike #ebikeadventures
Went a different direction from my normal maintenance ride routs - stumbled on some more old ghosts. This house just gave off a creepy vibe from the moment I laid eyes on it. When I rolled up in front of it, I got an overwhelming feeling to not come any closer.... so I didn't.
#visitnelsoncounty #historyinthewoods #cyclinglife #bikeva #ruins #fattirenomad #fattirevagabond #rurallife #ruralphotography #backroads #backroadadventure #Aventon #aventonbikes #ruralexploration #oldhouse #OldHouseLove
Escaped the ice and rode a rare warm Valentine’s Day on the Virginia Capital Trail—from Great Shiplock’s canal locks to quiet miles at Dorey Park. 20+ easy eBike miles, big riverfront history, zero traffic stress. New blog up now: Richmond Riverfront Ride.
New review: BiKASE BumpStop suspension seat post earns 3/5 on the Nomad. Quieter & more comfortable than stock, but fitment needs shims. 50mm travel, 300lb capacity, $139.99. Real-world testing after 500+ miles. Is it worth the upgrade? Read the full breakdown!
Cloud-9 Cruiser Select Airflow ES review is live! All-day comfort on backroads, rail-trails, and town miles—with one big wet-weather flaw that keeps it at 4/5 “Trail Ready.” Read more: 👉
Dialing in cockpit comfort? New on the blog: why the Deity Highside 80mm rise bar just earned a 5/5 “Trail King” rating from FatTire Nomad. Upright, controlled, and zero-regrets upgrade.
RockShox Bluto 80mm = FTN’s 5/5 “Trail King” on the Nomad—easy setup, true set-it-and-forget-it, and buttery plush on rough Blue Ridge gravel.
Full review: https://fattirenomad.com/2026/02/10/rockshox-bluto-fork-review/
Schwalbe Jumbo Jim fat tires—4/5 Trail Ready! Tackles sand, mud, gravel & pavement cross-country. Big knobs grip slop, stable in loose; plush squish despite pavement roar. Minor wear @500mi. $110-140. Full review at the FTN Blog!
It was above freezing for the first time in days yesterday. It was cold, but worth it. The Tye has broken through the ice in places, but others it remains iced over.
What's the coldest weather you've ridden in? I think 27 is about my coldest, but I didn't love it.
#ruralamerica #coldweather #fattirenomad #fattirevagabond #FatTireEBike #ebikelifestyle #ebikelife #ebikeadventures #backroadsofappalachia #backroadadventures #Rideva #CyclingCommunity #ruralphotography #nesloncountyva
This old barn always grabs my attention. It's just so perfectly weathered. I'd love to see some of your photos of places/things that always grab your attention on a ride.
#ruralamerica #ruralphotography #backroad #backroadsofappalachia #backroadadventures #ebikelifestyle #EbikeLife #ebikeadventures #Rideva #AppalachianHistory #fattirenomad #FatTireEBike #fattirelife #cycling #CyclingCommunity #cyclinglife
What's your favorite find on a ride? I often think back to this random bike fence in the Nelson County highlands,. What a quirky thing to find in the middle of nowhere.
#backroadadventures #ruralexploration #virginiacycling #appalachianmountains #appalachianadventure #quirky #bicycle
FatTire Vagabond: 2026 Aventon Aventure M Mid-Drive
The FatTire Vagabond Aventon Aventure M custom build: 2026 Aventon Aventure M Fat Tire eBike. Essential upgrades transform the stock fat-tire commuter into a plush off-road beast for bigger riders. Bold denotes upgrades from Aventon’s official specs. This custom build offers a unique riding experience. Frame and Fork • Frame: Aventon Aventure M aluminum (mid-size), integrated cable routing, 400lb payload, accessory…
Hungrytown & Heards: When the Road Ends
Sometimes the best discoveries happen where the pavement ends. This ride took us deep into the forgotten corners of Hungrytown and Heards Mountain—places where the county road signs point to nowhere and the asphalt finally surrenders to gravel and red clay. What started as a simple exploration of Albemarle's backcountry turned into a journey through the remnants of a once-thriving mountain economy.
A Journey to Red Rock Country
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
Testing the Elements
This is a sample caption This is some dummy copy. You’re not really supposed to read this dummy copy, it is just a place holder for people who need some type to visualize what the actual copy might look like if it were real content. If you want to read, I might suggest a good book, perhaps Hemingway or Melville…
The Faces of Indian Traditions
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden flows by their place and supplies it with the necessary regelialia. It is a paradisematic country, in which roasted parts of sentences fly into your mouth.
Dead ends led us to the ghost barns of Amherst’s Sweet Briar plantation—rotting remnants of an 8,000‑acre empire built by enslaved families. It’s a ride through deep scars: from tobacco kingdom to segregated college to civil rights battleground.
Winter strips the trees bare on Galts Mill Road, revealing the forgotten bones of Virginia’s mill country. 🍂
We’re riding the hollers that powered three stories: the towering 1813 ruins of Galt’s Mill, the flood-defying Brightwells Mill, and the hilltop resilience of Scott Zion Baptist Church.
https://fattirenomad.com/2026/01/10/explore-galts-mill-loop-ebike-backroad-adventures/
