Fall Foliage Ride Saturday Oct. 12, 2013 starting at 10 AM in Meyersdale, PA

Meet at the Meyersdale train station in Meyersdale, PA (use 527 Main St. for on line mapping or your GPS navigation) at 10 AM on Saturday, October 12th and ride down to Frostburg, MD and then back. Below are the directions to the trail parking from the Great Allegheny Passage web site. From Pittsburgh it will take approximately 2 hours to reach Meyersdale, PA so please plan your trip so you can arrive in plenty of time to make the 10 AM start.

 

From the PA Turnpike

1. Take Somerset Exit #110.
2. Proceed through 3 traffic lights and at the 4th, turn LEFT onto E Main Street.
3. At the next light, bear RIGHT onto Berlin Plank Road (becomes Rt 219 S).
4. Go 3 miles then turn RIGHT onto Garrett Shortcut Road.
5. Continue 8 miles to a stop sign and turn LEFT onto Rt 653.
6. Proceed slowly through Garrett and turn RIGHT onto Rt 219 S.
7. Go on Rt 219S about 2 miles, then turn RIGHT onto Business Rt 219.
8. Once in town, turn LEFT onto Main Street by the fire station.
9. Proceed 4 blocks up the hill, and across the tracks you will see the train station on your left.

From Meyersdale, PA to Frostburg, MD and back is 32 miles so expect to be riding for 3 to 4 hours. If you want to ride a shorter or longer distance just let the ride leader know your plans. Some of the highlights of this ride are the crossing of the Eastern Continental Divide, bicycling through the Big Savage Tunnel (don’t forget to bring a light if you have one) and the magnificent fall foliage.

 

At Frostburg we will stop for a bit and have lunch before heading back. I recommend packing a simple lunch and something to drink for our stop in Frostburg. If you want to purchase lunch, the Trail Inn Café near the Western Maryland Railroad depot is the only lunch place near the trail. Other than Meyersdale and Frostburg, there is nothing else along the trail for food or beverage so be prepared.

 

The Fall foliage should be nice so bring your camera or smart phone for this ride! The temperatures may be a bit chilly when we start the ride plus we do go through a tunnel so please make sure you wear layers.

 

I encourage you read about the Great Allegheny Passage to get more information on the ride areas.

Bike For Cambodia Saturday, September 21, 2013

Join us on Saturday, September 21, 2013 for a leisurely bicycle ride to raise money to purchase and repair bicycles for children in Cambodia. Many children at the New Hope Children's Home are in need of a new bicycle or need to have a bicycle repaired but cannot afford to do so. The average purchase price of a new bicycle for a child in Cambodia is $55.

Registration begins at 9 AM behind the Millvale Riverfront Park pavilion and we will start bicycling at 10 AM.

The Millvale Riverfront Park Pavilion is at 70 Riverfront Drive and getting there can be a bit tricky so please consult your GPS or favorite mapping site or a good map before heading out. The 31st Street bridge is still closed where it connected to 28 so plan accordingly. The Millvale Riverfront Park pavilion is near the Three Rivers Rowing Association’s Millvale Boathouse.

We will be riding down to PNC park, Heinz field and ending at the old penitentiary before returning. An option on the way back will be to cross over to Point State Park and then back to Millvale. Expect to ride for approximately 1 to 2 hours. This is a family friendly ride and it open to riders of all ages and fitness level.

Check out the Bike for Cambodia 2013 page for photos and more.

Bike and Dine ride on Thursday, August 29, 2013 from Homestead to McKeesport and back.

We will meet Thursday, August 29, 2013 at the parking area at US Steel pump house (near the Lowes store on Waterfront Drive) and ride to McKeesport and return. Will will start our ride at 6:30 PM. This is a great trail and is paved all the way to McKeesport. The ride is approximately 7 miles each way and should take approximately 1.5 hours round trip. After the ride we will have dinner at  Chick-fil-A.

Panhandle Trail Ride Saturday, August 17, 2013 at 2 PM.

This Saturday August 17, 2013 we will be riding the Panhandle Trail beginning at 2 PM. We will meet at the Walkers Mill Road parking area. To get there from Pittsburgh take I-376 South and take exit 64A to I-79 South (toward Washington, PA). Take exit 57 which is the Carnegie exit. At the bottom of the exit turn right and head down the road approximately 1.5 miles until you will see a small sign for the Panhandle trail parking at Walkers Mill Rd. Turn left and go approximately .1 miles until you see the parking areas on the left and right hand side of the road. From the Fort Pitt tunnel it should take you about 15 minutes. From RCC in Oakmont allow about 40 minutes. Travel times do not account for any Penn DOT work zones.

The weather for Saturday is calling for a high around 79 F with very little chance of rain. This trail has some areas with picnic tables and portable toilets along the way but as always bring plenty of water and any snacks you may want. We are planning on riding to Burgettstown and back for a total of 34 miles round trip. You can ride more or less miles just make sure the ride leader knows if you are going farther or shorter than the group. More details on what there is along the trail by following this link (will open a PDF trail millage chart).

Bike and Dine, Wednesday, July 24, 2013 from Millvale to The Point and return - UPDATED

Meet at the Millvale Riverfront Park Pavilion. We will start our ride at 6: 00 PM riding down along the river past Heinz Stadium and PNC Park to the old penitentiary (SCI) and then over to The Point and back. The distance is approximately 10 miles each way for a total of 20 miles round trip.

You have the option to to do a shorter distance if you want - just let someone know before we head off.

  

After the ride we will be heading to Subway at 124 Grant Ave. in Millvale for dinner. Don't forget your bicycle lock if you plan on joining us for dinner.

Pedal the Way ride Sunday, July 14 2013 on the Butler Freeport trail

This Sunday, July 14, 2013 w

e will start at the in Cabot Trailhead and heads toward the end of the trail in Butler. We will start riding at 2:00 PM and expect the ride to last approximately 2 to 3 hours (approximately 11 miles each way). You have the option to turn around at any time if you cannot or do not wish to ride that long - just let someone know so that we will not be looking for you at the end of the ride.

 

 

Make sure you have water, and any snack you might want to bring along, sunscreen and your helmet. This section of the trail has limited facilities and the weather forecast at this time is for a high around 85 with mostly sunny skies and a high UV index so be prepared.

Pedal the Way ride Saturday, June 29, 2013 on the Ghost Town trail beginning at 10:00 AM

Our next ride is the Ghost Town Trail oon Saturday, June 29th at 10 AM. We will be riding from Dilltown to Nanty Glow and back.The ride will be approximately 12 miles long each way and should take around 4 to 6 hours. There is also an option of adding in the Rexis branch (approximately 4 miles each way) or to continue toward Ebensburg (approximately 6 miles each way from Nanty Glow). You are free to ride longer or shorter distances if you choose.

Meet at in the parking area in Dilltown, PA next to PA-403N and be ready to ride at 10 AM. Don’t forget to bring plenty of water, something for snacks and lunch.

To get to Dilltown you take US-22 E out from Monroeville approximately 42 miles to the Dilltown/Johnstown PA-403N exit. Dilltown is approximately 1.5 miles from US 22. The estimated travel time is 1. 5 hours from the east end of Pittsburgh so please consult a map or your GPS device before heading out so you won’t be late.

Bike and Dine, Wednesday, June 26, 2013 from Homestead to the South Side and return

We will meet Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at the parking area at US Steel pump house (near the Lowes store on Waterfront Drive) and ride to South Side and return. Our ride will start at 6 PM we will have dinner at OTB Bicycle Cafe before heading back to the starting point. The ride is approximately 6 miles each way and should take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours round trip depending on our dinner stop.

Boston to West Newton ride Sunday, June 9, 2013 starting at 2 PM.

We will be riding the Great Allegheny Passage from Boston to West Newton and then back. The distance is approximately 14 miles each way. You have the option of riding a shorter or longer distance. Just let Scott or Kent know if you will be riding a shorter or longer distance so we won't be looking for you at the end of the ride. The parking area is just past the end of the Boston bridge (PA 48) over the Youghiogheny River. Turn right at the end of the Boston bridge onto Smithfield Street and then immediately right onto Donner Street. The parking area is near the ball field. Meet under the tree in the parking lot and be ready to ride at 2 PM.

The weather forecast right now look great for Sunday with a high of 80 and plenty of sun. Bring your sun screen and plenty of water or sports drink. It might be a great day to stop for ice cream at Yough Twister in Sutersville.

Freeport to Butler ride, Sunday May 19, 2013 at 2 PM.

We will meet at the larger parking area in Freeport and start riding at 2:00 PM. If the main lot is full you can park at the smaller lot and ride along the trail the short distance to the main parking area.

Make sure you have water and any snack you might want to bring along for the ride as well as your helmet. We will be heading out toward Butler and expect the ride to last approximately 2 to 4 hours. You have the option to turn around at any time if you cannot or do not wish to ride that long - just let someone know so that we will not be looking for you at the end of the ride.

To get there from Oakmont or the Mills area, travel north on Route 28 until the you get to the PA 356 exit (exit 17). You will circle around to your right and at the stop sign turn left (you will be heading towards Freeport) and continue approximately 1.2 miles until you come to a Y intersection. At that intersection keep to your left and continue to the stop sign. Turn sharp left at the stop sign and you will be on Old Pike Road. Soon after turning onto Old Pike Road (approximately 200 ft) you will come to a fork in the road and you will take the road to the right which becomes Main St. Head down Main Street approximately .2 miles (1000 ft) and turn right onto Old Mill Rd. Travel approximately 300 feet to the parking area on your left just past the trail crossing.

Bike and Dine at 6 PM on May 16, 2013 from Homestead to McKeesport

We will meet Thursday, May 16, 2013 at the parking area at US Steel pump house (near the Lowes store on Waterfront Drive) and ride to McKeesport and return. Will will start our ride at 6 PM. This is a great trail and is paved all the way to McKeesport. The ride is approximately 7 miles each way and should take approximately 1 to 1.5 hours round trip. After the mid week ride we will have dinner at a near by restaurant. The weather Thursday is looking pleasant with only a slight chance of rain so come ready to ride.