BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Sounds like fun...I'm in. 'Bent or upright, TBD...

Yep.

How far north of the city?

Thanks for doing this Brian. Into it.

Potential route

Suggestions welcome.

Start/finish at Morning Glory Coffee House in Morningside, because I live a block away.

Nice start/finish point...

It might be a good idea to tell Jeffery about the ride, I can see us eating his whole days supply of food for breakfast.

Yeah, I'll be sure to give him the heads up. He was willing to allow us to use the shop as a back up in case it was raining the day of the racing clinic, so I'm sure he'll be okay with this, too.

Also, about the route. There are four gravel sectors:

1. Campbell's Run: Nice false flat through the woods leading to a slightly devilish climb on some loose gravel. There's a gate at the end you'll have to portage around.

2. Old Mill: Mostly dirt downhill roller coaster. Lots of potential to overcook a corner and land in the woods, too.

3. McClelland: Climb-false flat-climb, with some loose gravel. Whee.

4. Eisele: Pleasant gravel.

I've ridden all of these roads on 25mm road tires without problem. Be sure to come armed with a few tubes, though.

Old Mill, I've only ever seen at night, chasing Brian's tailight. Probably less frightening that way, as I recall an awful lot of rear-wheel skidding around corners and over random humps of gravel.

Sun Mine, nice choice. That's one of my favorite roads in the area: nice initial climb, then some great country rollers.

At the northernmost extremity of the route, if ya go a bit farther to the right on Saxonburg Blvd off Westminster, I believe there's a little country market just up the road, as well as a convenience store and supermarket another half-mile or so up in Saxonburg. Aside from that, I think it's pretty much a desert for a while in either direction.

'Bent or upright, TBD...

this is no longer the world i know...

but i'm in.

I will be out of town . Too bad because I would be up for this ride.

Update.

Probable route. I removed Eisele for the fine up climb up Mill Dam Road.

Details:

$5 donation to Bike Pittsburgh gets you a cue sheet. Registration (such that it is) will be at 9:00 AM at Morning Glory Coffee House in Morningside (1806 Chislett), with a mass start at 9:30 AM. No checkpoints. Heck, you don't even have to finish at MoGlo if you don't want to. This is all about exploring new roads and helping out Bike Pittsburgh. Tell all your friends!

Looks like fun - too bad I have a prior commitment

Update: I'll probably have a 30-ish mile ride cue sheet available, should you not want to take on the full 50 mile loop. The shorter ride will include all three gravel sectors, but will avoid the longer climbs (Mill Dam and Sun Mine Roads).

Bump.

This Saturday. 9:00 AM at Morning Glory Coffee House in Morningside.

50 miler

30 miler (I lied about not including Mill Dam)

I should have copies of the cue sheet at the start, but feel free to bring your own.

Bump, again. The ride happens rain or shine...

Looks like the storms should hold off until at least mid-afternoon tomorrow.

Should be a fun ride.

Thanks for the 10 folks who turned out for the ride. Not exactly a ton of cash for BikePGH, but better than nothing....

hey 50 bucks is 50 bucks! thanks a lot for putting on this ride for us, brian. just think if there was a $50 fundraiser for us every weekend throughout the year. That would pay about 5 months rent for us.