Butler Freeport Trail – Photo: Bike Pittsburgh

November Rides

Easy Ride: Butler Freeport Trail 

Type of Ride: Trail
Hills: NO!
Distance: 21 miles (1 way) 
Start / Finish: Trailhead – Freeport, PA
Ride with GPS – Turn by turn directions 

If you are looking for a change of pace from the GAP Trail, head just 30 minutes north of the city for the November easy ride of the month.  There you will find the Butler Freeport Trail a relaxing 21 mile car-free trail from Freeport, PA to Butler, PA.  Hemlock groves line the banks of the Little Buffalo Creek making this ride scenic year round. Slightly uphill with a  ~1% grade toward Butler, you will use a bit more energy than most of the gap but won’t notice it much until you head back. Mile markers are every mile, keeping it very simple to turn around anytime if you are looking to do a shorter ride. And if you are looking for a snack be sure to check out the Derailleur Bike Shop Café at mile marker 15.

When driving to the trail head take note that Google will drop you off a bit early. Keep going down the road just a little more, there you will find some additional signs as well as a trail head parking lot.

Have fun and let us know what you thought of the Butler Freeport trail on our message board.

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The Dirty Dozen – Photo: Brad Quartuccio

Advanced: Dirty Dozen Training Ride

Type of Ride: Road
Distance: 22.5 Miles
Hills: Yeah! Plenty of them to go around.
Start / Finish: Espresso a Mano
Ride with GPS – Turn by turn directions 

 

Perhaps you have seen the WQED Dirty Dozen video and thought, “One year, I would like to try that”… well here’s your next chance! November 26th marks the 34th annual Dirty Dozen Bicycle Ride on Pittsburgh’s steepest hills. This year’s ride is more than just a ‘bucket list’ item. As you might have heard, the founder of the Dirty Dozen Danny Chew was involved in a tragic crash this fall leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Proceeds from this years ride will help support his long term recovery.

Known as one of the most challenging rides around, trying your hand at one or more of the Dozen hills before the ride is a great way to test out your legs before attempting all 13.  This month we are featuring a difficult ride that is all about ramping up training for the Dozen. So get ready to climb some hills!

• Center Ave./Guyasuta Rd. in Aspinwall
• Berryhill Rd. between Saxonburg Blvd. and Middle Rd.
• High St./Seavy Rd. in Etna
• Logan St. in Millvale
• Bonus Hill! Pig Hill aka Rialto St. across from the 31st St. Bridge

Going up five Dirty Dozen hills hills might sound easy, it’s not.  The route for this training ride is only 22.5 miles, but in that short distance you will do a total of 1,900 of the 5,100 feet you can expect to do on race day.  A 5-mile warm up out butler street is positioned for you to get ready for Center Ave the first climb of the Dozen. Keep in mind many who ride the Dozen consider this an ‘easy’ hill so buckle up and enjoy the rest of the ride.

If after the training ride you think you have what it takes, we will see you on the 26th!

Looking to ride with others?

Dirty Dozen Training Ride #6

When: Sunday, Nov 6. at 8 am
Hills: 8 – 13
Starting at: Station Square Gas Station near Carson and Arlington.

Dirty Dozen Training Ride #7

When: Sunday, Nov 13. at 8am
Hills: All Hills!
Starting at:  Bud Harris Cycling Track

More information about the race day can be found at: http://www.dannychew.com/ddinfo.html

Not interested in riding but still want to make a donation to Danny?

Head out to the Danny Chew fundraiser on Sunday, November 20, 2016. Beginning at 4:30 p.m. at SouthSide Works Cinema, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a viewing of the Race Across America documentary, 3,089, to be followed by a viewing of a local favorite, WQED and Rick Sebak’s documentary, Dirty Dozen.

• Click here to purchase tickets for the event.
• Click here to donate to Danny Chew’s Million Mile Man Recovery Fund.
• Click here to purchase a Dirty Dozen Race Jersey.

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Incase you missed it on WQED: