BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

Plum Run Rd out of Cannonsburg. Maybe my new favorite road.

I rode to work and back (Sq Hill to the North shore) as is usual on a Sunday. Walked it through the arts fest as it was crowded.

Even though BikePgh was not doing BikeValet parking today, there were a lot of bikes parked on the barriers there.

The new gravel trails down by Panther Hollow Lake (when does a pond become a lake?) were a bit dicey from being washed out by the rains.

Saturday morning Little Boston Trail Ride was rained out, so I rode to the Gym and rode the Stationary bike for an hour. Today was a Ride around Penn Hills, just to get out of the house after church.

I came out of the South Hills via West Liberty Ave and it was the most beautiful thing ever. The road was closed to cars between McDonald's and the BP gas station, because of downed power lines on the side of the road. Awesome and strange at the same time being on that road with no cars. I took full advantage of it and asked the Duquesne Light workers if they could shut the road down every weekend.

I rode around highland park because it was the community gargesale day.

I also rode Duquesne to Boston on the trail. It seems like that some work is being done to make the Mckeesport section better. Of few very sort sections of trail were paved all they need is the final top coat.

I have been out of town since Saturday afternoon but in the AM I took the single speed to highland park, Butler to the strip, across the bridge by the convention center, north side, 31st St bridge and back on Butler then up one wild place. Got home just as the rain started, but it sure was humid and sweaty on the ride

Checked out the arts fest and meandered about with no real destination, 28 mi.

Usual route today - Sq. Hill through Schenley Park, Junction Hollow via Oakland, Furnace Trail to downtown, crossed Warhol Bridge (breaked in front of Alcoa to enjoy my favourite skyline angle), North Shore trail back and forth a bit, then retraced it to home. Great ride this afternoon, though the very dark clouds rollin' in made me pause at first.

Highland Park to Downtown. Had lit firecrackers thrown at me for some added excitement. The kid at least had the decency to look afraid when I chased them down and cussed them out thoroughly. Watch out for a dark blue Ford Escort with VIRGINIA and 26.2 bumper stickers. Partial plate GWH (but I had the full plate when I called 911 to report it).

I just wanted a quick trip to the Arts Festival, is that too much to ask?

I rode the Minuteman Bikeway, and connecting trails, in Boston Mass this weekend...nice city.

Three Rivers Arts Festival - 22 mile round trip - both Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to Bike-Pgh for the bike parking area!

And hey - AtLeastMyKidsLoveMe - I also rode up Little Pine Creek, but I turn right at Wetzel, just before the big hill you're talking about. Wetzel is about half the steepness and length. Plus, it goes directly up to Mt Royal. Take a left at Mt Royal when you get to the light.

I only had a few hours this weekend to squeeze in a ride so I did about 13 miles on the Bethel Park branch of the Montour Trail. Nice and deserted.

I did three laps of Sq. Hill -> Hot Metal Bridge -> River Front Trail -> Mount Washington -> Jail Trail -> Shadyside -> Sq. Hill. (Abt 23 miles a lap.)

I *wanted* to trek out to Ohio Township and back (a WAY fun ride), but given my recent spoke issues I wanted to stay within a few miles of a bike shop through the whole trip.

Super excited that we rode with our 11 yr old son from the jail trail back to our house near Frick Park. His first BIG ride, on the road, with some serious hills for a little guy. Kept him in between the mom and dad sandwich for safety. He had gotten a ride to the trial with a friend and they had biked the trail to station square and back. Then we rode with him back to Sq Hill through Panther Hollow, Boundary St, cut through CMU parking garage, through the park up Overlook, and then up Beacon St. Sweet!

This has to be one of my best rides ever, too. The highlight was when he was gasping for air at the top of Beacon St and I asked him if he'd do it again, and he said "Yeah! Of course!".

Saturday, I rode from Duquesne to somewhere past Cedar Creek Park and back (about 50 miles). My wife told me she thought I was insane, because of the rain, but hardly rained at all on me the whole time - just a couple of sprinkles. Then, coming back up 837 (hauling my bike in my truck - I'm not enough of a masochist to bike the Rankin Bridge in its current state), I crossed the Magic Line and was deluged, so I understood what she was thinking. That was handy though, because it washed most of the mud off the bike while it was in the truck bed.

Sunday, I rode around Shadyside a bit. Nothing special- just a little stay-loose.

Today, I rode in to work (North Side).

I did my "Four Park Challenge" with variations: Shadyside to Schenley Plaza, around the Bridle Path, through Squirrel Hill, around Frick Park trails, down Braddock Avenue a bit, through Point Breeze to Mellon Park, then down to the Highland Park bike track and back to Shadyside. It was about 27 miles, which felt like a lot to me.

i was out in the woods near Franklin, pa. lots of old industry left over from the oil boom over a century ago. proabably only did about 10 miles, but with all of the ups and downs i was feeling it. if anyone is ever up in that area take whippoorwill rd off of 322 and park at the top of the hill. lots of the land is owned by a logging company who is never around. great place to explore if you are into rust belt relics. keep an eye out for meth labs.

Rode from home on East End Ave, Reynolds to 5th to Penn to Liberty, crossed the 31st street bridge. Got on the trail, stopped at the Rustbelt River and Marine Museum to rest and eat some Snickers bars. Made my way to the point, checked out the Arts Festival. Rode through downtown to the Jail trail to bates street, went through Schenley to Darlington to Beechwood and once I got to Frick Park the rain was getting pretty ridiculous. Cant complain though, one of the few times I came home with a cleaner bike than I left with.

Parked at the marina in McKeesport and rode up the river and back. What a nice trail that is, once you get out of McKeesport. Next time I'll park in Boston. That first couple of miles out of McKeesport weren't really any fun.

Out Allegheny River Blvd to Oakmont, over Hulton Br to Freeport Rd, out to Creighton, Days Run Rd through West Deer Park (love Days Run), up Saxonburg Blvd to Saxonburg, picked up Dinnerbell Rd west for a bit (not recommended, 55 mph limit on a 2 lane twisty road), to Cruikshank Rd (gorgeous scenery) via Victory & Golden City Rd, to 3 Degree Rd, through Mars, Babcock to the Red Belt (Bakerstown Rd), Back to Days Run, Freeport to town, Butler to the Jail Trail, & loops around Highland park. Need to do some more exploring up north... some of the roads are absolutely fantastic. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/35946756

Mine was definitely the shortest ride reported so far. Someone moving out of town didn't want to move the mountain bike, too, so gave it to me. The tires held air, the chain stayed on when I put it back on, and the brakes were healthy during length-of-driveway tests, so I took it out on the street, blinkies going and vest on, with full intent of a little ride.

I made it only about 250 feet before running into a mechanical problem, so dismounted, and walked it back. *sigh, another project*

No, Stu, I have you under-beat. I took a bike down to put a rack on, rode it up and down the drive to make sure nothing rubbed, 50 ft+-, the sky looked like it was coming to take me to Oz, and put it back on the wall. bleh.

100k Mountain bike race in ohio.

Tornado warnings before during and after the race.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/national-ultra-endurance-nue-series-2-mohican-100-ne/100-miler/photos/124925

Saturday - West End(home) -> Carnegie(work) -> Polish Hill(show) -> West End(home)

Sunday - West End -> Carnegie -> South Side(hockey + bball finals) -> West End

Steevo, Whoo Hoo gas money+!! Congrats!

Nice job Steevo. What is "prime" and how do you win it just after the race starts? It didn't look easy whatever it was!

A prime is a mid-race prize. It's pronounced "preem". They can be given away for just about anything. Steevo won the prime for the town line about 4 miles into the race. Primes are often given out during criteriums (which are measured by laps) as well. Oddly enough they are often more hotly contested than the finish.

600K with the DC Randonneurs out of Warrenton, VA. Awesome ride, but high humidity and temps meant the weather was BRUTAL.

from shadyside to schenley plaza for a little falcon watching and lunch, downtown via the golf course, greenfield, and the jail trail, then across the clemente bridge during the pirates pre-game, where i discovered a busted spoke. 10 minutes and three stripped nipples later, i had to give up on keeping the tire from hitting the frame. i eventually got it off enough that i was comfortable riding with the rear brakes undone on the jail trail. now i go nowhere until i rebuild the rear wheel. joy.

quizbot - how is allegheny river blvd? i stopped going out that way last year because at some point, there was so much junk along the side of the road and the cars blow by so fast that i have avoided it all together. can't do anything about the cars, but are the sides of the road clear for the most part?

reddan -

I used to gig in Warrenton. Thar's some real hills! Beautiful place.

@stefb - ARB for the most part was ok, debris on the shoulder here & there, a small rockslide at one point. Being that it was early Sunday morning, there was very minimal traffic so it wasn't a problem. Maybe a dozen cars passed me between Washington Blvd & Oakmont.

too far dan.

too far dan

Said the same thing myself a few times. Damn pretty riding country in central VA, though.

too far dan.

Glad someone said it! Dan, how long does it take to ride 372 miles?

And now that I'm in this thread, Saturday a washout. Sunday I was out on Beechwood Blvd with my wife who was learning to ride a road bike with STI shifting, then I went over to Schenley Park, looped up a couple hills, dropped down the bike path to JH, along 2nd avenue to Hazelwood and back up Hazelwood to Beechwood. Had to get something out of the weekend.

Sunday was an odd day in terms of temps. When it was cloudy and breezy it was great but when the sun came out it felt like 95 degrees.

Counting the odd bonus mile, it was 384 miles in 34:41. Woulda been a bit longer in terms of time, but I was lucky enough to fall in with some locals (Ed and Mary on tandem); they knew the area, so I could ignore the cue sheet and just focus on trying to hold their wheel.

And yeah, Sunday's temps were weird. That sun was villainous.

it was 384 miles in 34:41 --snip--I could ignore the cue sheet and just focus on trying to hold their wheel.

I have a hard time imaginging focusing on anything for 34 hours. That's is truly awesome.

Aiming toward PBP?

I have a hard time imaginging focusing on anything for 34 hours

Bear in mind, that included lots of off-bike time. 4 hours of downtime after the first 400K (shower, nap, and clean clothes do wonders!), plus at least 4-6 hours of time spent at convenience stores and delis and whatnot. Riding with compatible partners helps a lot, too. One of the reasons brevets are so much fun is that they don't require the same type of drive as, say, racing through 100K of singletrack or knocking off a century in < 5 hours; brevets reward persistence.

On the other hand, Jeff, the first finisher, was the poster child for focus...he didn't stop for anything other than the bare minimum requirements, and finished the course in 25:50. Crazy.

10 minutes and three stripped nipples later

ow.

Well it wasn't over the weekend but on Monday I rode to cedar creek campground to stay for the night. While riding back on Tuesday I met a elderly guy that built his own recumbent bike. It was pretty amazing too. He had a small stereo on it as well as brake lights. To top it off he built his own car carrier for it that could be configured different way to carry any of the 5 recumbent bikes he owned. I snapped a pic but for some reason it will not upload to flickr for me.

It did upload to my facebook page so here is the link.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=12584775&id=747445315

Hmmm...retired high school shop teacher? I met a dude in Kraynick's who was all about the home-built 'bents...can't tell if it was the guy in the pic.