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10-08-02, 11:32 AM
Well, I successfully completed my first group ride and (as promised) here is the ride rundown. The ‘Keystone Ride’ is a 2 day ride of about 120 total miles, sponsored by the governor of the state. He also goes on the ride.
This year the ride started at the NY, NJ, Pa border and rode down the Delaware river to Philadelphia. I got up at 2 am and met Jim (my riding buddy) by 3:30 for the 3.5 hour drive to the start. We got there before sunrise, registered, and got our free breakfast (all meals are free on this ride) and our free T-shirts.
After a short speech from the Governor Schweiker, all 800 of us started down the small country road, lead by the state police on motorcycles. It’s a bit scary when first getting started because we are too bunched up. Jim rode along with me for a while and filled me in on the safety etiquette necessary in these groups.
The first leg was only 17 miles and it went by fast. We stopped for a break, more free food and water. After we got going again we entered the Delaware Water Gap. It was a beautiful road following the river. We started into rolling hills and I had a ball rolling down one hill and climbing up the next. We only had about 2 miles to go before lunch and I was glad the rolling hills had stopped because I had not paced myself well and was getting tired. Well wouldn’t you know it, the last 2 miles of that leg was up hill. It was quite a joke on me.
Lunch was at an Elementary School. When we rolled in, the kids were al lined up and cheering wildly at us “heroes”. We went down the line of kids giving them ‘high fives’. After lunch, the kids sang for us and then chanted “You can so it! You can do it!” as we rode out. What an ego trip!
There were 2 more legs in the afternoon. Each leg of the ride had it’s own unique personality. The scenery was great and the weather was warm. By 5 pm we rolled into the Easton Pa. Town square to cheers and waves from the residents. All told it was 57 miles the first day with the afternoon even more hilly than the morning, but I survived. The only problem was that no one had any sports drink. We found a handy store & I bought 2 big jugs. I drank one right away and saved the other for day 2. After that my leg cramps stopped.
Day 2 was a slightly wet version of day 1 with one exception. The last leg was not on country roads. We were now at the Philadelphia city limits and had to bunch up in order to be more manageable. The motorcycle cops stopped traffic for us the whole 2 days, but in Philly it was really obvious that we had the right of way. They closed down major city roads and we road down the middle of the city with people cheering, waving and cursing (depending on their outlook). It was great! We ended the trip led by the motorcade of cycles (sirens going) leading the way as we rode up to the Philadelphia Art Museum and made a victory lap in the traffic circle in front of the museum.
Most riders caught the bus back to the start to pick up their cars, but I had relatives in New Jersey so I continued on from there for another 27 miles. The Ben Franklin bridge between Phila and NJ is one really great bridge to ride across. They have an walk/bike lane about one story above the cars. The bridge is about 1.5 miles long and really high. What a view!
Total was 140 miles, the last 27 miles I was loaded with all my gear, but I did OK and felt great. All in all it was one of the most unique times of my life. I’d so it again anytime.
This year the ride started at the NY, NJ, Pa border and rode down the Delaware river to Philadelphia. I got up at 2 am and met Jim (my riding buddy) by 3:30 for the 3.5 hour drive to the start. We got there before sunrise, registered, and got our free breakfast (all meals are free on this ride) and our free T-shirts.
After a short speech from the Governor Schweiker, all 800 of us started down the small country road, lead by the state police on motorcycles. It’s a bit scary when first getting started because we are too bunched up. Jim rode along with me for a while and filled me in on the safety etiquette necessary in these groups.
The first leg was only 17 miles and it went by fast. We stopped for a break, more free food and water. After we got going again we entered the Delaware Water Gap. It was a beautiful road following the river. We started into rolling hills and I had a ball rolling down one hill and climbing up the next. We only had about 2 miles to go before lunch and I was glad the rolling hills had stopped because I had not paced myself well and was getting tired. Well wouldn’t you know it, the last 2 miles of that leg was up hill. It was quite a joke on me.
Lunch was at an Elementary School. When we rolled in, the kids were al lined up and cheering wildly at us “heroes”. We went down the line of kids giving them ‘high fives’. After lunch, the kids sang for us and then chanted “You can so it! You can do it!” as we rode out. What an ego trip!
There were 2 more legs in the afternoon. Each leg of the ride had it’s own unique personality. The scenery was great and the weather was warm. By 5 pm we rolled into the Easton Pa. Town square to cheers and waves from the residents. All told it was 57 miles the first day with the afternoon even more hilly than the morning, but I survived. The only problem was that no one had any sports drink. We found a handy store & I bought 2 big jugs. I drank one right away and saved the other for day 2. After that my leg cramps stopped.
Day 2 was a slightly wet version of day 1 with one exception. The last leg was not on country roads. We were now at the Philadelphia city limits and had to bunch up in order to be more manageable. The motorcycle cops stopped traffic for us the whole 2 days, but in Philly it was really obvious that we had the right of way. They closed down major city roads and we road down the middle of the city with people cheering, waving and cursing (depending on their outlook). It was great! We ended the trip led by the motorcade of cycles (sirens going) leading the way as we rode up to the Philadelphia Art Museum and made a victory lap in the traffic circle in front of the museum.
Most riders caught the bus back to the start to pick up their cars, but I had relatives in New Jersey so I continued on from there for another 27 miles. The Ben Franklin bridge between Phila and NJ is one really great bridge to ride across. They have an walk/bike lane about one story above the cars. The bridge is about 1.5 miles long and really high. What a view!
Total was 140 miles, the last 27 miles I was loaded with all my gear, but I did OK and felt great. All in all it was one of the most unique times of my life. I’d so it again anytime.