Come one, come all to The Icycle Bicycle Ride
A New Year's Day event, this social ride has been traditionally held in all conditions, even if it is limited to pushing the bikes through hub-deep snow for a few blocks before adjourning to a nearby coffee shop.
January 1st, 2008 11 AM at REI in the Southside Works
The Icycle Bicycle Ride is sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Wheelmen. It has been an annual event for more than 30 some odd years. Nobody is really certain when it was started.
This year it will be one of the if not the first event actually to be held in Pittsburgh's semiquincentennial year.
It will start from REI at the South Side Works at 11 a.m. (so people can get at least a little rest after the previous night's celebrations) and will wend its way through Pittsburgh with an emphasis on the trails. This year the plan is to cross the Hot Metal Bridge on the trail then head downtown on the Eliza Furnace Trail. From there the route will be across the 6th street Roberto Clemente Bridge and up to the 31st Street Bridge. The route from there will be through the Strip District to the Smithfield Bridge and down on the trail to point of origin in the South Side Works.
There is the option to not cross the HMB and to go towards UPMC Sportsworks. This route would be good for parents with young kids. All routes provide options to ride as long or as short as desired.
The Icycle Bicycle Ride used to start at 31st and Penn in the Strip District. It has gone no matter what the weather. In previous years, when we had deep snow on January 1st, it was not unusual to have to push bikes to McDonald's in the Strip for coffee and hot chocolate and then return to the start point.
Last year REI graciously offered to help sponsor this event with coffee and hot chocolate for riders at the start and the start point was moved from the Strip to South Side Works. REI is again going to help sponsor the ride and provide coffee and hot chocolate. /
Last year we had about 200 people come out and ride. With luck, with good weather again, and with word of mouth, we will have more this year.
Hope to see some of you 'nor easter, SW PA, and 'Burghers from the forums along for the ride.
Denny
The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.
Hey Den, I haven't been to the South Side in years. My Great GF was born on Sarah St. and I used to go in and ride around and wonder what it was like 100 years ago. Is the S.Side Works on Carson? My buddies and I have already talked about doing this if the conditions are right. Merry Christmas !:)
TrekDen
Hey Den, I haven't been to the South Side in years. My Great GF was born on Sarah St. and I used to go in and ride around and wonder what it was like 100 years ago. Is the S.Side Works on Carson? My buddies and I have already talked about doing this if the conditions are right. Merry Christmas !:)
Yep, it sure is. It actually sits right where part of the old J & L Steel Mill used to stand. It's a really nice complex, and it grows a little more each year. The REI store is a couple streets down from Carson towards the Mon River. If you find The Cheesecake Factory, then you'll see us all gathering in front of REI. I have done this ride several times, and really look forward to it now.
I myself grew up right around the South Side, and lived there for most of my life. Now I live on a farm down here in Greene County. I still get my butt back to Pittsburgh at least once a month if I can, and ride the trail system they have. If you have not ridden it yet, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised on how nice it is.
Denny
Elwoodab
Denny, you and I are pretty close geographicaly. I read your post on the Pitt. Pro bike forum, and saw that you were from Greene Co. I live near the villiage of Old Concord about a mile from the Greene Co. line. I ride down there all the time. I have a little loop that I do down to Ninevah, another down threw Graysville, Rogersville and back, and another where I start at the Burger King in Waynesburg , go down 19 to Kirby, then across Kirby Rd. to 218 S. and across Bluff Ridge Rd. (killer hill) to Oakforest Rd. back into Waynesburg. It's a good hilly work out. My Dad graduated from Waynesburg High School. We'll have to meet sometime, maybe at the New Years ride. I will admit, I will only go if the weather is reasonable.
By the way, did you buy your bike from Pitt. Pro Bikes? I am hoping to buy a road bike this week and want to know if they are good about fitting people to a bike.
TrekDen
Denny, you and I are pretty close geographicaly. I read your post on the Pitt. Pro bike forum, and saw that you were from Greene Co. I live near the villiage of Old Concord about a mile from the Greene Co. line. I ride down there all the time. I have a little loop that I do down to Ninevah, another down threw Graysville, Rogersville and back, and another where I start at the Burger King in Waynesburg , go down 19 to Kirby, then across Kirby Rd. to 218 S. and across Bluff Ridge Rd. (killer hill) to Oakforest Rd. back into Waynesburg. It's a good hilly work out. My Dad graduated from Waynesburg High School. We'll have to meet sometime, maybe at the New Years ride. I will admit, I will only go if the weather is reasonable.
By the way, did you buy your bike from Pitt. Pro Bikes? I am hoping to buy a road bike this week and want to know if they are good about fitting people to a bike.
I have not been in the new Pitt Pro store as of yet, so I'm unsure of their fitting quality. My current bikes were both bought from Big Bang Bicycles in West Mifflin. I just had the basic fitting done, but found it more than adequate for my recreational riding style. I believe they also offer a professionally analyzed fitting service there, but I didn't see a need to pay for it at the time.
As far as the New Years Day ride goes, heavy rain, or a massive snow storm are my only deterents. I can dress for the cold, but cold rain is something else. The group tends to stop a little more often for coffee, or hot chocolate if it's really freezing cold.
If we don't meet on New Years Day, we'll definately have a meet, and greet sometime in the near future.
Business810
Sounds like a good ride - I'll be there. Since it sounds like a pretty flat route, I may even be on my single speed Cannondale. Currently the weather for New Year's is rain/snow showers with a high of 35, but I've ridden in worse. I may try to round up a few friends as well, but who knows if they will be up for braving the weather.
TrekDen
Sounds like a good ride - I'll be there. Since it sounds like a pretty flat route, I may even be on my single speed Cannondale. Currently the weather for New Year's is rain/snow showers with a high of 35, but I've ridden in worse. I may try to round up a few friends as well, but who knows if they will be up for braving the weather.
Yep, it's a pretty flat route, and goes along at a casual pace. I think the biggest hills will be the rises on the bridges we cross :D I'll take snow squalls over the rain, but I guess we'll have to see how it shapes out as the day draws closer. My choice of rides will depend on that forecast as well.
Denny
Business810
Yep, it's a pretty flat route, and goes along at a casual pace. I think the biggest hills will be the rises on the bridges we cross :D I'll take snow squalls over the rain, but I guess we'll have to see how it shapes out as the day draws closer. My choice of rides will depend on that forecast as well.
Denny
My thoughts exactly. If there's snow, I'll be on my SS Kona; if there isn't, it'll be my SS Cannondale road bike. They just changed the forecast to be a few degrees colder and snowing. Either way, it should be a fun ride. My girlfriend should be coming along on her old cruiser, too.
Elwoodab
Well Guys, I took the plunge today and bought a new road bike. I bought a Scott Speedster S10 at Big Bang, so if the weather looks dry you may see me at the Icycle Bicycle. I should ask, will a road bike be OK? Do we ride on mostly paved roads or are their some trails? I pick it up tomorrow and hope to try and get 10 miles for a break in ride. Exciting.
TrekDen
You'll be fine on that new road bike. I plan to bring my Flyte road bike, but the weather will dictate that decision. The ride will be a mix of both road, and trails. 90% of the trail system around Pittsburgh use asphalt, and are actually better surfaces than most of the roads around Pittsburgh.
Nice choice on the bike! Very Exciting Indeed :beer:
My thoughts exactly. If there's snow, I'll be on my SS Kona; if there isn't, it'll be my SS Cannondale road bike. They just changed the forecast to be a few degrees colder and snowing. Either way, it should be a fun ride. My girlfriend should be coming along on her old cruiser, too.
You should be one of a few on a SS bike, so you'll be easy to spot I would think. I'll make sure to look for ya', and say Hi, and Happy New Year. If it's snowing I'll be on my Chrome Motobecane Mountain Bike. If it's dry I'll have my Blue Flyte roadie along for the ride. Either way, I'll be sporting regular plaform pedals 'cause I plan to wear some boots to keep my feet warmer. Should be a good look, cycling tights, and work boot combo! :p
Denny
Elwoodab
If it's snowing I'll be on my Crome Motobecane Mountain Bike. If it's dry I'll have my Blue Flyte roadie along for the ride.
I think I may make a change to my Giant Iguana Mtn. Bike for the same reason. I can wear warm boots and socks. Sounds like it's gonna be cold. I did manage to ride 12 miles on the Scott yesterday. Maybe some more tomorrow.
Business810
I may have talked a few more friends of mine into coming, but some of them may not show due to weather. I picked up a new toy today (a 1971 Triumph 3-speed), but I'll still probably be on either my SS Cannondale or Kona. Either way, I'm going to try to pick up some thick socks tomorrow to keep my toes from freezing off in my MTB shoes. I'll keep an eye out for you guys when I get there.
Elwoodab
After hearing the forecast, I am wussing out. Sorry, I don't want to walk my bike to the coffee shop.
But, here's a couple of pics of the stable, including the newest member.
Happy New Year All !
Sorry, It won't let me put on a picture that's more than 100 MB. Can someone tell me the trick?
Dan
Stickyrunner01
host before you post... something like imageshack...
Elwoodab
Sticky, I have no idea what you mean?
TrekDen
Ride Report: Well despite the doom, and gloom forecast, we ended up having a nice turnout for the ride. I'm going to guess about 65 - 75 folks showed up. Yes, it was cold at the start, but the snow never did materialize except for a couple flurries. Once we got rolling things warmed up quickly, and I for one was never cold again until the ride ended. Had the chance to meet Business810 at about the halfway point of the ride. He rolled up to me right before we made our turn onto the 31st Street Bridge, and introduced himself. That sure is a nice SS Cannondale he had under him for the ride. The wind tried to knock us sideways crossing the bridge, but we soon reached the protection of the buildings in the strip ditrict. I think we ended up with roughly 12 miles in the end, and for this New Years ride that was all I wanted. Besides, I wanted to hurry up, and catch The Pen's play outdoor up in Buffalo at one of the local pubs I would frequent when I lived in Pittsburgh.
See ya next time,
Denny
TrekDen
Sticky, I have no idea what you mean?
Elwood,
Sticky is refering to a photo hosting site like these below
http://www.imageshack.com
http://www.photobucket.com
Or you can read up about posting photo's at this thread on Bikeforums (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=79678)
OK, Thank you, by the way Den for that thread. I'm not the most computer savy person around, but with a little trial and error I can usually figure things out. What I did, was upload to my Kodak acct. On my 1st attempt I just put in the url with [img] in front with no spaces. Well that's exactly what appears, if you click on it you can see the picture, on the 2nd attempt I just cut the picture itself from the Kodak site and pasted it in the quick reply box, ouila. It appears. Thanks again.
Business810
Thanks for the compliments about the C'Dale! Denny was right about the ride, except for the not being cold part. My toes and fingers were freezing - so much for wool socks and thick winter gloves... The ride was a lot of fun though, and at least we didn't feel as crazy as the people who we saw jumping in the river!
TrekDen
Thanks for the compliments about the C'Dale! Denny was right about the ride, except for the not being cold part. My toes and fingers were freezing - so much for wool socks and thick winter gloves... The ride was a lot of fun though, and at least we didn't feel as crazy as the people who we saw jumping in the river!
I think those crazies were there last year too, if I remember right!