Rather than drive to the bike store to pick up my bike, I'm thinking about taking the train there and riding back to NJ.

Here's my first stab at a route:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/REI-Conshohocken-to-Washington-Crossing

Is anyone familiar enough with the area to know how bikeable this is?

Thanks!

Edit: I've changed the destination to New Hope.

Some of those roads I believe don't have shoulders, and in Bucks & the eastern Montco area there's some good sized hills - but If you're not a beginner roadie it shouldn't be too bad.

Some of those roads I believe don't have shoulders, and in Bucks & the eastern Montco area there's some good sized hills - but If you're not a beginner roadie it shouldn't be too bad.

Hills aren't a problem, but I'd like to avoid the shoulderless roads. Which ones are particularly bad?

I work near Ambler, and live near the northern end of your proposed route. I take many of the roads you've listed to get to and from work each day. I just started road biking last year, so I'm not very comfortable riding "heavily travelled" roads but based on my commute I'd alter the route a bit if I were to ride it.

I'd avoid Welsh Road and especially County Line Rd. Dresher Rd is a pretty busy four lane road, I don't remember what the shoulder is like, I take less travelled roads to avoid all three when I'm driving. Further north, Mill Creek Rd has no shoulder, but it's a fairly lightly travelled back road...hilly and lots of turns. I've never driven Rt232 north of Pine Lane, but South of there its a fairly high speed two lane road (45+mph) with a decent shoulder in spots and not much room at other places.

Didn't look at your route, but roads should be on njbikemap. It edges well into PA. The maps shos level of traffic and significant climbs.

I work near Ambler, and live near the northern end of your proposed route. I take many of the roads you've listed to get to and from work each day. I just started road biking last year, so I'm not very comfortable riding "heavily travelled" roads but based on my commute I'd alter the route a bit if I were to ride it.

I'd avoid Welsh Road and especially County Line Rd. Dresher Rd is a pretty busy four lane road, I don't remember what the shoulder is like, I take less travelled roads to avoid all three when I'm driving. Further north, Mill Creek Rd has no shoulder, but it's a fairly lightly travelled back road...hilly and lots of turns. I've never driven Rt232 north of Pine Lane, but South of there its a fairly high speed two lane road (45+mph) with a decent shoulder in spots and not much room at other places.

Thanks. I rerouted from mile 9.3 to 13.2, and rerouted around 232 using Jamison Rd to get to Swamp Rd.

Didn't look at your route, but roads should be on njbikemap. It edges well into PA. The maps shos level of traffic and significant climbs.

Bikely has elevation charts as well. 832' of climbing for this rode. It sounds like fun, but not too much fun. I'm out of practice with hills lately.

Bikely has elevation charts as well. 832' of climbing for this rode. It sounds like fun, but not too much fun. I'm out of practice with hills lately.

I did about 5,000 today on a 50 mi ride up around Tewksbury. Work on climbing. It's fun! :)

Thanks. I rerouted from mile 9.3 to 13.2, and rerouted around 232 using Jamison Rd to get to Swamp Rd.

Another alternative in Ambler itself would be to work your way over to Tennis Ave and take it all the way to Norristown Rd and then follow Norristown Rd all the way to Willow Grove air base, like you've partially done. I see bikes on Tennis Ave all the time. It seems to be a decently travelled bike route in that area.

Further north on your trip you could also hang a left on to the second Norristown Rd (I go that way every day...not too much traffic on Norristown) right after turning onto County Line Rd from Maple Ave. County Line Rd can be a bit dicey...particularly the stretch from rt263 to where you're turning left on to Park Ave.

When you get to Almshouse Rd...I see you've changed from making a right and heading to Old Jacksonville Rd. I ride my bike on Old Jacksonville Rd all the time. Its very rural, I almost never see any cars on it. When you make the left on Almshouse and head towards Rushland Rd, there's a pretty decent hill to climb. Heading towards Old Jacksonville will be a bit more gradual climb, and then you'll get a nice downhill on Sackettsford Rd.

With the notable exception of Street Road, the route was very good.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/2641202394_25294a72f6.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/2641202394/)

I ended up in 232 a little earlier than I had planned. It's got a lot of fast traffic, but there are shouders (even though they're not in the best repair). When 232 becomes Windy Bush Road, it's rural and very nice to ride on.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/2640372965_7017dda705.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilfein/2640372965/)

I rode the last 5 miles in a downpour, including the last mile that's down a very steep grade.

Thanks again to everybody for help with this route. This one's a keeper.