Touring - Biking from Pgh to Philly next week?

because I committed to bike there next week and I'm intimidated by Bicycle PA Route S. I'm going to get to Philly by the 13th, anyone planning a similar route?

Argh, nevermind the thread title, I mean Pgh to Philly

because I committed to bike there next week and I'm intimidated by Bicycle PA Route S. I'm going to get to Philly by the 13th, anyone planning a similar route?

Argh, nevermind the thread title, I mean Pgh to Philly

What's intimidating about the S route? Hills? Traffic? The S route has both, but it has wide shoulders in many places and it's very well marked.

The S route is used by the Crush the Commonwealth ride, so if you search Google for "Crush the Commonwealth", you should find a map of the route.

Two significant portions of the S route are off-road. The S uses 60 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage rail trail (West Newton to Rockwood). Also, in Fulton County you can take a side trip and use the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike for nine miles. The GAP is fine packed gravel, and the Abandoned Turnpike is asphalt that hasn't been resurfaced in 40 years. (Bring lights for the AT - there are two miles of unlit tunnels.)

Argh, nevermind the thread title, I mean Pgh to Philly

fixed

What's intimidating about the S route? Hills? Traffic? The S route has both, but it has wide shoulders in many places and it's very well marked.

The S route is used by the Crush the Commonwealth ride, so if you search Google for "Crush the Commonwealth", you should find a map of the route.

Two significant portions of the S route are off-road. The S uses 60 miles of the Great Allegheny Passage rail trail (West Newton to Rockwood). Also, in Fulton County you can take a side trip and use the Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike for nine miles. The GAP is fine packed gravel, and the Abandoned Turnpike is asphalt that hasn't been resurfaced in 40 years. (Bring lights for the AT - there are two miles of unlit tunnels.)

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=3Tzut&doc_id=3508&v=Bu

(Bring lights for the AT - there are two miles of unlit tunnels.)
Thank you, this is exactly what I'm looking for (other than a tour guide). I feel unprepared for trips without a hot tip or two.

Thank you, this is exactly what I'm looking for (other than a tour guide). I feel unprepared for trips without a hot tip or two.


OK, here are more:

When you reach Kimberton (30 some miles outside Philadelphia), you can switch from the S route to Rt. 113, pass through Phoenixville, and then once you cross the river pick up the Schuykill River Trail at Mont Clare into Philadelphia. Most of the 25 miles into town is off-road on a paved trail. It's also flat or at a one per cent downgrade.

The S route is generally well-marked, and in many sections has wide shoulders. For instance, Rt. 23 just east of Elverson:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/3001316905_167b1e804b_b.jpg

(BTW, French Creek State Park is the last state park outside Philadelphia (46 miles away) to allow tent camping. There are private campgrounds galore in the East, but they are more like RV parks.)

However, often the S route is a single lane with a small shoulder, especially in the hilly parts of PA.

Here's the Abandoned PA Turnpike this Sunday, as I rode it with a group of Bike Forums posters. Two of the riders in this photo are posters here, incidentally:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3584283745_d93531bf1d_b.jpg

And the longest tunnel, 1.2 miles long:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2452/3585081666_62b9dcd821_b.jpg

I'd offer you hospitality, since I live on the S route, but I'm going to be in Pittsburgh the weekend you are coming through.

I'd mentioned Crush the Commonwealth before. Here are some accounts of it:

http://randanneuring.blogspot.com/2009/05/crush-commonwealth-2009.html

http://ctcpa.blogspot.com/

I rode part of the S route in March and April. From what I saw, it's a very nice route. I detoured to avoid downtown York and Lancaster; but I wouldn't recommend what I did. Just ride through.

Sweet. I think I can handle the traffic in the above photos. I'm going to take a relaxed pace and maybe Gently Crumple the Commonwealth. Historian, PM me if you want my housemate to extend the hospitality of my place that weekend.

Sweet. I think I can handle the traffic in the above photos. I'm going to take a relaxed pace and maybe Gently Crumple the Commonwealth. Historian, PM me if you want my housemate to extend the hospitality of my place that weekend.

I'd like to take you up on it, but I'm leaving with the Bike Forums group from Pittsburgh to DC on the 13th.

Have a great trip! As you probably already know, you'll have the two nicest bike shops on your route, Kraynick's in Pittsbugh and the Cumberland Trail shop.

Have a great trip! As you probably already know, you'll have the two nicest bike shops on your route, Kraynick's in Pittsbugh and the Cumberland Trail shop.

The nicest bike shops on the S route are the place in East Earl that fixed RHM's spoke when he broke one on his March tour, and Bikesport in Trappe - but they are 12 miles off-route.

Cumberland Trail Connection is great. I like Hutch and Kurt's shop a great deal.