Adaptive Cycling: Handcycles, Amputee Adaptation, Visual Impairment, and Other Needs - Oley

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Neil_B
10-24-11, 09:16 AM
Oley Township, near Reading, has some of the best cycling in Pennsylvania. A few years ago the township petitioned for and was granted status as a National Historic District. This means the area is going to be protected from the sort of development and commercialism that turned nearby Lancaster County into a Amish Disneyland. Because of this Oley roads are relatively low traffic and the rolling landscape is dotted with historic structures.

Sunday I rode in Oley for 14 miles with two able-bodied Bike Forums posters, wfournier and guybierhaus. We started from Salem UCC, celebrating 275 years in the same location:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/316284_2374918824860_1607271639_2315227_1214505024_n.jpg

I was worn out and knee-creaking from a 22 mile ride the day before, so we cut it short. Here are my companions six mile in:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/307853_2374912144693_1607271639_2315208_2139686153_n.jpg

wfournier, here for the first time, was as struck by Oley as I am after four years of trips:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/317193_2374916624805_1607271639_2315218_893951265_n.jpg

Back at Salem UCC, I gave wfournier a little four mile loop so he could test his new fast bike, while I spent time taking photos of the surrounding land:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/317622_2374917184819_1607271639_2315224_824611144_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/297762_2374917664831_1607271639_2315225_1292236084_n.jpg

All in all, even though our ride was cut short, it was a good afternoon.

punkncat
10-24-11, 10:52 AM
Looks beautiful Neil. You set the standard for good pictoral posts among a few other posters. Good job.
Peter_C
10-25-11, 09:27 AM
Neil, you do know that photo taking is much easier by trike, right? Wonderful as always~!

dwellman
10-27-11, 07:19 AM
Thank you for reminding me I live in cycling hell.

You aint' kidding. I used to ride out and about on the other side of Reading (Wyomising, State Hill, Sinking Spring sort of loop) nothing but trees and hills, it seemed. And last time I was there though is is insanely built up.

Next time I'm up there I need to head east, I suppose.
nuggets
09-01-12, 06:34 AM
Hi, *I used to ride Oley and it was beautiful. *I remember a lot more hills than you show on your pics. *Since my bilat. knee replacements, hills are not allowed according to my ortho. *I mostly do rail trails now. *I'm recovering from a severe knee infection right side. *I had to live 6 months without a knee at all. *When my infection was cleaned I got another new knee. *He told me this is my last knee. *The infection ravaged my bone density. *Anymore trouble and the ortho. must fuse my knee. *Still rehabbing. *Maybe I'll see you down in Oley some day. *Oh by the way, *I live in Reading.