Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Anyone have favorite routes in State College, PA?

It looks like I'll be able to take my bike with me when we go visit my MIL in State College, PA, soon. I'm planning on quizzing the local shops for routes, but thought I'd ask here, too. Any suggestions?

when you going? Would love to meet up with you if we both have time.

Consider asking a bike club.

The old MIA from the MIL trick.

How long a route are you looking for?

The old MIA from the MIL trick.

I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. That reminds me, I need to pack the golf clubs, too.

;)

How long a route are you looking for?

Given the hills in the area, I'm thinking 30-40 miles might be enough to tap me out. Shorter routes are fine, too.

I've never ridden around there, so I did a search on map my ride (http://www.mapmyride.com/). Wow, there are a lot of rides posted for that area. Check it out if you get a chance. I might have to try, and get over there for some rides soon..

This one is a bit longer, but scenic and not horrible as far as hills go.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/2827860

Or for one around 35 miles, you can try this one.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/296735

Neil:
Only thing I know of is a new rail trail from Lewisburg to Mifflinburg. I haven't done it yet. But it's on the list to do.And I'd like to extend a warm Central PA welcome to Ya! BTW ya gotta hit the Penn State Diner for a grilled stickey. No trip to State College is complete without one.

Mark Shuman
Shamokin PA(about 45 miles from State College)

search for "seven climbs of death"

If you don't like the sound of that, Black Moshannon is a really nice ride, 35 miles round trip from the airport, 5000 feet of climbing.

Those are actually two very nice rides, but if you aren't up for that kind of thing I can second SAyre Kulp's suggestions above. Also, the Tadpole loop is a big favorite. After work, we usually go out past the airport, and ride back on Rock Road through Fisherman's Paradise.

Which end of town will you be on? If you are on the Boalsburg end, recommendations might be a little different. PA Bike route G is used as part of a lot of rides.

Neil:
Only thing I know of is a new rail trail from Lewisburg to Mifflinburg. I haven't done it yet. But it's on the list to do.And I'd like to extend a warm Central PA welcome to Ya! BTW ya gotta hit the Penn State Diner for a grilled stickey. No trip to State College is complete without one.

Mark Shuman
Shamokin PA(about 45 miles from State College)

First, I'm not Neil, but thanks for the welcome anyway. ;)

And unfortunately I was introduced to the Diner's grilled stickies quite a while ago. My in-laws retired to State College about 10 or 12 years back and I've visited many times. The dining room at their retirement community serves the Diner's stickies at Sunday brunch (plus, packages of them have been known to follow us back to Indiana). And ice cream from the Creamery is available for dessert at all lunches and dinners.

search for "seven climbs of death"

If you don't like the sound of that, Black Moshannon is a really nice ride, 35 miles round trip from the airport, 5000 feet of climbing.

Those are actually two very nice rides, but if you aren't up for that kind of thing I can second SAyre Kulp's suggestions above. Also, the Tadpole loop is a big favorite. After work, we usually go out past the airport, and ride back on Rock Road through Fisherman's Paradise.

Which end of town will you be on? If you are on the Boalsburg end, recommendations might be a little different. PA Bike route G is used as part of a lot of rides.

I'll be at the MIL's retirement community, The Villages at Penn State, near Toftrees and Fox Hollow, across I-99 from Beaver Stadium.

How climbing-averse are you? The airport loop is a natural from Toftrees. I also like Valley View, but then I feel compelled to ride back along the ridge of Purdue Mountain.

If you have a bike with tires big enough to ride on gravel, the bike path into Campus from Toftrees is nice and also gets you closer to the start of the Tadpole loop. Tadpole is the only ride around I think of as flat.

I'm not averse to climbing, but being a Clyde, I'm a bit climbing-challenged, particularly with my ancient knees. It's more an issue of what my legs are used to - around here things are as flat as you can imagine, outside of east central Illinois, which is like riding on a giant billiard table.

I'm not averse to climbing, but being a Clyde, I'm a bit climbing-challenged, particularly with my ancient knees. It's more an issue of what my legs are used to - around here things are as flat as you can imagine, outside of east central Illinois, which is like riding on a giant billiard table.

Elysian elucidation eludes me.

Elysian elucidation eludes me.

I would have thought talk of a billiard table would be more of a cartesian elucidation.

I would have thought talk of a billiard table would be more of a cartesian elucidation.

My first thought was of a binary reference and then it occured to me that you were projecting.

when you going? Would love to meet up with you if we both have time.

See my PM, Chef, if you haven't already.

craig: What? You mean you are not Neil??!!!??? What the he11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got the pm but cannot respond on my phone to pms. In hospital now.

I imagine the real problem for you would be gearing. My low gear is 34/32, although this time of year I don't use that all that often. The first time I rode the Black Moshannon loop, I was glad that our shower has a place to sit. That was the first time in 3 decades of riding that I was literally in pain after a ride. I started a thread in Road about that and got no sympathy whatsoever. Good way to lose weight though, I was back to almost 210 earlier this year, I'm trying to get to somewhere around 150.

craig: What? You mean you are not Neil??!!!??? What the he11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


All men want to be me, and some women too, but alas, none can measure up to my level of awesome. CraigB should be flattered.

Sorry about that Craig. You know how us old farts brain seize. I was replying to one of NielB's posts earlier. And just plain brain farted it. I apologize for the mix up.

Mark Shuman

Good one Neil, have me chuckling at my own faux paux!

Sorry about that Craig. You know how us old farts brain seize. I was replying to one of NielB's posts earlier. And just plain brain farted it. I apologize for the mix up.

Mark Shuman

Good one Neil, have me chuckling at my own faux paux!

No, thank you for both the mix-up and for informing me about a new trail to ride. I will have to make a trip out to the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail as circumstances permit:

http://bvrt.org/Maps/downloads/BVRTMap.pdf

Check out this link as there is a variety of rides: http://rito.us/wwrides/rides.html

No matter how you look at it you will encounter some hills. Valley View/Bellefonte area can get pretty hilly. I would suggest heading over toward Linden Hall/Oak Hall and riding towards Centre Hall. It's probably the flatest area around here for a 20 - 30 mile ride.

I live in State College and I need to get some miles in this weekend as I am prepping for the Philly Livestrong event next month. Let me know if you want some company.

For those suggesting the Diner, it has gone downhill since new ownership took over and his become somewhat of a dump. The Stickies are actually made there anymore and are now mass produced somewhere else. If you want a good dining experience try Herwigs. It's an Austrian restaurant and the food is out of this world(if you like that kind of food). One of their sayings is they use bacon as a spice.