200 km of gravel goodness in Central Pennsylvania
06-13-14, 06:45 PM
#1
Randomhead
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,386
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,686 Times
in
2,509 Posts
200 km of gravel goodness in Central Pennsylvania
riding this route tomorrow for the first time since it was an approved RUSA permanent 200k with about 1/3 of it on some really nice gravel roads. Hopefully we finish in time Desolation 200 alternate - A bike ride in Boalsburg, PA
06-15-14, 11:58 AM
#2
Randomhead
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,386
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,686 Times
in
2,509 Posts
So we finished in 13 hours out of the 13:24 allotted. Steamer took a roofing nail to his rear tire with about 7 miles to go, so we were a little concerned about time. The fact that it was a nail made changing it a little easier since we knew the cause of the flat was gone and there was no need to search around for it like happens with a sliver of steel or glass.
I always was curious about one of the roads we took, turns out we should have trusted the Purple Lizard map that showed it as a jeep trail. It was about 15 miles of doubletrack with big rocks and huge mud puddles, compounding the fact that it was almost all uphill. Fortunately, the road surface on the descent was much better, although it's not sustainable and there were huge ditches made by runoff crossing the road. Ya, you can ride it on a CX bike, but it's a lot slower than if you are riding a MTB. I suspect that if I was riding the 30mm tires I was using last year that I would have gotten at least one pinch flat
I always was curious about one of the roads we took, turns out we should have trusted the Purple Lizard map that showed it as a jeep trail. It was about 15 miles of doubletrack with big rocks and huge mud puddles, compounding the fact that it was almost all uphill. Fortunately, the road surface on the descent was much better, although it's not sustainable and there were huge ditches made by runoff crossing the road. Ya, you can ride it on a CX bike, but it's a lot slower than if you are riding a MTB. I suspect that if I was riding the 30mm tires I was using last year that I would have gotten at least one pinch flat
Last edited by unterhausen; 06-15-14 at 07:23 PM.
06-15-14, 07:54 PM
#4
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
Nice!
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
06-15-14, 07:59 PM
#5
Have bike, will travel
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Lake Geneva, WI
Posts: 12,284
Bikes: Ridley Helium SLX, Canyon Endurance SL, De Rosa Professional, Eddy Merckx Corsa Extra, Schwinn Paramount (1 painted, 1 chrome), Peugeot PX10, Serotta Nova X, Simoncini Cyclocross Special, Raleigh Roker, Pedal Force CG2 and CX2
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 910 Post(s)
Liked 288 Times
in
158 Posts
Looks like fun.
__________________
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
When I ride my bike I feel free and happy and strong. I'm liberated from the usual nonsense of day to day life. Solid, dependable, silent, my bike is my horse, my fighter jet, my island, my friend. Together we will conquer that hill and thereafter the world.
06-15-14, 08:07 PM
#6
Randomhead
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,386
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,686 Times
in
2,509 Posts
it's a really nice ride, I have to admit that Steamer designed it for the most part. It's relaxing to ride that far and see so few cars.
07-30-14, 10:41 AM
#8
Senior Member
Nice route.
07-31-14, 04:12 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 946
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 286 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times
in
129 Posts
So we finished in 13 hours out of the 13:24 allotted. Steamer took a roofing nail to his rear tire with about 7 miles to go, so we were a little concerned about time. The fact that it was a nail made changing it a little easier since we knew the cause of the flat was gone and there was no need to search around for it like happens with a sliver of steel or glass.
I always was curious about one of the roads we took, turns out we should have trusted the Purple Lizard map that showed it as a jeep trail. It was about 15 miles of doubletrack with big rocks and huge mud puddles, compounding the fact that it was almost all uphill. Fortunately, the road surface on the descent was much better, although it's not sustainable and there were huge ditches made by runoff crossing the road. Ya, you can ride it on a CX bike, but it's a lot slower than if you are riding a MTB. I suspect that if I was riding the 30mm tires I was using last year that I would have gotten at least one pinch flat
I always was curious about one of the roads we took, turns out we should have trusted the Purple Lizard map that showed it as a jeep trail. It was about 15 miles of doubletrack with big rocks and huge mud puddles, compounding the fact that it was almost all uphill. Fortunately, the road surface on the descent was much better, although it's not sustainable and there were huge ditches made by runoff crossing the road. Ya, you can ride it on a CX bike, but it's a lot slower than if you are riding a MTB. I suspect that if I was riding the 30mm tires I was using last year that I would have gotten at least one pinch flat
unterhausen - if you're from the area I might PM you at some point with questions about lodging, local bike shops, routes, etc...if that's ok with you
08-01-14, 11:00 AM
#12
Randomhead
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Happy Valley, Pennsylvania
Posts: 24,386
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Liked 3,686 Times
in
2,509 Posts
Last year I rode 30mm cross tires without serious issues. I got a couple of pinch flats, but I have been known to descend fairly fast.
08-03-14, 05:43 AM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 946
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 286 Post(s)
Liked 261 Times
in
129 Posts
sure, PM any time. If you look on my ride with gps page, unless it says, "shortest route" then those are pretty decent roads to ride on. If you want gravel, you could spend a week just riding in Bald Eagle and Rothrock state forests without getting bored
Last year I rode 30mm cross tires without serious issues. I got a couple of pinch flats, but I have been known to descend fairly fast.
Last year I rode 30mm cross tires without serious issues. I got a couple of pinch flats, but I have been known to descend fairly fast.
08-03-14, 06:38 PM
#14
Zircon Encrusted Tweezers
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: high ground
Posts: 1,346
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 260 Post(s)
Liked 127 Times
in
82 Posts
Thanks. I have two bikes I could use...one with 32mm tires and rim brakes, the other with 40mm tires and disk brakes. The latter I use mainly on dirt/gravel paths, with lots of climbs and twisty turns (wider bars). My trip isn't until next year, but the planning is fun.
If/when you make it up this way, I suggest that you let Unter and I know. We can offer additional ride advice and such. And perhaps join you if you are looking for company.
08-17-14, 05:34 PM
#15
Zircon Encrusted Tweezers
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: high ground
Posts: 1,346
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 260 Post(s)
Liked 127 Times
in
82 Posts
We rode it again yesterday. Kicked my butt pretty good even though we rode a slightly shorter and easier version of it. But it was a good day nonetheless, and we had almost perfect weather. I extended my streak to 5 in pursuit of a RUSA R-12.
Photos: SI No-2 Photos by steamer_03 | Photobucket
Photos: SI No-2 Photos by steamer_03 | Photobucket
08-18-14, 06:56 AM
#17
Hopelessly addicted...
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Central Maryland
Posts: 4,955
Bikes: 1949 Hercules Kestrel, 1950 Norman Rapide, 1970 Schwinn Collegiate, 1972 Peugeot UE-8, 1976 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Jack Taylor Tandem, 1984 Davidson Tandem, 2010 Bilenky "BQ" 650B Constructeur Tandem, 2011 Linus Mixte
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times
in
9 Posts
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Myosmith
Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational)
4
09-20-13 07:44 AM
