Pottsville PA group rides
05-15-16, 11:39 AM
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Pottsville PA group rides
I am heading back to my place of birth this July, which is near Pottsville PA. Are there any fast group rides in the area?
Thanks.
Thanks.
05-15-16, 04:15 PM
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There's a bike club in Williamsport area that I hear is pretty good (Susquehanna Valley Velo Club), and check out "The Dutch Wheelmen" in Bloomsburg.
05-15-16, 06:05 PM
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05-15-16, 07:04 PM
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05-16-16, 11:38 AM
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There is a LBS on the main drag in Bloomsburg that sells Dutch Wheelmen. I stopped in there during a cross-PA tour. Nice place. The guy who helped me looked like he could drop you with one leg tied behind his back.
05-16-16, 12:44 PM
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Yeesh. Bloomsburg is a solid hour drive from Pottsville, Williamsport about an hour and a half. As a native Pottsville-ian 
I've often thought that it's a shame that the roads up there (which feature awesomely swoopy hills and turns) are such shoulder-less, cratered, third-world horror-shows, occupied by terrible drivers who would be less startled to encounter the Loch Ness Monster than a bicyclist out on the road.
I've brought my road bike up there a few times; once to ride the few miles from my mother's place to the local high school, to watch the Cycle 17 race, but otherwise just tooling around the local neighborhood with my nephew. I guess it's all in what you get used to, but I'm pretty comfortable out on the road, and I think it would take me a *lot* of getting used to . . .
Good luck!
I've often thought that it's a shame that the roads up there (which feature awesomely swoopy hills and turns) are such shoulder-less, cratered, third-world horror-shows, occupied by terrible drivers who would be less startled to encounter the Loch Ness Monster than a bicyclist out on the road. I've brought my road bike up there a few times; once to ride the few miles from my mother's place to the local high school, to watch the Cycle 17 race, but otherwise just tooling around the local neighborhood with my nephew. I guess it's all in what you get used to, but I'm pretty comfortable out on the road, and I think it would take me a *lot* of getting used to . . .
Good luck!
05-16-16, 12:46 PM
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@maxine: yeah the distance is a bit much since I won't really be in Pottsville but rather Lake Wynonah which is even further south. I'm not sure what I will do yet, probably just ride loops around my neighborhood.
05-17-16, 06:55 AM
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Maybe I should look in the Reading area. That is a~40 minute drive away.
05-17-16, 03:29 PM
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There's the famous velodrome in the Allentown area -- actually Trexlertown, I think, a bit west of Allentown; roughly the same driving time as Reading. No clue what the road biking world is like there, but maybe worth checking in to see if there are any local bike shops doing anything.
From Lake Wynonah, I've occasionally eyeballed Route 183 as I've driven on it. Some shoulder is available in places, and the surface doesn't seem too bad. Climbing over Blue Mountain, though (heading south), there are some blind hill/curve spots, and the area is known for some pretty vicious accidents (truckers not realizing they're going too fast, and losing the battle of gravity with those sharp curves.) Fierce fog, too; if it's a mild fog in the valley, you can count on the mountain being "can't see the hand in front of your face" socked in. :0
From Lake Wynonah, I've occasionally eyeballed Route 183 as I've driven on it. Some shoulder is available in places, and the surface doesn't seem too bad. Climbing over Blue Mountain, though (heading south), there are some blind hill/curve spots, and the area is known for some pretty vicious accidents (truckers not realizing they're going too fast, and losing the battle of gravity with those sharp curves.) Fierce fog, too; if it's a mild fog in the valley, you can count on the mountain being "can't see the hand in front of your face" socked in. :0
05-18-16, 07:32 AM
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I have done a lop ride our of Struasstown that finishes with the climb up 183 from 895 to basically I-78. Very nice ride that goes by Swartara State Park. It also goes past Vraj, which I believe the largest Sikh temple in the Northeast. The final climb up 183 is a killer. I will see if I can find the cue sheet.
05-18-16, 08:58 AM
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Check the web site of the Berks County Bike Club.
I have done a lop ride our of Struasstown that finishes with the climb up 183 from 895 to basically I-78. Very nice ride that goes by Swartara State Park. It also goes past Vraj, which I believe the largest Sikh temple in the Northeast. The final climb up 183 is a killer. I will see if I can find the cue sheet.
I have done a lop ride our of Struasstown that finishes with the climb up 183 from 895 to basically I-78. Very nice ride that goes by Swartara State Park. It also goes past Vraj, which I believe the largest Sikh temple in the Northeast. The final climb up 183 is a killer. I will see if I can find the cue sheet.
06-27-16, 12:03 PM
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I'll second the Berks County Bicycle Club (Reading area). Berks County Bicycle Club. They have rides on Tues, Wed, Thurs,and Weekends. The "A" groups on these rides are definitely up-tempo. They also would have more info about rides from the Velodrome in Trexlertown. A lot of good routes from there as well. I know groups ride from there but I just don't have any contact info.
