Pedal Pittsburgh (May 18, 2008)
 

www.pedalpittsburgh.org

Come on out, and give it a try. You'll be surprised how scenic, and low on vehicle traffic this ride actually is. There are routes for all ability levels from 6 to 60 miles. The 6 mile route is an asphalt rail trail ride thru the city's historic Southside, which used to be the location of many steelmills. The 15 mile route takes you along the same trail (actually all routes start going up that trail), but then crosses the Monogahela River. Once on the other side you will ride another trail (also asphalt) to the city. The ride then turns into, and thru downtown Pittsburgh (very low traffic Sunday), and over to the Northside across the Allegheny River. The ride then returns via Pittsburgh back to the start. This is a very flat easy 15 mile ride.

Hills you say, then you'll want to try any of the other routes. While the 25, & 35 mile rides have hills, they are not all that bad climb wise. For those wanting more hills, I would suggest either the 50, or 60 milers. All of the 25 to 60 mile rides will wind you around the outer neighborhoods of Pittsburgh. Leading you by The Pittsburgh Zoo, or to the fantastic views of the city from Mount Washington.

I usually ride one of the mid mileage routes (25 & 35), mostly because I want to get back, and enjoy the after ride activities. Lunch being my favorite. Simply put, it's the best lunch I've ever had at any organized ride anywhere. Add that to some music, and it makes for a nice relaxing way to end the event.

Anybody wanting any further info on the longer rides feel free to ask. I will do my best to answer.

Denny :D

hey, i noticed that they have cue sheets... but do they have maps? the link to the cue sheet page says "maps and cue sheets" but no maps are present... having a map of the routes would be a lot more useful in terms of picking which route to ride.

Not on their site yet, but I did find a map for last years 60 mile route here.

http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united...urgh/527995164

Hey Denny, I'm planning on doing the PP. Were you at the Morgantown ride on Sunday? I was there with 2 other friends and we just rode the 25 miler. We had a good time and the food was good. A little chilly the 1st couple of miles but once I got my heart thumping I warmed right up. We'll have to meet up face to face some day.

Actually, I was there, but I was unable to ride due to a back condition. You would not have seen me though as I was helping out at the 45 - 60 mile rest stop. By the time I had returned to the Brew Company, you had already left. Kelly, the gentlemen with the beard, and pre-ride speech told me some folks from Washington were looking for me. I kind of figured it was probably you, and friends. Sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you.

I'm glad you had a good time. The police escort was something different this year. I like the 25 mile route except for it's an out-n-backer. They also need to do some work on WV Route 100. All those raised joints make it feel like a wash board every so many feet. Kind of gets annoying when your riding it alone, but in a group I guess it's not too bad.

Denny

(They also need to do some work on WV Route 100. All those raised joints make it feel like a wash board every so many feet. Kind of gets annoying when your riding it alone, but in a group I guess it's not too bad.)

No, it's still bad, even in a group. LOL. Hope to see you at Pittsburgh. I'm riding a silver and black Scott Speedster S10. I'm 50 with dark hair and some gray. Silver helmet. 6" 200 lbs good looking guy, if I don't say so my self.

I'll have a blue, and black Flyte SRS 3 aluminum framed bike. All Shimano Ultegra components. I'm 5' 7", around 190 lbs. I'll probably be parked close to the sign up check in area in a 2007 Silver Toyota Yaris. Might be hanging around the Western PA Wheelmen group near the start. Unsure if I'm starting the ride with them, but if I do we're suppossed to roll out at 7:15. Of course you, and friends are more than welcome to join us on the ride. They are going to try to stay grouped up (to show club colors) for the first 20 miles according to the website. That's not mandatory though, so I predict the faster riders (not me :p) will still do their own thing.

I'm only planning on doing the 35 mile ride myself, and I believe Spinnaker from here is also doing that distance. I just have to convince him to leave earlier. I'm an early riser, so my natural tendency is to get on the road as early as I can. I would like to be on the road by 8:00 am at the latest, but I prefer earlier. I noticed the routes appear to go in the same general direction, so I don't believe I'll hit any rest stops too early.

Anyways, I guess all that will work itself out in the near future.

Well packet pick-ups start tomorrow (Thursday). I'll be heading to REI Pittsburgh after work tomorrow to grab mine.
I might as well stick around, and watch the Pen's game while I'm in town.

Go Pen's

Well, the forecast looks like crap for tomorrow again. I might just be eating a $25.00 lunch, and keeping the bike on the car.

Not looking good Den. I was watching the forecast this AM. and I'm leaning toward staying home. One of these days we will meet, lol. I am going to Greene Co. on the 1st descent weekend and do the Bluff Ridge Rd. hill climb from 218 to Oakforest Rd. and back to town. I've been wanting to do that with my new bike because that's one of the longest hills I've ever riden around here. I want to see if the old legs and the compac crank will do the job. Maybe next time.

Hey Denny, I remember you from the Icycle ride this year... I'll be at Pedal Pittsburgh rain or shine (which really means thunderstorm or downpour, with the way things look), doing the 35 mile ride on the same single-speed Cannondale from before. For me it will really be a ~50 mile ride anyway since I'm riding to and from the start.

I'll keep an eye out for you while I'm there.

It was a fun ride. Well, most of it.