On the road in the Lehigh Valley ...

[1speed]

Hey all - for most of you who ride significant miles on the road, you're probably aware of the regular derby rides out of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome (a group ride at a high cat pace on the way out and an all out, balls to the wall hammerfest on the way in, complete with finishing sprints.) But even if you don't like to finish every ride bleeding out your eyes, that area has some pitch-perfect road rides -- it seems almost like all the roads were built with cyclists in mind. Just a great place to ride a bike. I got out yesterday for a 60 miler out of Rodale Park (the crit park across the street from the velodrome.) A little windy on the way out, but a really nice ride - endless rolling hills with the occasional lung buster climb. I rode out to Kutztown University and then doubled back to ride out to Old 22. If you want to go, stop in Cyclodrome for a queue sheet - they have rides of every length. Because of all the different farm roads that look pretty similar but go different places, it is possible to get lost so a queue sheet is a good idea. Relying on your GPS like I did can be tough because of some ongoing roadwork (e.g., Trexler Road is blocked, so I ended up taking a six mile detour to end up 100 feet from where I hit the block!)

Anyway, I took a few pics and wrote up the ride here. It's a great ride -- and you can warm-up without leaving the park itself by rolling a few laps around the crit course.

 

[notwist]

Hey all - for most of you who ride significant miles on the road, you're probably aware of the regular derby rides out of the Lehigh Valley Velodrome (a group ride at a high cat pace on the way out and an all out, balls to the wall hammerfest on the way in, complete with finishing sprints.) But even if you don't like to finish every ride bleeding out your eyes, that area has some pitch-perfect road rides -- it seems almost like all the roads were built with cyclists in mind. Just a great place to ride a bike. I got out yesterday for a 60 miler out of Rodale Park (the crit park across the street from the velodrome.) A little windy on the way out, but a really nice ride - endless rolling hills with the occasional lung buster climb. I rode out to Kutztown University and then doubled back to ride out to Old 22. If you want to go, stop in Cyclodrome for a queue sheet - they have rides of every length. Because of all the different farm roads that look pretty similar but go different places, it is possible to get lost so a queue sheet is a good idea. Relying on your GPS like I did can be tough because of some ongoing roadwork (e.g., Trexler Road is blocked, so I ended up taking a six mile detour to end up 100 feet from where I hit the block!)

Anyway, I took a few pics and wrote up the ride here. It's a great ride -- and you can warm-up without leaving the park itself by rolling a few laps around the crit course.

any idea when these derby rides happen? I've always wondered when they happened but couldn't find much info anywhere

 

[The Kalmyk]

Do you have a gps track perhaps? I like the photos on your blog. Looks like somewhere I would love to explore.

 

[axcxnj]

my GF lives out in Ktown, and ive taken a ride or two in that area...its great road riding there for sure. I havent been able to ride in that park at all, but i plan on it now. thanks!

 

[1speed]

Do you have a gps track perhaps? I like the photos on your blog. Looks like somewhere I would love to explore.

I don't -- my Edge 500 kept giving me issues (couldn't reconcile the wheel size, told me I was going 26 mph when I was climbing Oldt Road, and if that were actually the case, I'd be lining up for Team Radio Shack right now.) So I used my regular old cycle computer for the mileage.

If you do want to go, check out the Cyclodrome link in original post -- they have cue sheets that are actually pretty easy to follow. Otherwise, just remember this when you ride: as long as you keep yourself between Route 22/78 and Route 222, you can just keeping heading east or west and you'll be fine. Don't get on Route 29 to the east, though -- it's okay at first, but eventually gets pretty busy with no shoulder. Most of the low traffic farm roads are west of the Velodrome between 222 and 22/78 (Route 22 and Route 78 are the same road for most of the stretch between Trexlertown and Kutztown.)

 

[1speed]

any idea when these derby rides happen? I've always wondered when they happened but couldn't find much info anywhere

It's been 10 am on Sundays starting at the Velodrome parking lot for as long as I can remember.

Here is the derby map from MapMyRide.

 

[trener1]

Nice thread.
I was just in Allentown over the Thanksgiving weekend, and while I couldn't make the derby ride, as I had some family commitments on Sunday. I did hook
up with a ride out of the velodrome on Saturday, very sweet ride 3 solid hours of nicer steady tempo.
Here is the link if anyone is interested.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/131138455

The derby ride is fun, it's on the short side, usually only about 1.5 hours but lots of fun.

1speed do you live over that way? I'd love to do a ride out to Kutztown next time I'm over that way.

 

[1speed]

Nice thread.
I was just in Allentown over the Thanksgiving weekend, and while I couldn't make the derby ride, as I had some family commitments on Sunday. I did hook
up with a ride out of the velodrome on Saturday, very sweet ride 3 solid hours of nicer steady tempo.
Here is the link if anyone is interested.
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/131138455

The derby ride is fun, it's on the short side, usually only about 1.5 hours but lots of fun.

1speed do you live over that way? I'd love to do a ride out to Kutztown next time I'm over that way.

I actually live about 40 miles south in Lansdale, but send me a PM when you know you;ll be in the area. It's a great area to ride!