Rock Run Ride in PA

A group of five riders from Eagles Mere Wheelmen set out on Thursday for a 30 mile loop down the mountain by Rock Run to Beaver Lake, and back. 30 miles sounds like a short effort to most recreational riders or racers, but the mountainous nature of the terrain makes it significantly more challenging. Since my Garmin popped off the handlebar earlier in the week, I don't know the total amount of climbing, but my estimate is around 2,500 feet. The final segment involves a climb from Katie's Country Store back to the 2,126 foot summit, for a total ascent of around 900 feet.




Lance Robson led the ride, and Dino Pinto from the NJ suburbs of Philadelphia accompanied, along with husband and wife John and Heather from the Bloomsburg area. All are accomplished and fit cyclists. They're shown standing next to Beaver Lake, which is just before one of the 12%+ climbs.

Here's a video shot at the top of the Beaver Lake climb; I'm surprised I had enough breath left to speak while recording:




I kept a digital log of the trip on my iPhone, using the app for MapMyRide:





We were back in time for lunch, and, most likely, naps after all the climbing.

Wheelerville Mountain Ride

There was a light mist in Eagles Mere when we started this 68 mile ride on the day before July Fourth. Two riders from Philadelphia, one from Eagles Mere, and I rolled out at 8 a.m., headed north into Bradford County to the town of Canton. The route would take us down into the basin of the Loyalsock Creek, through World's End State Park, Estella, and Shunk, before climbing over the 2,300 foot Wheelerville Mountain. By the time we returned, the sun was shining, some of us were a bit cooked, and we had climbed over 6,000 feet. Hard work, at least for your correspondent.

Here's a version of the basic route, courtesy of Google Maps:


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Finally, here's a photo of our leader Rick Liebert, on the way back from Canton, with a scenic agricultural valley behind him: