My wife and I find ourselves moving to the Lansdale/Doylestown, PA area in July. About 30 miles north/northwest of Philly. This is totally new area for us, and we’re not used to suburbia, so we’re reaching out for some local ST gnar! We’ve heard there are a couple group rides out of the Doylestown area… anyone done these?
Wondering if anyone knows the area… knows good rides, runs, etc. We found some decent swimming facilities in the area, but we’re looking to learn about riding and running routes. Also looking for faster-paced group rides and running groups. A good shop is always key too.
We know there’s a lot going on in Philly, but it would be nice to find some stuff closer to home too. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
There are a ton of ride and run opportunities in Doylestown. I have done many of them at various times and can put together a list of the ones I know and point you to some people who can help with the ones I do not know about.
Wow, never expected to see my hometown area on slowtwitch!
I miss it, stuck in MD. Some great quiet ride opportunities in tinicum area. Nice and hilly. Good luck.
There are a ton of ride and run opportunities in Doylestown. I have done many of them at various times and can put together a list of the ones I know and point you to some people who can help with the ones I do not know about.
Mike
Mike, that would be awesome! You can either post here or PM me if you prefer. i appreciate any info you can give me!
Wow, never expected to see my hometown area on slowtwitch!
I miss it, stuck in MD. Some great quiet ride opportunities in tinicum area. Nice and hilly. Good luck.
Where you moving to or looking to live?
We have placed on offer on a house in the West Point Village area of Lansdale. It’s about a mile from the big Merck facility. Any specific routes you have in mind?
I grew up just down the road in Chalfont. Plenty of options locally: two of my favs whenever I get back to the area are running around the lake at Peace Valley park (almost exactly 10km) with some good hills on the Nature Center end, and riding around Lake Nockamixon State Park (18.5 miles per loop, wide shoulders for a lot of it, ride clockwise to avoid having to cross traffic at the turns). You could also head up along the river and run the gravel towpath, miles and miles.
There several options for organized rides if that is your thing, most take place in the fall, and I know a couple cycling clubs ride out of Doylestown for weekly group rides. Drop me a PM if you need more info. It’s a great place to live (although I am a little biased).
Grew up in Harleysville, lived in Lansdale for 10+ years and in Skippack now. Try out the Wednesday night ride which leaves at 6:00 from Indian Valley Jr. High in Harleysville, lots of different paced groups to choose from. They will ride some great roads mostly north and west. I typically ride towards Green Lane and beyond, lots of hills, open roads and not much traffic. If you head that direction it will take a few miles to get out of the Lansdale traffic then the roads will be good. You can also ride to the Perkiomen trail and get on near Oaks and take that to the River trail and all the way into Philly.
When I lived in Lansdale I would run at the Lansdale Catholic HS track or run different loops around the town. I never found any great routes in Lansdale. Now I’m about 1 mile from the Skippack trail, which connects with the Perkiomen trail and both are great for running. A number of trailheads on the Perk so you can drive and do a run. If I drive somewhere to run I go to Philly and run Kelly/West River drives.
Great info… thanks! I’ll definitely look into the group rides and run routes. If you don’t mind, I’ll send you a message once we’re moved in… perhaps I could pick your brain some more!
Welcome to the Philly 'burbs. If group riding is your thing, here’s a great place to start: http://suburbancyclists.org/
Tons of great scening riding and running where you will be and in the surrounding area. A couple of local races held up in Quakertown and around Lake Nockamixon.
Welcome to the Philly 'burbs. If group riding is your thing, here’s a great place to start: http://suburbancyclists.org/
Tons of great scening riding and running where you will be and in the surrounding area. A couple of local races held up in Quakertown and around Lake Nockamixon.
Awesome, thanks! I saw that site, but haven’t had a chance to peruse it yet… dealing with offers on houses this week. I’m down for faster group rides (roadie or T/T bike), groups runs, etc. The wife is a pretty epic distance runner and is looking for faster groups to run with.
I live near Tigerbike in Skippack and agree with everything he said.
As far as faster-paced group rides, I have three in my rotation:
Tuesdays: the Drives Ride in Philly, 20 minute drive from the Lansdale exit of the turnpike to the bike trail in Conshohocken, 25 minute ride in from there. The ride is 4 laps (34 miles) light-permitting, flat and fast. Moving average is probably 27-28, but the lights near the Art Museum slow it a bit.
Wednesdays: the Harleysville ride Tigerbike mentioned. The ‘A’ group is fairly small (4-8 riders), usually does a 35 mile loop with decent hills, 20-22 mph average.
Thursday: the Great Valley training crit, 25 minute drive from the Lansdale exit. 30 laps / 30 miles, slightly undulating course. Usually averages 25-26, tonight it was about 27 mph.
not too familiar with lansdale so much. I used to bowl at an alley before it burned down. I would head out towards doylestown area or maybe even perkasie…
Check out High Road Cycles. They have a tri club in Doylestown and, last I checked, its pretty active and very social.
For running, look for the Perkiomen Trail. Its a hard dirt trail that runs along the river. The dirt part of it is, I think, about 10 miles long, so you can get up to a 20 mile out and back on it. The path actually becomes gravel on the south end and eventually runs all the way into Fairmount Park in the city.
Thanks very much! We stopped in the North Wales Running Company this weekend after another visit to our (hopefully) new home and the guys in there were super nice with the local gnar and didn’t even look at me funny when I said I was a triathlete! They have runs from their store twice a week and filled the rest of the weekdays days with other runs in the area. They seem to have a decent selection of brands and host demo days which I think is huge. The only running store we have where we live now is a crap-hole compared to NWRC, so that’s a plus.
Thanks again to everyone who replied. Inspections of the house and land happen this week and hopefully move-in right after Tremblant Half.
I live in Philly itself, but near the NW corner.
I spend far less time biking these days than I did in the past, but I used to try to go on a long ride every week, and most of those would take me to and past Lansdale. There’s some great riding out there.
I took a camera one day and took a bunch of pics from what used to be a near-weekly route out there. Enjoy: http://www.positivesplits.blogspot.com/...ith-pics-part-i.html http://www.positivesplits.blogspot.com/...er-pics-part-ii.html
-Charles
I also grew up in Chalfont as well. I would also suggest talking to Todd Wiley (Pro Triathlete and Coach). He offers coaching and training programs http://twileysports.com/