I thought I'd share my trip this past Sunday with the tourers here. With the daylight dwindling every passing day and the supply of warm days certainly becoming slimmer as the year wanes, I wanted to take advantage of the nice weather this past weekend. I live in Selinsgrove, PA, 63 miles from State College, PA via Rt.45. I made lunch plans with a friend who lives in State College, so that gave me the proper refueling chance I needed.

The morning started out wonderfully. I left the house just after 7am, knowing that I'd easily be able to get there by noon.

>> The route I took (I took the same route back). 63 miles one-way.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=461&g2_serialNumber=2

>> Both the sun and I started our day at the same time. This was about 2 miles into the ride.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=464&g2_serialNumber=2

>> Some fog in the valleys kept the temperatures low. Good thing I was wearing a thermal shirt.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=379&g2_serialNumber=2

I'm a slow starter, so I took it easy the first 20 minutes or so. Having driven the same route over and over (while attending Penn State and visiting family), I knew where I could push it and where I could recover a bit. I wasn't too concerned with going all-out, I was out for fun and taking pictures.

>> The Laurelton Center on Rt45 just before the Bald Eagle state park. This is the largest building, but the entire estate has 15 or so buildings I think. It's also for sale, just a few million.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=382&g2_serialNumber=2

>> Almost done with the climbing in the state park. It's a 7% grade for a while, but the curves break it up nicely.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=385&g2_serialNumber=3

>> Here you'll get your first idea that I'm not riding a road bike, either. :) After grabbing a drink, eating a Clif bar, and taking a few pictures, I'm gearing up for the descent.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=388&g2_serialNumber=2

>> It's almost like a roller coaster ride. Lots of somewhat flat sections, but the small downhills keep your speed up.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=391&g2_serialNumber=2

>> The Head Dork leading this expedition. In case you're wondering, those are braces with a rubber guard on my lower teeth. On 9/4 I had a racquetball accident that involved a trip to the ER afterward. Displaced three lower front teeth and needed 4 stitches on the inside of my lip. Braces a week later, they're on for 6 months. Yay. Anyway, I thought the reflection was cool. And yes, that's a visor. And a camelback.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=397&g2_serialNumber=2

>> And in case there's any doubt yet that I'm a MTBer at heart, my hairy legs.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=406&g2_serialNumber=2

>> Here's a small (11MB) movie I made using my camera. Things are a bit shaky at 25+mph, so don't expect too much. link (http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=419&g2_serialNumber=2)

>>
Bit of a panorama shot I took after getting out of the state forest. (http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=458&g2_serialNumber=2) Made it a link so it doesn't make the whole page too wide.


The ride continued on. Almost all of Rt.45 is nice to ride on because of the wide, smooth shoulder. Only small sections are chip and tar, very manageable.

I arrived in State College at 11:10, so the ride out took just under four hours.

>> After leaving a voicemail with my friend, I went over on campus to relax by Old Main for a bit.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=412&g2_serialNumber=2

>> Yeh, here it is. My quasi-roadbike. It does the job well for me. :)

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=415&g2_serialNumber=2

>> After eating a Mad Mex Super Burrito (absolutely delicious, I highly recommend getting it with steak and chicken), my friend and I went over to Coldstone Creamery for dessert. Since this is the same friend who put me in the ER two weeks ago with his racquet, he refused to let me pay for lunch and ice cream. :) It was terrific... Oatmeal cookie dough ice cream with brownie, Reese's peanut butter cups, and fudge. Mmmmm!

After saying goodbye, I started the journey home again. 3pm, an hour later than I wanted to leave State College, but I wasn't worried.

Well, until I saw the recumbent place in town was open. I had to stop and try out some of the trikes. What a blast! It's like a Big Wheel for grownups! The guy gave me a terrific deal on some sunglasses with interchangeable lenses, too.

So, I left State College at 4pm, knowing that it's pretty dark at 8pm. How's that for motivation?

>> You meet some terrific guys out in the country, too bad these guys were a bunch of ASSES!

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=430&g2_serialNumber=2

>> The climb back up to the Bald Eagle state park was easier than I thought it would be. I had been averaging ~21mph on the way home so far. Of course, what goes up must come down, so this 2 mile section was good for 44.5mph.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=433&g2_serialNumber=2

>> Again, terrific shoulders to ride on... gotta love it!

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=442&g2_serialNumber=2

>> Woo! Mile 100! Only 26 miles left to go, and plenty of sun left! :D

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=445&g2_serialNumber=2


I ended up stopping to talk to another fellow cyclist while he was watching (from his house) as I took this.

http://www.blewsclues.com//gallery/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=451&g2_serialNumber=2

So, it's fairly dark at this point, I have my rear light strobing away, and I'm debating whether I should bust out the penlight in my camelbak (waiting for my HID light to arrive next week). Made it home fine, tired, but fine. :)


Some ride stats:
Total length: 126 miles
Total time: 7 hours 32 minutes
Average Speed: 16.68mph
Max Speed: 44.5mph
Average HR: 140bpm
Max HR: 169bpm (took it easy)

Hairy legs and an mtb? On a ROADBIKE board?!! Oh, the SHAME!!! :eek:(Kidding)
Isn't PA a great state to ride in? Glad you had a good ride.

The "asses" comment made me laugh. I love Central PA. I used to travel the state quite a bit when I was in sales. Liven' in Colorado right now but I think the Family will end up in PA one day. (Splits the difference between family in New Jersey and Ohio!)

I live in Lewisburg and work in Selinsgrove. It was nice too see those roads that I ve ridden so many times!

Nice report!

Gall

Thanks for the ride report.

I graduated from Bucknell. I wish I was a cyclist when went there, because it seemed like there were a lot of great roads to ride on.

One of my best friends lived in Selinsgrove... somewhere near Bots. I miss central PA.

I'm going to SC tomorrow, from Harrisburg....but it's on business, so I'm taking the cage.