The Cog Blog

Today's ride was great. Fridays are made for great rides. My young riding partner texted me early morning to let me know that his late-night shennanigans last night were preventing him from riding this morning. I wasn't disappointed, rather, liberated. I enjoy riding with him, but now I would be free to explore on my own and see what happens.

I stopped briefly at Cosi to see if my post on Patch would elicit any interest in a group ride. I departed solo. One of these days a Newtown rider or two will join me. I know you're out there and reading my posts. Your schedule will eventually jive with mine. I am certain of this.

Being solo, I was free to go wherever I wanted. For some strange reason my mind was yearning for a hill day. My legs were caught by surprise by this idea, but didn't protest. Early-season cycling frequently calls for training rides that have less to do with site-seeing and more to do with getting better for later-season site seeing. So, even if my legs protested, I might have gone ahead with my mind's idea. Fortunately, on this overcast, but temperate spring day, there were plenty of sites to see.

Many of my rides out of Newtown begin with the trek north on Eagle Road. I call the hills there The Whale Bumps. Whether you travel north on Eagle Road, Swamp Road, Durham Road or even somewhat on Washington Crossing Road, you'll encounter the same ridges which result in what bikers call rollers. These are consecutive ups and downs which, if given a decent tail wind and divine inertia, can be navigated with only a modicum of suffering. The Eagle Road Whale Humps and I are old friends by now. They were a warm up for what was to come on today's hill ride.

Eagle Road led me to Jericho Mountain. I wouldn't say were are old friends, but long-term acquaintences who merely tolerate each other. Jericho Mountain is where I measure my fitness. If I can scale it without stopping and cleaning bits of lung off my handlebars, I consider it a win. Today I won (resist Charlie Sheen comments). I felt in good early-season form. Should I have rewarded myself?

Nope. I made a left at the bottom onto Thompson Mill Road and did Jericho again, albeit, the easier route. From there I took a right onto Pineville Road and headed toward my next challenge. I eventually hit Holicong Road out of Pineville proper and continued north. Holicong Road toward Buckingham Mountain presents a different kind of climbing challenge. It's a long slog of relatively easy climbing for awhile which will sap your energy if you are out of shape or haven't taken in proper nutrition.

That is the case until you get to Lower Mountain Road. After crossing there, Holicong Road begins a steady increase in incline complimented by pocky road surface. Legs still felt good and as I crested the forested climb I was delighted to notice that the north side of this road featured newish road surface. That was a pleasant change from my last trip up there. Considering Eagle Road over Jericho is newly paved as well, I was considering today's ride an A + so far.

I decided that I deserved a treat for my heroics thus far, so I headed to Peddler's Village and The Town Crier Bakery for some coffee. Tourists and locals alike gathered and stared at me in my silly cycling clothes. I was sporting my Grateful Dead Steal Your Face jersey and one guy told me how much he liked it. I thanked him. It's not often bikers get compliments on our garb.

After a quick cup of fuel, I headed back. Did I do enough climbing? I thought no. I did Buckingham Mountain one more time on Holicong Road, but I wanted this ride to be epic. And I wanted to gaze out on Buckingham Mountain tonight from my work perch at Lookaway Golf Club, where the views of the mountain are majestic, and soak in the satisfaction of having conquered the mountain...three times. So I headed up the dicey, narrow shouldered route 413 from Lower Mountain Road to a little-known lane called Stonecrest. Stonecrest rises up the western face of the mountain in a way that reminds me of the slim mountain passes of Europe's Grand Tours. I knew that the lane was so narrow that if a car came, I would have to pull off. I also knew that my previous attempt at this climb resulted in a midway break to try some actual breathing.

I was moving toward the final rise of 20% with little distress and feeling satisfied. I had to turn around at the top, because Stonecrest is little more than a driveway for several mountain homesteads and doesn't really go anywhere. The descent was glorious.

I headed home with thoughts of Joe Olson's recent blog entry on lawncare and life on my mind. I had yard chores to do and needed to return to Buckingham later for work. In other words, I needed to hustle.  Speaking of chores, just about all my rides end with a trip up The Bear...the hill up Richboro Road that leads out of Newtown, over Neshaminy Creek and into Holland. My legs were beginning to tell me that enough is enough, but we made it. I was totally satisfied with my efforts on the climbs today and was looking forward to telling my absent riding partner what a great ride he missed, hoping he would be less inclined to miss the next one.

Anyone interested in seeing a map of the route can do so here http://tinyurl.com/6kzncrs.

In short, today's ride was satisfying and productive. I got a great workout while soaking in so much of Bucks County's beauty that I would normally miss in my car. Keep an eye out for my posts on Patch regarding rides leaving from Newtown. I'm happy to ride with riders of all skill levels.