Imagine starting a bike ride on the Towpath Trail and pedaling all the way to Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C. or even Atlanta.A new frontier is opening for bike travel. A growing network of designated routes is being pieced together across the nation along low-traffic roads, trails and bike lanes by the same association that designates Interstate highway numbers. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) established the US Bicycle Route System in 1978. However, it’s only recently begun to take shape.
There’s more than 17,000 miles of U.S. Bicycle Routes across the country. Ohio boasts 1,523 miles, more than any state in the nation.
Actually, you want to start in Pittsburg and pedal to DC. It’s downhill all the way. Figuratively speaking ... but yes, even though the towpath is pretty flat, one can indeed feel the difference on a longer ride or on a heavier bike.
From one crime ridden city to another.
That would improve my speed and endurance.
I’m really surprised to see OHIO in the lead on bike trails! I lived in Massilon (near Akron) back in the mid 70s for a short while and loved biking the Amish country south of Canton-Massilon. Such beautiful countryside!
Racing in the 90’s sucks.
I’m tough and all, but grinding out a mile plus 9%’r just makes you wish someone other than the photogs were on the climb with a hose.
Last Sunday August 29th, I participated in the 34th annual Ben to the Shore Bike Tour (former Irish Pub Tour de Shore), a 65 mile charity ride from Philadelphia PA to Atlantic City NJ to support the families of fallen and critically wounded first responders in eastern PA and southern NJ.
This one day event featured 2050 registered riders and raised an amazing $1,060,000.00
Many riders are members of a team, there were 127 teams total. My team, The Jim Thorpers (125 registered riders based in Jim Thorpe, Carbon County PA) raised a little more than $65,000.00, yours truly raised $1,685.00 my adult kids rode and raised $400.00
At 63 years old and riding bikes for a about 3 years, this was my third Ben to the Shore. The last 20 miles it rained fairly hard. Still I managed 64 miles in 3:33, one 2 minute stop to fill water bottles at mile 45, average speed 18 MPH. While looking like a drowned rat at the end I’m fairly happy with my performance and now looking towards next year with a goal of 3 hours 15 minutes.
Keep bikes off of vehicle(cars/trucks) highways.