Bike Riding on the Way to Erie
On my way to a weekend regatta in Erie, Pennsylvania, I added a couple of days to the trip to explore several rail trails and other interesting riding areas in Pennsylvania and New York.
After work on Wednesday, I drove to Breezewood, Pennsylvania, to position myself for an early start the next morning.
Thursday began at 6:00 a.m. with a ride on the abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. About eight miles of the original turnpike, abandoned when the highway was rerouted in 1968, has been converted into a bike path. I only saw one other person on the ride in and had the trail to myself for the remainder of the morning. I was surprised by how much of the original road markings and guardrails were still in place after nearly 60 years. The tunnels were in good condition and well swept. The surface is better suited for a gravel bike than a road bike, and it made for a unique place to ride.
After returning to the hotel, I showered, took a short nap, and then drove to Oil Creek State Park.
I parked at the southern end of the park and followed the rail trail north into Titusville before taking a partially gravel road back into the park. That section included several long climbs and descents, making it the most physically demanding ride of the day. Along the route I caught what I believe was the back half of a bear crossing the road in the distance. Eventually I rejoined the rail trail and returned to my starting point. Before finishing for the day, I rode a nearby hill with grades of about 12% on the climb and 11% on the return. After a full day of riding, it probably wasn’t the smartest addition to the route.
Once finished, I packed the bike, changed clothes, and drove to Mayville, New York, for the night.
Friday morning started on the Webb Nature Trail, part of the Chautauqua Rail Trail system. The trail began with a well-maintained gravel surface before becoming muddier and grass-covered in the middle section, then improved again approaching Sherman. It was slower going than the previous day’s rides because of the changing conditions. On the return trip, I rode through Chautauqua Gorge Park before making my way back to Mayville. With some time left before heading out, I picked up another section of the Chautauqua Rail Trail on the opposite side of town and rode about a half mile before turning around.
Back at the hotel, I washed the bike, showered, checked out, and made the short drive to Erie for the weekend’s sailing regatta.