As a ride leader I wanted to start our Delaware Valley Trike Riders’ Club 2015 season by offering to lead a ride that can accommodate most everyone’s early-season riding abilities. This ride offers some challenges by making use of several trail and road surface conditions and also offers some wonderful views of the Delaware River as we trike through several historic landmarks and towns… and this is what I’ve come up with for
May 2, 2015:

One Ride with Short and Long Options: (“A” Loop, 24 miles) Prallsville Mills to Frenchtown, returning to Prallsville Mills, then (“B” Loop, up to an additional 21 miles) from Prallsville Mills to Washington Crossing, returning to Prallsville Mills. See the “Trikers’ Choice Ride” trip sheet.

Riders are invited to join us for the “A” Loop only, or the “A” and “B” Loops together.

Please Register your intent to ride via email or phone or a comment to this post (please include your phone number, it will remain protected), by 8:00 AM, Friday, May 1, 2015. This is a fair-weather event and trail conditions may be affected by heavy rain within 24 hours prior to ride. Please include your phone number with your registration – I will call you, or text you if you prefer, if Ride Is Canceled, between 6:00 and 6:30 AM on the day of the ride.

Key Points:
Arrive early – Ride Starts at 08:30 AM, Saturday, May 2, 2015. This is a 24 mile round trip or 45 mile round trip – your choice! Mostly Flat. Average speed: 9-11 mph (faster when on highway). Mixed trail surfaces: highway, paved trail, hard-pack gravel, hard-pack dirt with spotty grass. Mostly shaded and tree-lined. No one left behind and we will stop for breakdowns. There are several opportunities for breakaway sprints.

Please familiarize yourself with Preparation Guidelines and Rules for Club Rides.

Description:
We will begin our “A-Loop” rally at the Prallsville Mills/Stockton Visitors Center, following the D&R Canal Feeder Trail North (trailhead located at the same location) to Frenchtown, NJ., where we will take a short < 20 minute break for a stretch and refreshments. The return trip will be via Rte 29 South. When we return to Stockton, the “A-Loop” (24 mile) riders will drop off and the “B-Loop”** (45 mile) riders will continue on to Washington Crossing, via the D&R Trail, where we will turn around for our northbound return trip, on the Canal Trail again, to Stockton.

**Note: The “B-Loop” can be shortened by turning around at either Lambertville (by 13.8 mi.), or the Golden Nugget (by 10.8 mi.). I’ll assess everyone’s interest (and stamina) prior to the start of the “B-Loop”.

This ride boasts of More Restroom Opportunities than on any other trail!
There are Eight (8) Restroom opportunities: Washington Crossing, Golden Nugget Flea Market, Lambertville, Prallsville Mills/Stockton Visitors Center, Bull’s Island, Kingwood Park and Frenchtown. We probably won’t stop at each one but brief photo opportunities can be arranged. 🙂

Hazards:
• Trikes must be walked or carried for approximately 100 yards along a section of narrow boardwalk located about 0.9 miles north of Lambertville NJ (this affects only the “B-Loop”/45-mile riders… Of Course! We’ll help each other.
• Rte 29 is a busy highway with a posted speed limit of 45 miles per hour. The highway shoulders are intermittently wide and narrow. This highway sees a lot of bicycle traffic on weekends so most local drivers expect to see bikes sharing the highway.
• Please see the Trip Sheet “Trikers’ Choice Ride” for other notes and hazards.

Triking time (estimated):
“A” NB leg 1 (Stockton to Frenchtown): 1.25 hr                         : 08:30 – 09:45
Turnaround/Rest: < 20 min                                                        : 09:45 – 09:55
“A” SB leg 1 (Frenchtown to Stockton): 1.25 hr                         : 09:55 – 11:20
Quick Break/Rest: < 10 min
SB leg 2 (Stockton to Washington Crossing): 1.00 hr                 : 11:30 – 12:30
NB leg 2 (Washington Crossing to Stockton): 1.00 hr                 : 12:30 – 13:30
Total Ride Time: 2.5 hrs or 4.5 hrs.

Geo-Coordinates:
Prallsville Mills/Stockton NJ Visitor’s Center: 40.409095, -74.984901
Frenchtown NJ: (40.526301, -75.063015)
Washington Crossing NJ (40.296722, -74.867392)

I look forward to riding with you!
Wayne K