Re-cap: Memorial Day Ride 2015

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The Delaware Valley Trike Riders’ Club was joined by our friends, members of the MARS (Metropolitan Area Recumbent Society) recumbent riders’ club, on a beautiful Memorial Day morning ride (May 25). Setting out from Morrisville, we followed the D & L towpath to the cemetery at Washington Crossing Park where about 60 soldiers of the Continental Line were interred.

DVTRC and MARS members at the Washington Crossing Cemetery.

DVTRC and MARS members at the Washington Crossing Cemetery.

After paying our respects, we regrouped and headed south, stopping in Yardley for a quick bagel brunch and some shared laughs before returning to Morrisville to say our goodbye’s.

During this ride along the mostly shaded canal we passed dozens of geese with down-covered young goslings, several blue heron, and several species of turtles, red bellied (threatened), bog (endangered), snapping and box turtles.

Upcoming rides will continue to be announced and we hope that you can join us.
Remember, if you would like to lead a ride, or suggest a future ride, please feel free to do so.

I look forward to riding with you soon!
Wayne K

Moment of Remembrance & Appreciation Ride

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I would like to invite you to join the Delaware Valley Trike Riders on a Memorial Day round-trip ride from Morrisville to Washington Crossing Park’s Cemetery for Soldiers of the Revolution (Monday, May 25, 2015, 9:30 AM start).

Tucked away along the banks of the Delaware River is a very small, but special cemetery where an unknown number of Continental soldiers are buried. These men, all of them unknown except for one, didn’t die in battle, but their contributions and sacrifices while encamped a few miles north of Trenton, enabled the Continental Army to wage a uniquely decisive attack on British and Hessian troops marking the turning point of the American Revolution.

Cemetery for Fallen Soldiers at Washington Crossing Park

Cemetery for Fallen Soldiers at Washington Crossing Park

The conditions these soldiers faced, including the deprivation of food, equipment and clothing necessary to survive an extremely harsh winter, hastened their deaths from exposure, disease and injuries incurred during previous battles. Most of these men hadn’t been paid in months (increasing hardships for their families at home) yet still they reenlisted for this winter campaign because they understood that the value of life and liberty could only be realized if they could drive the rule of an oppressive and invasive government from their lands.

Details:
Please register, with your phone number, for this ride no later than 8:00 PM Sat., May 23, via Text Msg, Phone, email or reply to this post. Ride will be canceled, by phone and/or text, Sunday morning if rain is heavy or sustained.

All cyclists welcome!

• 9:30 AM Depart from Williamson Park, Morrisville PA, 19067 (at the flagpole in parking lot, geo coord: 40.213184, -74.775204).
• Ride North along D&L Canal Trail in Pennsylvania to the cemetery.
• Dismount for a silent moment of remembrance and appreciation.
• Return ride South along the D&L to Yardley, PA for a Bagel Brunch at the Bagel Train (honestly, you haven’t had a bagel until you’ve had a Bagel Train bagel!).
• Return ride South along D&L to Williamson Park in Morrisville, PA.

• 24-mile round trip, leisurely 10-mph pace with occasional sprints, mostly flat. None will be left behind.

I look forward to riding with you!
Wayne K

Hazon Philadelphia’s “Ride the Pines” Event

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I would like to invite other Delaware Valley Trike Riders to join me at the Hazon “Ride the Pines” bike tour, Sunday, May 31, 2015 (check-in begins at 7:00 AM). Detailed registration information and schedules are available at: http://hazon.org/calendar/philly-bike-ride-2/
Please note: There are a limited number of open registrations available, so act quickly if you intend to join this ride event.

In summary, this ride event offers 19-, 42- and 65-mile routes starting and ending at the JCC Camps in Medford, NJ. Each of the rides, escorted by a knowledgable ride leader and sweeper, will pass through pine forests, farmland and local villages. While this ride is not a “trike specific” ride, the flat terrain of the NJ Pinelands will provide trike and recumbent riders miles of peddling fun!

This day-long event (ending at 4:00 PM) offers a light breakfast during check-in, mobile SAG, fully supported rest stops (snacks, water, loo and shade), a catered, kosher barbecue lunch and vegan/vegetarian meals as well. Afternoon activities will include a collection of local vendors offering a marketplace of sustainable, Earth-friendly goods. Additional activities are planned to keep young children entertained (while accompanied by a parent) at the camp during the ride and a child-centered environmental educational program will be available in the afternoon. Other activities, that include swimming and boating are also available (but may incur additional fees). Please contact Hazon for details.

I hope you can join me and I look forward to riding with you soon!
Wayne K

P.S. If you do join this event, please drop me a note… I’ll be on the 42-mile route.

Re-cap “Trikers’ Choice” Ride

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The Delaware Valley Trike Riders’ held their first ride of 2015, on a beautiful Saturday morning (May 2). It was a small group that set out from Stockton to Frenchtown, NJ and back. In addition to enjoying the beautiful springtime vistas including the clear running waters of the Delaware River and the towering natural stone pillar of Devil’s Peak, we shared plenty of warm sunshine and warm conversation as we pedaled along the tree-lined D&R Trail.

Delaware Valley Trike Riders at the end of the "Trikers' Choice" Ride.

Delaware Valley Trike Riders at the end of the “Trikers’ Choice” Ride, outside the site of the Prallsville Mills,  Stockton, NJ.

Upcoming rides will continue to be announced and we hope that you can join us.
Remember, if you would like to lead a ride, or suggest a future ride, please feel free to do so.

I look forward to riding with you!
Wayne K

Triker’s Choice Club Ride (24 up to 45 mile loops)

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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

French Creek Iron Tour 2015

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Sharing this short note from club member Jay…

Would anyone like to do the French Creek Iron tour with me? I did it last year and it was great! Now true it is a quite hilly, but if you trained during the winter (think spin bike and stair master) you will be fine. I did the 50 mile option last year and would like to do it again, and company would b nice. I was the only trike rider there last year.

[edit by Wayne K] If you are interested in joining Jay, on June 14, 2015, please contact him via email (he is on the “Members” page). Information about: The French Creek Iron Tour.