Current or recent  ride Cues                        

Most recent ride 

Past Rides                        

Bike log 2004

BikeLog2006  Error found in May sheet G42 change 37 to 7 in formula. If you use this log in 2005, copy you monthly data from the top right box of the summary page of that log, bring up the 2005 log Click on the summary tab, page to the bottom right of  that page and paste value in the box titled 2004 Summary. Or you may type in the total for each month in that box. This give a comparison for the bar graph. Excel allows only 30 augments in a formula, so inputs on the 31st of a month isn't processed as longest ride. I have added a function to count rides, long rides in increments of 25, So there are counts of rides over 100 miles over 75 miles, over 50 miles, over 25 miles and last over 200 miles. This is on Row 10 of the summary page.

My current log  My Bike log

Altitude Gain Template

Perimeter Bicycling Assn of America I am listed for riding the perimeter of the State o Delaware and the perimeter of Philadelphia. I rode the perimeter of Montgomery county but hasn't recorded it yet.

Current ride. 

Bike log of current miles

Wednesday April 30, 2008. I had planned a century for April. I was ready to ride at 6 am but there was a chill and wind factor. I waited until 10:30, having gone back to sleep. I headed to the SRT to check out the new section from Oaks to Mt. Claire. As I cross the bridge in Oaks I saw back hoe on the new trail so I went up to the next entrance.. When I rode the trail back to oaks, I saw that the back hoe was removing the mud from the latest rain. On that section, where the Perkomien trail meets the SRT. ( crossing the bridge and make the U turn.) Left for the Perkoimen and right to continue on the SRT, Heavy rain leaves mud on the trails. About a mile toward Mt. Claire, there is a detour until a bridge is put in place. In that area, about 7 tenth mile is pack gravel. I manage on with mt 25mm tires, smaller tires may need to walk. 

I have change my cue sheet to Reading that used Egypt Rd. from Oaks to Mt Claire. my Ride from Oaks to Reading in August will use the trail also.

April was a slow month, 262.8 mile from 5 rides. most were in south Jersey. One, a 60 mile ride was a us ride to Salem to check the feastability of a one way ride on May 24, 2008 that I am leading. The bus allows bicycle in the under floor luggage compartment. About 10 bicycle will fit but the bicycles will bump around freely. The ride is about 100 mile from Cheltenham to Salem. Pickup along the way at Cooper River, Woodbury and Rt. 322 and Kingsway Regional School for shorter rides. 

Wednesday March 26, 2008, 100.5 miles 9.8 average mph 24 max 10.1 hour moving time 6267 altitude gain. I left home at first light, under the threat of some rain. But I was rained on the last century and didn't melt, I decided to go for it. First encounter, at the Tacony bridge a sign was displayed that the bridge was closed. I remembered Walt saying that when the walk is close, usually because of ice, you should call the toll office and they will send a pickup. Not having the number, I rode up to the gate and it was open, next on River road, the first southwest wind I ever met. Usually it's a west wind that leave thinking that my training is working, I am averaging  15 mps. I plan a ride to Salem NJ for lunch. One of the ride that has so few turns that I don't need the GPS. (The new map program will not follow the route from the City Select map. I will use the old route as a guide and make new route in City Navigator.) The wind was relentless 7 to 9 mps was all I could muster. I stopped in Woodbury for a coffee and bum at 25 miles. After Swedesboro, I decided to leave King Hwy and use Auburn Road through Woodstown to add a few miles and get a different wind angle.  The last century to Salem in early March,  I rode around my hood to pickup three miles for the century when I got home. The Woodstown loop added the three miles but I remembered why I don't like that direction, it uses Rt. 45 and Rt. 45 merges with US 40 for a few blocks in Woodstown. But it was not summer so traffic wasn't that bad. Last time I got to Salem before noon, today with the wind, It was almost 2 pm when I finish lunch. On the return I hit a sharp rock. I put in a tube I had patch and as I mounted the bicycle, it was down. Questioning my patch, I pull the tube out and pump it up. The stem was leaking. The next tube held up for the ride home. I am considering leading a ride in may with several lengths and starting points. Even a one way ride and using NJT for the one way return The long haul NJT buses allows bikes to be carried in the bottom luggage compartment. A biker could ride , say from Woodbury to Salem, 25 miles and ride NJT back to Woodbury. A round trip bike ride from Woodbury is about 50 miles. Others length will be 100 from Cheltenham to Salem 00 miles, From Cooper River to Salem about 75 miles. E mail me is you are interested.

Wednesday March 12 2008. 36.2 miles 9.5 average MPH and 1897 calories. I will lead a ride from Cheltenham to Ikea in Plymouth Meeting April 19. Because I had the computer crash, I am using a brand new mapping program, City Navigator, a $75 value, free because I was unable to download the draw tool that was on my old map set, City Select. I wanted to check out the map, i found that it wanted to recalculate the route. Since I have done the route often, I didn't bother to use the gps to follow the route. Instead, I use the gps to make tracks to offer to gps user who will be on that ride. The route uses the same route as the Schuylkill Century from Stenton and Northwestern Aves. to Spring Mills. From there It is bike paths. SRT to Coshohockon and The new Cross County to Germantown Pike. I stopped at Ikea for lunch. Before I got to the Cross County Trail, I saw a new sign along side the  SST. A poster with the number 202 and the words "Help Assist" for 911 calls. These sign will be on all trail soon So trail users should note the number as you ride. If you ever have to make a 911 call, this number will be needed. After lunch I used the CCT all the way to Germantown Pike. The trail isn't completes, but wide tire bicycle have use it. I got away with my 25 mm. At Germantown Pike I had to lift my bicycle over the steel road guard. Getting across to the business complex required timing with the left turning traffic. I expect a walk light to be install there. I am uploading a MapSource  map with the tracks here. Ikea tracks

Friday March 7, 2008 100.1 miles 10 mph average. Rain was forecasted for 3;30 pm, i planned a 4 hour ride to get home before the rain. However, as I pedal, I decided that I would risk getting a little wet and would do about 60 miles. Once at Swedesboro, 30 miles out, I said why not do 50 mile out. This was Salem NJ at 11:30 am. After Lunch I was on the was home, about 6 miles from Salem when I felt the first drops of rain. At this time, the rain was spotty, so not bad riding since I was pretty much water proof at skin level. Just before Woodbury, with a slow leak that I try to pump up about three times, the rain was steady. I pull into the McDonald in Woodbury and change the tube. I continued in a steady but not soaking rain. I remember a steel grate bridge in Gloucester City and used the Sidewalk. I arrived home before dark but turned head and tail lights on. I am still rebuilding from a computer crash. My map program, City Select, was updated with a draw and join tool. After the crash and reloading the map program, I couldn't find the down load. I called Garmin support and after a long session, I was told that I was entitled to a free upgrade of City Navigator 2008. The disk was mailed to me with out a unlock code. I couldn't get help. I called today and the support person heard my story and talk to her supervisor and ok the unlock code and email it to me. 

Monday March 3, 2008, 8 mile to the church to deliver DVD

Friday Feb. 29, 57 miles 10 mph average Cold but clear, I header for Valley Forge via Plymouth Meeting and the bike path. my computer had a crash and much of my files were lost. I have to rebuild a lots on files. I met a BCP couple on recumbent, not letting the cold keep them from getting some out doors miles in. I have gotten only a few days on the trainer. I think three hours at the most.

Friday Feb. 8, 2008, 41.5 miles 9.8 average MPH, 4.2 hours of riding. A clear day in-between a bad one and a predicted bad weekend. It was cloudily at 7am, so a century was out. About 9 am it looked better, so I got ready and left about 10 am.  I considered my training loop to Mansion Mill Park, a 20 mile ride. One at Mansion Mills, I decided to inspect the new housing Development on Byberry Rd . Sure enough, about half of the ride on Byberry Rd. is avoided A lots of curve roads. in the two developments on both sides of Second Street Pike, they were hard to negotiate without a GPS or cue sheet. Existing, the complex on County Line Rd and a quick left on to Gravel Hill Rd, after  crossing the turnpike  Gravel Hill Road is  a foot path to cross the Trenton Bypass railroad line, a mile long freight pass just before I got to the path. I rode to Holland and Elm St which parallels tine Newtown line that one day is to be a bike path, Fox Chase to Newtown. East Holland road to Bridgetown Rd. then Rt. 413 to Penn wood homes and return on Rt. 413 to Langhorne for lunch. A new Coffee shop on Maple St and Bellevue St. Very good. Then on to tackle Brownville Road and its four valleys, One in the Neshaminy cut, the other must be prior cut before the finally cut was made. My perimeter of Philly ride use Hulmeville Rd. I may try that another time. Continuing on Bellevue meets Hulmville Rd. I use Brownville Rd. to Trevose Rd., bypass Bustleton Ave. via a few neighborhood curved roads to Verree Rd. and home.

Monday Feb 4, 2008, Delivered DVD to the church on bicycle and made a wide loop home. 22 miles 10 mph. 

Monday  Jan 28, 2008 Ride to Coatesville VA for lab work. Temperature was about 28 degrees. 64 miles 9.7 average. I left home at 7 am an bike to SEPTA Overbrook station, 12 miles, rode the train to Thorndale Station and rode 4 mile to Coatesville. Since I had fast for the lab work, I had breakfast before the ride home. I had programmed a route from the VA to home but it was a route from the old GPS. I Went from memory until Malvern. I program the GPS to get me to home. I crossed the main line RR and followed streets on that side. At Paoli Hospital I picked up Central  Ave and  Varied from the GPS route to avoid Lancaster Soon I was back on route at Old Lancaster Ave. A few rolling hills, as much ad 600 feet at times. The route Took me to Bruno at Germanton and Northwesters Aves, but then wanted to use Germanton Ave. A doable route, but I turned the oute off and use my regular route from Bruno's.

Wednesday Jan 23, 2008 Only trainer this week, 16.4 average, one hour.

Saturday Jan 19 2008. 28.8 miles 9.8 average. Seem like a cold day for a ride and I was scheduled for a meeting at 3 pm ant the church. About ten am the sun was out pretty bright. I decided to ride to South Philly for a chicken cheese steak lunch and return to the church in time for the meeting. I planned for the Tony Luke place at Front and Oregon Ave. Since it is enclosed. However, customer were line up out of the door. So I bike on to Philip Steak at 22nd  and Passyunk Ave., open air but pretty good also. I Went via Delaware Ave. and Columbus Blvd to Oregon Ave I return via 22 St. through center city to Girard College then 19th street. arriving at the church at 2:55 PM. Leaving the meeting on the way home I saw this bicycle light in my rearview mirror. At the stop light, I learner that it was a hub light. John had decided also that it was a good day for riding, he and a couple of pals had also decide that 25 degrees temperature was a good day for riding. We talk a few minutes about lights and riding destinations before I turn left on 5th street and onto Oak Lane Rd. then Ashborne Rd. As I was dismounting in my driveway, John passed. I forgot to ask his directions, I wondered did he go to Second St. and then New Second St. or worst yet to Front Street and its hills? Maybe he just followed the same route that I used but slower.

Tuesday Jan 15 and Thursday Jan 17, Trainer one hour each day, 17.3 and 16.3 miles on those days. Since the tine is the same each time, the miles depends on my average speed.

Saturday January 12, 2007, 52.1 miles, 10.2 average, 3981 calories. I rode from Cheltenham to Rosenberg Dairy in Hatfield PA. A head wind on the way out, I thought that I could up the average on the return but it didn't happen.

Thursday January 10, 2007, 15 miles, 10.5 average 1082 calories I delivered a DVD to our church and return home via East Falls. Since I added the calories counter to my log, it if clear that a higher average speed burn more calories. The same ride on the trainer  with no altitude gain, produces more calories for a lesser time. 1.4 hours on this ride  i hour ride on the trainer at 8.3 average shows  1266 calories.

Monday January 7, 100 miles, 50.1 miles out, , and turn around. 10.6 average, 9.4 moving time, 6947 calories I have 34 routes on my Quest gps. I am working on finalizing the Trenton to the Shore route. One day an abandon rail line will cover most of the route. The section from Alliare State Park to Manasquan and Spring Lake are completed and off road now. I have a desire to make a second route from home over the TP bridge. Today, I use an old route to Mt. Holly to get from the TP bridge to cross Rt. 130 on Cinnaminson Ave. Church Rd. is one of the branches off from this feed system. once in to Moorestown I use 3rd st. paralleling the railroad tracks. Where 3rd street end, I turned right and got on Rt. 537 and was very near the start on the Grounds of Sculpture start point. (This route and more about the Ground of Sculpture can be found below on this page.) I combine this route on my gps that goes from Moorestown to "Ground of Sculptures", a ride scheduled for this spring, with the Trenton to the Sea route. The routes intersects in Yardville. I followed the Ground of Sculpture route from it start in Moorestown,  through Mt. Laurel, Mt Holly, Jacksonville, Chesterfield and Crosswick. The route uses many of the same roads as the Princeton Event. At one intersection there were no less than 10 different road marking. Different color PE marking A large "A" with 100 under it. different color wheel chair, Smiling face with an arrow and large arrow with no other Id. Surely these are bicycle friendly road. One road, Mt Pleasant, had been milled last fall when I was on it for about two miles. Today it was all new with a wide, for me, shoulder. about 6  t0 12 inches. very little traffic. I connected with the Trenton to the sea route by turning on to Old York road in Crosswick and seeing the route line on the next road to my left, on the gps, I turn on to that route at the first connecting road. At the 50.1 mile point, I turn around and set the gps to "Trackback" With voice command, every bend in the road was reported as a turn. However, full turn were report with more details. I don't plan to post this route on the web, there isn't a way to know if the cue are being used. Email me if you want a copy. 
I have a beta bicycle log that uses a lookup table to get a calorie count. I have a input for altitude gain and 1/4 of the gain is applied to the calorie count. ( my choice) It also has a input area on each page and a weight reference number on the first page. I am still working on it. January log on my training page shows some of it features. 
A dumpster diving experience today was a result of looking down at my chain and seeing all brown. I forgot the ride I did in a mist, not really rain about two weeks ago. I was about 20 miles into the ride. The first gas station I saw I head for its dumpster. The first two oil container I fished out was bone dry, digging deeper, I found two that had oil left in them. The chain now look like it need a cleaning, next project.

 

Thursday January 3, 2008 One hour on trainer, 18.3 miles and Saturday January 5, 17.7 miles, one hour on trainer.

Tuesday January 1, 2008. One hour on the trainer. 14.9 miles. The sun came out before noon, and I considered getting on the road bicycle. I didn't so I will have to make up the miles on the trainer.

Friday December 21, 2007. Weather prediction of drizzle later. I planned to get in about 50 mile before it start. 36.9 miles ay 9.9 average, 30 miles in a light drizzle. Earlier in the ride the drizzle was like a fog and not very wet. I rode to Lawnside NJ and at that point the streets were wet. I turned around with about 18 miles and at tine the drizzle was rain. My winter riding clothes kept me dry, only problem was my glasses. I am working on 2008 bikelog with a lookup table for calories. I have assigned altitude gain to add 25% to the calories count.

Friday December 14, 2007 First ride for a while, however, almost every day on the trainer for one hour. 58 miles 10.2 average. I rode to Ikea for breakfast. Tony was there and he rode on to Valley Forge with me. I rode to Oaks to see if any process was done on the extension to Mont Clare. No work has been done on the eastern end. However, the cross county trail  has two new bridges crossing the Plymouth Creek. The one is at the base of the blue route and the second one is at Germantown pike. Seem that the path will cross Germantown pike at Street level.

Tuesday November 27, 2007 Continuing on the trainer, I now have 274 miles on the trainer Odometer, one hour each day for 19 days. I have lost more than ten pounds. I have two more week of the steroid eye drops for the cataract remover medication, my blood pressure log still have reading as high as 157/96 some times. Most reading are in the 130/80  or lower. I was talking with an old adventurism friend and the American Discovery trail across was mentioned. I goggle it and it gave me a new interest in my cross country trip. The trail still has holes in it and I can see helping then to complete the mapping with gps tracks. 

Wednesday November 21, 2007 Continuing from last Thursday, I am on the trainer one hour every morning. I have loss over ten pounds and my waist is about a inch smaller. I found these old DVD at the dollar store and on it "American Flyer". I found my self upping the cadence along with the exciting scenes in the movie. I am pedaling exacting one hour each day. With the cycle computer, when I stop pedaling the stop watch stops, so the time stop. I input this in to my bikelog. The caloric count I but in to the Altitude gain slot. The number, from the cycle computer, seems to relate to the average speed. Since I ride one hour the distance also relate to the average speed. The lowest being about 14 miles per hour and 18 miles per hour, the highest. I was on the road bicycle a few times, I just added the extra mile to the training on those days. One night ride with Saul, a prolific spinner, I found that I could almost keep up with him while spinning.    

Thursday November 16, 2007. Since the last post, I have acquired a training stand for my touring bicycle. Complete with cycle computer and DVD player. The log is on the training page. Other than three short rides, 23 miles twice, and 45 miles to St. David computer store, the rest of the miles are from the trainer. I am riding 1 hour each morning and find that my spinning has improved. 128 miles since the report below. The cycle computer has a calories counter.                                  The steroid eye drops need after I had cathartic removed, contributed to elevation of my blood pressure. I have depended on riding to maintain a normal pressure, however, one a week riding wasn't controlling my pressure. Hence the trainer. The reading are much lower since the daily training. Hopefully, after the need for eye drop is over, I will continue the one hour of training.                                                                                                                                                                        The calories counter seem to only consider miles, speed and time. Most of the calories counter on the web ask for weight also. I would like to see elevation gain factored in to the value.

Wednesday October 31, 2007 78 miles average under 12 mps and most on the SRT. I visited this web page in reference to the completed Cantilever bridge on the SRT trail over the Perkomen creek. http://trails.montcopa.org/trails/cwp/fileserver,Path,TRAILS/SchuylkillRiverTrail/PowerPoint%20Presentations/OAKS%20PEDESTRIAN%20CANTILEVER%20BRIDGE%20PICTORIAL%20(WEB%20pps).pdf,assetguid,b12b9a43-d405-4836-a2152a633db0c37f.pdf  I wanted to see if the cantilever extension took away from the view of bridge's Arch design, not much. The arch isn's covered at all, and the extension is very thin.    I left home after 9 am this morning with plans to have breakfast at IKEA. I got there after 11 am and settle for a cinnamon roll and coffee. I called Steve Trovic and we met at Betzwood and talk for almost an hour. Since my pace is slower I haven't been on many group ride this year. One of the reason that I lead ride is to ride at my pace. But  I didn't lead any ride this year. One from Woodbury was weathered out this Spring. I did a few preview rides, but for one reason or another, I didn't list any rides. One that I plan to list next year is to the  Grounds For Sculpture The Museum is only 6 miles from the Trenton Riverline and SEPTA stations, so not a long ride. From the Trenton to New York trains seated on the right side going north, one of the Sculpture, about 20 feet tall, Named "Sprit of Freedom" is on the web page above. The Museum has a fee to enter. The ride from Moorestown is about 60 miles.                    Today's ride was to Otts to view the Mums display. I have two mums post in my driveway and they didn't do as well this year. I use 4 inches pvc post. I checked the post size at Otts and his is 8 inches.     The Mum display has peaked and some has faded. It still is a worth while view and I would considered a ad hoc ride for November 3th or 10th.   Today before I got to Otts, I planned to eat at Bethie's Cafe. The marquee sign said that due a fire the cafe is closed. I went on to Otts with plans to eat at the steak house closer to Rt. 113 on my return. To my surprise renovation had been done. I went in and ordered a sandwich. while I was eating another customer ask for the dessert list. The waitress read off  'Mom Chocolate cake" I said hey you are Bethie. Yes she told me, and that her Son had just open this place as "Tommy Mo's Steak shop and Family Restaurant". The address is 340 Gravel Pike Rahns, PA. The plans was to continue serving breakfast and lunch at the old place and  dinner at the new place. They serve all meals here for now.   I asked about access from the trail. She said that just walk straight back to the railroad bed and turn left to the main trail where it make a sharp turn. She plans to put a foot bridge over a shallow ditch. The path isn't beaten down yet. so you have to walk through the weeds. She plan to bring the bike rack up to this place soon. The ride home finished with about two hours of night riding. A pleasant surprise was the number of home and yards decorated with lights. Some neighborhood sported as many lights as the Christmas season. Many had open fires and parties. Reminder of Peter Odell's Winter Solstice parties in December and a large fire in his back yard.

Sunday October 28, 2007 Same training as Wednesday. I am working on miles, my total is just over half of my last year total with only two months to go. I feel the different in many ways.

Wednesday October 24, 2007 20 mile on my training loop, home to Mansion mill park. This loop has an elevation gain of almost 1800 feet in the 20 miles round trip. Tooknay Creek Pky. and Jenkintown road shoe 45 feet elevation and about 3 mile into the ride in Abington the elevation is 230 feet. the rise is slow but it is a good train ride.   

Saturday October 20 2007, 39.2 miles. I left home heading toward Montgomeryville. Two miles from home when the chain over rode the rear cog and jammed between the spokes and the cluster. I carry a "no longer available: Hycraker cluster remover tool." However, without the chain it wasn't usable. I mounted the front wheel on the rear drop outs using the skewer from the rear wheel. I have a piece of verco securing my pump that I was able to securing the rear wheel to the frame and I then was able to roll the bicycle home. Once home with my tools I was able remove the cluster and was back on the road. While I was gone, Performance called and said to pickup a tube. I made that my destination for the day. 

Wednesday October 17, 2007 37.4 miles. Rode to Idea for Breakfast, 2.11 dollars including coffee. I use the bike path from Spring Mill to the Cross county path and also the completed section into Ft. Washington.

Monday October 15,2007 41.9 miles. I rode to our church to deliver the DVDs and from there I rode to Montgomeryville to return a bad inter tube. The clerk refuse to replace it so I left and email Performance head quarters.   

Friday Oct 12, 2007, 37 miles Northeast section of Perimeter of Philadelphia, I look for a way to avoid Pine Rd. I turn right on Welsh and use Veree to Red Lion and found my self back on Pine. I followed the cue and the Franklin Mills bypass and back on the cue. I rode south to Castor and came home from there.

Saturday Oct, 6, 2007  60 miles 12.7 average. I had a goal or doing a 100 miles, 33 loops around the drive since I need to put drops in my eye at four hour interval. I started around 7 am and after 30 miles I stop at home for the planned break. I went back out at noon and rode another 30 miles. I decided to call it quits and it was getting hot. I finished wit a total of 60 miles. The first 15 mile I was riding at a 15 mph average, however, the average continue to drop on each loop.

Wednesday Oct, 3, 2997 Tooknay loop 16.7; 13.4 average, 5 loops around the drive.

Saturday September 29 2007. 65.6 miles 11 mph average. I am continuing my Ground for Sculpture plans for a ride. The GFS is only about 8 miles from Trenton River Line station. I plotted a route from the new shopping center in Moorestown to The Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton NJ. Rt. 130 is the direct route, so to avoid  Rt. 130 the route veered east but I want to not use Rt. 537 east of My Holly. To my surprise the roads used  was replete with bicycle road marking for various club rides. Princeton event, a P with an E under ir in about four colors, an A with 100 under it and about four others shapes and arrows. The town of Crosswick was having a Fall festival as I rode through. it I arrived at the GFS about 2 pm so I didn't pay the 10 dollars entrance fee. and tour as I needed time to get back to Moorestown. I had to ride on about a mile of milled road each way, to avoid the milled road on the return would have required using Moumouth Rd and that section is busy. , so I suffered the milled on the return also.   

September 25 and 26, 2007. 3 mile trading loops around Ashborene Rd and Tooknay Drive. 15 miles each day.

Monday September 24, 2007.34.6  I only have 170 miles this month so I made my Monday delivers on the bicycle for a total of 34.5 miles today.. I made delivers of DVD to our church and continue to Henry Ave. and down Shawmount to the bike path. I used the cross county trail to get to Chemical Rd. I stopped to inspect the new construction of the trail. A bridge is being built across the Plymouth Creek alongside the Blue Route. the pillars are in place. However, I am looking for Spring before we can use this section. 

Saturday September 22, 2007. I started at 6:30 am riding loops on the three mile loop around Tooknay drive and Ashborne Rd. I rode 15 mile before breakfast. My intention was to ride about 30 miles on two Lehigh Wheelman club route that I had loaded into my gps. As I was leaving home it began to rain. My main reason for going to Allentown was a computer show to get printer ink cartages, a third of the price. The unexpected rain followed me to Allentown. When I left the show, the rain had stopped but it was still overcastted. I drove to the the park to start the ride. The lot was empty. I decided not to ride I returned home and did another 5 loops for a total of 30 miles.

Saturday September 15, 2007 I was drawn to ride the perimeter of Philadelphia today. However, the morning showers allowed an excuse not to start early. I finally left home about noon intending to ride about 30 miles. There is a close road, Dupree St.  that allows the route to avoid a left turn onto Bustleton Ave and a right on Trevose Ave. Bicycle can ride around the barricade on Dupree to Lindenhurst St. and cross at tie light to get on Trevose Ave. Also A Franklin Mill leg needed to be checked. This section, 2.5 miles, avoids almost all of Knight Rd. The Left turn leaving Franklin Mill requires attention, but otherwise this is a better ride. Knight Rd need to be use for one block for a scenic ride through a pretty neighborhood and wooded area along Red Lion Road to Frankford. Today I use this section to check the traffic of the "E" Route. Traffic lane are good here. I rode pass the point that the "E" route turn left on Linden Ave. I rode to Pennypack trail to get back home with about 30 miles as planned. I left the trail at Ryan St. and arrived home with 30.4 miles

Saturday September 8, 2007 78.7 miles, Perimeter of Philadelphia. I did a Perimeter of Philadelphia, it is recorder here; Perimeter Bicycling Assn of America That ride was a century, as it was an outside perimeter  today I rode a perimeter where the route stays mostly inside Philadelphia. This map has both my route and my tracks for this ride and is an inside Perimeter I started the ride in Cheltenham PA and use Central Ave east of Cottman Ave, Pine road and Philmount to Byberry to Trevose to Southampton Rd. to the Bybery complex. Many of these roads I have traveled to other ride. (My Yardley ride from Cheltenham get to Tresvose Rd. from Verree Rd). After crossing Rt 1, it is Dunking Ferry Rd and later Knight Rd. A busy road but a wide shoulder lane. I leave. Knight Rd. without going through Franklin Mills and head through a section of great homes and winding road that seem more like North Jersey than Philly. Soon I am on State Rd. for a few blocks before I turn off to Linden Ave. to use Torrisdale Ave. I expect to see signs for the E Route. Seem that it use Rt 13 out of Bristol down to Linden Ave. and then Torrisdale. I follow the E route all the way to Bertram Ave. and 84th street. (Except for a few turns, this is the same way my route was carrying me.) As I turn on to 84th street, I see a sign for the Cobb Creek Bikeway. I turned my route program off to follow the bike way. I will make a cue to post on my Philly area bike trail page. The Bike way uses roads for about 3 miles until it get to Cobb Creek Parkway. I expect that a few of these signs will go missing soon. all of the sign were all there until I got to 70th Street and Elmwood. From previous ride I expected a turn from Elwood to 70th St.. I made the turn and looked back and there is a sign on the other side. The paved path start at 70th and Cobb Creek Parkway and goes until 63rd and Market. I suggest Spruce St. as a place to leave the Bikeway if one is going to center city. My route was through Yeadon and Upper Darby, at this point, 63rd Street in the Boundary until Market Street.. After an ice coffee at a new Dunkin Donut on 63rd street,  I turn on Haverford Ave, a few blocks later  and rode to City line around Morris Park. (Philadelphia is anchored with parks on most of is corners). At Haverford and City Line Ave, I rode the side walk for. four tenth of a  mile again to cross a rail line near 63 Ave. I rode the side walk for a block. and another rail line at 50th St. for a block. From there it was through the park and the Falls Bridge. From Kelly Drive to where I left the bike route at Shawmont Ave. I was riding in the opposed direction as the SRC rider. Port Royal is the city boundary in this area but Shawmount  is less steep, however, I walked the last two tenth mile to Eve ave.. Ridge is not as friendly as most ride on the ride but doable. After Northwestern Ave. The route was to use Stenton Ave to Flowertown and Montgomery Ave. However, I divert and use my regular route from home to Bruno's I think that the mileage and elevation are the same The climb elevation for the ride is 5,188 feet. E mail me for the map with tracks and route. I will post the cue sheet soon..

Saturday September 1, 2007, 24 miles.  On a previous ride to select a route from Trenton to Freehold, I use State street.  In the area of the old Trenton Fair grounds, I notice large sculptor, art pieces on both sides of the highway. Today I went back with a camera and posted some pictures. on the page in the last line of this section.  I was able to goggle the name. http://www.groundsforsculpture.org/exhibit.htm

Comprised of nearly 250 large-scale contemporary sculptures, Grounds For Sculpture includes works by renowned and emerging American and international artists.  The outdoor exhibition grows by approximately 15 sculptures annually.  Outdoor works are selected to augment indoor exhibitions, to add new artists to the sculpture park, and to work in conjunction with the landscaped environment. 

Most of the sculptures on exhibit outdoors are displayed courtesy of The Sculpture Foundation, Inc., a charitable foundation that collects works of art by American and international artists.  The Foundation supports Grounds For Sculpture by lending works for exhibit in the park.  Sculptures in a variety of styles and media, including bronze, steel, stone, wood, concrete and mixed media are represented.

However; I couldn’t find pictures of the sculpture on State Street. I have those pictures on this page. Grounds For Sculpture

Sunday August 26, 2007  41.8 miles i rode from home to meet the spin-off. It has been a long time since I rode with Tom Will. Tom does a great job passing new riders up the level. Today I saw Dennis Shelling, leading the D group. Another example of a good job of bringing new riders in to the riding family. We left the Art Museum with nine c riders and the group had a great riding experience I left the group at Bruno's and rode home from there.      

Saturday August 25, 2007. 102 miles I plotted another route to Freehold, Old Trenton Rd. has heavy traffic and no shoulder in most of its length. Today I use State St out of Trenton to Quaker Bridge Rd. Quaker bridge Rd is almost as bad as Old Trenton Rd. Another Route is underway. All goes to Cranbury, this route I use today uses CR.  615 and is south of Clearbrook. I left home at about 7:30 am and caught the 8:36 River Line train in Palmyra. This train is very popular with bicyclist, there was six waiting at that station, each car has three bicycle hanger. The walk on vs. lifting at most SEPTA  station. (Cheltenham Station now has a walk on platform) A passenger showed me how to turn the front wheel on an angle to prevent swaying of the bicycle. I left Trenton on E State St. As I got to the industrial area of Trane and Congoleum Tile factories There is art along the highway on the order of Philly' Cloth Pin. One a twelve foot horse and rider, something about Freedom, I have to go back with a camera, also a 8 foot high tooth. At least tem piece on State street, Klockner Rd. and  Sloan Rd. After going on the other side on Mercer County Park on Quaker Bridge Rd. to Village Rd. The Ride was better, very little traffic. This ride didn't go into Cranbury but the center is a few blocks off route. I Arrived in Eliglishtown with about 30 miles and decided to ride to Freehold. In freehold I switch to the Monmouth Battle Loop I used WAWA store located and marked a WAWA on CR 34 but I couldn't find it, but a Dunkin Donut did appear in Colts Neck NJ.  A break there with 52 miles I decided to use my track back. I arrive in Trenton about 6:30. When I got off in Palmyra I needed mt head light. I arrived home about 8 pm. I am still perfecting the Capital to the Sea route, so email me for the latest cue sheet. Current route are on the Monmouth County pages. 

Monday August 13, 2007 12.6 mile from leaving the car at the dealer. Free shuttle is available, but why miss a chance to bicycle. I picked the car up on Thursday, Only 11.4 miles as I found a foot path to the connecting roads behind the dealer on Street Rd.

Sunday August 12, 2007 45.2 miles, 12.5 average. Three miles train loop around my neighborhood. Plans are to ride a century on this loop. Today, I started at 4:30 am and rode for 10 loops, 30 miles. I was planning to ride after church, but there is a auto show and Tooknay Creek Drive is close until 5 pm. I went back at 7:30 and road 15 more miles. Tooknay training Loop

Saturday August 4, 2007, 37 miles at 9.7 mph. This is the Musikfest ride date. I didn't list it this year, only one person, Elaine last year. She met me in Quakertown and rode one way. Her speed was more than mine and she waited for me on top of several hills. I panned to ride this year alone. That the problem with solo ride. I listen to the weather report and decided not to ride to Bethlehem today. About ten am I decided I need to ride some where. I turn right out of Rolling Green still haven't decided about the time I got to Gleenside to rife to Ft. Washington and see the process of the trail. Once there I decided to ride on to Ikea via the SRT and get on the Cross County trail. On the Schuylkill River Trail just before the fork to the CCT, some one yelled Major Taylor, I looked around and another biker was wearing a different color Major Taylor jersey. I told him that my jersey was from the New York club. He said that his group is local and that they do a (A ride and the Sea Gull ride. I got home and Goggle Major Taylor, but no local clubs came up, New York and Pittsburgh clubs that I am aware they exist. As I reach the end of the completed trail, I notice a back hoe working in the area that the trail will continue as it crosses Germantown Pike. The section in Ft. Washington Park is completed. A sign at the Rt. 73 and Mullica Hill Rd. list the distances to Flowertown Rd as 1.5 miles and to Stenton 2 miles. A unmarked fork goes to Bethlehem Pk..and Mill Rd. The trail in Ft. Washington is about 75 percent black top. the rest is packed gravel and clay. 25mm tires are ok on this surface. 

Saturday July 28, 2007. Capitol to Shore, a proposed trail to lint with the 30 year old trail that now goes from Allaire state park to  Manasquan I have a cue sheet from Freehold to Allaire State Park that parallel the proposes trail that will use a abandon rail line here I left home to ride Rt. 524 from Trenton to Freehold. I rode to Palmrya from home and use the River Line to Trenton. I use S. Broad Street to Yardville where I picked up Yardville Allentown road, Rt. 524.This road goes from Yardville to Spring Lake with a Spur to Manasquan.

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Friday July27, bike to see Jim McGrane. in rehab. Jim wasn't in his room so I left a biking paper that I brought. 10 miles total from home and back through Pennypack park.

Saturday July 12, 13, 14, 2007 Three mile loop around Ashborne Golf Course and Tooknay Drive. 15, 24, and 36 mile at an average speed of 13 mps plus.

Monday July 2, 2007 Spring Lakes revisited. Freehold to Spring Lakes to Sandy Hooks to Aberdeen to Freehold. 75 mile loop using about 30 miles of completed bicycle paths. I arrived at the Freehold end of the Henry Hudson trail about 10:30 AM. I parked on a side street.   I parked my car on a side street near the south western end of the Henry Hudson Bicycle path. I followed a cue sheet I made that closely following the rail tracks of the proposed extension of the Henry Hudson to Allaire State Park and connection with the Edgar Felix trail that begins there and goes to Manasquan NJ. A branch also go to Spring Lakes. My Cue crosses that rail line several times. At Allaire main entrance I enter the Edgar Felix bicycle trail. I rode to the end in Manasquan. There I saw  signs " Capital to Coast bicycle trail" My heart skipped a beat, I have to goggle this when I get home. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_to_Coast_Trail OK, another promise. Seems that the only section completed to date is this trail. I rode back to the fork to Wall township and Spring Lake. I cross Cr 524, (all of the street crossing has solar power flashing lights that is active by a push button) and look around the park complex where the trail end. I came back to Cr 524 and rode into Spring Lake. I follow my cue to Atlantic Highland where the Henry Hudson trail Starts. The Cue follow the shore and neighborhood streets. Most of the beach access were private or beach pass. Often I would see a narrow path with a sign, "Pubic beach access". In the town of Deal ther ia a casino. on the beach.   Maps and more comments of the ride are here. Monmouth County  

Saturday June 23, 2007. Spring Lake NJ from the new Moorestown shopping center on Rt. 537. 115.5 miles 10.8 average. Channel 3 Thursday's weather is broadcasts from a Jersey shore point each week. a week ago the broadcast was from Spring Lake NJ. In my need to do a 100 bicycle ride each month, I want to keep the ride interesting by riding to different destination or at least a different route. When I saw the scenes from Spring Lake,  I made a route and cue sheet for my GPS. I posted the cue sheet on my web pages http://www.billcotton.com/Bill%20cotton%20cue%20sheets.htm 

I didn't get the wheel from the bike shop until Friday evening, (see last week incident below) mounted it and tweak the adjustment, replace the rear derailleur cable that broke when the wheel came off the frame, (I carry a spare in the seat bag). I made a short test ride and made plans for the ride to Spring Lake. Saturday Morning, loading the bicycle in to the station wagon, I broke my homemade GPS mount, (I was proud on my mount on top of the Luxeon light). I went back in the house and got several  postal rubber bands.. I drove to Moorestown for the start. I arrive about 7 am. I rubber banded the gps in place and engage the route function. Since I use a 12 volt system on the bicycle, I turned on the backlight on the GPS. As I traveled I noticed that I was only getting beeps and not voice direction for my turns. After about 5 miles I stopped to check for connections by turning on my light. It didn't come on,  I wasn't getting external power to the GPS. I turn the back light off on the GPS and notice that the battery gage wasn't full , I had doubts that the GPS power would last the full day and  I didn't print a cue sheet, I promise that I would always carry a cue for this reason. I continue the ride. Very little traffic on the roads that was chosen, However, My routes to these Ocean County point, Pt Pleasant,  Lakewood and Lakehurst also goes through New Egypt as this route to southern Monmouth county does. Those route all started from West Trenton Regional rail station and traffic is heavy for the first 5 miles I prefer not to drive at all, but I think I will use this start for now. 

The route to Spring Lake was the same as a Lakewood ride to County Line road. There it goes straight on Bennett's Mill Rd., cross I 195 three times and enter Allaire State Park.  A bike path start in the park. The path cross the Garden State Pwy and  parallels Cr. 524 spur. Explorer that I am I consider checking to see if the path went in my direction. I marked waypoints on the GPS each time I would see the path along the road. I promised that I would use the path for the return . Arriving in Spring Lake I was pleased with its beauty. I bikes around and cross the lake. Leaving, to the north I saw MS road marking. I decided to follow them to find food, mindful that I was +50 miles already, I pedal on for about a mile or so and was almost in Belmar. I turn back and found a Subway shop on the main highway. A couple saw at my BCP jersey, asked if I had rode from Philly. I answered yes. They mention the bike path along the way, that it was only 6 mile long. I told then that I saw it and plan to use it on the way back. The path form a Tee. That I would cross the leg that goes to Wall Township turn left and right when I reach the main path. The path ends in the State park to the west. I have to return another time and ride the two section that I didn't ride. From the web i read that there are plans to link with the Henry Hudson trail in Freehold to the north. The ride home was quiet and the GPS battery still had a charge when I reach the car..   

Thursday June 7, 2007;  156.6 miles, 11.5 average and 13. 6 hours on riding. Undecided on what kind of birthday/solstice ride to do. I have consider a few options, but I settle on planning a 200 mile in one day ride as I did for my 69th birthday ride. On this ride as I got to the Pleasantville/Somers Point bike path with 75 miles, I decided that a 150 mile ride, double my 75 years is ok for this year.  

Usually, for the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, I did a loaded bicycle camping trip for more than five years. Interest wane after a few years. So I have given this ride up.

I have been exploring a eastern route to Cape May A map with both route is here  The new route goes through Moorestown, Mt Laurel, (Mt Laurel State Park), Eavesham Township, Medford Village, Medford Lakes, Tabernacle, Washington Township to Egg  Harbor. The route is 5 miles longer than the Western Route that Goes through Lindenwold, and Hammonton but far less traffic. Lots more black flies and bugs as it goes through the bog area of the Pine Barren. Route 563 is the Canoe rental road for the many lazy streams in the area. The area in loaded with camping sites both in State parks and private, many camp site are along the streams. This new route uses roads with less traffic than Tilton Blvd below Rt. 40. At the circle of Rt. 563(Tilton Rd.) and Rt. 646, The southern end of the airport, the route leaves Rt.563 and uses Delilah Rd and Fire Rd to get to the Pleasantville/Somers Point bike path. I explored the Pleasantville end of the bike path The section from Dolphins Ave. To Ridgewood  Ave. was paved since I was last on this trail, however, the Bridge over the Rt. 40 is still closed. I returned by plotting a route by the AC. reservoir and found a less traffic route to the AC Airport. I arriver home at 7:30 pm having left home at about 4:30 am. 

Wednesday May 23, 2007. More searching for a Eastern route to the shore. Currently I have routes to Pt. Pleasant, Asbury Park, Lakehurst and Sandy Hooks to the north and most point to the South Jersey Shore points. However, I never bike to Long Beach Island. I have drove there to fish often. Wednesday I drove to Moorestown Mall, parked he car and loaded the 56 miles route I plotted to LBI. There was some traffic on Church Street and about the same on Church Road. Rt 541 was also light. One in Medford, there was one car every 5 minutes with bile lanes much of the way through Tabernacle and Chatsworth. One on Rt. 72, Straight as a western road and a full width breakdown lane for about 20 miles, until the Garden State Parkway. Could be boring for some, but there was some rolling hills. The elevation is over 200 feet at the highest point. a profile and map is on this page. http://www.billcotton.com/my_training.htm The causeway from Beach Haven West has a very narrow shoulder, so i turn around and found a great seafood restaurant on a local road that parallels Rt 72 to the north. I had 50 miles at that time, so I started my return. I want to do a ride in the area, maybe in the Marlton Medford Lakes area.

Thursday May 17, 2007 Speaking of trails, I did some trail recon today: Work hasn't started on the
Oak's bridge crossing the Perkeoimen. However, I use the Audubon Loop to see how it is. The connection from the Pawling road parking lot is seamless, using the sidewalk on that side on the road. Not a bad way to go, the 9%
grade is down hill going west. I looped around and use the Oak's bridge  to return..
I used the Cross County trail both going and returning. While the trail currently ends under the Blue Route on Chemical Road, I leave or entering the trail at the traffic light and use Chemical Rd. to Germantown PK. Going north I go straight through the office complex, bare left and exist on Butler Pk., Then follow the Schuylkill century to Stenton ave. Cross Stenton and Flourtown Rd. becomes Cricket and enter the Ft. Washington State Park section of the Cross county trail. 75% paved  as I rode today. Two sections, between the golf course parking lot and Valley Green Rd about 0.1 mile and
in the park just before the end at Militia Hill Rd. The last section that I rode the asphalt was warm, So I think that the paving will be completed very soon.
(You can turn right on Stenton to Valley Green Rd. and the start for now.)

Saturday May 5, 2007, 100.1 miles 11.1 mph. Cheltenham to Marlton and on to Atlantic City. My intention was to follow the last ride to Marlton them open the new cue in the gps to AC. Previously, I was asked for a route from Marlton to Philly and this led to another vista opening up to explore. South Jersey from east of Rt. 73. Still a project in work, About 5 or more rides until i get the cue sheet I want to post. One branch will go to Long beach Island. When I got to Marlton I found that I fail to load the route from the map. I plotted the gps to Egg Harbor but it used Rt. 73 for most of the route. I have a route from Lakehurst to Cheltenham and I notice a hidden feature to reverse a route on the gps. It involves bring the route up, move the pointer to "Show Turns" then press the menu button, and a menu comes up with "Reverse Route" as one of the options. However, this will only follow waypoints that you put in the route, and the original rout need to be reloaded from the map to be used again. So I headed toward Lakehurst, I only want to ride out 50 miles and going al the way to Lakehurst would be 60 mile out for a 120 mile total ride. Soon after I left Medford, two guys in a van ask me to stop. Turns out they was Sagging for three friends on bicycles. They had left Westville NJ this morning as a senior class project at Gateway High School. They are riding to Long Beach Island. There they will stay with with friends over night and tomorrow the friend will take the bikers to Sandy Hooks by boat where they will ride. The van will meet them and drive back to Westville. They showed me the local newspaper with a description of the trip. They are sending a video to You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l90GF1cYxpI  As many of you have heard me say that I ride for health and today with my allergy kicking up and there was a slight chill in the air, I return home after a mile to get glove with fingers. However, after talking to the young bikers, I got more pep in my pedaling. The should remember the trip for the rest of their lives. I turn around at Rt. 72 and The group at stopped at Chadworth Lake and two of them were fishing. I stopped and chatted with the bicyclist for a few minutes more and continued my return through the lakes of Medford. I wouldn't be surprise to learn that these guys form a touring service, one day. Fact that they plotted the same roads that I use is proof enough:-)     

Wednesday May 2, 2007. 50.7 miles 10.3 mps Cheltenham to Marlton NJ via Palmyra NJ.. I was asked for a route from Marlton to Philly. What better way to answer than to ride the route and make a cue from my tracks.. I had considered using Marlton as a stop on a century. However, the weather prediction was for morning showers. It was overcastted earlier. About 10:30 the clouds cleared, so I plotter the route to Marlton and started the ride. http://www.billcotton.com/my_training.htm  More details of the ride and route is under the map on the link page. From Marlton to Haddonfield, I  uses many of the same roads as the ACS ride in reverse. The route I like best after Haddonfield to the BF bridge leaves Haddon Ave. and uses the Cooper river's Park Drives and the bike path along the Admiral Wilson Blvd.  

Thursday April 26, 20 miles 11.3 mps, on my training route to Mason Mill Park and back.

Saturday April 21, 106 miles , 11.8 mph.  I reload the tracks for Freehold. For you gps user, you know that tracks are "Bread crumb", designed to be used to reverse a ride. I wanted to repeat the ride that started at the West Trenton regional train station, go to Freehold, use the Henry Hudson paved bike path to Aberdeen NJ and goes from there to Sandy Hook NJ. When I ask the gps to track back, a line appeared on the screen that followed all of the streets that I had used on the last trip. It expected me to have started in downtown Trenton where I finish the previous ride. The gps continued tried to redirect me to the first start. ( There are program that convert tracks to Route around, also I could've made a route close to the track line on the computer) However since a route would not use the bike path is the reason to use the tracks. The previous ride was a figure 8 on the tracks. As I was following the track line, I turn the speaker down to nor hear the direction to make a u turn, I notice that the gps was now following the tracks. I turn the speaker up and those directions were also telling me where to turn. I then realized that I was now reversion the route. No problem, I would now go to Aberdeen first and return to Freehold. At the figure 8 crossing I would then follow the line to downtown Trenton. CR 3 cross the Henry Hudson Trail near Rt. 79. I had seen this paved trail on previous rides to Sandy Hook and made a mental note to explore the trail. Now I know the trail I turn into it and rode to the northern end in Aberdeen. I use the streets to get around to the Train station. Left on Stillwell, right on Orchard, Left on Park Ave. Right on Broad, Right on Little Left on Atlantic pass train station, Right on CR516, Right on Gerard. Left to start on train on Broadway. I continue on the trail to Keansburg to have lunch at a Subway sandwich place there. and stretch the ride to a century. I met a large group on of riders that turn out to be a scout troop. The Subway was out on business co I turn around planning to have lunch at the Stewart Rootbeer drive-in where the trail crossed Rt. 79. At the break in the trail in Aberdeen there aren't any direction to continue. I was setting my gps to plot a route to the trailhead that maybe better that the route that I use earlier.. The leader of the Scout troop ask me if the trail continued. I told him it didn't but they could follow me .as I track back to the trail. Just before the turn to cross Lake Matawen, the Scout master said that the parent was meeting at a ball field on that road. I said that this was the only bridge over the lake. He was planning to join the trail below the lake. Thinking that I would ride with them to Freehold,  I didn't get to tell him that to get to Freehold you have to use Rt. 79 for a mile and quarter, again no signs. Those turns going south: trail stops at Station Rd. Left to Rt. 79, Right on Rt. 79 for 1 and 1/4 mile. First  Left. after CR. 520 Newton St., Left on Maywood Dr. Right on Allen Rd. to trailhead. The trail is complete to the junction of Rt. 537 and Rt. 79. I hope that the scouts was able to ride to Freehold, I follow my tracks back from there to the track cross over on Rt. 33. From there I followed the track line to Trenton Transportation center. A Riverline train was waiting and it was standing room by the time it pulled out. I got off the train at Palmyra and arrived home with 106 miles and 11.8 average,. higher that  most of my rides lately. Map with tracks is here http://www.billcotton.com/my_training.htm 

Wednesday April 11, I loaded the tracks for Freehold but it was colder that I expected, so I did a short ride to Idea and return home, 37 miles.

March 1, 2007, 60.1 miles. Long time since the weather permitted riding the bicycle. I did do i day of downhill skiing on Feb. 9 and from the ice/snow event of Feb. 14, I went cross country skiing on the three following days The surface had a hard surface that was barely skiable, I did ski the the bicycle trail from the park entrance to Valley Green rd. since the barricade  was laying down on Thursday. Friday I saw truck tracks and found that the barricade was up righted so I skied, so I skied the ski trail that circle the park, about 2.5 miles.  Today I hope to ride the bike trail but it is still snow covered. I use the Park road to get to Joshua and used that to Spring Mill. I rode the SRT to Oaks and on my return I use the Mid County trail, still not pave in the middle section for about .3 mile. I had lunch at Ikea and return home via Oreland.

February 10, 2007 Ft. Washington trail entrance from Bethlehem Pk.  22 miles

January 30, 2007 Today ride, not a century because of ice spots on the road. 

January 10, 2007 First century of this year. I missed riding on Saturday when the temperature rose above 70 degrees, as it was raining at the time I needed to start, 5 am. Wednesday the temperature was 32 degree at 5:30 am when I started my ride from Cheltenham to Pt. Pleasant NJ, 65 miles one way. The ride cross the Toney bridge and hugged the river to Beverly NJ. The GPS routed me through the town of Burlington, avoiding Rt. 130, with about 8 turns in a quarter miles. Once on Burlington-Jacksonville Rd. that change names to Jacksonville-Jobstown Rd. then Sailor Pond Rd. into Wrightstown and New Egypt With out a turn. From Cr.528 spur to Cr. 528 out of New Egypt The route continue to Lakewood. and 51 miles. The wind was at my back and I could not pedal fast enough on my touring bicycle to keep up with the speed on the flats. It was like going down a steep hill. I stopped at a Wawa for lunch at 10:30 am. in Lakewood. I decided not to continue to Pt. Pleasant, realizing that I will have the wind in my face on the return, and did I! I Would pedal hard going about 7-8 mph and the wind would let up and falling off a crest of a hill, rather than rest I would pedal just as hard until the next bust in my face. Stopping to rest more than a few times, I continued back on the same route using "Trackback' on the gps for the many turns in Burlington. I had a flat in Delanco, Sand in a previous tire cut. Time for a new rear tire. The cue is on my web.

December 18, 2006 second century this month. Total for the year is 25 centuries. and 5  75 miles rides. I left home at 7:15, the sun rise was at 7:16, however, light wasn't needed with a bright dawn. I decided on Salem, it is 47 miles from Cheltenham. I can come back along the river and add about 10 miles. I plotted a route that stayed on River Road to Federal St, then tenth St to Collings Ave.. Collings Ave. goes under 676 and ends in Gloucester City. This route bypass Broadway in Camden. However River Road before Federal is seedy and congested. With evening traffic, I decided not to return on that route and add miles by using Cuthbert Blvd for the return. I face a fierce head wind going and felt like turning back more than once. Today route use King Highway from Gloucester City to Salem. After Swedesboro, King Highway has little traffic and where it crosses Rt. 40, there is a Ice Cream restaurant, a Rosenberg type, named Richman ice cream company. I am thinking listing a ride from Woodbury to Woodstown next year. Liver and onions in Salemand anothe look at the over 200 year Oak tree across from the Salem diner, with  47 miles on the odometer. I got back to Collinsgs Ave. and decided to go to Colbert Blvd, to make more miles. I turned on to Browning road from Collings. It ended at West Park Blvd. A right turn and about a mile to Cuthbert Blvd. To my surprise, the distance is the same. I arrived home at 6:30 and 97.5 miles. There is a training loop  of about three miles that pass my house. One loop and I recorded 101 miles. .http://www.billcotton.com/my_training.htm my log is here, also you can download the 2007 bikelog.

December 15, 2006  have pretty much abandon my road bicycle. for many years I rode a touring bicycle with a front bag that carried every thing that I felt the need to carry from extra clothing to spare part and tools. While the road bicycle increase my average speed by more than 2 miles per hour, it demise was when i used it on the savage Century and walked at least 5 miles total. I bought a new chain and tried to switch rear wheels. Possible a longer rear derailleur would work, but for now I am riding the touring bicycle wit the front bag. My GPS that I use on all of my rides, a Quest 1, has an internal battery and about 5 to 8 states can be uploaded with details maps. The Quest 2 comes with detail maps of North America pre loaded..  I uses a 12 volt external battery that adds more weight. so that I can use the backlight and voice commands. the price of gps made by other that the leader of gps maker has dropped to less than 2oo dollars for some models. I recently purchase a LiteOn GPS from www.geek.com for 195 dollars, preloaded with detail maps of North America. This gps isn't water proof and a little bulkier for bicycle use, however, its program modes is touch screen and has a bicycle mode that automatically blocks toll roads and highways when making a route, I use this GPS in the my car. I haven't found the maker of this gps. However My wife car has an opening that a gps smaller than this will fit in. I look at a TomTom that seem to be the size, It is selling for 399 dollars with a 100 dollars rebate. Today Pathmark food market's flyer has a Support Plus gps, made in France selling for 195 dollars. I plan to pick it up today for my wife car.  

Tuesday December 12, 2004. December century, 102 miles.24 for the year, one month I did three centuries. I left home at 5:30 am, sunrise is at 7:13 and sunset is at 4:35. About nine and one half hours. I got home in dusk about 5:30, a full 12 hours including lunch stop and a flat. First flat I had in a while. A very small hole, I check the tire and couldn't find any foreign object , nor was there any thing untoward with the rim or rim tape. I replace the tube expecting another flat before the day was over. Happily, I didn't have another flat. As I was preparing to cross Tacony bridge, the gate on walkway was close with the close sign showing, However, the sign at the approach was showing open. I started to go back and under the bridge to get to the other side. It occurred to me that vandals may have close the gate. I walked up and looked and found that the wind had blown the gate close. Apparently a locking pin was broken. I continue on but planed to pick up a piece of road debris on the way back and tie the gate in the open position. I map a different route to Egg Harbor, Getting around the Cooper river valley requires busy roads. I have use several routes and all so far have been about the same. But different is what I like. Egg Harbor is about 55 miles from Cheltenham. I was planning on the 110 mile ride, However, at Hamilton, with 10 miles to go, to Egg Harbor, the skies darken and I decided that I would ride five miles more, turn around and eat lunch in Hamilton. Feeling like a ride to nowhere; I debated on doing the extra miles. At 49.4 miles, I saw a bike path that I had notice before, wonder where and how far it went. I turn in to it. The path went for about half mile. I made a left at its end and came out north of the school where the American Cancer Ride has a rest stop. The last part is a dirt road past a cemetery, do it wouldn't work as a turnoff for that ride. However, it was a destination to turn around. %1 miles and I headed home, stopping for Lunch in Hamilton for lunch and picking up a piece of 12-3 electrical wire along the road. I stop to wire the sign on. he bridge open. It occurred to me that I may have set off a terrorist alert as I did once before when I stopped  under the Bessie Ross Bridge. It the weather allows..

Wednesday November 29, 2006 I return to the VA hospital to for the blood work that I didn't wait for on Monday. I boarder the R% train at Fernrock station at 9:40 am, and rode to Thorndale station, arriving at the VA about 11:30. With only one person ahead, the wait was too long to catch the 12:20 train and the next train wasn't until 2:40 pm. Having fast for the blood work, I stopped for lunch and was on the way home about 12:30. I elected to bicycle to Malvern station where three local trains ends in that time period. One at 1:30 and another at 2:30. When I plug the route into the gps, It showed arriving in Malvern at just before 2:30, however, a few hills and and the eta became 2:30. Fast pedaling got me to the train at exactly 2:30. I arrived home with 27 miles for the day. . .  

Monday, November 27, 2006 VA appointment in Coatesville PA. 101 miles, second century for Novemver.23 for the year. I was riding the touring bicycle, the road bicycle with its higher gearing has been hanging from the rafter for the last few rides. Dressed for forty degrees, the temperature was 37 when I left home at 5:30 am for the Overbrook's regional rail station.. (Bicycles are allowed on outbound trains only during morning rush hours) for the 7:40 train to Thorndale. It is about a 5 mile ride to Coatesville after getting off the train. About 2.5 mile from home I notice that I had forgot my water bottles. My first thought was to ride on and buy bottle water or Gatorade after leaving the VA. Having about 40 minutes to spare according to the GPS's ETA, I return home for the water bottle. I had to put on the pedaling arriving at Overbrook 5 minutes before the train arrived. I got to the VA about 9 am for my 9:30 appointment. I got served early. My doctor who has been commuting to work and visits told me that patients seeing the bicycle in the office has been inspired to start riding also. I left the office for blood work There was twenty people ahead of me, usually it is walk in and get service before I could get a number. I left without getting the blood work.I had plotted a route from Coatesville to Pottstown. West of Coatesville and north are very hilly. This route was 64 mile. I has 16 miles from home before and after the train ride. My plan was to ride the Thun trail a few miles when I got to Pottstown. I considered "Rubberband" the route to Reading from Coatesville. Since I had rode Rt. 82  before, I decided against this, Really it was only a few miles from Coatesville to Pottstown, about 20 but most 7288 feet of the elevation gain was in this section. I recorded 9633 for the Savage century. The route put me on Rt. 100 for about 5 miles, I found a Dunkin Donut just before Rt. 23 on Rt. 100. I had fasted for the blood work and was about to get hungry. From Rt. 30 to to the VA is a nice hill, it makes two loops to get to the top. My food plan after fasting for blood work usually is to coast down that hill, make a right and ride about two blocks to a dinner that has a hungry man's breakfast However, I dreaded riding the hill back up to the VA where the route started, thinking that I would find a Wawa or deli soon.  I arrived in Pottstown with about 40 miles. I rode the trail toward Birdsboro until the GPS shows 50 miles and the distance to home was also 50 miles, about 8 miles on the trail. The route back from Pottstown was routine. I stopped at the Wawa at Rt. 724 and Bridge Street. I arrive at the trail in Oaks before sunset. However by Norristown I need the bright head light. I met more than a few riders enjoying that bicycle light, Some brighter than others. Meeting riders without lights was scary, apparently they can see where they are going but with my eyes adjusted for light it as hard for me to see them. Arriving at Spring Mills The find home gave 11 miles homes and my total was 85 at the time. My longer route using Northwestern Ave, is 17 miles. Also the shorter route uses Barren Hill Rd. Traffic was very heavy turning on to Barren Hill Rd. I made the left to Joshue Rd and my Barren Hill Detour. With 99 miles and the home mile showing .7 miles, I made a left from Ashborne to New Second St and Tooknay Creek Drive for a loop past my house and arrive home from the east. I finished with 101 miles..      

Saturday, November 4 - Schuylkill River/Thun trail to Reading PA. Class C, D, 10 to 12 mph, 30 miles. This ride left from the Pottstown Community College remote parking lot at Hanover St and College Ave. Twenty riders at the start of the ride. I Left home at 6:30 am, temperature was 32 degrees, with intention of getting there about 10:30 am I stopped at Norristown for breakfast at the Dunkin Donut one block from the trail. That stop and phone calls slowed me down since I would stop the bicycle to answer. One riders arrived at Pottstown  9:00. He called to ask if he was at the correct location for the ride. I said yes but two hours early. He asked if he could ride toward me to keep warm,. two phone calls and the gps map and it worked. We arrived at the parking 20 minutes after 11:00 am about the time all had sign-in it was 11:45. I called the Diner to say that we would be later getting there. About 6  riders were from http://groups.yahoo.com/group/valleyforgewalkers/  , The became members at Hanover weekend.Three riders turn off for several reasons.  One rider that live in the area said that he wouldn't ride today since he was getting over a bug, bur would show me the partial path between Phoenixville and Pottstown. I made a date to explore soon. The trail is one or two tracks in most places and post to block four wheel vehicles that we had to slow to pass through. The group was space out for a block or so, but remained cheerful at the slow pace. I took the pictures above of the rear on the group as I was sweeping. No one worried about the time and the last of us got to the Diner after 2:30. The service was great the waitress said that she prefer to write single checks. Long after 3:30 and stopping to take the group picture in front of the diner, I said that I didn't mind if any one that wanted could go ahead. as we swept, time was drifting away. The harvest moon was as bright as ever. We arrive at the parking in full darkness, three of us rode side by side by my headlight. We found three cars were still there, I think they rode in back in twilight on the trail. Saul offered me a ride home and I accepted  Pictures are here. http://www.billcotton.com/schuylkill_river_trail.htm  

Below is an excerpt from a Pottstown area paper.

07/27/2006

Wednesday November 1, 2006 I drove to Pottstown to preview the ride I have planned for Saturday. The trip is one hour from home by car. I exist Rt. 422 at Hanover street in  Pottstown with a right on Hanover Street, cross the river and made a right turn into College Ave. About a block and I made a left into the student remote parking lot.   SEPTA Rt. 93 runs on the hour on Saturday, It get to the college a few minutes after the next hour, remember only two bicycles can fit on the bus front rack. If arriving by bus, the bus stops at the college. The remote parking is east on College Ave. (However, you can go west on College Ave for the trailhead also.. At the point that College Ave. turns left, continue straight to get on the trail.) .Today ride was ideal. The temperature was up to 70 degree. The trail was covered with leaves that added to the season. After crossing Rt. 724 near Reading, the trail is on a ridge and the ridge to the right is in full colors and in view for most of the 2 miles of that section of the Thun trail. Below are the directions for using the trails. At Birdsboro is a Turkey Hill store, deli and gas station. I change bicycles today and was riding without a pump. I calculated how far I would have to walk had I gotten a flat,  6 miles was the most, between Pottstown and Birdsboro. 

The Schuylkill and Thun trails is completed from Pottstown to Birdsboro and Reading. The trail starts at Pottstown Riverfront park at Hanover St. and College Ave. It is paved to the Berks County line. Here it become the Thun trail. The Thun trail is packed gravel with a grassy surface in places  The trail Crosses Rt. 724 twice. A overpass was removed, making one crossing a steep descent on both side. Walking your bicycle is recommended here.. In Birdsboro, after crossing Rt. 82 and going into Turkey Hill parking lot to avoid a tough left turn. Make a right turn in the lot and then a left turn onto Rt. 724/Main street is use for one block and then a right turn on to Schuylkill Rd. Schuylkill Rd. becomes Old River Rd after crossing Rt. 724. a quick right to continue on Old River Rd. Old. River Rd. ends at Proudfoot Rd. Ahead the trail began. The trail crosses Rt. 724.again caution for on the loose gravel for a short distance. After the parking lot a section of the trail is unfinished. Use Rt. 10 There is a wide shoulder for most of the way to Rt. 422 business. The trail  restart with a right on Prospect Ave. However, for the Queen City Diner, staying on Rt.10 is better. If on another trip you plan to cross  Bus 422, turn here and use the trail and overpass.. Pottstown to Birdsboro and Reading cue sheet

The ride took one hour from Cheltenham to Riverfront Park, arriving about 11 am.. I got on  the Riverfront park trail by going toward the river from the parking area It is 17.6  miles to the Queen City Dinner, at less that 10 MPH average, I Took about 1:45 minutes The Queen City Dinner want to give us a room if we have more than ten people. They have a senior menu, salad and soup bar and great deserts. Today I had a toasted cocoanut cheese cake about 2 inches tall, after my soup and salad. I arrived back at Pottstown about 3:30.

Oct 26, 06 54 mile to take picture of the St Gabel Curve and the Schuylkill River Trail. Pictures of the trail and the view on the traffic and its proximity to the trail   is here; http://www.billcotton.com/philadelphia_area_bicycle_trails.htm On the return from Spring Mills I use Barren Hill to Ridge and stopped at the Friendly to eat. The Friendly is at Northwestern Ave. and Ridge. After eating I decided to ride down Northwestern Ave. even if the sign say No Outlet. Donna lead a ride a few years ago and I think that we was able to connect the two ends of Northwestern Ave. Bruno is at the other end. That road becomes Andorra as it continue to Ridge. After about half mile of ride I came to a lock gate and a seemly new home. To my right was the entrance to the tree house area and a sign that read No Bikes. I know the area from hiking and could've walk the bicycle through. But the closest road showing on the GPS was Bells Mil Road. So I return to Ridge and Henry Ave to get home.

Oct 14 Second century this month and this week; The Savage century of the White Clay Bicycle Club, Newark DE. 102 miles 9.1 average 9633 feet of climbing. I did this ride several times on the ride day and twice to collect profile when i was comparing area rides. http://www.billcotton.com/bicycle_ride_rating_system.htm I use a topo map and recorded 7501 and 98 miles, any reason to ride has always been my calling.

I woke several time during the night .and debated weather to lay back down at 4:30 am. I did and woke at 6am. My plans were to be at the sign-in table when it open at 7 am and ride off then. The last time I rode the Savage, I did this and finished at 7 pm riding in the dusk. I started the ride at 8 am, I got to the first rest stop about 10 am. I knew that I would ride more than 40 miles so I pedal on, passing the 60 mile turnoff and promising that I would turn off at 70 miles. I had walk up a hill prior to the 70  mile turn off. I was thing that maybe "age has something with it" Some how at the 70 mile point I decided to continue. Mario, a WC member who has exchange several map and GPS projects with me,  sent me the gps route. A major feat with all of the turns. Well the gps when loaded with a exact route, can be set to give you all kinds of information. Mine is set to give me the time of arrived to the finish. At this point it was reading 6:30. It also is set to give the time of sunset of 6:25. With about half hour of dusk, I felt safe continuing on the century. However the toughest hills was ahead. I had done most on my touring bicycle. The different, bigger gears on the touring. I will check later what is the biggest gear I can put on the road bicycle. I arrive at the second food stop at 3 pm, long past the closing time. I check the gps for food stop and two hotel/bars were on the route. I stop and had a chicken cheese steak and refill my water bottles. The estimate of arriver continue as my average dropped from 10 ,5 to the 9.1 that I finished with. I arrived at the 20 mile mark about 6:30. I stopped at the Wawa for drink and sugar fix and turn on my 5 watt led head lamp. It was full dark from there but about 8 mile was on Rt. 272 with a wide shoulder. By now the gps was showing 8:30. I pulled in to the lot at 8:30 and the light with a new battery pack worked great. It cross my mind that if the pack failed on this second use, what would, the one watt led would make for a slower ride. My riding log http://www.billcotton.com/my_training.htm 

The new battery pack fail the first time I used it. I order shrink warp that was too big and wasn't tight. When the cells shifted a soldier connection came loose. I was able to recharge the gps while at lunch on that ride. I redid the pack and goop (glued) each cell to the other. This was the first use on that setup. Had that failed I would've been without a bright head light. It worked ok and I still had 13 volt when I checked yesterday, 10 NiMH C cells 5 amp hour battery. This was with the gps and backlight being powered for the entire ride. 

Oct. 9 This month's first century. This is 20 for the year, one ahead of my pace of two each month. Sunrise is 7:03 am and at my 10+ mph average, I need about ten hours of daylight for a century. I started at about 6:30 with good dawn light, but I turned on my 5 watt LED headlight and the gps with backlight on. I considered ride to Reading. Since the distance from home to The Queen City diner in Reading is 120 miles, I would need to use public transportation for some part of the trip to not ride in the dark. Riding SEPTA from Norristown to Pottstown one way would do this, however, not timing the schedule could mean a loss on up to an hour. I decided to plan to return home in the dark and pedal the entire trip. 

I had to put the 12 volt battery pack together, that I use for gps and light. I could not find a C cell unit ready made in the format that I needed. It has been a learning experience. The previous pack had each cell insulated. Not aware that the tabbed cell that I bought, weren't insulated, I had a short inside the pack that I first made. Yesterday I started with a newly made pack that was ok with the light and gps until about two hours into the ride. The gps cutoff. I notice that I could move the pack and get power. I was sure that I had made a bad solder connection, so I disconnect the battery and allowed the gps to run on its internal battery. However, on the Thun trail, about a mile from Birdsboro,  I got a low battery warning. Knowing that I normal get 20 hours when not use the backlight, I check and found that I had left the backlight on. I turn the backlight off and rode the the Turkey Hill in Birdsboro. It has a deli section, I ordered a personal pan pizza. I mange to get power from the power pack and charge the gps for the 20 minutes that I took to eat. When I removed the pack the gps gage showed half full With 52 miles and no power for one of my lights, I turn around here.

Return on the Thun trail, I pass a tourist with rear panniers. I asked what kind of trip he was doing. Allen liven in Reading and was riding to Phoenixville to spend a few days with a friend. I asked what was his plans after the trail end in Pottstown, he said that he had plans to use Rt. 724 to Phoenixville. I invited Allen to follow me if he wanted. My route is Hanover St to  Cedarville to Saratoga to Old Schuylkill and join Rt. 724 for a mile before and after Bridge St. Left from Rt. 724 on Park Rd. Becomes Wall St, Becomes Spring City Rd becomes Fillmore and then Franklin into Main street.

Seem that Allen is quit the adventure. Last year he rode from Reading to the New Jersey shores. He left Reading using Rt. 724 to where it crosses the S route. He followed the S route to Washington Crossing and rode from there to the Shore,  Since Allen was loaded I found myself waiting on most of the climbs. However, its felt better waiting than feeling that I was making some one else wait.

I left a very grateful Allen  on Main street and pickup speed as I had to get home before dark. I Continue on the SR path to Shawmount and decided to climb it to Ridge and Henry Aves. I was ok until half block from Ridge. I walk that section. I arrive home about 5:30 with lots of time before dark.

Oct 2, 4 & 7, more training on the 20 mile loop from home to Mason Mill park. Oct 4, I met with members of the Blazers bike/ski club for a ride on the SR bike path. I rode from home and log 50 miles. I wanted to avoid the narrow section of Umbria street after I left the Blazers at their start on Shawmont . I turned off at Fountain to cross Ridge. Still some what a hill but doable. 

September 26, 28, & 30. I resume my training rides, 10 miles from Cheltenham to Mansion Mill and back for a 20 mile ride. The average is up 3 tenth mile since starting. My bike log is here. http://www.billcotton.com/my_training.htm 

September 18, 2006; Ride from Doylestown to Hackettown and back to Doylestown.. I caught the 7:10 am train at Jenkintown station. My plans was to ride 54 miles from the end of the R5 line and return to that point. On the way to Jenkintown, I notice that the GPS was signaling loss of external power. This happen several times. The GPS was full charge and is good for about 20 hours without voice commands. I disconnected the power input and planed to check the battery pack on the train. Checking the pack I assume that a solider connection came loose, I didn't need power for the GPS but decided that I would plan not to ride after dark. I do have a one watt LED light if needed. The return trains were around 5:30 pm and Just after 7 pm. This would mean riding  from the station near home in the dark. I would get back to Doylestown after 6 pm. My gps tracks are here. http://www.billcotton.com/south_jersey.htm and tracks of my route through Newtown and Tyler State park. I elected to not ride to Hackettown, but ride until The distance rode and the distance to return home equal 100 miles. I stopped for lunch in Clinton, I remembered that there is a Fast food north of Clinton, but I stopped at the one in Clinton on Rt. 31. The mileage was 48 mile and the distance home was 46 miles. Rather that ride north more, I consider not riding a century or to make the ride home longer. I could see on the gps map that Cr. 513 continued west past the rout that the gps had suggested and came closed to my tracks.  I reach Sergeantville by  different  roads than I use on the go trip. This route carried my through the Covered Bridge after a stop at the biker friendly General Store. Already adding some miles, I didn't cross the Delaware at Lambertville as the gps route suggested, but stayed on the D & R tow path. The floods has did some damage and large ballast rocks were use for the repairs. I left the path at the first chance and rode on Rt. 29. Traffic was very heavy, possibly because Rt. 29 is closed in this area. I return to the path as soon as I could and this section is ok. Reaching Washington Crossing Rd., I stayed on it until Newtown. Recalling a ride I led from Cheltenham to Newtown via Tyler State park. I Stopped for a meal at Denny and use the bike path from Newtown through Tyler park. The tracks are on the link above. Unlike the cue sheet I use for that ride, the gps put me on 2nd street pike. To my surprise there is a paved shoulder along the entire length to Bryn Athyn. I home with 99.5 miles, I looped around the block to end with 100.1 miles. About 6:30, with the sun not yet set.  My legs was aware on the profile of today century vs. the South Jersey centuries I done this summer. My batter pack shorted out between three set of cells. I ordered another ten cell to build another 12 volts pack. 

September 7, 2006. Ride to Lakehurst 113.7 miles 11.6 mph. I was asked how I motivate myself to ride alone. First motivation is the health benefit,. I have kept my blood pressure under control for 40 years, increasing the distances as it takes more miles to do the job. Another is making and riding new routes, to add interest and prevent getting boredom. I look at a new page that I have on my web showing the tracks of ride that I did in New Jersey, I notice that there were no tracks going due east, Lakehurst, Tom River. I set the route tool for Cheltenham to Lakehurst, 54 miles. I wanted to avoid Rt. 70. the white on the map is Ft. Dix, McGuire, Lakehurst http://www.billcotton.com/south_jersey.htm I plotted north of the base going and passed through Mt Holly Palmerton and New Egypt. I saw road marking from the Princeton Event on many of the roads that I used. I arrived in Lakehurst using only 2 tenth mile of Rout 70. It has good wide shoulders and is very rideable. However, Right turn by cars get to be a problem. I stopped for brunch about 9 am at a new Dunkin Donut on Marine Hwy, Rt. 537, just before Mt. Holly. I arrived in Lakehurst about noon. It was too early to eat again so I continue on the return route that is south of Rt. 70. These roads parallel a rail road. and had very little traffic. Pasadena Rd. Soon after Rt. 70 then Savoy Blvd. for a while then Chatsworth Rd, Tabernacle and Medford road. I found a Subway on while Rt. 206 for lunch about 3:30 in Tabernacle. Back on route as I pass through Medford Lakes, school was letting out and bike paths seen to be going in many direction. Crossing guard were stopping traffic for kids on bicycles leaving school and crossing the Tabernacle Rd. to get on the bike paths. My bikelog is here http://www.billcotton.com/my_training.htm     

Thursday August 24 to Friday August 25, 2006. 198.5 miles 11.8 mps average. My wife and daughter was in Wildwood. The weather report was for early morning and evening rains. The rain was reported to come from the west. I reason that I should leave before daybreak, one to have more time to spend with them on Thursday and two to evaluate my newest battery pack I awoke at 2:30 am and start to get ready for the ride. I left home at 3:15 am with the gps backlight and the 5 watt headlight on. I have a new route loaded for Wildwood that follow the return route of the Belleplain camping return route. It leave Cheltenham as most of my rides into South Jersey, via The Tacony bridge. passing through Pennsauken,  Haddonfield and Lawnside. This route goes through Pine Hill, 213 feet elevation, and Williamstown. From here Rt. 555 is used to go through Millville and west of the Maurice River. The river is crossed at Mauricetown and the route goes through Belleplain and Woodbine on Rt 550 to enter the barrier Islands at Sea Isle City. The Route to Wildwood is a few mile shorter that my route than enter the Islands via the Longport Bridge. 

Two miles from home I felt a few rain drops and the streets ahead had puddles but I never got wet. Almost the entire morning I found wet streets in places but the rain was always ahead of me. The 5 watt Luexon light went dim about 5:00 am and i turned it off.. I disconnect the gps to run on it internal battery and turn on the 1 watt battery powered Luexon light. I was on very low traffic roads and the 1 watt was good at slow speeds. I stopped at a Dunkin Donut in Pine Hill and when I resumed the dawn light was in place. The ride was pleasant until East Vineland Where about two blocks of right turn took away. the curb lane. After crossing Rt 55 over pass and its right turn the ride was pleasant again until crossing into Sea Isle City. The Ocean Drive traffic is always heavy in the center of the towns, however, with the gps screen, I was able to see parallel street and use these. Avon has sign directing cars away from the main north/south road to a Boulevard with little traffic I called ahead and the family was waiting. when I arrived at the motel about 1 pm. with 101 miles. We walked the board walk and had dinner out.

The battery pack resurge and I was able to charge my Quest gps to full, I didn't bring the charger with me. Friday morning I left the motel about 9:30 am for home. Wildwood is about 20 miles from Sea Isle City. I cross over to the mainland and when i got to Woodbine and Rt. 557, I decided to use that road for the return. I knew from previous that Tuckahoe can be a bottle neck, that Rt.557 makes a south turn and it is better to use Rt. 50 which I did. Once I was back on Rt. 557, it seem for ever untill I got to the point that I leave Rt. 557 for Belleplain on my camping trip. In riding the white line I found the pavement to be broken on the line. After hitting these cracks a few time I got a snake bite on my rear tire. I inspected the tire and replace the tube. I was almost to Buena by now. I stopped for Lunch with 50 miles to go. T he rest of the ride was the return from Belleplain which I have done many times. The new Dunkins Donut in Pine Hill was a welcome stop. I arrived home about 6 pm with less that a century, 97 miles total for the return. My goal of two centuries per month is still intact. I rode a century for the Musikfest in early August. .

Tracks of my South Jersey rides are here. http://www.billcotton.com/south_jersey.htm   On request I will send a MapSource file.    

Saturday August 12th to Wednesday August 16th Loaded camping to Belleplain State Park NJ near Cape May NJ. 209 mile total 11 mph average. Saturday to Monday. I left home about 8 am Saturday morning. The plan was to meet Dennis at the Dunkin Donut near the Tacony bridge. Steve was to ride over to Belleplain from Sea Isle city. As I approached the bridge I saw that it was open. I decide to walk and sure enough, about the time I got to the top the bridge had closed and was open. Dennis arrived before 9 am and after coffee, we headed off. We arrive at Lindenwold about 11 am and continued. I made a gps route from Lindenwold to Belleplain to avail myself of the features such as Estimate Time of Arrival ect. .Mapsource route and track However, the upload map was truntrated and I wasn't aware of it, having too many routed loaded. The result I had a ETA of 3:30 to the campsite and Dennis who was using trackback from a previous camping trip kept telling me that my time was wrong. When the route ended with 17 mile to go I agreed with Dennis. Dennis tire began to leak air, he has a puncture proof tube in his tire, we hear the hiss noise, Dennis pulled the piece of glass out of the tire and the hiss stopped. we waited a while and the tire didn't get flatter. So we pump the tire up and it held . We arrived about 5 pm as in the previous 5 or 6 years that we have done this trip. Why I ever thought that we would get there sooner is beyond me. Steve was there earlier and had secured a campsite close to the showers. Dennis and I had purchase half dozen of white corn. Steve got to work making a fire to roast the corn while Dennis and I fire up out stoves to cook the main meals. Dennis had a camping pack of dehydrated food, while I had off the grocery shelve rice mix. I also had a can of Salmon. Steve and Dennis rave about the mix that they had, my mix was ok but the can Salmon was too salty. Breakfast was oatmeal for Steve and I. Dennis had a dehydrated egg mix that was so so. I decided to ride back to Buena for brunch with then on their way home and have brunch, 20 miles. My original plan was to ride to Cape May, 20 miles also, but I considered the traffic to be heavy in that direction. Checking direction on my gps shows that Belleplain is about 20 miles away from major centers in most directions. Sea Isle City east, Cape May south, Millville and Buena to the north. After I said goodbye to Steve and Dennis, we has notice a sign pointing to a Richland Train station, I detoured on the way back to the station. In the town of Richland on route 40, the steam train runs from Richland to Tuckahoe three times a day, about 20 miles. I return to the campsite about 2 pm. I made a fire for the corn. I ate all three and wasn't hungry. About 6 pm I decided to ride into Woodbine for a sundae. I talk to the ranger as I was leaving and he assured me of it location, gps had located it.  After getting the sundae I rode the path east to the end and west until it turn to gravel. The ranger talked about the bike path. said that it run quite a while as gravel, like maybe 5 miles. When I return the camper next to me had place fire wood on the site. I went over and talked awhile. They lives near by and talk about the trails in the area. The Pleasantville to Somers Point that I have been on. and a another one that starts behind the Shore Mall on Tilton and come north. I have to check that out next week when I return from Wildwood, visiting Margaret and Karen while they are there. You need a Mapsource map to upload the map above. Several members of BCP now have gps, all on this ride did. 

Monday morning I had oatmeal for breakfast, clean up and broke camp. I plotted a route home that took me west more. I use Rt 347 to Rt 47, cross and use back roads into Millville. I stopped there for brunch and picked up Rt. 555. It was less traffic than Rt. 557 after Millville. At the point where the two route meet, I picked up my going tracks and Blue Bell Rd and trackback on it.

My Solar cell more that supplied my gps and recharge my cell phone, I didn't use the headlight on this trip. When I return home the cell had been charge to full that morning and still has a bar and the gps showed full as did the storage battery,  http://www.billcotton.com/quest_on_bicycle.htm    

Saturday, August 5 - Fort Washington to the Musikfest in Bethlehem. 122 miles at 10.2 mph. I arrived at Ft. Washington station a 7:30, no one was there as I passed. I stopped in Amber for breakfast before moving on to Rosenberg Dairy to find the Deli closed and no one there for there ride. As usually, when riding alone I like to explore. Just before I got to Tollgate Dr. which has become heavy with traffic and doesn't have shoulders in parts, I look at the gps and could see that Rich Hill Rd. crossed Rt. 309 and teed at Old Bethlehem Pk. I made that turn but found that Rt. 309 has Jersey barriers at that crossing. had to ride on the shoulder for about 50 yards to cross, still better that the traffic on Tollgate.  I arrive at Wal-Mart to find one rider waiting to my surprise. After filling my water bottle, we headed for Bethlehem. We arrived about 1 pm. the heat was more than I expected and I was glad for the break. We signed in at the bike parking and except for two kids bikes ours were the only one there. The returned seem hotter that coming until about 4 pm Then the return became enjoyable. Thinking about it, I have done few hilly century this year, spending more time going to Pottstown and Reading along the River. . Rosenberg was open for the ice cream crowd and I stopped for food and drink. I arrive home after 9 pm with a chance to check my lights. 

July 30, 2006 85.1 miles, 10.5 average. Jeff Bakely 60th birthday. I elected to ride with the B group for the longer ride, a C group was to leave at noon for a 30 mile ride. I barley kept the pace but since there were a about three others lagging at the rear I felt it was ok. Soon I was the only one at the rear so i suggest to Jeff that they didn't wait for me. I left early for the return but left a water bottle and return just as the group was forming to return. I didn't look at the cue, assuming that we were using the same route for longer than we did. When I looked at the cue I was in Wycombe and the turn was at Street Rd. I use the gps to catch up to the cue and when I got to the WAWA rest stop the clerk said that I was about half hour behind. I made it to Jeff party before all of the food was gone, I stayed about half hour before continuing the ride home, about 7 miles. Last year I trained riding two days per week, 20 miles fast pace for about two months. My knees began to hurt and I quit. I am told that the hurt is from muscle soreness and that stretching will relived this condition. I just may consider trying the training again.

July 22, 2006. 103 miles, July century.  I left home at 5:30 am for a chance to use my lights. Dawn was already breaking, but the light was a pleasure to have. The new shifting cable was shifting flawless. Five years of use, I will replace the left side and the brake cable before the next ride. I decided to ride to Pottstown and check if Berk County have done any work on the connection. I have rode the Thun trail from the White Horse Inn to Birdsboro twice. The surface is packed black sand, finnier than the Perkokmen surface. Ok for 25 mm and wider tired. The connection is completed. with the same surface as the rest of the Thun trail. Today I rode past the Schuylkill river bridge crossing and since I had 52 miles, more than enough for today century I turn around. Bethie had Chocolate cake today, the breakfast stop was too early for cake I had waffles. I return about 1: