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"A-D" RIDE CLASSIFICATIONS | RIDE EQUIPMENT | RIDE START LOCATIONS
Wednesday, Dec 3 - Wednesday Breakfast Ride. Class C. Attention: popular demand, the ride will start at 8:30, for this month only! Featuring huge, cheap, gourmet breakfast. Meets at 22nd & Spring Garden promptly at 8:30. This ride goes if the chill factor is above 5 degrees. Leader: Mort Packel 215-569-8298. Saturday, Dec 6 - Pizza in West Grove. Class B. Approx. 50 miles. 9:00 start from the Wawa at Rts 1 & 100 in Chadds Ford. Ride up the scenic west branch of the Brandywine River, then south through the Brandywine Conservatory area into West Grove for a pizza lunch. Returning, we head south along the Red Clay Creek into Delaware and then north again along the Brandywine River back to Chadds Ford. These are all lightly traveled back roads with good views of the rivers & streams in this area. Leaders: Doug Kennedy (610) 543-4664 & Debbie Wilson (302) 762-8925. Saturday Dec 6 - Bill's Ramble. Class C, 11 mph average. Join the Cottons for a Saturday roll along ride. If it snows, then it will be cross country skis or hiking. Meet at 9:00, call for location. Leader: Bill Cotton 215-927-4717, Email bcotton@msn.com Saturday, Dec 6 - Manayunk Easy. Class D/C. Ride to the waterfront via the Kelly & West River bike paths, visit Olde City, find a coffee house for a pit stop & lunch at the Farmer's Market after the ride. Call if weather is "iffy" ( I will have a message on my ans. mach. by 7 Saturday morning). Meets 9:30 at Manayunk Farmer's Market, Main Street near Shurs Lane. Leader: Gene Martin, 610-668-8717 or biketype@home.com Saturday, Dec 6 - West Jersey Suburban. Class C, 25 miles. Meet at 10:00, Merchantville Rail Road Station, Center & Chestnut Streets, for a pleasant winter ramble through pleasant suburbs of New Jersey. For directions call leader Jim McCabe, 609-488-8346. Saturday Dec 6 - Anthony's Birthday Ride. Class C/B-, 25 to 30 miles. Meet at 10:30 where One Boat House Row used to be. Ride out to Conshohocken for a birthday burger and back. Leader: Anthony Broomell 215-426-5393. Saturday, Dec 6 - MTB Belmont & Beyond. Class A,B,C,D. Meet at the Rock across from the Italian Fountain 11:00. We'll warm up on the Plateau, then ride to the BMX bowl in Wissahickon. The trails are gravel and hardpack dirt, Hybrid bikes can handle it. The BMX bowl has dropoffs & wicked single-track, fast downhill with both tight & sweeping S-turns. If a chilly day, we'll ride UP to the bowl! Have working granny gear! If weather iffy or very cold, call morning of ride before 10:00. Leader: Paul Winkfield 215-223-9871, email: paul@dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu Saturday, Dec 6 - Two States, Two Bridges, Three Counties & a Bakery. Class C+, B-. Meet 11:30, Italian Fountain. (A shorter winter version of the ride I led last spring) Ride through center city (Philadelphia County), cross the Ben Franklin Bridge, through Rutgers campus, and through the quaint older rail towns of Camden County (Collingswood, Merchantville). Cross county line to Burlington County, stopping at Peter Pan bakery in Moorestown, regarded by BurlCo residents as county's best bakery. Through Cinnaminson to Palmyra, another old town that used to be served by rail (and will be again if the NJTransit southern light rail line is built). Ride along the river to the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge, cross it to Aramingo Ave and one of the longest & best bike lanes in the city - on Aramingo from State Road to Girard - then back through center city to the start. About a 25 mile ride. This is a fun ride, pretty much urban & small towns, not rural - best to bring a touring, hybrid or mountain bike or some other bike that is not fickle on city streets. Leader: Sue McNamara 351-2369 Sunday, Dec 7 - Sunday Morning Breakfast Ride. Class C, up to 30 miles. Bring locks. Meet 8:45, 22nd & Spring Garden for a delightful ride to a delightful breakfast, at Scanlon's. Leader: Ann Martha 215-537-2519 amartha@sdp2.philsch.k12.pa.us Sunday, Dec 7 - Bike Soup. Class B. 14-15 mph. 40 miles. A virtual potpourri of sponsored rides, the Bike Soup Ride (a.k.a. Schuylkill Mexican Poker Roll & Stroll Ride) combines the best parts of several popular club rides. Terrain is rolling to moderately hilly. Stop for soup & lunch in Skippack. Cue sheets provided. Leave at 10:00 from the parking lot across from the Youth Hostel at Evansburg State Park. From Blue Route/Turnpike at Plymouth Meeting, take Germantown Pike west for approximately 9 miles, make a right on Skippack Creek Rd. & follow signs for the park. Leaders: Mark Spangler (610) 584-5993, mbsplace@aol.com, and Tom Marra (610) 630-1601, tdmarra@aol.com. Sunday, Dec 7 - Wandering around Manatawna. Class C, 35 miles, 12 mph. This old farm sits on the ridge dividing the Wissahickon and the Schuylkill watersheds. On our way over there, we'll ride trails & dirt roads through the park, visit Manayunk, ride some cobblestones, climb some hills: a good ride for hybrids. Nice place for lunch. I'll wait at the top of hills. 11:00 at the Italian Fountain. Leader: Peter Odell, 215-482-1440 or Odell@Erols.com Sunday, Dec 7 - Sunday B Ramble. Class B. 14-15 MPH. 40-50 miles. This month we are alternating meeting places between the Italian Fountain and Bruno's. MEET AT BRUNO'S at the corner of Germantown & Northwestern Aves at 12 noon. This is a regular Sunday ride. Ride will go if the weather is clear and above freezing. Call if the weather is questionable. Leaders: Jeff Kimmel and Linda McGrane, (610) 446-1334. Sunday, Dec 7 - Sunny Sunday Afternoon Ride. Class D, 12-22 miles. Meets every Sunday, 12 noon at #1 Boathouse Row, on Kelly Drive, East Fairmount Park. For the beginner who wishes to improve his/her cycling skills, for those new to Philadelphia who want to explore the little- known, out-of-the-way places in the city & near suburbs. There will be an easy 3 to 3-1/2 hour ride, maybe stopping for refreshments along the way. Leader: Joe Scavello 215-482-4899 Sunday, Dec 7 - Sunny Sunday Spin-Off Ride. Class C. If you prefer a ride that starts later in the day, this ride's for you! Meets 12:15 every Sunday at the rock near the Italian Fountain, behind the Art Museum. Leader: Ron Stern 215-387-0124. Sunday, Dec 7 - Bulldog Ride. Class B+/A-, 60-70 miles at about 16-17 mph rolling average. meets every Sunday, about 12 noon (time may vary - please call to verify time), at the Bulldog statue, located in the triangular park bordered by 25th Street, Fairmount & Pennsylvania Avenues. No cue sheet provided, follow the leader. Leader/Organizer: Bruce Taubman, 215-735-7935. Sunday, Dec 7 - BCP Executive Committee Meeting. All welcome. 6:00, Spaghetti Warehouse, 1026 Spring Garden. Bob Paradise, 610-399-3307 Wednesday, Dec 10 - Wednesday Breakfast Ride. Class C. See Dec 3. Meets 22nd & Spring Garden promptly at 8:30. Leader: Mort Packel 215-569-8298. Friday, Dec 12 - Christmas Lights in the City under the Moonlit Skies. This is an all classes ride in search of holiday light displays. Everyone invited. It's best suited for MTBs and hybrids, and your bike should be equipped with lights. Come on out for a fun-filled time touring the city during the holiday season. Meet at 7:30pm in front of the Art Museum and ride for approximately 2-3 hours. Ride will go regardless of temperature, as long as the roads are clear of ice & snow. Dress appropriately and come for some holiday fun. Check my answering machine on Friday during the day for an update. Afterwards, it's out for a few glasses of cheer & camaraderie. Leader: Bob Paradise, 610-399- 3307. Friday, Dec 12 - Wallyball. Come to the Riverside Racquet Club at 600 Righters Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd at 6:45 for a fun and invigorating game of Wallyball. What is it? Volleyball in a racquetball court. We play until at least 8:45. Cost is $5.00 per person. Call coordinator Nikki Marx for more info: 215-963-9377. Saturday, Dec 13 - Pumpkin Pennsbury Ride. Class D+/C, approx 36 miles. Meet at the Holmesburg Shopping Center, Frankford Ave & Ashburner Street, one mile north of Cottman, at 8:30 sharp. Ride to Neshaminy Park for a rest room break (approx 7 miles), then on to the Radcliffe Cafe for a breakfast of their world famous Pumpkin Pancakes. We have reserved a private room at the cafe, so a reservation is required. The chef needs to know how many pumpkins to smash. The ride is limited to 20. Please contact me by 12/10. If the weather is too bad to ride, we'll car pool to breakfast anyway. After breakfast, on to Pennsbury Manor to see how William Penn spent his holidays in the country. The manor will be decorated for the holidays. There is an admission fee of $5.00 for the manor tour. Bring money for the pancake breakfast and tour. Leader: Charlie O'Donnell 215-338-1104, Email CODBIKE@Juno.com Saturday, Dec 13 - Bill's Ramble. Class C, 11 mph average. Join the Cottons for a Saturday roll along ride. If it snows, then it will be cross country skis or hiking. Meet at 9:00, call for location. Leader: Bill Cotton 215-927-4717, Email bcotton@msn.com Saturday, Dec 13 - Christmas in Peddler's Village. Class B-, 14 mph avg, approx 40-50 miles. Start at 9:30 in Peddler's Village. Get into the holiday spirit with your fellow BCPers with a moderately paced, social ride that will loop around the central Bucks County countryside. Food stop along the way. After the ride, anyone interested can check out the Christmas village which will be decked out with lights & Victorian decorations. Bring walking shoes and get some good gift ideas, or just relax with a post ride brew. Take route 202 north to Lahaska, PA. Turn left on Street Road at light. Parking lot is 200 yards ahead on right, behind "A Touch of Britain" shop. My answering machine will have Go/No- Go message on it if weather is questionable. Leader: Jeff Reardon 215- 674-3992. Sunday, Dec 14 - Early "Birds" B Ride. Class B. This is an early morning ride for all you Eagle fans that don't want to miss kickoff. Leave from the Italian Fountain at 8:00, ride for approximately four hours, returning to the fountain by noon, so you can be home in time to see the game. It will be a solid "B" pace with minimal stopping. Weather permitting, we will attempt to do a metric century, using the road markings from the Scenic Schuylkill, or the Freedom Valley rides from this past summer. Ride will start promptly at 8:00, so don't be late. Leader: Richard Wagner (610) 521-4570. Sunday, Dec 14 - Sunday Morning Breakfast Ride. Class C. 22nd & Spring Garden, 8:45. See Dec 7. This is the first ride Barry's leading, so show up for support, and give him a big round of applause. (Does this make the rest of you feel guilty enough to lead your own ride? Do it - your mother would be so proud!) Leader: Barry G. Wolff, D.P.M. <bgwolff@jersey.net> 609-751-8324. Sunday, Dec 14 - Finding Fabulous Philadelphian Frank Furness. Class C. City ramble ride to some of the more and less famous architectural feats of one of Philly's finest. Meet at the Italian Fountain at 11:00. Ride will last 2 to 3 hours with lunch stop. Leader: Bill Ford 610-279-5353 Sunday, Dec 14 - Sunday B Ramble. Class B. 14-15 MPH. 40-50 miles. See Dec 7. MEET AT THE ITALIAN FOUNTAIN on the side opposite the rock, behind the Art Museum at 12 noon. Destination is Valley Forge Park. This is a hilly ride, at least on the way to the park. Ride will go if the weather is clear & above freezing. Call if the weather is questionable. Leader: Vernon Lucas 215-549-0344 Sunday, Dec 14 - Sunny Sunday Afternoon Ride. Class D, 12-22 miles. 12 noon at #1 Boathouse Row. See Dec 7. Leader: Alan Shuman 215-561-0572 Sunday, Dec 14 - Sunny Sunday Spin-Off Ride. Class C. See Dec 7. Meets 12:15 at the rock near the Italian Fountain, behind the Art Museum. Leader: Chuck Martin 215-923-1887. Sunday, Dec 14 - Bulldog Ride. Class B+/A-, 60-70 miles, Show and Go. See Dec 7. No cue sheet provided, follow the leader. Leader/Organizer: Bruce Taubman, 215-735-7935. Wednesday, Dec 17 - Wednesday Breakfast Ride. Class C. See Dec 3. Meets 22nd & Spring Garden promptly at 8:30. Leader: Mort Packel 569-8298. Friday, Dec 19 - Friday Special. Class C-/D+, 20-25 miles. Do you have Friday off? Need to buy any last-minute Christmas/Chanukah presents? Come on a beautiful ride from Fairmount Park to Suburban Square in Ardmore. Meet at 10:30 in front of Memorial Hall. Lunch at Ardmore Farmers' Market. Temperature under 35 degrees cancels ride. Call leader Carole Z. Golub, 610-667-4962 to confirm. Saturday, Dec 20 - Bill's Ramble. Class C, 11 mph average. Join the Cottons for a Saturday roll-along ride. If it snows, then it will be cross country skis or hiking. Meet at 9:00, call for location. Leader: Bill Cotton 215-927-4717, Email bcotton@msn.com Sunday, Dec 21 - Early "Birds" B Ride. Class B. Early morning ride for Eagle fans that don't want to miss kickoff. See Dec 14. Ride will start promptly at 8:00, from the Italian Fountain, so don't be late. Leader: Richard Wagner (610) 521-4570. Sunday, Dec 21 - Sunday Morning Breakfast Ride. Class C. See Dec 7. 8:45, 22nd & Spring Garden. Leader: Jennifer Escorcia, 215-624-9580, jennifer@valens.com. This is her first time leading, so show up and give her a big round of applause. (Does this make the rest of you feel guilty enough to lead your own ride? Do it - your mother would be so proud!) Sunday, Dec 21 - Longwood Gardens during the Holidays. Class B, 14mph, 45-50 miles. Ride from Delaware County over rolling to hilly terrain to Longwood Gardens for their annual holiday display. Leaves 10:00 from the parking lot of the Granite Run Mall, on Rt. 352 by the back (east) side of the JC Penney store. Park along the road, about 1/4 mile after exiting Route 1. Bring money, LOCKS, and cameras so that we can visit inside and have lunch. Ride will go if temperatures are above freezing at ride start & the roads are clear of ice. If weather is bad & there's enough interest, we can still meet at Longwood Gardens for lunch at 11. Please call to check/confirm. Call the night before, or at least an hour before the ride for GO/NO GO message on my answering machine. Leader: Bob Paradise, 610-399-3307. Sunday, Dec 21 - Sunday B Ramble. Class B. 14-15 MPH. 40-50 miles. See Dec 7. MEET AT BRUNO'S, Germantown & Northwestern Aves at noon. Destination is Doylestown. This is a relatively flat ride at a relaxed B pace. Ride will go if the weather is clear and above freezing. Call if the weather is questionable. Leader: Jeff Bakely, 215-843-1093. Email: jbake2@juno.com. Sunday, Dec 21 - Sunny Sunday Afternoon Ride. Class D, 12-22 miles. 12 noon at #1 Boathouse Row. See Dec 7. This ride goes if chill factor is above 5 degrees. Leader: Morton Packel 215-569-8298 Sunday, Dec 21 - Sunny Sunday Spin-Off Ride. Class C. See Dec 7. Meets 12:15 at the rock near the Italian Fountain, behind the Art Museum. Leader: Tom Witt 215-977-2164. Sunday, Dec 21 - Bulldog Ride. Class B+/A-, 60-70 miles, Show and Go. See Dec 7. No cue sheet, follow the leader. Leader/Organizer: Bruce Taubman, 215-735-7935. Wednesday, Dec 24 - Wednesday Breakfast Ride. Class C. See Dec 3. Meets 22nd & Spring Garden promptly at 8:30. Leader: Mort Packel 215-569-8298. Friday, Dec 26 - Wallyball. Riverside Racquet Club at 600 Righters Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd, 6:45pm. Cost is $5.00 per person. See Dec 12. Call coordinator Nikki Marx for more info: 215-963-9377. Saturday, Dec 27 - MTB Morris Park. Class A thru D. Meet at 68th St & Lansdowne Ave at 11:30, or ride from the rock across from the Italian Fountain at 10:15. A turn of the century rock quarry, now a park with nice single-track long downhills. We'll also ride north side of Cobbs Creek park, sweeping single-track. Great time to try out your new bike! If weather is iffy, call before 9:30. Leader: Paul Winkfield 215-223- 9871, email: paul@dunx1.ocs.drexel.edu Sunday, Dec 28 - Sunday Morning Breakfast Ride. Class C. 8:45, 22nd & Spring Garden. See Dec 7. Leader: Henry Lazarus 215-382-5126 hlazar@netaxs.com. This will be a special holiday ride. Sunday, Dec 28 - Sunday B Ramble. Class B. 14-15 MPH. 40-50 miles. See Dec 7. MEET AT THE ITALIAN FOUNTAIN on the side opposite the rock, behind the Art Museum at 12 Noon. Destination is Valley Forge Park by a somewhat different route than Dec 14. This is a hilly ride. Ride will go if the weather is clear and above freezing. Call if the weather is questionable. Leader: Bill Ford, (610) 279-5353. Sunday, Dec 28 - Sunny Sunday Afternoon Ride. Class D, 12-22 miles. 12 noon at #1 Boathouse Row. See Dec 7. Leader: Henry Lazarus 215-474-5479 Sunday, Dec 28 - Sunny Sunday Spin-Off Ride. Class C. See Dec 7. Meets 12:15 at the rock near the Italian Fountain, behind the Art Museum. Leader: Roy Blanchard 215-985-1110. Sunday, Dec 28 - Bulldog Ride. Class B+/A-, 60-70 miles, Show & Go. See Dec 7. No cue sheet provided, follow the leader. Leader/Organizer: Bruce Taubman, 215-735-7935. Tues Dec 30 - Mailing the January QR. 6:30, 15th & Chestnut. All welcome. Tom Witt, 215-977-2164 Wednesday, Dec 31 - Wednesday Breakfast Ride. Class C. See Dec 3. Ride meets 22nd & Spring Garden promptly at 8:30. Leader: Mort Packel 215-569-8298. NO WED BREAKFAST RIDES IN JAN, FEB, MAR - will resume in April. Thursday, January 1 - Annual New Year's Day Ride. All Classes. Ride to a New Year's Day afternoon party, for our traditional New Year's gathering. Departure from the Italian Fountain behind the Art Museum at 12 noon. Leader: Bob Paradise 610-399-3307. You are invited even if you are not riding. Sunday, Jan 3 - The Two Sides of the Schuylkill. Class B+. 60 miles, 15- 17 mph avg. Rained out last month, "snowed in" next time? Be optimistic (or bring your skis) and come for this beautiful rolling to hilly loop over the ridges on both sides of the river. Urban, suburban and rural landscape along Chestnut Hill, the Main Line & Chester County. Starts at 8:30 from Bruno's at Northwestern & Germantown Aves. Come at 7:30 to join me for a pre-ride warm-up with pancakes. Leader: Eduardo Ruchelli 215-572-0753 or edr@mail.med.upenn.edu. CALL TO CONFIRM, REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER.
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