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Philadelphia, PA
Words and Photos by Lee Rogers
Urban living affords unrivaled conveniences and cultural experiences, but sometimes the best part about a city is finding a quick way to get out of it! Philadelphia is sliced in two by the scenic Schuylkill River, which is bordered by paved paths on its east and west sides. Any cyclist that has been in the city for more than a couple of days knows that a quick four miles north on these paths is a sure way out of the bustle and congestion. Unfortunately, it is easy to get lost after climbing one of the hills that extend out of the familiar river valley. Luckily, there are plenty of group rides and club cue sheets giving riders access to dozens of beautiful rides.
The Goshen ride is a long established training route that covers just less than fifty-five miles of rolling hills through Philadelphia’s affluent western suburbs. There was a time, when in the company of my brother and other young athletes, we would race through the three counties covered by the route. We’d push the pace on the straightaway leading up to the halfway point, and then sprint for every town line. Back then, I hardly afforded myself the pleasure of taking in the scenery and enjoying the varied terrain. My approach is different these days. I have grown to truly love this ride in the company of my Saturday morning group that meets in front of my shop at 7am. Sometimes as many as two dozen riders participate, ranging from former bicycle racers, to veteran club riders and novices. They all mingle, ride, and build on each other’s patience and skills. It is not uncommon that a Saturday morning outing is the first ride exceeding twenty miles for one of the participants. Through the years, I have used the traditional Goshen route as a template. As friends and riding companions show me new roads and paths, I take joy in finding ways to incorporate them into my favorite ride.
The ride itself begins just like every other ride that leaves Philadelphia. We meander through the downtown streets toward one of the numerous entrances to the Schuylkill River bike path, around the Museum of Art and onto one of the river drives. Martin Luther King Drive, which hugs the western bank of the river, is closed to automotive traffic on the weekends during the spring and summer. This four-lane road typically hosts highway-like, rush hour traffic, but for two days a week, it transforms into a four-mile sanctuary for cyclists, runners and rollerbladers. In double pace line, we roll out along the river and turn left up the first of many small hills. The climb wraps around the outer edge of Fairmont Park, over weather beaten asphalt and past a concrete reservoir, representing the last urban structure we will see for a few hours.
The first ten miles are purely suburban. We pass through some of the county’s wealthiest neighborhoods where historic homes and wild new construction are equally impressive. The hills out here are long, but subtle, allowing the group to find a comfortable tempo. After a few rolling miles, we make an illegal left onto Dove Lake Drive. While the turn is blind and carries certain risk (my shop’s service manager fondly refers to this as ‘the suicide turn’), the reward is considerable. Dove Lake is really more of a misty pond, shrouded by hanging branches and manicured shrubbery. Around the lake and to the left is a short steep climb, then a descent past the grounds of a historic mansion, and on towards Villanova University.
Passing the university has always felt like the true beginning of the full Goshen ride, as this is where one would head back to the city on an average weekday ride. The scenery and topography also change a mile past the university, as we meet our first true rollers and pass by a herd of cattle on a small farm. I like to take a right on Clyde road instead of heading straight for Goshen, as the traditional route dictates. This diversion takes the group by the beautiful Willows Park and up Sawmill Road. Sawmill is my favorite climb, as it extends for over a mile and maintains a steady incline perfect for keeping a good tempo. At the right pace, even the newest rider can feel a sense of accomplishment at the top of the hill, without being beaten for the rest of the ride. More experienced riders can have a blast, gradually accelerating in the saddle and then sprinting for the stop sign at the top.
A quick dogleg after Sawmill brings us onto Goshen Road, which undulates for four miles past sprawling horse farms. A flat section shoots us straight past a curious blacksmith shop where the ride usually turns towards home. I prefer to continue half a mile further and hang a right onto the coarse surface of Warren Road. A canopy of branches shade this mile of fast dirt road, and spots of sunlight make me feel as if I am riding through the pages of Rouleur magazine (even if only for a brief moment). Leaving Warren behind, we meet more horse farms and beautiful homes as the rollers get steeper and the ride turns toward home. The next ten miles can be trying for some, but include a couple of payoffs before hitting the roughly dozen miles of bike path that lead back to Philadelphia. As the hills become more gradual, I turn onto Arden Road for a long, steady, wooded climb that I fondly refer to as the Ardennes. Upon cresting the hill and descending toward the valley, the ride makes a quick right onto Balligomingo Road. This favorite road of many of my employees is neither hilly nor flat, but allows the cyclist to accelerate with effort, then favors furious speed as it shoots excited riders out toward the bike path home.
The Valley Forge bike path is flat and extends from the Manayunk borough on the northwestern edge of the city to Valley Forge National Park, twenty miles away. The paved trail is safe from motorists—and hence popular with newer riders just getting started—but monotonous for a seasoned area rider. There are many alternatives to the bike path, but crossing the Schuylkill River in Conshohoken (the halfway point between Philadelphia and Valley Forge) and joining the path is a great way to refresh the group before the last stretch. The path leads riders into a quiet river front community at the edge of Manayunk. Some like to climb away from the river at this juncture, but on a dry day, I opt for the tow path. This dirt, gravel, and wood-planked trail runs along a canal where mules once treaded the same ground, leading barges to the town’s mills and providing shipping companies with access to nearby waterways. The fast and bumpy terrain is a fun boost before joining Martin Luther King Drive and heading home.
