Bucks County Covered Bridge Bicycle Ride - Central Bucks Bicycle Club

Introduction:

The leaves are changing color to bright yellows and reds and fall is in the air.  This means it is time for the Bucks County Covered Bridge ride. Take a step back in time and ride amongst historical landmarks and over the hills of Bucks County. Cycle through the pristine fields and forests spotted with historic stone homes and bank barns, while twisting and turning through low-traffic back roads to experience one of the best places in the US to ride a bicycle.

 In this post:

  • Information about the ride
  • History of Bucks County
  • Why Covered Bridges?
  • Other Places to Visit in Bucks County

Information about the ride:

  • Website through Central Bucks Bicycle Club: http://www.cbbikeclub.org/covered-bridges/covered-bridges-ride
  • Date: October 19, 2014 (Usually the 3rd Sunday of October)
  • Start Time: 8 am
  • Cost: $45 and onsite registration available too
  • Starting Location: Tinicum Park on PA Rt. 32 (River Road) in Erwinna, Pa.
  • Ride Description: There are two basic rides – one for the hill lovers and one that is completely flat. The 65-mile version of the hilly ride climbs over 4,500 feet total. This is a course that requires some training before riding, at the very least as a weekend warrior that has climbed a few hills.
  • Course Lengths and amount of climbing: 33, 50, 65 (also 20 mile family-friendly version on the tow path along the historic Delaware canal – all flat)
    • 20-miles, totally flat along the historic Delaware canal tow path (fine gravel surface)
    • 33-mile route, 2,650 feet of climbing
    • 50-mile route, 3,627 feet of climbing
    • 63-mile route, 4,528 feet of climbing

The Bucks County Covered Bridge ride event usually draws about 2,500 cyclists from around the area and it is put on by the local bike club called the Central Bucks Bicycle Club (CBBC).

 

What makes this ride popular:

There are two elements to this ride that draw people to it: the covered bridges and the hills.There used to be over fifty covered bridges in Bucks County, many of them spanning the Delaware River crossing into New Jersey. Today, Bucks County still has thirteen of these beautiful and historic bridges that have been preserved. Even ten of these covered bridges can still carry vehicles.

Covered bridges made their way into Europe at some time during the Middle Ages, from voyagers who had seen very elaborate, covered structures in the Middle East and Asia. Some of these covered bridges from the 1400s can still to this day be found in Europe.  For more information on the bridges encountered during the ride, see: http://www.buckscountycbs.org/bridges-brochure.pdf.

The other draw for this ride is the hills of Bucks County.  I like to call this ride the Chilly Hilly of the East Coast. Much like the Cascade Bicycle Club’s Chilly Hilly ride on Bainbridge Island (near Seattle, Washington) every February, this ride involves lots of hills and the mid-autumn time frame means there is likely to be a chill in the air. The hills keep coming and climbs are short, medium, long and everything in-between and just when you think you are done, there are more.

CBBC Covered Bridge Ride in Bucks County, PA

Before we get into the ride details, for those that have never heard of Bucks County, there is a ton of history from this county in Pennsylvania.

History of Bucks County:

The history of Bucks County plays a critical part in American History and inspired the imagination of Oscar Hammerstein to write some of the most renowned musicals.

Bucks County was one of the three original counties in Pennsylvania. It was named by William Penn in 1682 after Bucks County, also called Buckinghamshire, in England, the county where he lived. Bucks is the abbreviation for Buckinghamshire, and both names are used interchangeably in England. Penn’s home, Pennsbury Manor, is located within Bucks County.

Place names in Bucks County derived from places in Buckinghamshire include Buckingham, Chalfont (named after Chalfont St Giles), Wycombe and Solebury (spelled Soulbury in England). 

Revolutionary War

General George Washington and his troops camped in Bucks County as they prepared to cross the Delaware River to take Trenton, New Jersey, by surprise on the morning of December 26, 1776. Their successful attack on Britain’s Hessian forces was a turning point in the American War of Independence. The town of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania and Washington Crossing Historic Park were named to commemorate the event. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucks_County,_Pennsylvania

 

Washington_Crossing_the_Delaware_by_Emanuel_Leutze,_MMA-NYC,_1851Notable People of Bucks County

The Ride:

The morning was crisp at 39 degrees when we woke up and it was still dark outside. At least the skies were clear as we drove to the course just fifteen minutes away from our home. It felt silly loading up the bikes on the car to travel such a short distance, but to ride there we would have had to start riding in the dark which is not so practical. As we drove we quickly spotted other cars with bike racks heading to the same event, and the sun started to rise

CBBC Covered Bridge Ride in Bucks County, PAIn cool or cold weather, it is essential to wear layers of clothing, and so for this ride I wore a base wicking shirt, my team jersey and then a vest and arm and leg warmers. The ride starts out along the tow path for about a quarter of a mile until we get to the first road which is within a mile of the first covered bridge (ERWINNA COVERED BRIDGE). A photographer stands by to get the shot as we make it through the bridge.

There is a Bucks County Covered Bridge Society with a free brochure and they give a driving guide to the bridges, here is the Erwinna Covered Bridge description:

The National Register lists the construction date as 1871, the county records suggest it was actually built in 1832. Utilizing the Town Trussit crossesthe Lodi (Swamp Creek). Only 56 ft long and 15 ft wide, Erwinna is the shortest bridge in the county. It is painted the traditional red with a white entry portals. http://www.buckscountycbs.org/bridges-brochure.pdf

After the bridge the hills begin. This is when I check my cadence and keep it high to warm up the legs and start to wake up the cardio. The fall colors are at their peak and the trees light up with the rising sun.

Bucks County Covered Bridge Ride

The other covered bridges on the ride include:

  • KNECHT’S COVERED BRIDGE
  • SHEARD’S COVERED BRIDGE
  • CABIN RUN COVERED BRIDGE
  • PONY BRIDGE
  • FRANKENFIELD COVERED BRIDGE

Covered Bridge Ride Central Bucks County

After the last bridge is a mean hill climb and just when you think you are done, it keeps coming until the finish when there is a small decent. There were quite a few category 4 climbs (a classification used in the Tour de France to rank hill climbs).

CBBC Covered Bridge Ride

After the bike ride there is a lunch with warm cider and catered food. It provided a chance to regroup with fellow riders and share stories of conquering the hills and covered bridges of Bucks County.

Why Covered Bridges? Here are some explanations on why covered bridges were designed:Central Bucks County Covered Bridges Bicycle Ride

  • PROTECTION FROM WEATHER AND ROT: Wooden bridges are susceptible to deterioration. Adding siding and a roof protects the bridge structure from the elements, enabling them to last much longer. Some bridge engineers have studied that a timber covered bridge can last three times longer than a timber bridge that is not covered.
  • TO ADD STRENGTH TO THE STRUCTURE: By covering the bridge with siding and a roof it strengthens the whole structure.
  • IT WAS MADE TO LOOK LIKE A BARN SO ANIMALS WOULD CROSS: It was believed that the spans were constructed to bear a resemblance to barns so farm animals would not stampede as they were taken across the streams and rivers. In some parts of the country the load limit would be based on the number of livestock that would be allowed to cross. (I wonder how many bicycles would make that load limit?)
  • TO PROVIDE SHELTER TO TRAVELERS: It was also a way to escape a storm or a way to keep snow off the bridge and keep the oiled planks from becoming hazardously slick in the rain. It could also be a place to sneak a kiss.

After the Civil War came in the age of Iron. At once covered bridges were thought to be old fashioned.  Gradually and sadly they were replaced, even though most were perfectly sound.  Pennsylvania, oddly enough, bucked this trend.  The iron-smelting giant felt that its wrought iron and steel beams were fine for other states’ bridges, but at home, Pennsylvanians took pride in the romance and character of the timber covered bridges and continued to build them.  At the height of the bridge building period, 1830-1880, estimates show that Pennsylvania had the most in the country, with at least 1500, representing all of the major truss designs. Thus, today the state has the most remaining covered bridges in the US, with 212 in 37 counties. – http://www.pacoveredbridges.com/historydesign/

Other places to visit in or adjacent to Bucks County:

  • Tow path trails on either PA or NJ that run along the canals on each side of the Delaware River
  • New Hope / Lambertville – These towns on opposite sides of the Delaware River have lively atmospheres with lots of charm. You can find great little stops including a French Bakery (C’est la Vie) and Oh Wow Cow ice cream.
  • Bull’s Island State Park is an island park in the Delaware River (on the New Jersey side of the river) and can be accessed from Bucks County via a footbridge in the quant historic riverside town of Lumberville. (A great place to eat there is the Black Bass Inn.)
  • Frenchtown, NJ – another cute town with shopping and walks along the Delaware River
  • Doylestown, PA – Mitcher Museum, Tileworks, Kids Castle, and so much more …

Recommended Books:

Art work:

Recommended Fall Bicycle Gear:

Men’s Jackets:

Women’s Jackets:

 Arm Warmers:

 Leg Warmers:

 Booties:

Caps:

 Gloves:

 

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