Urban Ride

Last Sunday, I completed what I consider to be my first serious ride of the year. With my initial outing ending in a flat tire, my second sticking to well-trodden routes, and neither exceeding twenty miles, I was ready for a more satisfying ride. Ironically, except for one very small clip, I didn't leave the city limits. In a very urban ride, I basically completed to big loops around North Philadelphia which combined to outline a a notch cutting in to its very center.

The day started a little chilly so I waited until after lunch to depart. I rode east to the Delaware River, hoping to catch the cherry trees in Blossom, but they were past their prime. I followed the river upstream as far as Penn Treaty Park. Cutting north through Kensington, I connected with Lehigh Avenue, a major east-west artery through town. This I rode west, into a strong wind, for four miles until it ended at Ridge Avenue.

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Putting my back to the wind, I rode northeast into Hunting Park. Continuing the same general direction, I soon discovered a short recreational trail that parallels Tacony Creek, a trail that basically led me into Cheltenham Township. Knowing the wind would be against me for most of the ride back, I decided this would be a good point to turn around, though I did amble around some neighborhoods before beginning it in earnest. It wasn't too long after I passed through the campus of LaSalle University that I was back in very familiar territory, East Falls. Heavy rains from the day before had swollen the Schuylkill River to the brink and turned it very light brown. I stopped for several pictures of the peculiar occurrence on the final stretch in to town.

Felton Theater

Tacony Creek Trail

The best tree on the ride

Chelten Ave at Wissahickon

Trip Statistics
Length: 35.6 miles
Ride Time: 3 hours 27 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours 56 minutes
Avg. Speed: 10.3 MPH
Avg. Cadence: 51 RPM
Total Ascent: 1900 ft.
Max Elev.: 270 ft.

Elevation Profile