Pogwatigue Perambulations: Skippack

I took advantage of the extra day this holiday weekend to complete my first century of the year. It is by far the earliest in the year that I have ever ridden 100+ miles. Each of my last few ride extended a little longer than the last so I felt up to the challenge.

I started at 10:00 AM, a little later than I should have, but with 10+ hours in the day, I wasn't too concern. I thought I selected a pretty good route: out of town through Wissahickon Gorge, across Montgomery county, though Skippack, down into the Perkiomen Valley at Green Lane and then back along a relatively easy combination of the Pekiomen & Schulkill Trails. As it happened, the route was about 7 miles too short and I had to loop around Fairmount Park and take a few extra turns on the final stretch to get over 100 miles. Even then, I made an extra loop around Rittenhouse Square for good measure.

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I had never been to Skippack. A co-worker who used to live there described it as a quaint town. I stopped there for a slice of pizza. After Skippack, the ride became very rural. I can still be surprised how far from the bustle of the city my bike can take me. That was especially evident along an exceptionally picturesque section of Old Skippack Road.

I had always wondered about the college in collegeville, Ursinus, so for the first time in maybe a half dozen trips through the town, I departed from the trail to investigate the small campus.

I learned that I was going to be short a few miles, at the junction of the Schuylkill and Perkiomen trails. I had ridden 68 miles and the trail maker indicated it was another 22 miles to Philadelphia. I was less worried about having enough energy than enough time to surpass 100. I rode pretty aggressively for the next twelve miles before stopping for much-needed 10 minute rest near the Spring Mill train station, just over 80 miles in to the ride. It was hard to get back in to a rhythm after than break. I got my second wind along the dirt path leading into Manayunk, which gave me the energy I needed to complete the ride with the extra curlicues necessary attain century status.

Trip Statistics
Length: 100.5 miles
Ride Time: 9 hours 31 minutes
Total Time: 11 hours 5 minutes
Avg. Speed: 10.5 MPH
Max. Speed: 33.5 MPH
Avg. Cadence: 54 RPM
Total Ascent: 3,150 ft.
Max Elev.: 460 ft.

Elevation Profile