2020: The Year Without a Covered Bridges Ride

With sincere and profound dismay, Central Bucks Bicycle Club has cancelled the 2020 Covered Bridges Ride. This decision was made (unanimously) after careful and prolonged discussions that took into account a number of variables, including current health crisis conditions (as of May 18); local, state and national guidance and restrictions; and unknowns about what the future will hold.

We felt it imprudent to move ahead without assurances that Bucks County and the properties we utilize for the ride will be "open" for a large-scale event on October 11. We also considered the health and safety of the approximately 1,500 riders, 100+ volunteers, and numerous vendor partners involved, along with their potential wariness to participate in an activity where close proximity to each other is expected. Finally, we made the decision to cancel now—instead of waiting until closer to the event—to avoid losing significant financial investments in up-front planning and coordination.

To say we are disappointed is an understatement. The Covered Bridges Ride has been an annual event for four decades, and we were all looking forward to celebrating the ride's 40th anniversary this year. Instead, we invite everyone to mark their calendar for Sunday, October 10, 2021, when we hope to offer a safe, fun and well-attended event for the regional cycling community. Thank you for your continued support and your understanding.

Covered Bridges Ride

2020: The Year Without a Covered Bridges Ride

With sincere and profound dismay, Central Bucks Bicycle Club has cancelled the 2020 Covered Bridges Ride. This decision was made (unanimously) after careful and prolonged discussions that took into account a number of variables, including current health crisis conditions (as of May 18); local, state and national guidance and restrictions; and unknowns about what the future will hold.

We felt it imprudent to move ahead without assurances that Bucks County and the properties we utilize for the ride will be "open" for a large-scale event on October 11. We also considered the health and safety of the approximately 1,500 riders, 100+ volunteers, and numerous vendor partners involved, along with their potential wariness to participate in an activity where close proximity to each other is expected. Finally, we made the decision to cancel now—instead of waiting until closer to the event—to avoid losing significant financial investments in up-front planning and coordination.

To say we are disappointed is an understatement. The Covered Bridges Ride has been an annual event for four decades, and we were all looking forward to celebrating the ride's 40th anniversary this year. Instead, we invite everyone to mark their calendar for Sunday, October 10, 2021, when we hope to offer a safe, fun and well-attended event for the regional cycling community. Thank you for your continued support and your understanding.

Sunday, October 10, 2021

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Stay tuned for updates!

THANK YOU to the 1500+ riders who came out and supported the 2019 Covered Bridges Ride! We hope to see you in October for our 40th annual ride!

PHOTOGRAPHY

Bluestem Light Photography has posted the photos from the Covered Bridges Ride! Take a look! Order that awesome shot to hang on the wall!  www.bluestemlight.photoreflect.com

 

We look forward to seeing you on the 40th Covered Bridges Ride to be held on October 10, 2021.

 

This is THE premier cycling event in scenic Bucks County. Held each year on a beautiful Sunday with the gorgeous fall colors shouting out, the CBR, as our members call it, is our best event ever.

You have five great routes to choose from -- the family-friendly 20 and 33 mile routes (both use the towpath along the Delaware river, which is a fine-cinder and hardpacked dirt trail, for part of these routes), or the hillier 33, 55 or 65 mile rides (all on paved roads) -- plus plenty of great food. Travel through up to six historic covered bridges.

Fatter tired bikes work best on the cinder-based paths for the 20 and 33 mile routes, which visit one (20) or two (33) bridges. All rides conclude with a Grande Finale Picnic.

Rides start and end at Tinicum Park, along the shores of the Delaware River. Join 1,500+ riders from all over the northeastern United States who come to ride through some of the most beautiful areas in this part of the country.

For registration info, visit our Registration page. Or go directly to online registration. Have a question about the ride? Read our FAQ.

 eBikes are welcome at the Covered Bridges Ride!

Still have a question? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Start and Finish Information:

The ride starts and ends at Tinicum Park on Rt. 32 (963 S River Rd, Erwinna, PA 18920 )

Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. Please do NOT check in before then, and please wait until the times below to start your ride. Ride services like food stops, SAG support, and safety services will begin as follows:

Route START Windows:

  • 65-mile route - Opens 8:00 am – Closes 9:00am
  • 55-mile route - Opens 8:30 am – Closes 9:30am
  • 33-mile route - Opens 9:00 am – Closes 10:00am
  • 20-30-mile route - Opens 9:30 am – Closes 10:30am

Please depart within one hour of the start time to ensure that you complete the route before services end at 3:00pm; please plan your return accordingly. Rideres not on the road before the closing time will not be allowed to depart on the route and will be requested to ride a shorter route.

Lunch is served at the end, in lovely Tinicum Park, from 11:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All services end at 3:00; please plan your return accordingly.

 

GPS Files & Queue sheets

Files for use with a GPS enabled bike computers will be shared via email with registered riders just before the ride, once online registration closes.

The GPS files will not be available in the park the day of the ride.

Queue sheets will be available at registration in the park. 

Queue sheets will not be shared online at any other time.  

 

Safety Rules and Guidelines:

All participants must wear a bike helmet. All participants must obey local traffic laws and law enforcement professionals. Failure to do so can result in fines and tickets. Ride single-file when encountering traffic or when being passed by another rider. Never ride more than two abreast at any time and never cross the (yellow line) center of the roadway. Ride smart! Ride Safe!

 

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Food, Glorious Food!

All that pedaling can work up a hunger! Good thing our rest stops are well-stocked with snacks, fresh fruit, water, sports drinks, home-made baked goods and other treats. Our Grand Finale Lunch (11:30-3:00) features something for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike! Rest stop hours:

CBR is a CUP FREE event.

Bring a water bottle! No cups will be available at rest stops or in the park at lunch.

 

 

REST STOP HOURS:

  • Bulls Island 20 & 33 mile routes: Open 9:30am - Closes 2:00pm
  • Pipersville 33, 55 & 65 mile routes Opens 9:30am - Closes 2:00pm
  • Weisel Youth Hostel 55 & 65 mile routes Opens 9:30am - Closes 1:00pm
  • Durham-Nox Elementary/55 & 65 mile routes Opens 9:00am - Closes 11:00am

 

Hills, Glorious Hills!

It's Bucks County. It's hilly here. While the 20 & 33 mile routes are flat, the other routes follow hilly terrain.

  • 33-mile route: ~ 2,300 feet
  • 55-mile route: ~ 3,500 feet
  • 65-mile route: ~ 4,400 feet

Thanks to Local Bike Shops for Your Support!

For on-road mechanical issues and minor repairs, SAG (Support and Gear) services and minor mechanical repairs are available from our trusted bike shop partners. Many thanks to:

Camping

Tinicum Park does have camp grounds available. Please contact the park services to make arrangements.
http://www.buckscounty.org/government/ParksandRecreation/PermitApplications/CampingRules

 

Covered Bridges Ride Supports Local Charities

Proceeds from the annual Covered Bridges Bike Ride support numerous local charities. Proceeds from the previous Covered Bridges Ride have helped to support the Bucks County Covered Bridge Society; Bicycle Access Council; Gearing Up, a nonprofit bicycle program for women in transition; College Settlement Camp; Neighborhood Bike Works; Warrington Township to help purchase bike racks; the Philly Pump Track; the Doylestown Pump Track and the Christ Home for Children. Donations were also given to those who provide CBBC with free rest stop locations for this ride. CBBC and these organizations thank you for your support!

 

Covered Bridges Ride 2018 Poster

 

2018 Pictures by Bluestem Light Photography,LLC can be found at this link: https://bluestemlight.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=10330437

Bluestem Light Photography will be at the 2019 ride.

Club Rides RESTART June 6

CBBC to Reopen Club Rides Starting June 6

The Governor of Pennsylvania is expected to move Bucks County and surrounding areas in southeastern PA from ‘red’ to ‘yellow’ on Friday, June 5. This will allow outdoor activities of up to 25 people. NJ will move to phase 2 or yellow on June 15. Currently, New Jersey requires visitors must wear masks in and around all gatehouses, restrooms and reopened park buildings.

CBBC interprets this as the ability to begin sanctioned club rides. However, in these unprecedented times, we all need to be ambassadors of our club as well as recreational cycling in general. This means following the rules of the road, directions of Ride Leaders, and requests and mandates from the municipalities and businesses we visit on our rides.

Our decision to reopen club rides was made after consulting with the League of American Bicyclists, USA Cycling and other clubs for guidance. For details on this guidance, please see LAB's article, “BE A BIKE AMBASSADOR DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC” https://www.bikeleague.org/content/be-bike-ambassador-during-covid-19-pandemic and USA Cycling's site https://www.usacycling.org/event-organizer/covid-19-event-resources.

New Group Riding Rules

Until Bucks County moves into the "green" phase, CBBC Group Rides will follow these rules:

  • Rides will be limited to no more than 10 people on a first come / first served basis at the ride start location or by preregistration, as per Ride Leader prerogative.
  • Ride leaders may be requested to designate a secondary (backup) leader for rides where more than 10 riders show up.
    • The secondary group should pace their departure time to avoid re-grouping with the first group out during the ride.
    • The Secondary Ride Leader, will receive ride leader credit
  • Ride leaders are encouraged to remind riders to maintain greater-than-average distance from each other during rides.
    • Tight packs and pacelines should be discouraged.
    • Riders must avoid bunching at intersections or when slowing for any reason. This is especially important if there is a second group.
  • Masks: CBBC does not require a mask while riding. However, riders are expected to comply with rest stop and start location requests relating to masks.  Therefore, we strongly encourage every rider to bring a face covering of some sort so you can safely access rest stops.
  • Both ride leaders and riders are encouraged to bring hand sanitizer on rides. Sanitize your hands after signing in and before and after entering rest stops and/or lavatories.
  • Ride Leaders will be required to double-check with Ride Start locations to ensure they are open to group gatherings of up to 25 people. Some start locations, such as schools, may still be closed to visitors.
  • Ride Leaders retain the authority to ask a rider to leave a group ride if he/she feels the rider is acting in an unsafe manner – either with their cycling behavior or their social distancing/infection control behavior.
  • The Ride Leader Reward Program will re-start with rides scheduled starting June 6, as long as they follow the program rules.

The CBBC board agrees that every cyclist has the right to make your own decisions, as well as the responsibility to think of others as you do so. If you do not feel well, are in a high-risk category, or have been in contact with anyone with known or suspected symptoms of COVID-19, we respectfully ask that you ride solo or in a small group of known cyclists.

One important note: Until our area moves to the "green" phase, we will not be holding our picnic rides or other group gatherings.

Thank you all for your understanding and support.  If you have any questions, please reach out to CBBC President Bruce Salkovitz (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Rides Director Bob Hardner (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

POSTPONED: First Aid/CPR/AED Training: April 18, 2020

WITH CLUB ACTIVITIES SUSPENDED THROUGH APRIL 30, THIS EVENT WILL BE RESCHEDULED. STAY TUNED FOR NEW DATES AND RE-REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

Ever wonder how to assist a rider who crashed or has trouble breathing? CBBC will be sponsoring First Aid/CPR/AED training for FREE to interested members. Certification is good for 2 years.

Learn the skills to assist an injured rider. These same skills can come in handy for a home emergency as well.

This session will be held at the Northampton Library, 25 Upper Holland Road, Richboro, PA 18954 from 10:30AM-4:30PM on Saturday April 18. This is a 6 hour course, and the Club will provide lunch. Participation is limited to the first 20 members who sign up. To register or for any questions, please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our New Executive Committee

Congratulations to our new Executive Committee!

President: Bruce Salkovitz

Vice President: Rich Piascik

Secretary: Jan Solkov

Treasurer: Deb Cudworth

Rides Director: Bob Hardner

At-Large: Kevin Hahn, Terry Hampton, Mike Mathers, Rich Sadler

Special thanks to outgoing board members: Ed Martin, Linda Salkovitz and Deb Scott