The Schuylkill River Trail (extended ride)
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- čas přidán 5. 02. 2023
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Join me for an overnight, 120-mile adventure on the Schuylkill River Trail from Philadelphia to Reading (and back). While I’m sure this trail is gorgeous in the summer and fall months, winter provided its own beauty. This ride occurred in late January, 2023.
Stay tuned at the end of the video for tips on navigating a few confusing gaps in the trail.
You can find more info at: schuylkillriver.org.
Want to buy me a coffee? ☕️
www.buymeacoffee.com/raadvent...
Musical selections (via audiio.com):
“Killer Inside of Me” Willyecho
“Phoenix Rising” Risian
“Run Now” Pete James Johnson (dream sequence :))
“Ides of Spring” Risian
“A Little Bit Bad” Willyecho
Filmed on a GoPro Hero 11 Black; 4K, 60fps and edited in Final Cut Pro X.
For years driving down 422 and getting near Valley Forge area i had noticed some path on the right with walkers, joggers and cyclists and wondered where that goes. Pretty sure this is it, thank you!
It’s a great path. Well done.
I really enjoyed the video! I loved seeing you experience the parts of the trail that my girlfriend and I routinely ride between Valley Forge and Reading, and particularly between Pottstown and Birdsboro. FYI, the easiest current way to get from Kenilworth (the Sunoco station) to Industrial Highway in Pottstown is to proceed west on Rt. 724, turn right on Keim Street (instead of going all the way to South Hanover Street), and cross the abandoned Keim Street bridge .A connector is being constructed between those points, which includes crossing the bridge on RT. 422, the one on which you encountered the dead end and locked gate. Again, great video!
Thanks. Yeah, it’s a great trail. And nearby for me also. Glad to hear there are other options to cross the river. Do you know if there has been any additional work heading north from Reading? Regardless, I’d like to do this again someday. And hopefully in warmer weather. :)
congrats on a great ride!. Thank you for putting your experience on You Tube. Just started riding again with E bike. Looking forward to covering these trails myself. Happy Riding! 🚴🏻♂
Hey, you’re welcome. Thanks for watching and enjoy riding!
One day I want to try to ride that school of river from Redding to Philadelphia. Hopefully, I’ll make it.
Enjoy. It’s a great trail.
@@RideAlongAdventures thank you and listen I’m 43 years old. Is there any stretch tips you recommend for me please let me know.
@@fernandolossa6188 sure, I like this channel: czcams.com/video/kRXXGA6XLeY/video.htmlsi=GqrlmsudbELsrTMt
... Aaahhh ... those brick building in the background at 3:10 mins is the Aim Academy ( a private school that has a bike riding program) ... that is where "BCPs' Scenic Schulkill starts and ends in Sept ... 7:20 min is Valley Forge National Park, very neat to ride around in it ... 8:00mins when you come down off that bridge if yo go left , that is the start of the Perkioman Trail up to Green Lane ... Note: In early June is the French Creek Iron Tour just to the west of where you rode ... nice ride all over hill and dale ... of N Chester & Berks Co ... ( I will be a SAG vehicle) ...
Thanks. I want to get back for the Perkioman trail!
Good video as usual. I appreciate the education
Thanks for watching!
Just discovered your page. Looking forward to following your adventures.
Hey, likewise. Just subscribed to your channel also. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Late march 2020 I was on the trail around 6am, I was approximately in douglassville.
A huge black cat as large as me passed the trail in front of me.
I have seen lots of animals on the trail, my favorite are the nocturnal ones. I never imagined seeing a huge black cat!!
In the moment I remember my thoughts being ‘ I’m never going to see this ever again in the wild’
I stopped pedaling but I did not hit my brakes. I coasted towards the animal, as it crossed the trail in front of me (which is about 12 feet wide there) it glanced in my direction and just kept on its way.
In about 2 seconds I reached where the animal crossed. I couldn’t hear it, see it , or smell it.
The location where I saw the animal is right where the big beautiful bridge is between Pottstown and Douglassville.
When I did my research I learned that black panthers lived in berks county in the late 1800s….
Just because they haven’t been seen doesn’t mean they aren’t still there 🙂 I saw one 😃
YIKES! Wow. That's incredible. I dealt with mountain lions in California but never would have imagined there would be panthers near Pottstown. Geez...be careful.
I watch quite a few of your videos and they all have one thing in common; the video hesitates and then starts back up maybe 1/2 second from where it stopped. This quite common with a memory card that isn't fast enough. A good Sandisk Extreme card will stop it and if you are already using one, it's a bad card. Most digital cameras save footage in chunks just in-case something happens so you won't lose all the footage.
Hi, David. Thanks for watching. I appreciate the feedback but I’m just not sure what you’re saying. I use an extreme pro card for the speed, as you said. Actually I switch between three pro cards on most tours. I’ve watched a mess of clips and I just don’t see the hesitation (lag?). Any additional insights would be great. Thanks again. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know.
I've been to eastern Pennsylvania once and never thought I'd ever go back, until I watched this and your previous video. Thanks, awesome as per the norm!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hey Bryan! Loved the video not sure how I missed it when you published it. I was on the SRT twice this Labor Day weekend, both times jumped off @ Valley Forge Park to get in some hill work. Ok, hill pain! I loved the Union Meadow Loop story. 😂 And I couldn’t help but think about your recent Ragbrai video. My guess is you would have given anything for some of that COLD Philly weather in Iowa! Be safe & well 🚴🏻♀
Lol…yes, I’d enjoy the ability to average out the weather a bit. 😂 this is a cool little trail, don’t ya think? I hope they keep extending the northern end. Have you ever ridden the spur right after Valley Forge Park…can’t recall the name offhand.
lol - 🤣😂🤫 my lips are sealed.
Q: - do you fuel on the bike?
And - note to self - don't ask Bryan for directions next year. 😂
lol. That loop was hilarious. I went back there a few months back and there appears to be a new sign. 😂
Like “eat on the ride”? Yes, I usually keep a clif bar or something in my top tube pouch. Lately I’ve been stopping more. It depends on the temps. This ride was cold throughout so then I usually just pedal on.
@@RideAlongAdventures Yes - eating on the bike. 👍 I tend to nibble every 20 - 30 minutes to avoid bonking and help aid recovery on multi-day rides. I felt for your tired legs. Have been there and it is exhausting. 🚴♀
I live in Pottstown and just did the Sly Fox ride. Yes Pottstown is confusing as far as the trail. Great video and good loop joke
Thanks. Lol…I was SO stir crazy when I did this ride. I literally could not ride one more mile on my basement trainer. It’s a great trail. Have they made any changes around the Pottstown portion? Thanks for watching!
It will eventually loop underneath the 422 bridge and connect to a trail that is already on Industrial Highway. It's supposed to have been completed this fall,but it's not even being worked on.
@@MrRealpainter ahh…well, that’s encouraging to know. Thanks!
I hiked on the Schuykill River Trail from Norristown to Port Providence and back.
That was when I decided to get a bike. 90% of the trail users were on bicycles.
I will attempt to go 60 miles like you. But total. 30 mikes in each direction. Do not know when, though.
Looks like Port Providence to Pottstown is the ride for me.
Maybe I’ll see you out there because I really want to get back to this trail some time soon. It’s a surprising gem for the area.
... Suggestion: Park at "Oaks" Park ... and ride the"Perk" north to Green Lane ... a beautiful trail ... that's what I purchased my Hybrid for ... a lot of it is gravel ...
Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for the video! What do you use to keep your hands and feet warm at these temperatures. 40 F is about it for me with double gloves and double sox and toe covers.
Yeah I double up with mittens over regular gloves. I use neoprene toe covers. But they don’t do much if it’s too cold. I tried a heated jacket this winter. It was really great. Perhaps I’ll add heated gloves next year.
This is my local trail since I live near Valley Forge Park. You did a very good job considering you had overcast to deal with and it was winter. As a local I highly recommend a spring or fall trip on the trail. I never did the entire trail at one shot, but have covered the length doing segments. The Pottstown mess is supposed to be fixed by 2025. They have the funding and are doing the final design. Very creative of you to lift your bike around the fence. If I was running on fumes I'm not sure I would have thought of that. Also, there is a long term plan to route the trail over the Wissahickon Creek just prior to Manayunk. I'm unsure if that will be completed in my lifetime.
If you do it again and record another video, I recommend warmer weather stops in Manayunk, Conshy Brewing, Phoenixville (Main St) and Pottstown. The beverage and food opportunities are awesome. The trail has so much more life to it in the nice weather. A downside of the other seasons is you don't see much of the river as the green tunnel hides the river. You also get a more pronounced aroma of the sewage treatment plants in every other town along the way. Still a worthy trek.
Thanks for sharing such encouraging news on new developments. I think this is a fantastic trail...so much history and diverse landscapes. And I absolutely agree that I should come back in better weather!! :) PA is just so ahead of rest of the country on their trail network. Just amazing. Thanks for the recommendations. I will definitely look more into these stops during the next ride.
You get close to Malvern where the infamous Duffy's Cut is located. It is still active rail line however and the memorial site is on private property. One can see the museum exhibit of items from the excavation though. (Seven of the 56 bodies have been recovered, the rest are still under the Pennsylvania railroad berm.)
Thanks for the tip, Steve. Just read up on this. Wow. That’s some dark history. For anyone else who is interested: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duffy's_Cut?wprov=sfti1#History
The Wikipedia article santizes the event. There were bullet holes and other signs of murder on several of the bodies found. It's theorized that the workers decided to leave the area after the cholera outbreak and were killed by anti-immigrant vigelantes.
Local Knowledge: At that Cul-de-Sac (approx 46: 00 min ) only 150ft to your left is a VERY good local bike shop ... we limped in there when my riding partner had a "mechanical" and they fixed it "on the spot" ...
Thanks for the info!
Hello Bryan. You’ve really inspired me to do this ride this summer. Can you tell me where you stayed when you got to Reading?
Glad to hear it. I stayed at the Courtyard. (150 North Park Road, Reading, PA, USA 19610)
Which camera did you shoot this with?
Who knows, might have seen you on the trails.
Edit: That trail finally gets finished in 2024 in Pottstown. You took the long way. It's easier doing 724.
I used my GoPro 7 black for this one. I since upgraded. Glad to hear the trail is filling in. I still enjoyed this one.
@@RideAlongAdventures Since I take the trail a lot, I know where some cool things are that most people miss.
I thought about doing reading to philly and back in a single day but also kinda difficult if I don't leave early. I also do an ebike so while it will be easier, it's also challenging doing 100+ miles. I just need a place to charge it.
I might record it some day, don't know. I go reading to King of Prussia a lot.
Also, not sure if you done the path before but lots of it has been polished since I started doing it such as Spring City to Parkford. Used to be gravel.
Parkford to Pottstown was dirt I believe but I used to go on the highway which was dangerous.
Great ride that's a long trail
It sure is--made me quickly realize how out of touring shape i am! :) I've ridden segments of this and run the parts in downtown Philly but never knew what was beyond that. I bet this trail is extra beautiful in summer/fall.
@@RideAlongAdventures
yes it is. I live in Conshohocken, and have ridden the trail out to Phoenixville, not much further beyond that. And down to Manayunk as well. It is definitely super beautiful in the spring/summer/fall! :)
Bryan, was watching one of you Gap and C&O videos and got the notification for this one. I loved it. Love the dream sequence . It had me laughing so hard. Lol. and the ride as a whole was great.
That dream wasn’t too far off. 😂
What are u using for video ?
Im curious because im thinking of riding this trail and was looking into using my gopro ..thanks amd great video ..keep it up
Yeah, mostly my GoPro with an occasional bit from my phone. I have an insta360 camera but I don’t use it very often. The GoPro is a workhorse.
@@RideAlongAdventures I'm guessing u have multiple batteries cause I know my gopro 10's battery life is kinda horrible?
@RideAlongAdventures what don't u like about the insta360? Just curious because I was thinking of getting that instead of keeping my gopro10
... did you stop at Fitzwaters' Station ??? going south ... best food the "SRT" ...
Gotta look that up!
Thanks Bryan. Great ride and I enjoyed all of it... especially the various attitude sections. When I used to fly it was very important to maintain the aircraft at the right attitude so that you don't stall and crash.🙈 I guess the same could be said about this as well.🤣😉
Yeah... trail ends... sign says, "Surprise surprise", and you have to continue to function properly on camera!🙏🙄
I really enjoyed all the little flashbacks you animated as well as letting the viewer know where you were location wise, through the many captions.
Day two was beautiful but I also enjoyed the wintery overcast scenes as well. Glad you didn't have any serious issues with the bike or your body in the cold.
Blessings,
Gord
Hey, Gord. Great perspective. Yeah, I try to shake stuff off fairly quickly. I figure you can spend your energy being angry or spend it enjoying a ride. In the end, I enjoy the adventure and, for me, that includes getting lost, roadblocks, etc.
It’s an interesting little trail. Hats off to the people who have the vision to create and maintain it.
And, my gosh, it was good to get out of the basement for a few days!!!!!!!!
@@RideAlongAdventures I bet it was great to get out. Interesting how the cold affects the body's ability to perform. My guess is that a certain amount of energy gets recycled into staying warm. That means less energy for peddling and greater exhaustion level.
I think shorter rides in the cold is the best answer to that. Thanks for the great video presentation.
Gord
What a great video that I found thoroughly entertaining! This is my "Home Trail" as I live two miles from the Audubon Trail head and ride portions of it often. I have ridden it north to the dreaded gap, and your difficulties confirmed all my doubts. I appreciate your workarounds for this obstacle as well. One recommendation I would make to you, and your audience is riding the trail south of the art museum until its end. It is a dead end with no parking or (sometimes available) amenities like the art museum, but it takes you on a beautiful ride on a dedicated trail that is suspended over the river on that same Eastern Bank.
Thanks, Jason. Yeah, I really like this trail. Thanks by the way on the recommendation to head further south. I’ll do that! I only live about 45 minutes away from Philly and, in 18 years, I’ve only ridden little segments, mostly out by Valley Forge. I really enjoyed the end-to-end experience. And I’d imagine this is extra beautiful in summer/fall.
Lol-the dreaded gap. 😂 again, it looks like they might be able to do something over the bridge but it’s just weird how it all just stops right now. Locked fence. Might be funding.
Question: is the Audubon Trail worth a separate day ride? Overnight? I was curious when I saw it jet off to the side at Oaks. I’m looking for any reason to get out of the basement for a few days! 😉
Thanks for watching, Jason.
@@RideAlongAdventures the Audubon Trail is a loop approximately 3.5 miles long that takes you behind a couple of apartment complexes and around Audubon Park which is a few acres and the one time home and now small park and museum of Naturalist John Audubon (the bird guy). A longer detour off the SRT is the Perkiomen Trail which splits off the Audubon Loop, which split off the SRT. It tracks 18 miles north along the banks of the Perkiomen Creek up ti Green Lane Park in Green Lane, PA.
@@jasonrothgeb6071 thanks for the clarification. Would make a nice day ride!
Hello... Thank you for this share, I'm a native NY'r/moved away Central Illinois region. The footage is amazing! I love it! i'm going to watch this again later this evening. I'm a long distance cyclist also/had a bit of a fender-bender so I'm in recovery now :) and watching cycling videos is soooo nice! Thank you again. Regards, Chandra
Hi, Chandra. Glad you liked it. Hope your recovery goes by quickly!
@@RideAlongAdventures The tracking map made everything far more interesting too. This was a smooth, very scenic winter's ride... I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks again.
I live near Pottstown. It's basically the only part of the Schuylkill River Trail from Philly to Reading that's messed up. Sorry you had to find that out.
Lol. It was ok. I just keep wondering if that extension is going to go somewhere in the future. It’s a great trail! And in my opinion, the path from Pottstown to Reading is the most scenic. I want to try it again in the summer time.
@@RideAlongAdventures ;
I'd like to ask you what Bike do you use? I have a Trek Verve 3; it's not a bad bike; but sometimes it feels like i'm trying to bike in quicksand. It's a bear going uphill; and on longer rides over 50 miles.
@@roadrules3671 sure. I’ve got a trek checkpoint ALR5. It’s a truck. It’s an “adventure/gravel” bike so it’s not fast or agile like a road bike but it’s not as arduous as a mountain bike. It’s perfect for rail trails which is what I enjoy most. But it’s also good for touring on roads, paved paths.
Awesome video. Man I miss that trail. I lived in Manayunk for almost 20 years and would ride to Phoenixville often. Recently moved to western PA. I was hoping you were going to stop at one of the many watering holes on the trail!
Thank you! I’m going back in the spring or summer. Give me some recommendations!
@@RideAlongAdventures definitely need to stop at the Conshohocken brewery in Conshohocken. It’s directly on the trail. I’m sure you may have passed it. Good beers if you are a beer drinker but limited food options. You also need to stop in Phoenixville. Countless restaurants, pubs, cafes. My favorite is Root Down Brewing which is on main st. Excellent food, drinks, and service. Luckys last chance in manayunk has amazing burgers. I just saw that you have ridden the GAP. We bought a bed and breakfast directly on the GAP on Meyersdale. Stop in to see us if you are back on the trail!
@@MrRzapitt thanks! Will do.
And I’ll absolutely contact you during my next GAP ride. Lucky you-that’s awesome. Can you send some details? Website? bryanwehmeyer@ridealongadventures.com
I love the GAP. still my favorite trail anywhere.
I’ve got some contacts looking for a place to stay in Meyersdale. Do you have contact info? I’ll send them your way.
Any plans to ride from Reading to Frackville? I’m planning to do the reverse of this route starting in Frackville
Wow, are you monitoring my calls?? I just talked to someone about this today!!!!!!! 😳 yeah, I’m trying to get a group to do it-not solo. Interested?
Lol purely coincidence! It depends when you’re planning to do that section. I live in Arizona but I’m usually in the area once a month to visit family.
@@aaronmoser5743 I’ll keep you posted. But with your surveillance, you might already know. 😂
Sadly Valley Forge Chapel and log cabin behind Chspel and Cemetery was overlooked.
yeah, i missed a lot on this trail. where was this? i'll try better next time. honestly, the cold got the better of me on this trip
A bit too cold for me. Your getting really good with the videos, nice.
Thanks, Ken. Yeah, I feel like my fingertips are just warming back up. 😉
Bryan, ANOTHER awesome video! So much fun and informative! All these trails I have to add to my never-ending must ride list!!
So, my question is, what is your average speed?
Thanks, Amy. Good question. Overall trip (including breaks): 10mph. Riding speed: about 13 mph. So…taking it pretty easy. 😉 part of the winter dilemma is to not create too much cold breeze!
“Signs are expensive, apparently. This is Pottstown and…uh…it is unclear.” LOL 😂
Did you run a lot of ice or super soft spots on the ride? I ride the GAP religiously during the warmer (and longer daylight) months but never dared to during the winter for lack of sunlight and for worry of hitting a patch of ice or soft mucky spots and eating it.
Surprisingly, there wasn’t much in the way of ice. A few patches. Yeah, it got soft on the second day around Reading. It was just so nice to get out. I probably would have ridden in snow. There are only so many miles I can do on a trainer. and, yes, the signage was confusing. I don’t know what they intend to do at Pottstown. 😉 the poor guy at that Sunoco station must get nonstop questions.
thanks for watching!
So the ride into Pottstown. I assume that the trail path is not finished yet that takes you over? What route and road do you recommend to get over the river to the north side?
To add. I saw your way back. Yes. They haven’t finished on that bridge over the river. Lol. It’s *supposedly* going to be done within the next year.
It’s a good question, Tara. As I said in the video, if you are headed northwesterly, you can head over the bridge and make your way to Pottstown. The actual bike lane is closed at this moment. It looks like they might be working more on this area. Funding? OR you can stay on the same side of the river and turn right onto S Hanover St and head into Pottstown. It’s narrow and busy but it’s your best bet if headed southeasterly. That’s my two cents. It’s a short distance regardless and I wouldn’t let it discourage you from a long ride.
Thanks for the advice! I stopped at Parker ford before because the newer part wasn’t even a thought at the time. I’m happy to see they are at least trying to close the gaps? Your video was very helpful in seeing this end of the trail.
@@taracr2984 Tara, let me know if you find a different (better) path around Pottstown. If you’ve watched any of my other videos, I’m “directionally challenged” so I could be talking out of my…rear panniers.