Category: tours

Bike tours of three days or more, typically a full week (5 or 6 days of riding).  Roads are typically marked; cue sheets and GPS files provided.  Dine at restaurants and overnight in hotels or B & Bs.

Categories
day rides Pittsburgh

Icebreaker Open

We are planning on doing our Annual Ice-Breaker Open bike ride here in da Burgh, Saturday, January 4th, 2025.

Bring in the New Year with a Hills & Thrills (Pittsburgh Style), and ride around beautiful North Park.  Ride starts at 12:30pm (To let it warm up a bit).  PLUS it gives Merry-Land riders plenty of time to get there that morning.

* 15-, 25- and 30-mile ride options (Plus, it NEVER SNOWS on a Fil Heffler Event)

Then, we will pick a great restaurant for dinner that night.  
 
Out of towners, let me know, and I will assist on getting Overnight hotel reservations for you.

Interested?  Contact us in the usual way.

Fil....Start your cycling year off right!
Categories
Frederick Pittsburgh tours

Pedal Pittsburgh to Frederick 2025

The 2025 Pedal Pittsburgh 2 Maryland bicycle ride will be July 13th thru the 19th in 2025.  Five days of riding, with over 310 miles of beautiful, low volume roads. Some optional bits on the GAP trail.  Transportation back, Full SAG and Hotel overnights included.  Contact us via this website.
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Jim Thorpe Pine Creek

Jim Thorpe/Wellsboro

-Jim Thorpe Ride (Road & Lehigh Valley Trail)

* Tuesday, Sept 24th & 25th, Jim Thorpe Inn (overnight)

** 9-24 Tuesday: 1pm start. Cycle the Lehigh Valley Trail.  Choose your distance....20-30-40-???

Dinner in town that evening

** 9-25 Wednesday: 8am start. 25 mile road ride up & over the mountain.  Gorgeous views, with a 4-mile return to Jim Thorpe on the Lehigh Trail

Then we are off to Wellsboro PA and the PA Grand Canyon (by car).  Arrive Wellsboro approximately @ 2pm.

Check into the Grand Canyon Motel (other motels are available).  Explore the quaint town, dinner, drinks etc.

** 9-26 Thursday: 9am ride along the Pine Creek trail - one of the best in the state.  Choose your distance....20-30-40-???

Then we head home that afternoon.   All riders make their own hotel reservations.

Cost of the ride is FREE.  But please contact Phil at pheffler@aol.com for the necessary details.
Categories
tours

Been on a Ride Genius Tour? How was it?

Hi folks. We want to place some testimonials and stuff on the website. We’ve added a couple, but a few more would be nice. We know you had fun with us, so put it in writing and Phil will buy your lunch on a ride (kidding – he never said that). Just reply to this post…and thanks.

Categories
tours

Pittsburgh to Frederick 2024

A 5 Day ROAD Ride from Pittsburgh to Historic Frederick, MD (The Mecca of road riding!)

Sunday, July 7th Thru Friday the 12th, 2024 * See Below

  • 2 options:

1-For those that live in the Mid-Atlantic. We meet Sunday morning (July 7th) in Frederick at 8:30am. Then we load your bike and luggage on our truck, and we van you up to the 5-Star Sheraton Station Square Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. Beautiful city with lots of sight-seeing and an optional ride through Pittsburgh that afternoon. Then we leave Pitt the following morning (July 8th) by bicycle.

2-For those that live in Pittsburgh area. We meet at the Sheraton for a Meet & Greet Happy Hour at the Sheraton Hotel at 5pm. Then, all cyclists leave Monday Morning (July 8th at 7:30am) for Day One. Upon finishing the tour on Friday in Frederick, we stay overnight in beautiful downtown Frederick. Then we van you and your bike back to Pittsburgh Saturday morning the 13th.

5 Days of riding over 300 miles of scenic, low volume roads with full support, luggage transport, SAG, rest stops every 20-25 miles, & hotel, motel & B&B’s included….and après ride happy hours daily.

And OH! Did I mention? The courses are boldly marked with directional arrows as well as GPS & route sheets to guide you along each day with 2 SAG vehicles always within a few miles from the riders.

Here are the daily destinations with approximate mileage **

Day 1. Pitt to Ohiopyle, PA. 72 scenic miles along PA’s Rust Belt. We stay adjacent to the Mighty Youghiogheny River. Bring your swimming gear, the Yough is great for cooling off after a long ride! 5600 feet of climbing.

Day 2. Ohiopyle to Deep Creek, MD. 60 miles with a climb up & over PA’s tallest point, Mt Davis. We stay at the Lake Front Hotel (Deep Creek’s best) with a grass beach from your room to the lake. 5000 feet of climbs.

Day 3. Deep Creek to Cumberland MD. 64 miles over the prettiest and greatest ride ever! Photo ops galore. 5500 feet of climbs. We stay in historic downtown Cumberland at the Fairfield Hotel.

Day 4. Cumberland to Clear Spring, MD. 5 mountain climbs today. We stay at the Holiday Inn Express in quaint Clear Spring MD. 54 miles with 5500 feet of climbs.

Day 5. Clear Spring to Frederick, MD. 58 miles with 3000 feet of climbs. For those from the Mid-Atlantic, the ride is over. For those from the Pittsburgh area, we stay overnight in historic, Civil War Frederick. Great restaurants, bars and sight-seeing. Then we van you back to Pittsburgh Saturday, July 13th.

Double occupancy cost is $1499. Single occ $1750. A $350 non-refundable deposit holds your spot. Balance due June 7, 2024.

For more Info: Call Phil Heffler at 301-693-4503 or email at Pheffler@Aol.com

** Pedal Frederick is not an easy ride. Cyclists should train well prior to the event to ensure maximum enjoyment during the week.