A pre-ride of the Covered Bridges 200K was conducted on February 18 by Patrick & Cecilie Gaffney, Brad Layman, and Adam Bowen. As a result of the pre-ride some updates were made to the cues. The latest cue sheet is version 4, and the latest RWGPS route was modified 2023-02-21 13:49:06 EST. Both are available online. Full information and online registration link on the event website.
Entering it's second year as the kickoff of the PA Randonneurs SR Series, the Cover Bridges 200K has seen a few tweaks that make for a very pleasant ride. Don's worry though, the climb up Uhlerstown Road is still in there and so are the 8 covered bridges that lend the ride it's name. The roads covered by the course are all in good shape and there were no issues with the GPS routing.
- You will encounter a road closure on Sacketts Road, just past Tanner's Dairy at mile 24 and another shortly thereafter. Both are passable on bike or on foot.
- There are no services on the route between the Tinicum Control (mile 57) and the Tabora Farms Control (mile 91)
- The bathrooms at Tobora Farms are still closed for winter. There are public restrooms at Sailor's Point, by the lake at the bottom of the descent after leaving Tabora Farms or at a Wawa 11miles later.
- Please be mindful when crossing the covered bridges, they are all hazardous each in their own way. Riders should slow down and use caution when crossing the bridges. If you are not comfortable riding across them, walk.
Starting from a new location, the Chamounix Carriage House Hostel, riders will make their way through the historic Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, the quiet roads of Eastern Montgomery County, and the rolling farm land of lower bucks County to the first control in New Hope, PA.
The hardest climbing of the ride comes between miles 58 and 72, so be sure to fuel up on the catered brunch at the staffed Tinicum Park control, mile 56. There are closed gates at the base and top of the Uhlerstown Hill Road that you will have to dismount to get around. Once you reach the top of Buckwampum Road it is back to more rolling terrain and more covered bridges on the way to the penultimate control, Tabora Farms. Be sure to stop long enough at Tabora to enjoy their delicious baked goods.
From Tabora riders will make their way back to Philadelphia via the 202 Parkway Trail. There are a few more opportunities to refuel, if needed, as the course traverses through the towns of Amber, Lafayette Hill, and Conshohocken before a stretch on the Schuykill River Trail. Once off the trail we reenter Philadelphia and make our way back to the hostel. Be alert as you pass through Manayunk. Saturday afternoons and evenings bring a lot of traffic and pedestrians that are not always paying attention.
After crossing the Schuykill River it's a short ride down MLK Drive and then the final climb back up the finish at the hostel where food and refreshment await. Be aware of debris in the shoulder as you traverse that final climb.
Have a great ride!
