Steel City Cycologist

Robert and his friends Karen and Brian tell of their adventure biking the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.  They rented bikes at Fisherman's Wharf and rode across the 1.7 mile bridge into Sausalito for a total of 11 miles.  After lunch they returned to the bike shop via ferry across San Francisco Bay.  The rental provided the bike, helmet, water bottle, bike lock and a map. Robert and friends discuss the bike route and the experience of biking across this iconic structure. They talk about riding through Golden Gate Park; getting onto the bridge ramp and the bridge deck; and then share what they would do differently should they ride it again.It's a great ride and this podcast will prepare you for your Bike the Bridge adventure.

Robert talks about taking your bike on the plane.  How to package it in a bike box, bag or solid case. Once packaged, what to expect at the airport. Issues with over-sized and over- weight items will cost you $$$. A set of options include shipping your bike by FedEx Ground, take it with you on the plane, use a bike shipping company (BikeFlights), or just rent a bike at your destination!Taking you bike on Amtrak is also discussed. Particularly in conjunction with riding the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. The 'Capitol Limited' has space for 8 bikes on that trip. Bike fee is $20*(*Bike fee subject to change without notice.).

Robert takes us on a day trip from Cumberland, MD to the Eastern Continental Divide, and then down the mountain for 25 miles to Cumberland. The fun part is traveling the first 15 miles (the steepest on the GAP) via the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, to Frostburg, MD. (Now running on weekends until the end of the year.)We leave Cumberland at 11:30am with the bike in the baggage car. Enjoy an hour train ride up the mountain to Frostburg.  We retrieve our bike and watch the locomotive turn around on the turntable.Then we head down the trail to the Frostburg trail head. Turn left and go up the mountain to the Eastern Continental Divide and beautiful vistas. (Bring your camera) Then it's 25 miles down the mountain and back to Cumberland. Time on the bike is about 35 miles. You can add miles by going beyond the Continental Divide.Cumberland is 148 miles from Pittsburgh, about 2 hours and 40 minutes. It's an easy drive down I-79 to Morgantown, WV, then onto I-68 to Cumberland, MD.

Robert goes for a Metric Century ride (100k, 62.2 miles). He discusses a metric century, nutrition/hydration aspects, bike electronics, and ride metrics. In addition he does a trail update on the Montour Trail Connector linking the Panhandle Trail and the Montour Trail.The trail update includes the Southern Beltway construction on the Montour Connector and the Montour Trail (Near mm18).  Also highlights on other changes on the Montour, including the new asphalt paving in the National Tunnel.Feels like summer is coming to an end as the leaves are starting to fall on the trails, it's getting daylight later, and the morning temperatures are getting crisp. But it's great cycling weather.

Two route ideas for a weekday or weekend bike ride around the Pittsburgh area. The first ride starts on the Montour Trail, boards the Port Authority "T" at Library Station and exits at Station Square.  Then to the South Side Trail to lunch spots 5 miles down Carson Street. Then back to your car.  The alternate route starts where you park your car and you take the "T" to Gateway Station downtown, then to bus #21 to Coraopolis where you get on the Montour trail and ride back to your car. A big circle, but a fun late summer or fall ride. (Be sure to check Post Authority schedules for "T" and bus21 time tables. New schedules may post on September first.)

This is the final Episode of the Summer Trail Update Series (2019). The Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail runs from Lisbon, Ohio to Washingtonville, Ohio.  There are plans to establish a trail network from near East Liverpool Ohio to Lake Erie. Little Beaver would be part of that planned 100 mile system of trails. Episode 17 explores updates to the Greenway trail at mile 9 where a little over a mile of trail has been paved with new asphalt.This trail is extremely well maintained with adequate paved parking areas, porta johns, and a wonderful facility in Lisbon with clean indoor restrooms, vending machine, picnic tables and an air compressor, if you need it!This is Robert's favorite trail and he shares all the great features as well as two crashes he has experienced on the trail. This is his fifth season on Little Beaver Creek Greenway Trail.  

Robert rides the full length of Pittsburgh's Montour Trail, one of the country's longest and most beautiful trails. From mile "0" in Coraopolis to the  "T" station in Library, Robert provides narrative on the trail  Special cautions on the construction area where the Southern Beltway crosses the Montour, as well as other completed crossings for pipelines.Robert has been taking his recorder on the bike with him, so you get to hear the sounds of the trails: mowers, planes, traffic, birds, etc. Fortunately, he turned it off at the moment he discovered he had a flat tire!

This is a summer 2019 update of the Wheeling Heritage Trail. Robert discovers a police safety caution on riding this trail. He reads the Wheeling Police Department statement regarding three robberies, in two months,  on the trail.This update discusses the new pavement (2 miles), a detour, trail condition and the ride through Wheeling WV.  Robert also noted the trail rule "Always ride with a friend" and observed a uniformed police officer, on foot, patrolling the trail in Warwood, WV. These items, along with the statement from the Wheeling Police Department, suggests you ride with caution on this trail. 

Episode 14 explores the Conotton Creek Trail in Jewett Ohio.  The 11.2 mile trail runs between Jewett, Ohio and Bowerston, Ohio.  This is the old roadbed of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad.  It has an aging asphalt surface. The trail is basically level and features five covered bridges along the 11.2 miles. Midway is the small town of Scio, Ohio, former home of the Scio Pottery Company that closed in 1985.This is Ohio farm country with rolling hills, farms, ponds, & wetlands. The trail from Scio to Bowerston (6 miles) is out there with nature. This trail sees cyclists utilizing Bike Route 50 (USBR50), mid-western section from Terre Haute, Indiana to Steubenville, Ohio. The eastern section runs from Colliers, WV to Washington DC (GAP&C&O).Enjoy the ride.

In Episode 13 we ride the Panhandle Trail from Walkers Mill to Weirton, WV. This trail evaluation is mid-summer 2019 and reveals current conditions on the trail. This is the first in a series of trail updates.  The Walkers Mill end has recently seen improvements while the Weirton end is closed while an overhead bridge is being replaced.  There is one section that I label DNR (Do Not Ride) in my bike log.  Find out why.  The Southern Beltway construction also crosses the Panhandle near McDonald. 

This episode features an interview with two Boy Scouts from Chicago describing their efforts to earn a Merit Badge in Cycling.  They require a 50 mile ride and they came to Pittsburgh to fulfill that requirement.The boys talk about getting ready for the big ride. Their bikes required a lot of work prior to the 50 mile ride.  They share their experience.When asked what they learned during their ride and visit to Pittsburgh, they said they learned how crucial it is to keep the bikes clean and well maintained. They also learned about bike geometry and the essentials of 'bike fit.'In all, they rode 100 miles in three rides, and fulfilled the requirements for their merit badge.

This Episode provides a report on the condition of the Montour Trail and the Panhandle Trail.  There are a number of construction areas along Montour Trail this spring. Largest of which is the Southern Beltway that crosses the trail in McDonald, PA. In addition there is a new precast tunnel at mm24.5 where a new housing project is underway. There are other areas where pipeline construction crosses the trail. Just exercise caution in the construction areas.

Guest is Cheryl from Ann Arbor, MI. She is an experienced ultra-runner and shares her experiences in running in very cold weather. Cyclists endure many of the same issues. Cheryl wrote an article for Steel City Cycologists on endurance in frigid weather.  It's currently on the website at steelcitycycologist.com.

In Episode 5 - Robert and Chris talk about nutrition and hydrations needs when out of the road or trail. Hydration needs are discussed first. Topics include discussions on the use of popular hydration products, like Tailwind, as well as recovery drinks, such as Recoverite.Chris tell how to calculate your sweat rate when cycling in hot and humid weather, in order to add hydration to compensate for the sweat loss. In the nutrition section, the guys discuss how to approach the nutrition needs of various ride patterns. Namely, short rides vs longer rides exceeding 3-4 hours. They tell about what products they use and, from experience, how they have worked. But a reminder, everyone is different.  You need to determine what works best for YOU.  

Episode 7 is the first of two episodes on the Great Allegheny Passage. In this podcast Robert and Chris go into detail on mapping software, what to pack for the road-trip and note that the bikes, under load, weighed in at 50 pounds. That will change the ride characteristics of your bike!Their GAP ride started in Columbus, Ohio. First day (of 5) was Columbus to Steubenville, Ohio. Day two from Weirton, WV to Homestead, PA. Day three, first day on the actual GAP trail, was from Homestead to Connellsville.  Connersville to Rockwood was day four. The final day was Rockwood to Cumberland, MD. Total ride was about 330 miles.The guys offer very detailed information on getting the bikes ready, what to pack and how to pack it.  If you plan to ride the gap, this episode can help you plan your trip.Product Review: Kryptonite Bike Lock.

Episode 8 picks up where Episode 7 ended. The previous episode described in detail the preparations for riding the GAP.  This podcast provides day-by-day details on the actual trip. Chris used mapping software during day one on the ride from Columbus, OH to Steubenville, OH. The day two trip was on the Panhandle and Montour trails, ending in Homestead, PA. By day three the guys were on the actual GAP route from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD.  Day three's ride was Homestead to Connellsville. Day four took them from Connersville to Rockwood. And finally, day five concluded the road trip ending in Cumberland, MD.This program provides detailed information on the trail, and shares lessons- learned from this ride experience. A 25 picture slideshow is featured on the Steel City Cycologist website from the GAP trip.

Episode 9 features a visit to the Abandoned Turnpike near Breezewood interchange on the PA Turnpike.  This 13 mile section was abandoned in 1968 when three tunnels and a service plaza were bypassed. The property is closed to the public but bikes are welcome and you ride at your own risk! The Sideling Hill tunnel is 6800+' long, that's a mile and a quarter! The tunnels are dark, wet, debris is everywhere, including chunks of concrete from the ceiling. If you're going to ride these tunnels, you will need a good and bright bike light. We recommend a headlight as well. And use extreme caution.  There are pictures of our ride on our website. (steelcitycycologist.com)  Equip your bike with durable tires for this adventure. The surface is very challenging. This make a nice day trip.  Get off the PA Turnpike at Breezewood and take Route 30 down a small hill. We used the triangular shaped parking area.  Then up the dirt path and you're on the abandoned turnpike. If you ride it, let us know abo

Episode 6 features an in-depth discussion about the connection between cycling and running. Some cyclists also include running in their routine.  Some runners augment their training with cycling.Chris is an ultra-runner turned cyclist. (But running is still in his blood.) In this episode he tells about his experiences in ultra running. Chris tells about running the Georgia Death Race (72 miles); The "Punkin Holler" in Oklahoma (135 miles); and the "3 Days at the Fair" in Augusta, NJ, at 211 miles. Robert asks, "Are you a cyclist who runs, or a runner who cycles?" Tune in for the answer.The guys also talk about running and cycling apparel and if it can be used in both sports.

In Episode 4, Robert and Chris talk about getting the bike ready to ride in this new season. They discuss maintenance basics, what to carry out on the road.  Considering tubeless tires?  Listen to their experiences with tubeless tires in a variety of settings.Product review: Muc Off C-3 lubricant.

Co-hosts Robert and Chris discuss bike safety. Use of on-board bike cameras are discussed. A look at hazards out on the road with motorists and discussion of close encounters of the hosts. Also description of the RoadID App and how it aids safety by letting your friends/family know where you are during your ride. Use of additional lights on the bike.Product review of Cycliq Fly 12 light/camera.