Jeff Bakely's Cue Sheets

These cue sheets are Jeff Bakely's, created for BCP, the Bicycle Club of Phiadelphia. (For other rides in and near Philadelphia, see BCP Ride Library. Most of these cue sheets are best followed with ADC Street Map Book of Philadelphia. The rides are categorized as to the general direction they go in (north, south, east, west). We call "north" any ride that goes between the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers to the north of the city and "west" any ride that is to the west of the Schuylkill and goes out of the city lines.

West

• Main Line 40 This is a moderately hilly ride going to the west of the city thru Narberth, Ardmore, Villanova and other areas whose names I don't know. There is a WAWA stop about 2/3 of the way through it. Distance: about 40 miles.
• Main Line 30 This ride is moderately hilly and goes through quite lovely terrain and roads. It has a snack/coffee bread early in the ride at the Ardmore Farmer's Market and a WAWA stop about 2/3 through it. Distance: 30+ miles.
• Bryn Mawr Ramble This is a shorter variation of the Main Line rides. It is fairly hilly, but certainly doable. Distance: 30+ miles.
• Valley Forge Park via Gladwynn This is a challenging ride out to the Park with many hills. It has at least two great downhills. Bring a large snack as this route has no convenience stores on it. You can snack and refill your water bottles in the Park. The return is on the Bike Path, so it essentially flat. This is essentially a variation of the Freedom Valley Bike Ride, sponsored every May by the Bike Coalition of the Delaware Valley. Distance: 45+/- miles. Hill rating: many hills.
• Wednesday Night Training Ride This is a fairly challenging ride that stronger BCP riders do every Wednesday at 6 PM from about May to Sept. It goes fast and furious. Bring water. There is no time for snacks. If you do it at another time, your can snack in West Conshocken at the McDonald's or gas station convenience store. The ride is hilly out to Conshocken and a flat return. Distance: about 30 miles.

North

The longer rides here go off the ADC map. A good source of infomation about these roads is the SEPTA map with the blue cover (SEPTA's Suburban Street and Transit Map).

• Erdenheim Flourtown Ride This is fairly hilly, climbing from the river up Midvale Ave. and proceeding up to Chestnut Hill. The reward is a leisurely lunch at Bruno's. I met my wife, Gail Bober, at Bruno's when I was leading this ride. Isn't the Bike Club great? After Bruno's, there's one last climb up Andorra, then a great descent and a flat ride (except Umbria St.) along the Bike Path and Kelly Drive back to the Art Museum. Note: Since the goal of this ride is Bruno's, it gives two ways to get there. These can be used for the Cedars/Skippack or Doylestown Ramble rides. Distance: 30+ miles.
• Cedars/Skippack (from Bruno's) This ride has a variety of terrain, including some somewhat challenging hills at its furthest extent. The rest stop used to have a restaurant, a flea market and a variety of food stands. Alas, it closed about 2 years ago. I have not been there in a while, so maybe someone reopened it. Let me know. Distance: 35+/-.
• Doylestown Ramble (from Bruno's) This is the short version of my Doylestown ride, short because it leaves from Bruno's. After two or three short hills at the beginning of this ride, it is gently rolling and very scenic. It's a great ride for boasting your average speed since there are so few climbs. Unlike the Almost to Doylestown Ramble, it does go into town for a WAWA snack break. Distance: 45 to 50 miles.
• Almost to Doylestown Ramble This is the long version of my Doylestown rides. It is challenging. After warming up on the West River Drive, you climb through East Falls, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. After passing Bruno's the ride flattens out to rolling and the countryside is lovely. There is some climbing again before my favorite descent on Shawmont Ave. Distance: 70 miles.
• Ambler Ramble This moderately hilly ride ride goes to Ambler, going over some quite nice roads. Distance: 45+ miles.