Events: Oktoberfest Ride 2021
(2021) It had been thirty-two months since we participated in a formal event, the last one being the Kermesse Sport Sourland Semi-Classic. It goes without saying how many events were canceled, rescheduled, canceled-rescheduled-canceled again, entries diverted, forged ahead, and other options since that last mass start. In all those months of missed miles, Kermesse Sport’s Oktoberfest Ride made up for lost time by packing in as much experience as possible.
An email popped up prior to the event to ensure Covid safety protocol. These are the signs of the times no doubt. Here the ride organizers covered every base to make sure the event went as smoothly as possible. Digitally signed proclaiming I would not participate with symptoms, the gear was laid out, the bike prepped, and the rack reattached to the team car. Just like old times I hit the snooze button three times, making the morning unnecessarily late.
Dramatic fall colors were easy to spot on each Montgomery County Road for the Kermesse Sport Oktoberfest Ride.
The sign of the times continued as the parking lot was more spacious than years prior. It was a quiet ride to the start of this year’s event, a return to Harleysville’s Blueprint Brewing. A quick check in and pivot to the racked bike, participants were free to roll out between 8 and 9am. The area would have wet roads and frosty air to welcome us into the hills of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
On the last day of October, the countryside dazzled with flaming leaves at every height. Red bushes, yellow-green hardwoods, and even brown pine needles were contrasted by beautiful swirling gray skies. It was sunny and colorful one moment, dark and highlighting the next. With two successive nor’easters in the week leading up to the event, much debris and wide puddles required the rider’s utmost attention. It was hard to keep looking at the road with so much splendor.
Prior to the two nor’easters, Hurricane Ida tore a hole through this portion of Pennsylvania. The flooding eliminated nearly every bridge on the route. The event had to be heavily rerouted, a nightmare for the event staff. However, new and seasoned cyclists won out in the strong effort to pull off Oktoberfest. Roads not yet ridden were now occupying our sight. Blinking red lights pulsed in the distance as they got closer then farther away then the process repeated. Groups were caught; individuals were caught. Trailheads for the Perkiomen Trail were packed. Everyone wanted to experience Montgomery County autumn.
The last possible moment to photograph Eichele AND manage to keep the bike moving forward. The steep part - and a group of riders - are just around that right-hand bend.
The long course managed to maintain its three KOMs. Church Street is an often overlooked climb with beautiful views. Starting at a tunnel, the climb is welcoming. An old house stands between the road and a stream, no doubt hissing from the recent storms. It is easy to be lulled into calm, but up ahead a rider was dismounted and tugging at his chain. Of all things, his handlebars sported white Hudz. He confirmed he dropped a chain on the steep wall. I wondered if he hoped for rain to keep his bars clean. As the gradient increased, riders were caught before topping out at the summit church. A family was scurrying across the crosswalk to get to the church’s front door. The close knitted road experiences turned into wide open expanses on the plateau and the ride carried on.
With wet roads slicked by fallen leaves, the notorious Eichele Road KOM was tickling the back of the mind. The near-pathway bucks numerous riders off each week. This was the first time riders were witnessed giving up and chancing a fast descent for an easier way around. It is always imagined to be longer. The Garmin said a difficult kilometer was the exchange for summiting. Tall trees barricaded the road while the gradient went impossibly steeper. In a shocking outcome, the bike rolled to the top, never once displaying signs of being walked.
Finishers racked their bikes. It was a steady flow of finishers throughout the afternoon.
The route twisted and turned to accommodate the damaged bridges, leading the groups around the Unami Creek, straight into blissful serenity of hardwoods. For the first time numerous sentinel chimneys stood near the creek, impossibly close to one another. A photo was abandoned on account of having caught a group and we went into the shallow, yet picturesque third KOM. It’s mercy was welcomed. The sun still tried to come out. Some rain had even fallen. Every experience was being crammed into nearly sixty miles of riding.
There is always a point in events where the miles feel in limbo. With fewer than twenty miles remaining progress seemed to stand still. Turns kept coming, open vistas reminded riders just how far there was in the day. Yet the pace felt natural. Here the route pierced a farm: cows and the farmhouse on one side, pasture with more cows and a red barn on the other. Somehow someone put a road through the farm at some point and all was alright. Road closure signs, wrinkled bridge decks, piles of stone indicating no further advancement possible. The miles suddenly felt quicker both on the road and on the computer. Only then did the route come to an end, a comfortable swirl of sunny weather welcomed us as did the event organizers who signed us out of the event.
Blueprint Brewing Company of Harleysville, PA, hosted Kermesse Sport’s Oktoberfest Ride. They also host other cycling group ride departures in the summer.
Beers and brats, sauerkraut and steins, Kermesse supplied the after ride party. We challenge anyone to convince us sauerkraut is beatable in post-ride food for instant recovery. Using our free beer ticket, we took a nip of Blueprint’s hazy IPA. It was so tasty, a four pack was taken to go. Before we headed out to join the trick-or-treating, we were asked to take a group photo. Big smiles all around, a giant table of finishers wanted to mark the occasion. They wanted to capture the joy this event brought under the circumstances.
The bike ride back was as quiet as the ride in. Many participants snickered at a rider carrying a four-pack of to-go libations. But that was the part that demonstrated the spirit for this year- people were smiling and enjoying being a part of something again. The bike racked to the team car and cycling kit stowed in a bag for laundry, the familiar feeling of accomplishment found its way into my mind. It felt good to be back.
Consider Kermesse Sport’s newest event, Guy Fawkes Ride, taking place Saturday November 6 at 2:30. Bucks County Brewery is hosting this English-themed event. This is very nearly in our backyard, so we can vouch for how cool these roads are. Register from the link in the website.
