Events: GuyToberFawkes 2023
Around here we get excited to show off our backyard for road rides. Bucks County, specifically the areas northward, are prime road cycling areas. When our friends at Kermesse Sport announced an amalgamation of their Oktoberfest Ride and Guy Fawkes Ride based at Pipersville’s Bucks County Brewing, we hardly hesitated to register.
Two autumn Kermesse events merged into one. Typically the neighboring Montgomery County host the time- honored Oktoberfest route. But the starting line brewery closed leaving organizers scrambling. Meanwhile the Guy Fawkes Ride, set for November 4th, was secured. The solution was to take the morning start of Oktoberfest Ride and apply it to Guy Fawkes to create GuyToberFawkes. Since the Bucks County Brewery is right down the street from the creakybottombracket.com office, we eagerly jumped atop the asphalt bike and headed to the start.
The forecast was for cloudy skies and crisp temperatures. It felt more like a morning ride before Thanksgiving dinner than an early November outing. Most of the dramatic hardwood foliage had dropped, especially along the northern portion of the long route. It felt like we had missed the show by a week.
West Rockhill Road climb sends riders up and over train tracks and into the wooded areas of northern Bucks County.
The long route, which we rode, is a fifty-mile affair exploring lesser known Bucks County roads. Much of the mileage passes State Game lands, offering glimpses into deep woods and glacial stone formations. This is the exciting part. To overhear participants state they had never been down certain roads was exhilarating. To hear some say they wanted to explore further was inspiring. GuyToberFawkes is special because it showcases the rustic region.
We came to GuyToberFawkes with a new rider. An old friend who recently discovered cycling reached out a while back. He wanted to try the GuyToberFawkes. Joe met up at the office before we headed down to the start. We got to play tour guide to someone who has discovered the endless potential of road riding.
We got on the GuyToberFawkes long course at the start time of 9:00am. A large group was up the road and would remain there until they caught some well-timed stop lights and disappeared into the Bucks hills. Joe had remarked how the opening miles felt downhill. It would change soon after clearing the town of Perkasie, but for now the idea was to get out of the developed areas. Fewer houses, more farms and farm stands, and even a sentinel covered bridge meant that we were going into the Bucks County countryside.
Skinny roads and fallen foliage were the views for much of the northern portion of the GuyToberFawkes Ride.
According to Joe’s Hammerhead computer, there were eleven climbs on the route, but really there were three to take seriously. The first uphill effort, and arguably the most menacing, Schwenkmill Road managed to dismount a couple of riders as we passed through. Hitting nearly twenty percent at the top, this climb sneaks in one last punch for those who pedaled to the summit. Farther along the route, Clay Ridge Road is a technical affair with a daring descent on a thin road that leads into a forested uphill. Keeping momentum negates much of the climb only if conditions are right and the bravery is present. Finally, Geigel Hill Road’s uneven pavement and mysterious summit finishes off the legs as riders begin the final third of the outing. Northern Bucks County is hardly flat.
All that is well and good, but the star of the route is the Bucks County scenery. Often participants got mile-long views pocked with barns and farm fields. There were quaint churches tucked away. Oftentimes it was questioned what was down some of the roads north of Lake Nockamixon. Someday we’ll come back and find out. There were rocky outcroppings poking up from the coniferous forest floor. A black squirrel crossed the road. The last time a black squirrel was seen was in upstate New York. There were church spires and graveyards. There was even a herd of bison out to pasture. Later the route rode through a dairy farm. There was always something to see.
The top of the final climb offered encouragement to avoid hitting a lone tree.
Eventually the route’s rolling finish took its toll. The speed dropped. The legs were zapped. The frosty morning air had drained us as well. Every once in a while the thought or taking a shortcut back to Bucks County Brewing crept in. Both the short and long course were designed with bail out locations if a rider needed to get back quickly. Maybe that would be us today. Meanwhile Joe kept the pace, something truly difficult when unaware of what to expect on course. Joe would admit the final climb that was only 2.2% annihilated him.
As with all Kermesse events, we checked out with the organizers. We were handed a mug and a beverage ticket. Food from North Wales-based Lindinger’s Deli & Catering was waiting at Bucks County Brewery. Sausages, sauerkraut, and perogies were for participants to refuel after the long morning ride. We sat outside at one of the picnic tables while a man set up a drum kit. Another cyclist sitting at our table echoes Joe’s comments about that final 2.2% gradient that finished him off. Shortly after a woman stated how much she loved the course. Two riders from Frenchtown, whom we encountered on that first climb - and who had said they never rode these areas - cleared themselves of the course.
We always love to show off our backyard routes, and it’s special to do it with friends. It’s a bonus to shepherd around a friend who has recently started cycling. Throughout the ride Joe could be heard remarking about the area’s beauty. The point was reinforced by the numerous group rides also seen out on the road, proving the countryside’s worth for hosting bikes. Add onto the experience Kermesse organization and Bucks County Brewery libations, there’s no better way to spend a ride with friends.
