Rides We Like: A Passing Through Rockhill Township
(2016) By now I’m sure it’s pretty evident about the multitude of riding possibilities around Bucks County. Heading to the northern tip means one is scouting out dirt sectors, secluded tertiary roads, and/ or rolling terrain amongst tucked away houses. Typically rides head to those goals when time is available. Sometimes though, a change is needed. We were supposed to head just over the northern border of Bucks County, but we felt it prudent to let the road lead us wherever it wanted.
Mike joined me on the ride. I met him at Tabora Farm & Orchard where we churned through route possibilities. Eerily there were several road bikes parked with no cyclists in sight. We did not imbibe in the Farm’s offerings today; rest assured it will be written about this season. It’s definitely a wonderful place to stop.
The porch of Tabora Farm & Orchard has a lot of room to lean dozens of bikes.
We decided to head northwest, away from the usual areas we ply. We zigzagged around farm country taking an easy pace as well as taking in the views. The route brought us within range of the Pearl S. Buck House, Dublin, and Sellersville. We passed through the quaint town of Blooming Glen, complete with clapboard houses and an accompanying post office. We past the two churches and headed to the Mood’s Covered Bridge that bordered the town of Perkasie. We attacked the hill up to Ridge Road, which found me crapping out halfway up as per the norm. It’s a great climb to seek.
Typically I write about Bucks’ tourism offerings, but there’s more to the County than just covered bridges and glacially formed attractions. We spun along Ridge Road taking the Pennridge Airport on our left side. On clear days it’s no surprise to see colorful canopies of skydivers floating down back to the airport. It’s also a typical experience to see gliders being towed into the sky in these parts, and then disconnected and silently slicing the heavens. I always wonder if those participants notice cyclists making their way around the area.
We then took a turn north and passed through countryside that had the quintessential glacial detritus with the typical mid-Atlantic forest. These roads I like very much as they roll ever so slightly and can be hammered in a satisfactory approach. They’re also winding and smooth. Expect to see few cars.
We took the northern shore of Lake Nockamixon on our right-hand side. This is where we worked hard to pass a TT rider and his ride partner. They were moving along quite forcefully and Mike and I made an urgent pace to catch them. Once we did we looked pretty pro riding away from them until I dropped my water bottle. So much for street cred.
Recovery area after attacking on Blooming Glen Road.
We agreed to slow the effort but ultimately hammered up a couple more stinging climbs to take advantage of the day. Riding these roads is a remarkable experience.
As the cycling season in these parts begins to pick up (we saw quite a few riders out today), consider many of the events booking the weekends over the next few months. Whether a gravel road event or a climb fest is something tempting, these roads are waiting for cyclists to take advantage of them. The attributes about Bucks County roads are the options. In place of rides elsewhere that can be altered only after several miles of riding along one road, here a ride can literally be altered dozens of times. There are so many intersections to take a route into a different direction.
I was glad that we weren’t set on a route today. The ride was a hard effort. It was a great preparatory ride for the numerous events coloring the calendar weekends well into the summer.
