The Schuylkill River Heritage Area has introduced a new multi-year series of bike rides that feature a unique combination of cycling and history. All events benefit the Schuylkill River Heritage Area. Three rides are planned over three years including:
2012 Rails and River Towns Ride: This ride took place on Sept. 22, 2012, taking 110 cyclists along the Schuylkill River Trail from Pottstown to Birdsboro. Prior to the ride start, cyclists heard a brief presentation on the history of the PA Railroad, upon whose right-of-way the trail is partly built. Then, they took off upon one of three rides: an 18-mile round-trip ride from Pottstown to Birdsboro, with a 45-minute guided walking tour of Birdsboro; a 20-mile option with no walking tour; and a 9-mile ride with guided tour of Historic Morlatton Village.
2013 Cycles and Cemeteries Ride: Planned for fall 2013, this ride will take participants along the trail in Montgomery County to Philadelphia with stops and presentations on two historic cemeteries where Civil War generals are buried. Both Montgomery County Cemetery in Norristown and Laurel Hill Cemetery in East Falls are located directly off the trail.
2014 National Parks of the Schuylkill River Heritage Area: This two-day ride will take cyclists to three National Parks where presentations will be offered. The trip will begin at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, travel to the Schuylkill River Heritage Area headquarters in Pottstown, then continue to Valley Forge National Historic Park. It will end at Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia.
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