| The Black Bear Century 10/17/2009 Scamp 'n' Rascal Cycling Adventures |
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The Black Bear Century 10/17/2009
This is a one day event only. We’ll ride rain or shine.
Starting Location is at the Smithfield Township Park in Minisink Hills, PA.
Minisink Hills is close to Delaware Water Gap and Stroudsburg. Easy
access from Interstate 80 Exit 310.
See a Map of the Route.
Directions to Start from:
Philadelphia and the south: http://maps.google.com/maps?
f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Philadelphia&daddr=40.992144,-75.139747
&hl=en&geocode=%3BFZB9cQIdXXWF-w&mra=ls&sll=40.989973,-75.129576
&sspn=0.01895,0.045447&ie=UTF8&z=9
New York City and New Jersey: http://maps.google.com/maps?
f=d&source=s_d&saddr=New+York+City&daddr=40.992144,-75.139747
&hl=en&geocode=%3BFZB9cQIdXXWF-w&mra=ls&sll=40.47498,-75.355805
&sspn=1.222229,2.90863&ie=UTF8&ll=40.941786,-75.037308&spn=0.
151712,0.363579&z=12
Connecticut and the north: http://maps.google.com/maps?
f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Hartford,+CT&daddr=41.002767,-75.146914+to:PA-2028%
2FRiver+Rd&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3BFch9cQIdSnaF-
w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&sll=40.997132,-75.122795&sspn=0.
037896,0.090895&ie=UTF8&z=14
First thing in the morning the air is a little crisp. Your breath comes out in silver
puffs while you’re pulling on your booties. Your adrenalin is already surging; you’re
getting pumped. The sun is bouncing off a rainbow of colors everywhere you look. If
there’s frost, the rainbow is spangled with diamonds. In short, it’s a perfect day to
ride. Especially here, pedaling secluded, quiet roads through state and national
parks. And especially now, while the mountains look like they are on fire, draped
with copper, red and gold.
Welcome to the first running of the Black Bear Century.
Six interconnected routes meander along hidden roads that very few people ever
find. Contained almost entirely within the boundaries of the Delaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area and High Point State Park, it’s quite common to see more
wildlife than cars as you pedal past amazing scenery or the occasional ghost town.
Frequently you’ll spot the river, reflecting back the chaos of color dressing the hills
mingled with the lapis blue sky. It’s difficult to find any century more gorgeous or
more serene than the Black Bear. It doesn’t hurt that the catered rest stops are off
the charts, either.
With a summer full of riding, you’re at your physical peak, right? This course is
designed so that the further you ride, the more you will climb. The 32 is a friendly,
rolly bit of road that pretty much anyone will enjoy riding, while The107 has enough
“up” built into it to challenge even the heartiest of Hill Nuts. (It also has some of the
most exhilarating views on the east coast, so you’re well rewarded for your efforts.)
When all is said and done, your skin is glowing and your bike is back in the car, we
hope you’ll join us for our hot, catered post ride meal. It’s a delicious time to relive
your triumphs.
The 32 – Everyone we introduce to Copper Mine Road declares it among the best
riding anywhere. This gentle route crosses the Delaware River into New Jersey and
then continues upstream, never really leaving the water’s edge. The climbing is
very sedate. The views are very spectacular. It’s so quiet and peaceful on this little
road. No wonder it’s such a favorite with the folks who know it. Your rest stop (and
half-way point) is the historic village of Millbrook. From there the trip back to the
start is, with only a few exceptions, nearly all downhill. Wheeeee!!!
Gently rolling terrain; one rest stop
The 41 – Not all of our favorite roads are within the parks. This route takes you
down the PA side of the river until you cross at Portland. From there you’ll pedal
some fantastic, tiny roads past horse farms, over one lane bridges and up Bear
Cave Rd. (we had to put that one in!). You’ll pass a pretty cool glider airport while
you work your way up to the top of the Appalachian Trail ridge. Make sure you take
a moment to absorb the views of the entire Delaware Valley and the Pocono
Mountains beyond. Then it’s a screaming descent of one of Bicycling Magazine’s
100 Toughest Hills in America. Your rest stop will be at the bottom of the hill, in
Millbrook Village. If you’re feeling frisky you’re free to turn around and climb the hill
you just ripped down. When you’re tired of playing that game, you can head down
Copper Mine Road, cruising along the Delaware River back to the start.
Overall, the climbing on this route ranges from mild to moderate. There are a
couple of slightly longer or steeper pitches but any fit cyclist will be fine. One
challenging climb. One rest stop.
The 47 – Riding up Copper Mine Road will give you an easy going warm up before
you have to do any serious work. Your first rest stop will be at Millbrook Village; a
little snack to stoke you for the next leg of your journey. There are three roads out
of Millbrook. The one you just came up, the one declared by Bicycling Magazine as
one of the toughest hills in the US, and the third choice. Lucky you! Three is the
charm. Make sure you stop at the top to gape at the view from the porch of the
Dela-View House. It’s an eye-popping Wow! Once you get to the bottom of the other
side, you’ll find yourself on the 20 mile loop from which the Black Bear got its name.
We generally refer to it as The Bear Loop and it’s some of our favorite riding.
These roads are exceptionally empty of traffic; well, car traffic. It’s a popular
thoroughfare for wildlife though. The loop will bring you back to the road over to
Millbrook. (Ahh! Another snack!) Then you’ll have that very sweet sail down along
the Delaware back to the cars.
Copper Mine Rd. is gently rolling. The Bear Loop is hilly. There are two big climbs.
Two rest stops.
The 65 – In the beginning you’ll follow the same roads as The 41 until you get to
Millbrook Village. From there you’ll go over the mountain and pick up the first leg of
the Bear Loop, riding north to the cross roads of Peters Valley Craft Center, your
second rest stop. You may want to take a few minutes to poke around in their
gallery. It is chock full of beautiful creations made by the instructors and friends of
this remarkable artist community. When you’re ready to head back, you’ll pick up
the far side of the Bear Loop, circling around to the road that leads you back to
Millbrook Village. From there it’s a joy cruising back to the beginning.
The road to Millbrook is moderately hilly. The Bear Loop is hilly. There are three
significant climbs. Three rest stops.
The 88 – Follow The 65 to Peters Valley. From there it’s a short climb over the
mountain and down to River Road, which runs from Dingman’s Bridge (the only
privately owned toll bridge in America!) north along the Delaware. This is a fantastic
bit of road; seven very pretty, nearly flat miles. It’s a nice respite from your earlier
adventures. Enjoy the breather. At the end of it you’ll turn away from the river and
start to climb. The top of New Mashipacong is where you abandon those headed to
High Point and point your wheels south again. You’ll be surprised how much faster it
is to get back than it was to come out. Viva Gravity!
This route is hilly with four significant climbs; one a real grinder. Four rest stops
The 107 – You’re cruising along with the folks doing The 88 until you get to the top
of New Mashipacong. There, they go right and you go up. All the way up. Up to the
highest point in New Jersey. The top of the mountain is engulfed by High Point State
Park, your destination. Surprisingly, once you get to the park, most of the roads are
essentially flat. There are even lakes at the top! Who knew?! We’ll meet you at the
monument with your lunch rest stop, and wish you god-speed when you’re ready to
head back to base. In between you can eat your lunch looking over a hundred-plus
mile view in every direction, all of it in vivid fall colors. When you’re ready, you’ll
head off the mountain and rejoin the combination of routes that take you back to
the start, knowing when all is said and done that you clawed your way to the top of
the Black Bear Century. That’s saying quite a lot!
This route is hilly with many significant climbs. You’ll definitely know what you’re
made of when you get to the top! Five rest stops.
This is a one day event only. We’ll ride rain or shine.
Starting Location is at the Smithfield Township Park in Minisink Hills, PA.
Minisink Hills is close to Delaware Water Gap and Stroudsburg. Easy
access from Interstate 80 Exit 310.
See a Map of the Route.
Directions to Start from:
Philadelphia and the south: http://maps.google.com/maps?
f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Philadelphia&daddr=40.992144,-75.139747
&hl=en&geocode=%3BFZB9cQIdXXWF-w&mra=ls&sll=40.989973,-75.129576
&sspn=0.01895,0.045447&ie=UTF8&z=9
New York City and New Jersey: http://maps.google.com/maps?
f=d&source=s_d&saddr=New+York+City&daddr=40.992144,-75.139747
&hl=en&geocode=%3BFZB9cQIdXXWF-w&mra=ls&sll=40.47498,-75.355805
&sspn=1.222229,2.90863&ie=UTF8&ll=40.941786,-75.037308&spn=0.
151712,0.363579&z=12
Connecticut and the north: http://maps.google.com/maps?
f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Hartford,+CT&daddr=41.002767,-75.146914+to:PA-2028%
2FRiver+Rd&hl=en&geocode=%3B%3BFch9cQIdSnaF-
w&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=14&via=1&sll=40.997132,-75.122795&sspn=0.
037896,0.090895&ie=UTF8&z=14
First thing in the morning the air is a little crisp. Your breath comes out in silver
puffs while you’re pulling on your booties. Your adrenalin is already surging; you’re
getting pumped. The sun is bouncing off a rainbow of colors everywhere you look. If
there’s frost, the rainbow is spangled with diamonds. In short, it’s a perfect day to
ride. Especially here, pedaling secluded, quiet roads through state and national
parks. And especially now, while the mountains look like they are on fire, draped
with copper, red and gold.
Welcome to the first running of the Black Bear Century.
Six interconnected routes meander along hidden roads that very few people ever
find. Contained almost entirely within the boundaries of the Delaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area and High Point State Park, it’s quite common to see more
wildlife than cars as you pedal past amazing scenery or the occasional ghost town.
Frequently you’ll spot the river, reflecting back the chaos of color dressing the hills
mingled with the lapis blue sky. It’s difficult to find any century more gorgeous or
more serene than the Black Bear. It doesn’t hurt that the catered rest stops are off
the charts, either.
With a summer full of riding, you’re at your physical peak, right? This course is
designed so that the further you ride, the more you will climb. The 32 is a friendly,
rolly bit of road that pretty much anyone will enjoy riding, while The107 has enough
“up” built into it to challenge even the heartiest of Hill Nuts. (It also has some of the
most exhilarating views on the east coast, so you’re well rewarded for your efforts.)
When all is said and done, your skin is glowing and your bike is back in the car, we
hope you’ll join us for our hot, catered post ride meal. It’s a delicious time to relive
your triumphs.
The 32 – Everyone we introduce to Copper Mine Road declares it among the best
riding anywhere. This gentle route crosses the Delaware River into New Jersey and
then continues upstream, never really leaving the water’s edge. The climbing is
very sedate. The views are very spectacular. It’s so quiet and peaceful on this little
road. No wonder it’s such a favorite with the folks who know it. Your rest stop (and
half-way point) is the historic village of Millbrook. From there the trip back to the
start is, with only a few exceptions, nearly all downhill. Wheeeee!!!
Gently rolling terrain; one rest stop
The 41 – Not all of our favorite roads are within the parks. This route takes you
down the PA side of the river until you cross at Portland. From there you’ll pedal
some fantastic, tiny roads past horse farms, over one lane bridges and up Bear
Cave Rd. (we had to put that one in!). You’ll pass a pretty cool glider airport while
you work your way up to the top of the Appalachian Trail ridge. Make sure you take
a moment to absorb the views of the entire Delaware Valley and the Pocono
Mountains beyond. Then it’s a screaming descent of one of Bicycling Magazine’s
100 Toughest Hills in America. Your rest stop will be at the bottom of the hill, in
Millbrook Village. If you’re feeling frisky you’re free to turn around and climb the hill
you just ripped down. When you’re tired of playing that game, you can head down
Copper Mine Road, cruising along the Delaware River back to the start.
Overall, the climbing on this route ranges from mild to moderate. There are a
couple of slightly longer or steeper pitches but any fit cyclist will be fine. One
challenging climb. One rest stop.
The 47 – Riding up Copper Mine Road will give you an easy going warm up before
you have to do any serious work. Your first rest stop will be at Millbrook Village; a
little snack to stoke you for the next leg of your journey. There are three roads out
of Millbrook. The one you just came up, the one declared by Bicycling Magazine as
one of the toughest hills in the US, and the third choice. Lucky you! Three is the
charm. Make sure you stop at the top to gape at the view from the porch of the
Dela-View House. It’s an eye-popping Wow! Once you get to the bottom of the other
side, you’ll find yourself on the 20 mile loop from which the Black Bear got its name.
We generally refer to it as The Bear Loop and it’s some of our favorite riding.
These roads are exceptionally empty of traffic; well, car traffic. It’s a popular
thoroughfare for wildlife though. The loop will bring you back to the road over to
Millbrook. (Ahh! Another snack!) Then you’ll have that very sweet sail down along
the Delaware back to the cars.
Copper Mine Rd. is gently rolling. The Bear Loop is hilly. There are two big climbs.
Two rest stops.
The 65 – In the beginning you’ll follow the same roads as The 41 until you get to
Millbrook Village. From there you’ll go over the mountain and pick up the first leg of
the Bear Loop, riding north to the cross roads of Peters Valley Craft Center, your
second rest stop. You may want to take a few minutes to poke around in their
gallery. It is chock full of beautiful creations made by the instructors and friends of
this remarkable artist community. When you’re ready to head back, you’ll pick up
the far side of the Bear Loop, circling around to the road that leads you back to
Millbrook Village. From there it’s a joy cruising back to the beginning.
The road to Millbrook is moderately hilly. The Bear Loop is hilly. There are three
significant climbs. Three rest stops.
The 88 – Follow The 65 to Peters Valley. From there it’s a short climb over the
mountain and down to River Road, which runs from Dingman’s Bridge (the only
privately owned toll bridge in America!) north along the Delaware. This is a fantastic
bit of road; seven very pretty, nearly flat miles. It’s a nice respite from your earlier
adventures. Enjoy the breather. At the end of it you’ll turn away from the river and
start to climb. The top of New Mashipacong is where you abandon those headed to
High Point and point your wheels south again. You’ll be surprised how much faster it
is to get back than it was to come out. Viva Gravity!
This route is hilly with four significant climbs; one a real grinder. Four rest stops
The 107 – You’re cruising along with the folks doing The 88 until you get to the top
of New Mashipacong. There, they go right and you go up. All the way up. Up to the
highest point in New Jersey. The top of the mountain is engulfed by High Point State
Park, your destination. Surprisingly, once you get to the park, most of the roads are
essentially flat. There are even lakes at the top! Who knew?! We’ll meet you at the
monument with your lunch rest stop, and wish you god-speed when you’re ready to
head back to base. In between you can eat your lunch looking over a hundred-plus
mile view in every direction, all of it in vivid fall colors. When you’re ready, you’ll
head off the mountain and rejoin the combination of routes that take you back to
the start, knowing when all is said and done that you clawed your way to the top of
the Black Bear Century. That’s saying quite a lot!
This route is hilly with many significant climbs. You’ll definitely know what you’re
made of when you get to the top! Five rest stops.
