Marsh Creek Ice Ride

Today I rode 9.4 miles at Marsh Creek State Park. The Fantom 29 performed flawlessly but it was a rough ride with all of the ice.










The trails were rather icy. There were ruts of ice from previous bikers which made for a difficult ride.











Where there was snow, it was covered with a layer of thin ice. As I rode through it, there was a tremendous noise of the MotoRaptors cutting through the ice.










I did not attempt to ice bike. The lake was frozen and also very slick.

When I got to the park, I took the quarry trail.

I saw my little friend still sitting in the tree. I first saw him on December 30, 2008. He was up a little higher in the tree then.

Back to Back Days on the Fantom 29

Today I rode 7.8 miles at Springton Manor Farm. It was cold-- about 18 degrees F. The Fantom 29 performed flawlessly.












I took the trail at Burgess Park to make my way down Rt 282 to SMF. You can see that the Brandywine Creek was mostly frozen.

Nothing really exciting happened on this ride.

I did see this tree stand. It is outside SMF. There is no hunting allowed at the SMF.

Another French Creek State Park Ride

Today I rode 8.6 miles at French Creek State Park. Again the Fantom 29 performed flawlessly. The big wheels do well rolling over the many rocks , roots and small branches that are all over the trails at French Creek.








I parked my car at the lot by Hopewell Lake and decided to do some ice biking. It was above 32 degrees F yesterday and today, so I was unsure about the condition of the ice. There were a lot of people icing fishing so I figured it was OK.









When I got on the lake I noticed that there was little snow on the surface and you could see the ice. As soon as I turned my wheel slightly the bike slide to my left and I went down on my right shoulder. I must have slide 50 feet. I was OK and so was the Fantom 29.

So what I discovered was that on Monday I was actually snow biking not ice biking. I definitely needed studded tires. So I immediately walked the bike off the ice and headed for terra firma.



I took Park Road and headed up the Lenape Trail which is marked Green. There were plenty of ice fisherman on Scotts Run Lake.

I
I then took the Lenape Trail across Scott's Run Road toward the campground. Even though it was about 34 degrees F there were several tents and campers there.

I then rode the Lenape Trail across the campground road then across Rt 345 until I got to Mill Creek Trail.

Mill Creek Trail is marked White with a Red Stripe in the middle. Most of it is a wide fire road.












I saw several hunters on the trail.













The Trail borders the Hopewell Furnace Wildlife Preserve, so there is no hunting to the south. There deer also know this.











After I reached Miller's Point I turned around and rode Mill Creek Trail back. When I got to the campground road, I took the park roads back to my car since I needed to get back home.

I then loaded up the Fantom 29 on the bike rack and headed home (after a stop at Dunkin Donuts for coffee of course).

MLK Day Ride: Ice Biking at French Creek State Park!!

Today I rode 8.8 miles at French Creek State Park. French Creek is only about 11 miles from home, but this is the first time I rode the trails. Again the Fantom 29 performed flawlessly.

I did not ride Saturday and Sunday due to the extremely cold weather here. It was about 10 degrees F both mornings. Today it was about 25 degrees F.

I started at The Hopewell Lake parking lot and went up Park Road. I took a left onto the Boone Trail which is marked Blue. It was a good workout riding up this trail. It was difficult in the snow because you couldn't really stand to climb. When I stood the wheels would just spin out.

The MotoRaptor tires did work very well in the snow. There was one downhill turn that I started to slip but the MotoRaptors recovered well and there was no spill.

I passed Cabin Camp #1 and continued up the trail to the fire tower.

In the fire tower area I saw a hunter in bright orange. I then took the Ridge Trail which is marked Red. This was a good downhill trail. All of the trails here have a lot of rocks and this trail was no exception. I was more difficult in the snow since I could not see all of the rocks to avoid.

I then made a left on to the Turtle Trail which is marked White & Yellow. This is actually part of the Horseshoe Trail which I rode at Warwick Park on January 03, 2009 . I saw two hikers on the trail. I took this trail until I came back to Park Road and then made a left.

I then took a left on to the Lenape Trail which is marked Green. I took this trail to Scotts Run Lake where I saw a lot of ice fisherman. I also rode the Fantom 29 on the frozen lake! First time ice biking!

I then took the Lenape Trail back to Park Road. I then went to Hopewell Lake. It was frozen also. I did some ice biking and rode the complete length of the lake. It was about 3/4 mile long. The MotoRaptor tires worked extemely well. I was able to ride about 12 mph on the lake.

Then I put the Fantom 29 on the bike rack and headed home (after getting some coffee at Dunkin Donuts!)

New Ride: Warwick Park

Today I decided to ride at Warwick Park. Warwick Park is located just south of RT 23 on the French Creek North Branch. According to their website "Warwick’s woodlands provided much of the timber for charcoal used in the early American iron industry. A portion of the French creek meanders through the 538 acre park. An ideal site for nature study, the Horse-Shoe Trail, extending from Valley Forge to the Appalachian Trail, adds length to the numerous miles of multi-use park trails. A children’s play area, picnic pavilions and an informal volleyball court are also available. "



I rode 10.4 miles and the Fantom 29 performed flawlessly. It was a good day for a ride with the temperature in the upper 20's. There was also a light dusting of snow from the flurries we had yesterday.




The trails are wide like those at Springton Manor.









I started up the Charcoal Trail. It is a pretty good hill and corresponding workout.








Then I took the Horseshoe Trail east across Mt Pleasant Road.








There were a couple of wooden bridges east of Mt Pleasant Road.








The map shows a bridge over French Creek at this point in the park but this is all I could find.







I then went back to Mt Pleasant Road and caught the North Trail Loop west. At the end of this trail there is a lookout over the French Creek.



I then went back to the Horseshoe Trail rode it west then east then west again to get some miles in.

The trails are marked extremely well.

Here is an unusual tree with a big lump in it. At first I thought it was a bear in the tree.