WPFI Biking Calendar    

Look for updated 2004 calendar in 1/04. It's coming.

The Western Pennsylvania Field Institute (WPFI) is a non-profit member-based organization dedicated to promoting outdoor activities in the 10-county region of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Its website, www.wpfi.org, serves as a one stop centralized location for all outdoor organizations and their activities. The Field Institute also provides year round programming with over 300 outings, classes and events that are designed to make it easy to try a new activity or to learn a new skill. Membership is not a requirement for participation – everyone is welcome. (This calendar is posted courtesy of Bikexchange.com: The Bicycle Exchange.) 

Information and Registration: www.wpfi.org or 412-255-0564

Events below are for 2003. Check the above URL for more info.

Click events below for more information or scroll down page for complete listings:

• Calling All Cyclists! Greet National Bicycle Greenway Ride Arriving in Pgh (5/8/03)

• Mountain Bike Rambles (5/1-8/31/03)

• Urban Bike Tours (5/4-8/29/03)

• Pedal and Paddle (6/14/03, 6/19/03, 7/29/03, 8/16/03)

• Mountain Biking Clinics (5/15/03; 6/1/03; 8/24/03)

• Bike Fishing (5/31/03; 7/19/03)

• Other Biking Events (5/10/03; 5/18/03; 5/31/03)

• Laurel Mountain Bike Festival (7/25-7/27/03)

Calling All Cyclists! Welcome and Join NBG Ride in Pgh

On May 9^th show your biking spirit by helping to welcome a group of six riders with the National Bicycle Greenway (www.bikeroute.com). These dedicated riders will have spent the last week riding from Washington D.C. to Pittsburgh to help promote an interconnected system of trails and bike friendly roads across the country. Pittsburgh is the first stop on this nationwide relay and we want to show the rest of the country how important biking is to our community.

Two different ways you can help –

1) Bring your bike and helmets and ride with us for the last portion of the ride (rain or shine) – see the ride schedule below. As an extra bonus – the first 20 local riders to meet at the Greenfield Trailhead will get a cool Pedal Pittsburgh T-Shirt. The more riders the better!

2) Spend your lunch hour in Market Square , listen to cool music by Exit 11 and help cheer all the riders into town. Bring a friend and really help pack the Square. 

Ride Schedule - May 9^th:

10:30 – 11:30 AM Meet at the Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield Trailhead – Just off Second Ave (If you are unfamiliar with the area please feel free to call us for specific directions: 412-255-0564).

11:30 – 12:10 PM Ride as a group along Eliza Furnace Trail, to the PNC trail head (3 miles) very easy pace

12:10 PM Arrive at trailhead near PNC on Grant Street, wait for the Police escort through town. Officers will clear traffic and ride with you right into Market Square .

12:30 PM Riders arrive in Market Square to a cheering crowd and proclamation from the Mayor’s Office!

If you have questions or suggestions please feel free to contact Michael Sobkowiak, Communications Director, Western Pennsylvania Field Institute at 412-255-0564. Thanks and let’s show the rest of the country how we do biking in Western Pennsylvania !

PS - Sign-up to get reports from the riders on the trail from DC to PGH, e-mail your contact information to: NBG@BikeRoute.com

Mountain Bike Rambles

Join us Thursday evenings for a pleasant trail ride through the different area parks. Year-round, our ride leaders hand-craft a route of great views, manageable hills and optimal conditions. We take plenty of breaks and afterward head to a nearby eatery for food and drinks.  Call ahead for loaner lights and tips on dressing for winter riding.

Time: 6:30 PM to about 8:30 PM
Cost:  Free - Just show up, beginners welcome!

Locations and Meeting Places:

May 1       Milan’s Meadows, Fox Chapel Area
May 8       Boyce Park, Silver Beaver pavilion
May 22     Deer Lakes Park, Parking lot by Veterans Pavilion #1
May 29     South Park, Ice Rink
June 5       Riverview Park - park by the median strips near the Observatory
June 12     Schenley Park - Between the Visitor Center and Westinghouse Fountain
June 19     Boyce Park - Silver Beaver Pavilion
June 26     Deer Lakes Park - Parking lot by Veteran's Pavilion #1
July 3       Hartwood Acres - Meet at JD's Pub parking lot
July 10     Settler's Cabin Park
July 17     Boyce Park - Silver Beaver Pavilion
July 24     Harrison Hills Park - YMCA parking lot
July 31     Riverview Park - park by median strips near the Observatory
July 3       Hartwood Acres - Meet at JD's Pub parking lot
July 10     Settler's Cabin Park
July 17     Boyce Park - Silver Beaver Pavilion
July 24     Harrison Hills Park - YMCA parking lot
July 31     Riverview Park - park by median strips near the Observatory
August 7  Deer Lakes Park - Park lot by Veteran's Pavilion #1
Aug 14     Hartwood Acres - Meet at JD's Pub parking lot
Aug 21     Fox Chapel Plaza photo kiosk
Aug 28     Frick Park - Tennis Courts in Regent Square

Urban Neighborhood Bike Tour/Advocacy Rides
This series of Sunday morning rides will lead up to Bike to Work Week activities. It will be an opportunity to get to know the city by bicycle. The rides purposely begin Sunday mornings when traffic is low to help new street riders adapt to riding in the city. These tours will cover lots of ground in Western, Northern, and Eastern neighborhoods.

Expect some steep hills, challenging urban rides, and good fun. The pace is easy with stops at special interest points. The rides will make people more familiar with some of the city's diverse neighborhoods, and will also provide an opportunity to show the increasing presence of the local cycling community. We hope to see scores of cyclists join us to demonstrate the value shift of the regional population.

These tours will be led by Louis Fineberg, the author of "3 Rivers on 2 Wheels: An Explorer's Guide to Urban Pittsburgh." He will use the guidebook as the basis of the tours.

Moderate to strong level of physical conditioning necessary. Road bike recommended. Please bring a lunch or energy bars to nibble along the way. Ride includes long uphill climbs. Helmet required - you will be turned away if you don't have one.

May 4       Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield Trailhead
May 11     Eliza Furnace Trail, Greenfield Trailhead

Pittsburgh has bike trails along all three rivers--really!--but it takes a knowledgeable guide to connect them smoothly. On this no-hills ride, you can expect a great tour of the city and its riverfronts with plenty of interesting stops along the way. You'll want to bring water and snacks. We'll cover 15 miles at a relaxed pace with no hills for an easy ride.

May 12, June 27, August 4       Start at Washington's Landing

Expect a great tour of Pittsburgh's East End parks at a relaxed pace with plenty of stops along the way. This 12 mile loop will cover uneven terrain on a mix of trails and streets within Frick and Schenley Parks. Afterward, we'll select a local eatery for dinner (optional). Although the route will be bike-friendly, expect to be riding in traffic and some moderate hill climbing. Moderate level of physical conditioning suggested.

May 30, July 7, August 29       Start at Frick Park (also at Highland Park on 8/29)

Expect a great tour of Pittsburgh's North Side parks at a relaxed pace with plenty of stops along the way. This 12 mile loop will pass through Allegheny Commons, West Park, Roberto Clemente Park, and hilly Riverview Park. Although the route will be bike-friendly, riding in traffic and two long, gradual hills will be included. Moderate level of physical conditioning suggested. Afterward, we'll select a local eatery for dinner (optional).

June 2, July 25     Start at Allegheny Commons, North Side

Pedal and Paddle

Spokes & Splash
For a full day of recreation, we'll bike up the Yough River Trail about 10 miles, where we'll trade bikes for canoes and then paddle downstream for a riverside lunch provided by WPFI. After lunch, we'll continue down through a gorgeous stretch of the Youghiogheny River. Canoes and lunch provided. Bike rentals available.

June 14      Hazelbakers Canoes, Layton
July 19       Youghiogheny Canoe Outfitters, West Newton, PA

Youghiogheny Bike-Kayak Trip: Class II
For a full day of recreation, we'll start the day with an easy 11 mile bike ride on a flat trail as it follows along the scenic Youghiogheny River from Ohiopyle to Confluence. After a lunch break, we’ll spend the afternoon paddling inflatable "duckies" kayaks down riffles and small rapids of the Middle Youghiogheny from Confluence to Ohiopyle. Fun, exciting and gorgeous! Boats & bikes included. You'll want to bring a lunch. Cost of trip includes boat and bike rental, but feel free to bring your own bike (no additional discount). Bikes will be transported. Minimum age 10.

June 29, August 16     Ohiopyle State Park, Youghiogheny River Trailhead

Mountain Biking Clinics

In place of our regular Thursday Mountain Bike Ramble, we're offering this special clinic for beginning Mountain Bikers. We'll practice crossing logs and other obstacles, making tight turns, descending steep hills, maintaining traction up hills and through loose gravel, picking the best line over rough terrain, and modifying styles for various conditions. Shoot, you'll even learn how to pop a wheelie!

May 15      Frick Park tennis courts, Regent Square

June 1, August 24      Boyce Park

Bike Fishing

Any type of bike is acceptable for this trip, however it should be able to travel on the crushed cinder trail.

May 31      Smithton, PA

July 19      Ohiopyle State Park, Youghiogheny River River Trailhead
July 18      Optional camping

Other Biking Events

Thank you to the Nine Mile Run Watershed Association for co-sponsoring this outing.

May 10      Frick Park - Wilkinsburg/Edgewood area

May 10      South Side Riverfront Park

May 18      Southside Riverfront Park

Nancy Anderson, Food columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is teaming up with Joe and Mary Marzano to provide a wonderful array of foods for you. The ride will cover 16 miles, round trip, at a relaxed pace, with rest stops along the way. Bike rentals are available. Gourmet lunch and dessert included.

May 31      Ghost Town Trail, Indiana County
June 7        Rain Date

Laurel Mountain Bike Festival

Just to make the weekend even more interesting, you can compete in log-pulling contests and the infamous Huffy Toss Championship - or just watch. And if that's not enough, there will be live music with Chai Baba, microbrews, camping, and pig roast! This weekend will be so filled with stuff to do that you will have to call in "sick" Monday just to recover.

July 25-27      Laurel Mountain, near Ligonier, PA

Information and Registration: www.wpfi.org or 412-255-0564

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