In September 2022, PEC hosted its third in-person Public Lands Ride event at Black Moshannon State Park. The weekend kicked off with an open house at outdoor gear manufacturer Nittany Mountain Works/Organic Climbing in nearby Philipsburg, PA. The two brands are sewn under one roof in a 100% solar-powered workshop and use USA-made and when possible, recycled materials in their products. The company is a friend of PEC and a great partner in the Public Lands Ride, providing help with aid stations and general event logistics each year as well as opening its doors the evening before.
About 100 riders and volunteers gathered at the beach at Black Moshannon on Saturday morning to ride three different course options – 25, 45, and 65 miles. It was a beautiful sunny day, which makes putting on an event like this a whole lot easier for the staff as well as more pleasant for the riders! After a quick intro and safety briefing, the pack was off! The Public Lands Ride is not timed and not a race, and instead we encourage folks to enjoy the scenery, take plenty of photos, and hang out at aid stations.
Watch the video to learn more about the Public Lands Ride, and we hope you’ll join us this year! The 2023 event will take place on September 30 at Black Moshannon State Park. Follow @publiclandsride on Instagram to stay up to date.
Learn more about PEC’s work on gravel advocacy and statewide resource development here.