The Ride community grows and changes, but it’s always been a rewarding community to be a part of.
Although Early Bird Registration is now closed, it’s not to late to join the riders who have already committed for this year’s Environment Ride! Knowing who’s in early helps us with planning for the Ride logistics and enjoying the Ride safely comes down to the details and hard work of our volunteer crew.
This year’s ride is something a little different! This is the 11th Environment Ride, and we have always showcased beautiful Pennsylvania landscapes, including the iconic Lancaster area, the Lehigh Valley, Chester County horse country, and of course, the Schuylkill and Delaware River corridors.
For something different, we selected the Eastern Shore of Maryland as our destination. The entire area is integrally connected to the Chesapeake Bay, which is deeply impacted by Pennsylvania’s environmental policies. The water quality of the upper Chesapeake is hugely dependent on what flows down the Susquehanna River into the Bay. Pennsylvania’s efforts to reduce farm run-off, treat wastewater, and manage urban stormwater are epic and costly and yet still considered by some “inadequate.” Our visit will include information about Pennsylvania’s Chesapeake Bay Program.
Briefly, we will launch from Wilmington Delaware riding the Markell Trail to lunch in Delaware City with a view of the Delaware Bay. After lunch we’ll ride the long-ish but easy distance to Chestertown, Maryland situated on the Chesapeake. Saturday will offer several route versions including a century (100+ miles) for advanced riders as we loop all the way back to Wilmington for an overnight on the banks of the Christina River Walk. Sunday will reprise last year’s Day 3 ride – it’s a shorter distance but a hillier, more challenging ride through the gorgeous Brandywine River Valley to Valley Forge National Historical Park. From there, we’ll “coast” down the Schuylkill River Trail to Philadelphia.
The Ride is truly a community-building experience. For a firsthand account from an Environment Ride participant, check out Kyle Conner’s ode to the Ride experience.
Remember while there are always returning riders, it’s the first-time riders who refresh and energize the community each year. The Ride community grows and changes, but it’s always been a rewarding community to be a part of.
Join our community! Register today!