Ride Pleasant Streets - Sunday Long Edition

Come join us on Sunday, Sept 25 @ 3:00 PM as we pedal from Pleasant Ridge to Findlay Market! Along the way we will explore bike-friendly access to Mount Lookout, Riverside Drive, multiple stunning Cincinnati parks along the Ohio River, Washington Park, the Prospect Hill and Mount Auburn Historic Districts, Eden Park, Xavier University, and more. Queen City Bike, Ride Pleasant Streets, and Community Happens Here are excited to include this event as part of Great Outdoor Weekend - Green Umbrella's annual outdoor events sampler, featuring over 100 free outdoor activities hosted by dozens of organizations across Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana. Find your adventure at https://www.greatoutdoorweekend.org A big welcome to riders from all over the metro area! PLEASE PRE-REGISTER HERE (22 riders max) after reading the event details. ———— This ride will be a good match for you if: - You have good endurance and hill-climbing strength (or an e-bike). Although hills were minimized as much as possible, this route does include a couple climbs that are on the more challenging side. - Your bike skills are compatible with urban riding (e.g. able to start/stop efficiently; descend with good control; manage biking while also paying attention to surroundings). - You enjoy a ride with a friendly, non-competitive pace - You have been wanting to explore Cincinnati’s urban areas but haven’t been sure where to start! - For those who have been joining Ride Pleasant Streets all summer, this route is similar in difficulty to the ride we did in July to the Purple People Bridge. If you are a newer biker and are looking for a shorter/easier ride, check out Eli’s Ride (also on Sept. 25 via Green Umbrella). Or join Ride Pleasant Streets for one of our “Short Edition” rides—held every 1st Saturday! ———— Thanks to the support of Queen City Bike, you can navigate this route for free on the Ride with GPS app at any time. Check it out! Route preview: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40947530 ———— Departure Time: 3:00pm - Please plan to arrive early so we can all leave in a punctual fashion - We will meet in front of Community Happens Here. - Ride leaders will be there by 2:45pm to answer any questions! Distance: 25.4 miles Difficulty: - Advanced Beginner to Intermediate+ - Given the distance and hills, all riders should have good bike fitness (or an e-bike). - All riders should be comfortable with basic bike-handling and traffic skills - We will regroup as needed throughout the ride Terrain: - This route presents an enjoyable mix of rolling terrain and long, gentle descents; a few climbs on the more challenging side; and a flat stretch in the middle as we pedal along the Ohio River. Climbs: - The hardest climb on this route is Milton Street up Prospect Hill (max 8.7% grade). This stretch is quickly followed by the ascent up Slack Street (max 6% grade) as we get near the top! - On our way back into the Ridge, we will also have a moderate (max 4.6% grade) but longer (0.6 mi) climb up Montgomery Road. Descents: - On our way out, we will have a moderate descent down Lester Road (neg 4-5% grade) and another long, fun downhill on Delta (also neg 4-5% grade). - Our steepest descents will be on Gilman and McGregor Avenues in Mount Auburn. These are both ~neg 5-6% grade—manageable and fun! Traffic stress: - >90% of this ride will be on low-traffic streets Higher-stress areas: - The busiest area will be heading north on Elm Street after we turn off the Ohio River Trail. Although this is full-on urban riding, this tends to be more manageable than one might expect because the multiple stop lights keep traffic speeds down. - The second busiest area will be riding through the center of Pleasant Ridge (on Montgomery). Again, the multiple stop lights help here. The lower traffic volume on Sunday afternoons, and our presence as a group will also reduce the stress in this section. - The remaining roads that may have moderate traffic volume (Delta, Riverside Drive, Delta, and Montgomery back toward Pleasant Ridge) all have bike lanes in the sections we will be riding on. This makes a big difference in drivers respecting our space and giving us adequate room. Post-ride: Fraser and I will bring a variety of beverages and snacks, and we will gather around the shady picnic table at the back of CHH’s parking lot. Additional family members/friends are welcome to swing by après-bike. We should be done with the ride by about 6:00pm. ———— Safety Notes: - Helmets required - Bike must be in good working condition. Please contact me if you have any questions! - If you have not been vaccinated for COVID-19, please plan to wear a mask during the ride Weather Notes: - In the event of adverse weather, I will post an update on the day of the ride—at or before noon - Updates will be shared on the Facebook event page, and also via the Ride Pleasant Streets Google Group - No message means the ride is still on! Parking: - Community Happens Here asks that if at all possible, we do NOT use their parking lot during our events. - The good news is there is PLENTY of free parking located one block from Community Happens Here at the Pleasant Ridge Community Parking Lot (located behind the Walgreens at 6204 Montgomery Road). From your parking location there, simply cross Woodmont Ave, go past the Sunoco gas station, and you will arrive at the front of Community Happens Here.