Pennsylvania S route

[Unicyclemike]

Has anyone done the S route in Pennsylvania?
Unicycle Mike

[BikeliciousBabe]

Much of it. From from where it joins the GAP to Rockwood.  Then from Bedford to Kimberton/Phoenixville area, with slight detours starting in the Blue Ball area for a much nicer stretch through the Conestoga Valley and in Morgantown to reach French Creek State Park.  Twice.  East from Breezewood I also rode the abandoned stretch of the PA Turnpike and picked up Route S again near the eastern end of that section. I think the abandoned turnpike is now officially part of the route. It was not in 2012, when I first did Route S as part of a cross-PA tour.

[Unicyclemike]

Thank you for sharing. I appreciate it.

Unicycle Mike

[BikeliciousBabe]

No problem, but why did you ask?

[Unicyclemike]

My wife and I are thinking about doing it next year. 

Unicycle Mike

[HikeBikeCook]

Great info, thanks. Planning on using that route to hop from the GAP to Wheeling and bypass Pittsburgh.

[BikeliciousBabe]

Haven’t done that part.

[HikeBikeCook]

Not thrilled that part of it uses the National Road (40) but it saves us a day and misses the nasty part of the GAP going into Pittsburgh with all the bridge crossings, traffic, pavement, and heat.

[BikeliciousBabe]

Of the three W-E PA bike routes I have done good portions of (Y, V and S), the portions of Route S have been my least favorite overall.

[HikeBikeCook]

From Washington, PA to Wheeling does not look like a joy, but it is only 30 miles and saves a day and cuts out Pittsburgh (been there done that and would gladly trade 30 miles on National Road to skip it). After Wheeling we are back on the Eastern Express route. Getting away from the coasts, and heavy population centers, tends to present the most challenges for routing. Once you get away from the heavy population then rest and resupply become a bit more challenging but there are just too damn many people in the world.

[BikeliciousBabe]

but there are just too damn many people in the world.

Sounds like me complaining about traffic on those rare occasions when I am stuck in traffic.

[HikeBikeCook]

I just look at the destruction that humans do to this planet from the pollution and disease, and the wastelands our cities have become. We worry about what pine beetles are doing to our forests and the diseases spread by mosquitoes, and blame every other living thing on earth for nature's cycles and no one says that we need to ban humans from certain areas on Earth to avoid the disease and pollution that we leave in our wake. Done with the rant and off the soapbox for the day.

[afrompa]

My son and I did most of the route from east to west a few years back.  I'm a native Pennsylvanian and therefore I am used to and like riding hills, so I enjoyed this route, especially the portions between Philadelphia and the western parts. If you have specific questions about parts of the route, feel free to send them my way.

[HikeBikeCook]

My son and I did most of the route from east to west a few years back.  I'm a native Pennsylvanian and therefore I am used to and like riding hills, so I enjoyed this route, especially the portions between Philadelphia and the western parts. If you have specific questions about parts of the route, feel free to send them my way.

We plan on riding this route from West Newton (GAP) over to Wheeling, AV (or technically the PA/WV State line next May as part of our Trans America trip. How bad are the sections on Rt40 (National Road) around and after Washington, PA?

[afrompa]

I don't believe Route S was on Route 40, at least not as I recall.  Most of the roads we were on were manageable and closer to and into Pittsburgh, the route utilized the GAP trail, so roads were a non-issue.