So, I'm plotting out a 50-mile training ride for MS 150 riders.
I've got the overall concept worked out (Neville Island->McKees Rocks->Carnegie->Noblestown Rd->Finks Run/Kelso Rd->Santiago Rd->Boggs Rd->Potato Garden/Cork Bocktown Rd->151->51->Coraopolis->Neville Island), but am a bit fuzzy on the transit from McKees Rocks to Carnegie.
I'm guessing that this (Chartiers->Wind Gap->Ingram Ave->Crafton Blvd->Idlewild Rd->Bell Ave->Main St) is the way to go, but am open to other suggestions.
Any thoughts?
Aw, are you really going to skip riding the Industrial Highway, the strangest road in all of Pittsburgh?
From Windgap, take Broadhead Fording through the now demolished housing projects, to Mazette to ?? to Industrial Highway back to Steuben/Ingram at the Thornberg Bridge.
Eliminates the hill on East Prospect, but puts you on Ingram/Steuben for a mile or so of ok but not great riding.
I was going to cite the industrial highway
as well.
Is anybody super familiar with the area? Can
you connect creek street to the railroad
bridge to the industrial highway? Are there
paths? There must be.
At around mile 10, the "street" they call "Chartiers" is in reality a dirt path. From Crafton Blvd take Hawthorne to Woodlawn and on. Other than that it's all good.
I googlevisioned the length of Creek Road once and it looks like it gets sketchy as hell back in there, like Deliverance sketchy. That would be a trip to try with about 10 people, a guy with a machete in front and a guy in a red shirt at the back.
Thanks...I've revised the route to include the Industrial Highway and skip the Chartiers dirt path.
I rode this a few years ago from McKees Rocks in on Creek rd on several rides looking for a connection. It does get Deliverance-like at the end at a house with no trespassing signs. On the Industrial highway side, it leads to a business with a gate. No connection I could see without trespassing on both sides and then carrying your bike across the rail road bridge.
It's surprised that it's not developed as a bike trail. (like the Abandoned Turnpike Trail in Breezewood) Wonder if there's any murals out there.
I'm struggling with finding this on Google Earth. Can anybody help with a link, please? I'd like to go out and ride this. TIA, V.
Coordinates; 40.448384,-80.090894
This is centered on Chartiers Creek, Industrial Highway will be on the east, Creek Road will be on the west. Also you will be about 1/10th mi. from the Sharp Edge Creek House. Could be worse.
A good route I've taken from McKees Rocks to Carnegie a couple times is part of a 45 mile loop around Pittsburgh and it's mapped here:
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/193966
here's a cue sheet excerpt, with cumulative mileage:
exit McKees Rocks bridge
Turn left on Helen St
Turn left at Robb St 18.1 mi
Turn right at River Ave 18.1 mi
Turn right at W Carson St 18.5 mi
Turn left at Chartiers Ave 18.6 mi
Turn right at St John St 19.3 mi
Turn left at Taggart St 19.3 mi
Turn right at Guthrie St 19.4 mi
Turn left at Church Ave 19.4 mi
Slight right at Singer Ave 19.7 mi
Turn left at Wind Gap Bridge 19.8 mi
Turn right at Mazette Rd 21.3 mi
Turn left at Fairwood St 21.5 mi
Turn left at Rd 3067 21.6 mi
Turn right to stay on Roswell Dr 22.3 mi
Turn left at W Steuben St 22.5 mi
Slight right at Crafton Blvd 22.5 mi
Turn right at S Grandview Ave 23.1 mi
Turn right to stay on S Grandview Ave 23.3 mi
Turn left at Orchard St 23.4 mi
Turn right at S Linwood Ave 23.5 mi
Turn left at Woodlawn St 23.5 mi
Turn right at Chartiers Ave 23.7 mi
Turn left at Morange Rd 23.7 mi
Turn right at Idlewood Rd 23.8 mi
Turn right at Bell Ave 24.3 mi
Turn right at Jane St/Mansfield Blvd 24.9 mi
Turn left at Hays St 25.1 mi
@Van -
Go to google maps for McKees Rocks. Find Chartiers Creek at McKees Rocks/City of Pittsburgh boundary. First street north of creek is Furnace Street, which turns into Thompson, which turns into Creek Road.
You can actually streetview most of the route.
linky:
Hope this helps!
(Edited to add googlemaps link)
I work in the Rocks. I've taken the path along the tracks many times that leads from the Windgap bridge to the Sharp Edge in Crafton. You ride along a packed dirt railroad access road and eventually have to meander through a railroad repair yard. They have complained to me about riding/jogging through there a few times, but never stopped me. It's a great shortcut to avoid the hill, but I probably wouldn't do it with a group - it is private property. Crick Road (Creek Rd) is REALLY scary. I've jogged through there a number of times and have been chased by all manner of dogs and human like creatures. It dead ends either way.
