Being new to cycling and having never been on a group ride (something I'd like to fix soon!), I've never really ventured outside my comfort zone of Friendship. I Google Mapped it, and came up with this. Can anyone comment on this route? Are there any trouble spots or "gotchas" to look out for? Thanks!
Couple adjustments,
from home go to Graham, cross Baum and Center, go all the way to Claybourne, then over to S. Aiken to Ellsworth. (That whole Baum/Liberty/Center area is icky)
When you get to N. Neville, cross Fifth & go all the way to Henry, then over to South Dithridge. S. Dithridge all the way to Forbes, cross Forbes and just skeeze on the sidewalk over to Dippy.
That's pretty good.
I should note that the flock group ride this week leaves from the bikebest party, and not dippy (as is suggested by the main bike-pgh cal).
Also, you could cross Bellefield where your route is, and ride across the lawn behind the Cathedral of Learning (around Heinz Chapel) and just cross the street at Schenley Drive Extension; that'll put you right at Dippy.
Thanks, all.
looks pretty good to me. all the roads you've mapped, in the places you've mapped them, are quite safe to be on, and not terribly nerve-wracking. i think the stretch that would be least pleasant for new folks is aiken from liberty to ellsworth. it's wide, and it's a 25 and looks like it ought to be residential, but with all the parking lots and the bridge and the light, it all just comes together to keep you on your toes.
baum between where the taco bell used to be (that's pittsburghese for cypress street) and morewood is really pretty pleasant because of the way the lights are timed and how traffic moves through there. i would put morewood on par with aiken, but it's shorter, and you can break off at a few different side streets (even though one is technically one way against you).
i don't think you could do too much better than you've already done. i would probably stay on fifth a bit longer (car traffic in that area is very slow and attentive), but all the roads you'll be near are relatively easy riding, and i think you've done a fine job choosing a route.
