Category Archives: Outdoors

Ride Bikes. Meet People

Now that the snow is gone and the sun is out (and gas costs too much) biking is back in a big big way. I am really impressed with the biking community in Pittsburgh. BikePGH is the place to learn more about all things bike in Pittsburgh. (I also love their website design and function which was built by clickNathan – Hi Nathan!).  One of my goals for this summer is to get some time on a bike – maybe we can even organize some IheartPGH bike rides – leave a comment if you are interested.

Here are two groups that organize bike rides that are open for anyone to join:

DORC-PGH

Beginner Trail Rides for Mountain Bikers – Fridays, 6pm meet at the tennis courts by Braddock and Forbes. Click here for more info.

Team Decaf & Team Caffine at Tazzo D’Oro

Tuesdays: Team Decaf – 10-20 miles in length. Various routes around the burgh at a comfortable pace. Rides are fairly flat with a few hills. RAIN CANCELS

Thursdays: Team Caffeine – 20-30 length. Various routes are hilly and intense. We re-group at the top of hills and the strongest riders may not wait. RAIN CANCELS

Click here for more info.

Serious about Mountain Biking? – check out Dirt Rag – which is one of the leading magazines for the sport and it happens to be based right here in Pittsburgh.

Bikes and Beer

Yes, That is a keg in that child carried.  Scott from East End Brewing is very serious about the Pedal Pale Ale.  For the third year in a row they will bike the beer to the tap spot and all bikers get a free beer from the first keg.

If you’re just joining us, here’s how this works: You show up here at the brewery on Friday, May 23rd at 6:30pm (Yes, we’re still open for Growler Hours that day, but I’ll warn you that car parking might be
tight with all the bicycles… nice!), get signed in with someone who looks like they’re in charge, collect your token – a very important step, and be ready to follow the bouncing keg(s) that I’ll be pulling,BY BICYCLE to this year’s mystery tap spot.  We’ll take a low-speed, family friendly, meandering, human-powered, beer delivering, two wheeled tour of Pittsburgh’s greater East End.  Upon our arrival, we’ll get the keg(s) into position, and for everyone who made the trip, the first round of Pedal Pale Ale, from the very first keg of the year, is on me!

Yes, the pace will be gentle.  And no, there won’t be very many hills….need I remind you that I expect to be pulling at least one 160 pound keg of beer behind me.   Besides, I spend all my waking hours brewing these days, which leaves very little time to train for a ride like this. We’ll also be using a much nicer trailer than the  poor thing I dragged along last year – or so the guys at Bike Pittsburgh (www.Bike-Pgh.org) tell me.  Less roadside bungee cord wrangling should be involved this year, and all that time can be better spent with a pint of fresh beer in hand!

Check out the pictures from previous years here:
2006 http://www.eastendbrewing.com/image/tid/18
2007 http://picasaweb.google.com/mike.vindler/PedalPaleAleRide61507 and http://mtnbiker.smugmug.com/gallery/3009403

The 3 F's – Fun, Festival, Free

This Saturday, May 17th is the Annual Venture Outdoors Festival. For one day – open up all of their activities for a free festival. If you have been wanting to try hiking/biking/climbing/kayaking – this is your chance to try it out for free!  This local blogger/college student is looking forward to finishing their exams and attending the festival before they graduate on Sunday.

WHAT: 8th Annual Venture Outdoors Festival

WHEN: Saturday, May 17th – 11:00 AM-6:00 PM

WHERE: Washington’s Landing near Millvale, along the Allegheny

WHO: Beginners & Experts – All ages and skill levels. Anyone interested in learning more about outdoor recreation in the region.

FORMAT: Day long FREE festival with tons of exciting activities for the whole family from kayaking, canoeing, fishing, yoga, biking, climbing and more! Also including boat shuttle, music all day from WYEP, and live music from 28 North, Euphonic Brew, and The Greens.

INFO: Call 412.255.0564

The Venture Outdoors Festival is also part of the 7th annual Great Outdoors Week (May 16 – May 25). Discover more outdoor adventures during GOW by visiting www.greatoutdoorsweek.org.

classic car nite at the drive-in!

The Drifters Car Club is sponsoring Classic Car Nite, Every Saturday Night, at the Twin HiWay Drive-In (www.twinhiwaydrivein.com) in Robinson Twp. Just like the good ole days, bring your classic ride (pre 65) and your better half and watch a movie under the stars! Visit www.drifterscc.com and print out a coupon good for $1.00 off a hot food item in the snack bar. Tell Jerry –  The Drifters sent ya!

oldschooldrivein.jpg

Inline Skating Is Still Cool

I am one of a handful of Pittsburghers that still breaks out her rollerblades on a regular basis – they usually are in the truck on my car so on a nice day I can stop at the Jail Trail on my way home.

I know there are a number of people out there that thin rollerblading is very 1989 because they make fun of me anytime they hear that I like to skate. Oh well, too bad for them. If you aren’t a pro on 8 wheels yet, that is okay.

Venture Outdoors is offering an intro to Inline Skating course on Sunday May 4, 2008 on the Jail Trail (also know as the Eliza Furnace Trail). I am including the details below.

If you are already a skating pro and want to meet others in Pittsburgh – check out TRIC – Three Rivers Inline Club. I like their slogan – “We skate everything but the rivers” – an they skate everything. I attended the beginner skate a few years ago and was out skated by everyone. TRIC leads weekly skates around city neighborhoods complete with safety patrol to keep the skaters safe from cars. More info available at SkatePittsburgh.com.

Intro to In-line Skating
Put your legs to the test with this fun introduction to in-line skating sponsored by The Three Rivers In-line Club and the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Skate Patrol. We’re going to skate at an easy pace along the Eliza Furnace Trail learning to glide, stride, scissor and brake from trained, skilled members of the National Skate Patrol.
Location: Eliza Furnace Trail
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Cost: $5.00 member/$10.00 non-member
Organization: Venture Outdoors