I was glad to find that the kerning (space
between the letters) for the downtube decals was correct, and the letters fit
exactly into the spaces left behind in the clearcoat. Unfortunately the
vertical seat tube decals did not have the correct spacing and had to be
applied individually, letter by letter. I think the results look pretty great, though.
I’ve had the majority of parts, including a
Campagnolo Chorus 10-speed component group, Cinelli bars and stem, plus a very
nice Campagnolo Electron wheelset, stored in my shop since last winter. There
are a few minor things to gather, then assembly should go quickly. Here are
some pics of the frame with the new VeloCals:
Back in April, my friend Ed - another fellow
Anthracite Railroads
Historical Society member – invited me to join him, his wife Kelly and
some friends to ride on the abandoned section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike just
east of Breezewood. We unfortunately had a string of bad weather weekends,
wrapped around Mother’s Day, and eventually even Memorial Day, until it was
decided, since people were becoming busy with other outdoor events, to postpone
until September.
Finally with a reasonable forecast, we set
off early Saturday morning to meet up at the Gateway Service Plaza, where we
could grab a quick lunch before heading out on our bikes. A thirteen mile
stretch of the turnpike was bypassed in 1968 to relieve congestion through a
couple of tunnels that had only one lane of traffic in each direction, and the
old route was pretty much left to be reclaimed by nature.
However, the South Alleghenies Conservancy
bought the property in 2001, and it is managed by the Friends of Pike 2 Bike, a
coalition of non-profit groups that intend to convert the area to a bike trail.
“Officially” the property is closed, but cyclists are allowed to use it at
their own risk, with signs posted asking riders to wear helmets and use lights
in the tunnels.
About nine miles of the abandoned route is
open for use after the removal of bridges over Route 30 on the east end and Pump
Station Road, near the site of the old Cove Valley Travel Plaza, on the west
end. The demolition of these structures eliminated the liability and expense of
their repair, marked the property lines between the public and Turnpike
Commission-owned sections of the property, and prevented motorized vehicles
from easily entering the abandoned highway.
It was quite appropriate that railroad
enthusiasts like Ed and I were riding on this route, since the right-of-way was
originally part of the South Pennsylvania Railroad. The venture that became
known as “Vanderbilt’s Folly” was set in motion by the New York Central, with
the aid of wealthy backers such as Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller and Jay
Gould, to challenge the Pennsylvania Railroad’s stranglehold on freight traffic
through the state. There are many interesting websites that detail the history
of the South Pennsylvania Railroad, including an entertaining article from Harrisburg Magazine that mentions J.P. Morgan, who was concerned with the battle
between the two railroads negatively affecting stock prices, holding executives
hostage on his yacht until they agreed to stop construction.
A very short drive east on U.S. Route 30 led
us to the trailhead, which was a short, steep climb up from the parking area to the pike's paved surface. We
found the road to vary in condition from decent (think little-used country
road) to absolutely miserable, with crumbling chunks of asphalt strewn about.
I learned a quick lesson about controlling
my speed on one of the not-so-great sections when Ed and I got brave and
decided to tuck down to bomb downhill. A piece of broken pavement flipped up
and clipped my right leg, leaving a nice lump on my shin and several scrapes
along the inside of my calf. We began a routine of switching side to side over
the weedy median in order to ride whichever lane was in better condition.
Not that it had a whole lot to do with the
road condition, but I also managed to have a flat, caused by a tiny thorn. I was lucky to even have
noticed it before putting the repaired tube back in the tire – nothing is worse
than fixing a flat only to have to change it again immediately! The group
teased me about seeing Cycle Tech put his skills to work, but I was happy to
end up being the only tire victim on the trip.
The temperature was very comfortable all
day, so it was a bit of a shock to feel the air drop about twenty degrees as we
neared the east portal of Ray’s Hill tunnel. I was initially surprised that the
interior of the passageways were in such good shape, but even after fifty
years, considering the limited exposure to the elements, I suppose that’s
understandable.
Although, I remembered to bring my tool kit,
in case anyone needed any adjustments before starting off, I did not remember
my headlight. Fortunately because everyone else had good quality lights, I
could manage riding side-by-side with a partner.
Besides the occasional beer can, the tunnels
were free of any obstacles, but they were really very dark and disorienting
without light (we had a brief unplanned “experiment” when one of our party had
a lamp malfunction). Balance would potentially become an issue without being
able to see the ground, and running into the walls would definitely be an issue in Sidling Hill Tunnel, which arches
slightly so that one cannot see light at the opposite end.
We’ve had a lack of rain this summer in
Pennsylvania, so it was dry and dusty inside, but I’ve heard that dripping water
is otherwise more frequent. Ed mentioned that you can really hear the rushing
water of the snowmelt behind the walls during the spring.
At the east end we speculated just how fast
we’d have to be travelling in order to jump the gap across Pump Station Road.
Someone then made a little Duke’s of
Hazzard reference with a vocal rendition of the General Lee’s car horn.
I’ve always felt that, because one has
visual recall of what has already been passed, a return trip always seems to go
faster, but it was definitely the case on this ride. There was less downhill riding
in the westerly direction, so even though our speed was slower, there was more
conversation going on to pass the time.
It felt like we were back at Ray’s Hil in no
time, and it was pointed out that we didn’t have to wait for a flat tire repair
on the return leg. From the tunnel it
was just a short stretch back to the trailhead and our cars.
By the way, after facing the shock of a
$16.75 toll from the Morgantown interchange to Breezewood, I opted to take “the
scenic route” home, via Route 30 and a combination of other state highways.
Yes, it took an hour longer, but it was a beautiful drive over the mountains
and through Amish country, and I felt much better keeping the money in my
wallet!
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