Loop:
Middletown - West Middletown - Browns Chapel - Farmersville - Germantown - Sunsbury - Poasttown - Middletown. This itinerary can be ridden
in reverse sequence.
Distance:
40 miles (64 kilometers).
Terrain:
flat to moderately hilly. Long grades on
Anthony Road and Germantown-Middletown Pike are
mostly well shaded. Otherwise, most of the
route is flat to gently rolling. There are a
few relatively steep but short grades, at the south
end of Farmersville Road, at the east end of Chicken
Bristle Road, and on Germantown-Middletown Pike just
north of Thomas Road.
Hazards:
Pavement on Swartzel Road is poorly maintained;
potholes may be comouflaged by patches of
shade. Quality of pavement on Germantown's
Cherry Street is variable and may contain a few
surprises for the inattentive rider.
Traffic on SR-4 is
moderate to heavy. When traveling south, use
caution when changing to the left turn lane for the
turn onto Carmody Bl. at the end of the bridge; if
you cannot safely change lanes, continue riding south
past the airport and turn left onto Wilbraham Road at
the next traffic light, then follow Wilbraham to
Carmody. When riding in reverse sequence
(northbound on SR-4), use caution when changing to
the through lane for the Poasttown traffic light; if
you cannot safely exit the right-turn lane in time,
turn right onto Trenton-Franklin Road at the light,
and then double-back from any handy parking
lot. Riders averse to fast traffic on SR-4 may
prefer to double back via West Middletown, using
Thomas Road as a link between Germantown-Middletown
Pike and Browns Run Road.
Stops:
Food, water, and rest rooms are available in
Farmersville at Gerrard's Bakery on Center St., and
in Germantown at the BP convenience store on Cherry
St.
Comments:
The greater portion of this route is unshaded and
unprotected from wind; Chicken Bristle Road is the
longest such stretch, but prevailing westerly winds
are favorable for the normal direction. Well
shaded areas include Anthony, Swartzel, and Little
Twin Roads, and portions of Germantown-Middletown
Pike.
