Hang in there guys!...You're doing great so far. Flat napkins are easier to carry than rolls of TP. Be careful where you stop...bears shit in the wood too ya know? If two guys stop to give you a ride in a pick up truck and there's a sticker that reads, "Bareback Mountain" on the tailgate...I'd give it some thought before placing your bikes in the bed. Hang in there guys…This is exciting to watch unfold even though I'm not with you...To bad NBC isn't sponsoring you and putting it on TV as a reality show...I'd love to see this caught on film. Have fun and good luck guys!

I'm a Schuylkill Trail user too. I've been recreational riding for over 30 years (can you believe it?) and I've always wanted to follow one of those official PA Bike Routes. Maybe in 2009. About once a month in spring and summer I enjoy riding the Schuylkill River Trail on my Trek 7700 hybrid. Usually I start at the Betzwood Trail Head and ride to Center City and back. It takes every ounce I've got, but that's part of the challenge. In normal warm-weather conditions I can make a round trip in around 3:45, including a half-hour meal stop. The thing that drives me nuts about Center City is having to stop at every bloody intersection for a red light. In the upper part of Philly, unfortunately my narrow tires make the Manayunk Towpath undesirable, so I have to use the hilly alternate: Shawmont St. and Umbria St. The latter has bike lanes where space permits. From April through October, West River Drive, which is now Martin Luther King Drive, is closed to motor vehicles. That way cyclists and everybody else can have the road to themselves, which is a nice option when the path along Kelly Drive becomes a human obstacle course on weekends. I try to make my Philly rides on Monday or Friday for that reason, but if I have to do it on the weekend, I watch the local news or turn on KYW to see if they have any special events planned which may cause bottlenecks (and heartache) on the Trail. Generally the trail is in excellent riding condition. There are a few isolated areas where underlying roots are beginning to penetrate the surface, so those will need attention sooner than later. That is a severe problem on the West River Drive path, south of Montgomery Drive. (With the city's financial crisis, don't expect that to be fixed any time soon, though.) I do wish that instead of using gates at road crossings, they would instead use bollards, which are just as effective and safer. It's mind-boggling how many times you and somebody coming the other way come to one of those gates at the same time, and there's only room there for one bike. I've read on other websites that sadly, women have reported being harassed, specifically in Norristown near the Dannehower Bridge overpass. My advice to all female cyclists is if you have the legs and the bike for speed, that is by far your best weapon against predators, period. Also use common sense--dress appropriately, carry a bottle of mace or pepper spray, and if possible ride with a partner. The trail is yours, not theirs. Enjoy it.