Events: Kermesse Sport’s Oktoberfest Ride (And Why You Should Do It) 2017
(2017) Where did the 2017 cycling season go? First we were talking about the spring classics, then we got excited for the grand tours, then…. well the season ended with the world championship and a busted cable feed. Despite what felt like the fastest road cycling calendar ever the fall classics still have a few remaining rides to cool down the season.
Watch any Tour stage and one will notice riders who, after riding over one hundred miles, are on the rollers still pumping the legs. I will admit they are doing it at a different pace than normal but I can’t imagine being excited to hop on a trainer moments after riding hard all day. It’s the elite rider’s cool down after a long hard slog.
The cool down is exactly what the Kermesse Sport Oktoberfest ride is for the road season. For those who have slaved away as a domestique for the team, why not turn down the competitive spirit and line up in Collegeville, PA, on October 22? It’s one of those rides that fit perfectly in the schedule as a cool-down for the race season. At a metric century, the ride explores Montgomery County via the old Univest road race route. It starts out in the parking lot of Appalachian Brewing Company’s Collegeville location and quickly plunges into the back roads of the county. It is the perfect way to end the road season.
The past two years have shown an increase in rider participation demonstrating the popularity of the event. It could be the great course, but it doesn’t hurt to have great food and drink at the end of a hard day on the bike. The Appalachian Brewing Company has consistently provided great tasting German-inspired food for participants to slake their hunger post-ride. Expect the same for this year.
With two distances to choose, Kermesse has the route covered with rest stops stocked with my favorite: Fig Newtons, among other delights. I am hopeful the pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream frosting reappear this year. Yes, this event has such appetizing rest stop offerings that I think about them once fall hits.
From the same people who present the Hell of Hunterdon and Fools Classic, Kermesse Sport delivers a product that is enjoyable from before the start to well after the finish. If you want to experience the reclusive Montgomery County roads with a finish line that offers hearty Germanic dishes at the completion, this is your event. Once the weekend has ended you then can move over to cyclocross because the road season officially ends with Kermesse’s Oktoberfest.
