Stops We Like: Tack ‘n More Country Store
(2020) Not far from here is a sign indicating some place or organization or location as an outpost. If I’m honest I have never looked it up, nor can I remember its title. Yet the term ‘outpost’ has always intrigued me. It evokes images of late summer sunsets, mountains in the background, bugs humming, and an old building standing sentinel in the middle of nature, ready to provide coverage. Given the sprawl of Bucks County, the idea of an outpost is no longer relatable, but there are locations that offer coverage.
Located just outside of the main streets of Plumsteadville is a property complete with horses, sheep, goats, geese, and one protective turkey. The farm itself is called Rainbow Ridge, and it is the least likely place for a cyclist to find aid. It is why the Tack ‘n More Country Store is all the more likely to be a ride savior. Wedged into the end of the barn is a store with the ability to get a struggling rider home or to elongate an epic ride. This is the place that can stave off a hard bonk.
The farm recommends socially distancing from Miles the turkey who feels it is his duty to protect the farm.
Quaint is the best way to describe the Tack ‘n More Country Store, and it’s best to keep the helmet on. Immediately at the entrance is the candy shelf. Gummi bears are on the shelf for the World Champion allegiant. Toward the back of the store is an expanding space that has doubled the sale floor. Most of what passing cyclists want is just past the register, where even the shortest of riders need to duck a ceiling joist (which is why the helmet helps). In the residential refrigerator are cans of soda, bottles of water, and jugs of local chocolate milk. Recently Tack ‘n More Country Store has acquired an Amish baker, complete with vegan offerings. Normally it would be overkill to recommend a half-gallon jug of local chocolate milk but mid-ride cyclists are remarkable in the ability to put food away and quickly.
If you are concerned about not having a mask, Tack ‘n More sells them to grant access to the mid-ride treats that prolong rides.
Feel free to take the purchased items outside and sit in the shade along Applebutter Road before returning to the ride. It can’t get any more farmer-like to be located along Applebutter Road. Perhaps the hens will orbit your temporary siesta. Maybe even the roosters will watch for fallen crumbs. Miles the turkey might cause everyone to be socially distant. He is a bit protective of the chickens. With the longer hours, it could be an evening ride that takes in the summer sunset over the farm fields, bugs humming, while the horses are led to their stalls for the night.
The Tack ‘n More Country Store has the feeling of an outpost and I suspect if riders knew it was there, they would access it regularly. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear a story or two of riders who have bonked and were one road over wishing an outpost of a fully-stocked refrigerator would appear. I also wouldn’t be surprised to learn of someone stumbling on the Tack ‘n More Country Store and having the ride saved, if only they could remember the place’s name. If the bonk is so bad that the team car is summoned, it’s not the worst place to wait. Goats will entertain you while you suck down Tanner Brother’s chocolate milk or three cans of Coke, or both. The Tack ‘n More Country Store provides the right kind of coverage for cyclists. Make sure you watch your head when grabbing a few bottles of water.
