Events: Guy Fawkes Ride 2021

(2021) For years we have written about the beautiful rural roads north of central Bucks County, PA, and this year, Kermesse Sport set out to field an event on these roads. Based on the British holiday of Guy Fawkes Day, the Guy Fawkes Ride was based at the Bucks County Brewery in Pipersville, PA. With this being our literal backyard, we had to come out for the inaugural ride.

Sweetbriar Road had heavy equipment in use during the Guy Fawkes tour through the area.

The ride itself was unique with how much it had going for it: a 2:30pm roll-out time, a short course, and the clock change that night, riders could accomplish quite a bit in such a small amount of time. As with Covid guidelines, the start was a thirty-minute window. As we slid off the couch, loaded the bike, and rolled downhill to the start, we caught a glimpse of early riders. In typical quick Kermesse Sport check-in times, those riders would be in sight soon enough. Signed in, we made a U-turn to head back on familiar roads and began seeing our weekly route from an event perspective. 

This weekend had splendid foliage. Coupled with beautiful weather and the Guy Fawkes Ride had everything going for it. With harvest in full swing, combines were circling the farmland the route pierced. Migrating songbirds provided the soundtrack as well as falling leaves and scurrying squirrels. Here cyclists might finally have been experiencing what we were saying all these years- Bucks County is beautiful.

Then there were the road names capturing the essence. The route started on Applebutter Road. It visited Sweetbriar Road and Deer Run Road. Then there was the homely Farm School Road as well as Irish Meetinghouse Road. A trained eye could locate some of the schoolhouses from a previous era. Historic farmhouses occupied the land near the route. Several airfields were buzzed.

In the final miles, Irish Meetinghouse Road put on a display for Guy Fawkes Ride participants.

The small event had us making sporadic contact with other participants. We caught three riders on Applebutter. A group was caught before the turn onto Elephant Road (still no explanation on that road name, despite prodigious research). We then rode solo down the bouncy Buck Road which zig-zagged northward. Buck Road always has industrial-sized leaf blowers working at this time of year. They even set fire to the drainage ditches. Contact was made going up to Ridge Road. A group of three cyclists were trying to put the hard climb upward behind them before the fast ride atop the ridge. Solo again we inhaled clear air down the previously mentioned Sweetbriar where a 9-series combine was harvesting soy.

The halfway point comes quickly in the Guy Fawkes Ride. At only 25 miles, the route was half-finished as we turned onto Deer Run Road. No riders were in sight, nor were there any cars. Accessing Rolling Hills Road, we inched closer to Bucks County Brewery. Should a rider have an issue throughout the event, the return is quite convenient. Hammering down Irish Meetinghouse Road the setting sun provided a bit of glare, but it’s where another rider was spotted and pursued. Rejoining a northern portion of Elephant Road, the turn was then made onto the new current of Bucks County- half farmland, half development. Houses were more numerous again. Farm tractors were less and less.

Parting shot: Scott Road, fewer than two miles from the finish, was draped in foliage beauty.

The route reentered the Pipersville area. The brewery was closeby, and so, too, was our office. We could have pulled over for a quick warm coffee, but decided the pre-ride coffee would suffice. It was still early enough for another pot, though. Having returned, Kermesse’s finisher check-in was equally quick. A beer ticket was exchanged for being recorded as having cleared the course. The beer ticket was exchanged for a beer while the brewery’s scheduled band gave the cyclists a shout out mid-song. One other rider managed to return before us. The chill of the fall sunset provided a dramatic backdrop to the atmosphere. The food truck was there for us if we wanted it.

To have a professional organizer like Kermesse Sport put an event in our backyard is remarkable in so many ways, but ultimately it means we get to show off the miles we pound regularly, either when pressed for time or when guiding others. The route explored the areas we love to ride to get away from the stop lights and traffic, but still want the conveniences of a quick turn to get to coffee or waffle shops. We are hopeful this route joins the regular rotation of the Kermesse calendar. Its unique status as a low-key cycling event to end the season is perfect for those who still want to ride but aren’t eager to hammer. And in case you need a reminder as to when the event will be held next year, just sing the mantra, “Remember, rember, the fifth of November,” when Guy Fawkes was caught ready to blow up Parliament.