The 6th Annual Ride for the River is Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021
The 6th Annual Ride for the River is Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021ONLINE REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
Day of registration will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. during the event check-in at Pottstown Riverfront Park. Please make sure to arriver early enough to leave with your desired ride distance. The address is 140 College Drive, Pottstown, PA 19464. The cost for day of registration is $55. Kids 12 and under ride for free and can register day of the event but must be with an adult.
Celebrate the Schuylkill River Trail with bikes, beer and bands! Ride for the River, then enjoy the FREE CAN JAM Music Festival with Sly Fox Brewery. The cycling event serves as a fundraiser for Schuylkill River Greenways, which works with partners to build, improve and promote the Schuylkill River Trail. One of the largest finished trail sections is the Pottstown to Reading stretch, which totals about 20 miles. Ride for the River begins and ends at Pottstown Riverfront Park. Three ride options are available.
Ride Options:
The 2021 Ride for the River features a NEW 4-mile Fun Ride, great for children and beginners! The 4-mile Family Fun Ride takes place on a completely paved section of the trail. Both the 16- and 35-mile options take place primarily along the flat, crushed stone Schuylkill River Trail.
- 35-mile Ride: Round-trip ride beginning at 9 a.m. from Riverfront Park in Pottstown to Reading along the Schuylkill River Trail (some on-road sections).
- 16-mile Ride: Round-trip ride beginning at 9:30 a.m. from Riverfront Park in Pottstown to Union Township Recreation Area along the Schuylkill River Trail (some road crossings).
- 4-mile Fun Ride: Round-trip ride beginning at 10 a.m. from Riverfront Park in Pottstown to Old Reading Pike along the Schuylkill River Trail (no on-road sections or crossings). Children 12 and under ride for free. Children in this age group can be registered on day of the event (Sept. 25, 2021) at check-in and must be with an adult.
After Hurricane Ida, we decided to remove the optional hill climb from this year’s ride. This Big Woods Trail is not a part of the 2021 Ride for the River route and no ride support will be available along the hill.
Photo by David Karst
There is a 4-mile OPTIONAL hill challenge along the Hopewell Big Woods Trail that connects to the Schuylkill River Trail in Union Township. The Big Woods Trail consists of a nearly 2-mile gentle upgrade with stunning views of Monocacy Hill as you near the top. You can rest at the top and enjoy an easy ride down back onto the Schuylkill River Trail. This is a gravel trail which could have some loose areas, so riders should be cautious on the descent.
All Ride Registrants Receive:
- Reserved parking at Sly Fox for the Can Jam Music Festival
- Beer/Beverage & Food Voucher Bundle to use at the Can Jam Music Festival
- Additional vouchers will need to be purchased for children registering for free.
- Water and snacks at rest stops
- Well-marked route with ride support
- Commemorative T-shirts available for purchase
Schuylkill River Greenways and Sly Fox Brewery are teaming up once again to host Ride for the River, a beautiful bike ride on the Schuylkill River Trail in Montgomery and Berks Counties.
Ride for the River allows cyclists to explore the Schuylkill River Trail while supporting the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area. Schuylkill River Greenways operates and maintains the trail in Berks and Schuylkill Counties, while working to improve the entire trail.
Sly Fox Brewing Company donates funds toward the Safe Crossings Program. The program adds signs and improves road markings at intersections where the Schuylkill River Trail crosses major roadways.
Online registration will close on Sept. 22, 2021. Same-day registration will be available for an additional $5 fee.
Ride the River FAQs
THE 5TH ANNUAL RIDE FOR THE RIVER WAS A DIY TOUR RIDE!
THE 5TH ANNUAL RIDE FOR THE RIVER WAS A DIY TOUR RIDE!Participants explored mysteries along the Schuylkill River Trail with a do-it-yourself cycling tour
The 2020 Ride for the River was a Do-It-Yourself cycling tour ride on the Schuylkill River Trail between Pottstown and Birdsboro. The ride took place in the fall. Participants had the option of doing the full ride (17.5 miles round trip) or picking a section to ride. The route had 10 tour stops which was posted as signage alongside the Schuylkill River Trail. Through the tour stops, participants learned about mysteries, bridges and historical sites. Every Ride for the River signup included one entry into a raffle prize drawing. In addition, registrants were mailed the 2020 Ride for the River T-shirt, a custom Schuylkill River Greenways facemask, a custom bicycle bell, and several other items.
A Finale Celebration Day was held on Nov. 7. The celebration included educational tables, giveaways, and refreshments along the route. Volunteers helped cyclists cross at road intersections. Also during the celebration, Sly Fox presented representatives of the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area with a check of $7,910.50 from the sales of this year’s SRT Ale. The donation was the biggest yet since the production of SRT Ale! The ale is available all year long. Ride for the River highlights the trail and river. It’s also a fundraiser for the trail. Sly Fox has partnered with Schuylkill River Greenways for the past five years by producing SRT Ale, an ale that benefits the Schuylkill River Trail.
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR 2020 RIDE FOR THE RIVER SPONSORS & PARTNERS!
National Park Service * Dept. of Conservation & Natural Resources * Sly Fox Brewing Co. * First Star Energy Met Ed Region * Tompkins VIST Bank * Campbell Thomas & Co * Wilson Consulting Group * Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission * Hewlett Packard Enterprise * The Aranda Group * Extreme Terrain * Schuylkill County’s VISION * Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau * Longstreth * Boyer Engineering LLC * MGK Industries * Traffic Planning & Design, Inc. * REI CO-OP * Translogistics, INC. * Reading Coffee Company * Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation * Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River * Trek Bicycles of Pottstown * Bikesport * Redner’s Market * GIANT * Take It Outdoors
Ride for the River & Support the Trail
Hundreds of bicyclists participate in the annual bike ride and therefore help bring attention and support to the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT). Ride for the River serves as a fundraiser for Schuylkill River Greenways, which works with partners to build, improve and promote the Schuylkill River Trail. Money raised will support ongoing maintenance of the trail. There are currently 75 miles of the Schuylkill River Trail completed and when finished it will run 120 miles from Frackville in Schuylkill County to Philadelphia.
Learn More about the SRT Learn About Current Trail ProjectsSRT Ale, the Ale for the Trail
Sly Fox Brewery has partnered with Schuylkill River Greenways for the past four years by producing SRT Ale, an ale that benefits the Schuylkill River Trail. SRT Ale will be available after this year’s bike ride at the festival and all cyclists get a FREE beer ticket.
During the 2020 Ride for the River celebration, Sly Fox presented representatives of the Schuylkill River Greenways National Heritage Area with a check of $7,910.50 from the sales of this year’s SRT Ale. The donation was the biggest yet since the production of SRT Ale! To date, Sly Fox has donated a total of almost $34,000 from the sale of SRT Ale. The ale is available all year long.
More About SRT AleRide for the River Volunteers
We wouldn’t be able to put on this ride every year without the many volunteers who help with planning, trail improvements, route markings, and other general activities the day of the event.
Volunteers receive a free T-shirt as well as a food and beer/beverage ticket bundle to use at the Can Jam Music Festival the day of the event.
General Event Volunteers: Assist with route markings, road crossings, rest stops, check in, and other tasks during the event. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt, food & beer. Volunteers in this category won’t be able to participate in the ride.
Parking/Registration Volunteers: For volunteers who wish to assist with morning parking or check-in, and still be able participate in the ride. Volunteers receive a free t-shirt, food & beer, but must purchase a registration to participate in the ride.
More details about becoming a Ride for the River volunteer will be announced soon. For any questions, please email mpatterson@schuylkillriver.org.
About Can Jam Festival
Photo by Mike Stokes
Schuylkill River Greenways organizes the Ride for the River event in partnership with the Sly Fox Brewery’s CAN JAM Music Festival. The festival is located at 331 Circle of Progress Drive in Pottstown, just 3 miles from the ride’s finish location. All ride participants receive a beer/drink and food voucher bundle to use at the free festival. There will be reserved parking at the Can Jam Music Festival for Ride for the River participants.
Sly Fox Brewing Company’s CAN JAM Music Festival is curated to feature rising regional independent talent, authentic and original, just like Sly Fox beers! A free day of amazing music in the beautiful pastures adjoining the brewery, accentuated by one of the largest KanJam® tournaments on the planet.
The CAN JAM Music Festival celebrates Sly Fox Brewing Company’s role as an early adopter, evangelist and promoter of cans—the hottest packaging trend in the craft brewing industry. Learn more about CAN JAM.
