%20(1).png)
.png){kind=icon}
Whether you're training for your next century, discovering gravel riding for the first time...
I grew up just down the road in Boyertown. Like a lot of kids, I was searching for something that felt like mine. I wasn't entirely sure where I was headed or what I wanted to become. Then someone told me about a place in Trexlertown where people raced bicycles around a concrete oval.
That place was the Valley Preferred Cycling Center.
What started as curiosity quickly became something much bigger. Cycling gave me structure. It introduced me to people who expected something of me, challenged me and encouraged me. It became the foundation for so much of my life.
After graduating from college, I had the opportunity to work at the velodrome, a place that has produced Olympic champions and welcomed the world's best riders for nearly five decades. Looking back, it's hard to imagine where I'd be without it.
Life eventually took me to Florida, where my wife and I spent many wonderful years building careers and raising our family. But when it came time to decide where we wanted to plant roots again, the answer surprised almost everyone except us.
We came back to Kutztown.
Sure, family played a role. But honestly? One of the biggest reasons was the riding.
I like to call this area University Valley. (See a few ride route ideas below at the end of the article)
With Kutztown University at its center and surrounded by small towns, farmland and quiet country roads, I honestly believe this is one of the best places to ride a bicycle anywhere in the Northeast.
Within minutes of leaving downtown Kutztown, you're rolling through open farmland toward Blue Mountain or South Mountain. The roads twist past covered bridges, old stone farmhouses, winding creeks and barns that have stood for generations. The scenery changes every few miles, and somehow every season feels like an entirely different place.
Some mornings I just want an easy spin.
One of my favorite rides is a 20-mile flat loop to The Market Cafe in Topton. It's the perfect recovery ride. No massive climbs, just smooth roads, friendly waves from other cyclists and a great cup of coffee waiting at the end.
Other days I'm looking for something with a little more challenge.
The 26-mile northwest loop has enough rollers to remind your legs they're working without ever becoming overwhelming. It's probably the route I ride most often because it packs so much scenery into just over an hour and a half.
When I've got more time, I point my bike toward Wanamaker's General Store. It's about 57 miles round trip, with beautiful farmland, quiet roads and one of those classic Pennsylvania destinations that feels like stepping back in time.
Then there are the days when only a long ride will do.
The Lake Ontelaunee loop, just over 60 miles, has become one of my favorites. The roads are outstanding, the views around the reservoir are beautiful and you finish feeling like you've truly gone somewhere.
And that's just road riding.
If gravel is your thing, you'll find countless farm roads and backcountry connectors that seem built for adventure.
If you prefer dirt, Blue Marsh Lake is only a short drive away and offers some of the best mountain biking in eastern Pennsylvania, with miles of flowing singletrack, technical rock sections and lakeside trails.
And if you've never experienced track cycling, there's no better place to learn than the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. Whether you're watching Friday Night Racing or taking your first beginner class, it's an experience every cyclist should have at least once.
Around here, coffee isn't the reward.
It's part of the ride.
That's one of the things I love most about this community.
There's almost always a group heading somewhere, and almost every ride seems to end with coffee.
Sometimes it's The Bagel Bar Cafe in Kutztown. If you've ridden here long enough, chances are you've run into Jimmy behind the counter or bumped into someone you know grabbing breakfast after logging a few hours on the bike. It's more than a coffee shop—it's part of the local cycling culture.
Other mornings we head over to Four Monkeys Coffee, another Kutztown favorite where great coffee and cycling conversations seem to go hand in hand.
Then there's The Market Cafe in Topton. For many of us, it's less of a destination than a tradition. You'll often find bikes leaning against the building while riders compare routes, talk about the weather or decide whether to tack on another ten miles before heading home.
If this article inspires you to explore University Valley for yourself, here are a few of my favorite rides to get you started. Whether you're looking for an easy coffee spin, rolling countryside, or a longer endurance adventure, these routes showcase many of the roads I find myself riding again and again.
My Favorite Local Rides
🚴 20-Mile Flat Loop to The Market Cafe
A relaxed ride that's perfect for beginners, recovery days or anyone looking to enjoy breakfast and coffee in Topton.
20.1 miles on Strava - Click Here
🚴 Northwest Loop
One of my regular weekday rides with just enough hills to keep things interesting.
26.3 miles on Strava - Click Here
🚴 Wanamaker's Store Ride
A local classic through beautiful Berks County farmland with a stop at the historic general store.
57.1 miles on Strava - Click Here
🚴 Lake Ontelaunee Loop
One of my favorite longer rides featuring quiet roads, rolling terrain and beautiful reservoir views.
60.1 miles on Strava - Click Here
Whether you're visiting for a weekend or looking for your next favorite ride, these Ride with GPS routes are a great place to start.
Maybe I'll see you out on the road. If you spot a cyclist waving as they roll through the farmland between Kutztown and Topton—or standing in line for coffee at The Bagel Bar, Four Monkeys or The Market Cafe—there's a good chance it's me. Be sure to say hello. Around here, that's just part of the ride.
%20(1).png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
