Still Time To Register For June 9 French Creek Iron Tour Cycling For Open Space In Chester County

Over 1,000 riders are expected to ride in the French Creek Iron Tour “Cycling for Open Space” event on June 9, starting at the Kimberton Fire Company Fairgrounds, 762 Pike Springs Road, Phoenixville, Chester County.

The Iron Tour is a fundraiser for French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, whose mission is to preserve, steward, and connect people to the land in northern Chester County.

Registration will close at 5:00 p.m., June 6. Riders who register by May 23 will receive a free t-shirt. There will be no day-of-event registration. Registration is non-refundable, and the ride takes place rain or shine.

According to Iron Tour event chair, Jen Trachtman, “Riders will have a blast cycling through iron furnace country! When you ride in the French Creek Iron Tour, you will have a direct impact on the preservation of the pristine countryside that surrounds you. French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust preserves open space where iron blast furnaces and forges served as cornerstones of industry in colonial Pennsylvania – hence ‘Iron Tour’.”

The Iron Tour has distance options of 11, 20, 32, 50, 62, 75, and 100 miles. NEW for 2019 is a 70-mile Gravel Grinder with approximately 40 percent on gravel.

There’s something for every type of rider, from a short ride through breathtaking countryside to a century route that visits numerous quaint villages and historical landmarks.

The start and finish location at the Kimberton Fire Company Fairgrounds provides an excellent launch into unspoiled country and a great place to gather afterward for fun, free food & beer, and music.

“Riders will pass ‘Preserved Forever’ signs along the routes, indicating properties that are protected by conservation easements held by French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust,” said Trachtman. “These easements ensure the properties will be preserved as open space.”

In its 17th year, the French Creek Iron Tour has acquired a good following among cyclists and has earned a reputation for its first-class rest stops and delicious food.

For descriptions of all distance options, schedules and more are available at the French Creek Iron Tour website.

For more information on programs, initiatives, other upcoming events and how you can get involved, visit the French & Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust website.