Bucks County's tribute to the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders).
The Fools Classic is a challenging ca 79 mile ride held in bucolic Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It is among a growing list of rides in the US that emulate the conditions of the Northern European Spring Classics.
Despite being founded long prior to the Revolutionary War, Bucks County doesn't have much in terms of cobblestone roads, but due to its rural nature, there are many unsealed roads of dirt and gravel.
The ride starts and finishes at the Point Pleasant Fire Company, and travels through many Bucks County rural townships. The route passes through farmland, past pre-revolutionary houses, and small towns such as Ferndale. Kintersville, and Carversville.
There are 27 sections of dirt, gravel, and hardscrabble roads, which comprise approximately 23% of the course. Total elevation gain (according to RideWith GPS) is ca 6000'.
| Early Registration | through 2/7/16 | $45.00 | |
| Standard Registration | 2/8/16 – 4/3/16 | $50.00 | |
| Late Registration | 4/4/16 – 4/19/16 | $55.00 | |
| * On-Site Registration | 4/23/16 | $65.00 |
* On-Site Registration will only occur if the field limit has not been reached.
- 23 Apr 2016 1:00pm
- Tickets On Sale
- Fools ClassicFools ClassicPoint Pleasant, Pennsylvania, USA
- Up to 79 miles (127 km)
- From 50.00 USD
- 250 Riders
Extra Information
Glaciers carved out what is now the Delaware River, yielding some steep hills leading out of the river valley. These conditions combined with the dirt roads, lends perfectly to a tribute to the Ronde Van Vlaanderen.
While the route varies year-to-year, the concept is constant; ride a circuit of roads less traveled past picturesque farms, pre-revolutionary stone houses, and take in as many of the local unsealed roads as practical.
The unsealed roads are all maintained public roads that are used daily by standard vehicles. They are perfectly suitable for standard road bikes with normal road tires, though the organizers recommend that you leave the lightweight stuff at home, and suggest that tires larger than 23mm will make your ride more enjoyable.
While we have a mass start, everyone is welcome to ride at their own pace. This is a ride, and not a race, and the roads are open to normal vehicular traffic, so you are expected to obey all rules of the road.
The courses will be marked, and cue sheets will be available for download and printing by the participant. Links to GPS Data, and Cue Sheets will be emailed to all pre-registered riders in the days prior to the event.
The organizers provide one stocked “feed zone” where you can stop, take on food and beverage. This will be at ca mile 52. There will also be 1 self-serve hydration station for water and drink mix, and gel at mile 18.5.
The conditions and date of the Fools Classic make it a perfect tune up/training ride for those going to the Tour of the Battenkill on April 5th.
Proceeds from the Fools Classic will support the Philadelphia Cyclocross School (PCS) is an organization founded on two simple goals: (1) Introduce and provide support for a group of young and talented European cyclocross riders to American culture, while (2) raising the level of competition on the domestic cyclocross circuit. The result is a cultural exchange program with an Elite Espoir (U23) Developmental Team and a junior (U19) program.
Other Charity Partners & beneficiaries will be named soon.
