61 years old - 41 miles and not even tired

I am fortunate to live in the most spectacular county on the East Coast for biking - Chester County. The county is west of Philadelphia. County seat is West Chester. Plus I am lucky enough to have the most talented group of like-minded folks with which to bike. All of us are past 50, some past 60 and we all rock on the bike. Off we go and knock off 30 or more miles without a blink.

We all bike well and often. We climb hills and handle ourselves on the road with confidence. Biking, if you are nearly retirement, is probably the best activity you can do. It is easy on the knees and you can sit the entire time if you choose. You can go slow or fast. It does not matter as long as you are out enjoying the fresh air. We have spotted herons and bald eagles on our rides. The bike allows you to find roads in your area that you did not know existed until you climbed onto a bike. Chester County is loaded with tertiary roads.

Today we rode through gorgeous horse farms and a covered bridge. The Biker Chicks are one lucky group. We are healthy enough to bike and lucky enough to live in Chester County.

Dear Governor Corbett and PENN DOT

Some folks that run the Pennsylvania Transportation Department feel that using oil and chips is a fine way to resurface a road. Today I learned that PENN DOT dumped a truckload of oil and chips on some of the most scenic roads in Chester County.

The big trucks dump tons of stones and oil and make a complete mess of smooth surfaced roads. And since these are back roads, they stay in this awful condition for months before cyclists and motor cyclists can use the roads.

Not to mention the mess the stones make with the properties that abut these roads. Gravel, several inches thick, lines the roads making them near unusable for cyclists. I guess the BIKE HATERS are happy to see the roads made impassable for anything other than tractors and 4 wheel vehicles.

SO I ASK the legislature of Pennsylvania why, as citizens of this state, we have NO SAY in how the roads are surfaced? I am willing to pay for macadam. The days of thinking of Chester County as some backwater farming community are long past.

Chester County is a premier biking community. It is a premier place to live. Many motorcyclists also use these roads. I bike past magnificent homes and horse farms in Chester County. These folks cannot be happy taking their cars on these roads either. It has to ruin paint jobs and nick up the surface.

What does tar and chip do for a road? Is it a worthwhile resurface treatment and why oh why cannot we not get macadam for our roads?

Where do my taxes go? Make a special tax for road resurfacing. I am more than willing to pay it if my county's roads got paved instead of ruined for months and months.

Come on Harrisburg, get into the 21st century and use a paving material that is not dangerous for cyclists and cars alike. So Gov, come on out and take a pleasant ride on our newly ruined roads. Better come in a tank.