Planning a Group Motorcycle Ride in Pennsylvania: Reviving the Road Apple Ride

There is something about a group motorcycle ride in Pennsylvania that just gets the blood moving. Whether you are carving through some back roads in Chester County or cruising through Amish country in Lancaster, riding with a solid crew of people who share that same passion for the road is hard to beat. For me personally, it brings back a lot of great memories of a ride I helped kick off a few years back called the Road Apple Ride. And after catching up with some of the guys recently, I am seriously thinking it is time to bring it back.

Where the Road Apple Ride Came From

A few years back, I connected with a buddy of mine who goes by Goofy Bastard on YouTube, and we put together what was at the time just a casual group ride. No official name, no big plans. A handful of guys were going to meet up at Valley Forge Park, wind through some covered bridges, and finish the day with lunch at Shady Maple Smorgasbord out in the Lancaster area.

The name Road Apple Ride came naturally from the route. If you have ever ridden through Amish country, you know that horse and buggy traffic is just part of the deal. And where there are horses, there are road apples. For the uninitiated, that is a polite way of saying horse droppings on the road. So the name stuck, and honestly it fits perfectly.

That First Ride Was Something Special

The group that first time out included Phil, Frank, Goofy, Trekkie, and a few others whose names I am blanking on now. It was a smaller group, but that honestly made it better in a lot of ways. Everyone was relaxed, the pace was comfortable, and the whole day just had a really good vibe to it.

For a lot of us, it was actually the first time we had ridden together in a real group ride setting. There is a learning curve to that. You have to communicate without words, trust the people around you, and match your riding to the group instead of just doing whatever you feel like. Once you get into that rhythm though, it is a genuinely great experience.

Shady Maple Smorgasbord: Worth Every Penny (Mostly)

Part of what made the Road Apple Ride stand out was the destination. Shady Maple Smorgasbord in East Earl, Pennsylvania is not your average lunch stop. It is a massive buffet, and depending on who you ask, it may be one of the largest in the entire country now that some of the big Vegas spots have closed down. The food is really, really good. We are talking Pennsylvania Dutch cooking on a large scale.

The one catch is that Saturday pricing runs higher than weekday rates. If you are not the type to go back for four plates, you might feel the pinch a little. Full disclosure, I am currently trying to dial back the buffet lifestyle a bit after dropping 20 pounds recently, so this is something I am personally thinking through as we plan the next one. But honestly, for a group ride destination, Shady Maple just works. The space can handle a big group, parking is easy with motorcycles, and it gives everyone a real payoff at the end of the ride.

Why Scheduling a Group Motorcycle Ride in Pennsylvania Is Trickier Than It Sounds

Getting a group of riders together sounds simple until you start looking at everyone’s calendar. The big wrinkle with the Road Apple Ride specifically is that Goofy works weekends. Shady Maple is Mennonite owned and closed on Sundays, which means a Saturday is basically the only option for this particular ride. Getting that Saturday to line up when Goofy is free, the weather cooperates, and enough of the guys are available requires a little patience.

We have made it work before and I am confident we can make it work again. It is just one of those things where you have to commit to a date early and get everyone locked in. Tentatively, I am thinking we target something for late summer. If you are in the area and interested in tagging along, keep an eye on the channel for updates.

A Few Things That Make Group Rides Go Smoothly

If you are new to group riding, or just getting back into it after a long break, here are a few things worth keeping in mind before you roll out with a crew.

Know the route before you go. Even if you are not the one leading, having a general idea of where you are headed helps if you get separated from the group.

Agree on signals in advance. Hand signals for slowing down, turning, or pulling over should be on the same page across every rider before you leave the parking lot.

Stagger your spacing. Riding staggered gives you more reaction time and keeps the group from bunching up at stops or tight corners.

Ride your own ride. This one is probably the most important. Never feel pressured to keep up if someone is pushing a pace that is not comfortable for you. A good group always waits.

Bringing It Back

Look, the Road Apple Ride was never some big organized event. It was just a group of guys who like motorcycles getting out on the road together and ending the day with a solid meal. That simplicity is exactly what made it good. No pressure, no rigid agenda, just riding.

I talked about all of this in the latest video, including a small detour into weight loss, Weston Super Motovlog losing an impressive amount of weight, and the bittersweet reality of going to a smorgasbord when you are trying to eat better. Hit play above and watch the full thing.

The Road Apple Ride 2021

Planning the 2021 Road Apple Ride