Riding Pennsylvania Covered Bridges Close to Home (and Why I Still Can’t Find Good Gloves)

There is something about Pennsylvania covered bridges that just never gets old. I know that sounds corny, but hear me out. When you live close to a couple of them, they become part of your riding routine in a way that bigger destinations never really do. You do not plan a whole day around them. You just ride through on the way home, feel that familiar clunk of old wooden planks under your tires, and it puts a smile on your face every single time. That is exactly what happened on this ride, a quick cold-weather loop through two covered bridges near home, along with some glove complaints, a road sign full of moto vlog stickers, and one very cold moment of forgetting I was wearing a helmet.

That Sticker Sign Though

After riding through the first bridge, I spotted the old road sign. The back side is covered in stickers. We are talking Goofy Bastard, Wind Road Therapy, Purple on Three, PSP, Tommy G, Dewey Rides, Trekkie Moto, Moto Mengi, Motorcycling with Carl, Mr. McStach, JP1970, Deluxe Chimp, Military Biker, North Co Baggers, Riding with Cedric, Bluegrass Riders, Motoramblings, NVA Rider, Blue Bike and Doyle, Misplaced Motovlogger, Sinister Clutch, Chopperfett, Two Wheeld, and a few more I was trying to work out.

Some of those channels are still going strong. Some of them are gone. A few I was not even sure about. But seeing all those stickers together in one spot is kind of a time capsule of the moto vlog community. Patrick from Motor Ramblings is still out there. NVA Rider I believe has moved on to a Gold Wing. Chopperfett unfortunately is not around anymore. It is a fun little snapshot of a piece of the community

The Greisemer Mill Covered Bridge: One of My Favorites

The first stop was the Greisemer Mill Covered Bridge. I have to say, it is looking a little rough these days, but that kind of adds to the charm if you ask me. These are old structures. They are not supposed to look like they just came off a showroom floor. What I did notice is some newer boards up where the corner of the bridge got knocked out a couple years back. A vehicle hit it, and they had to close off that whole stretch of road to do the repairs. The new boards stand out against the older wood, obviously, but it is holding together.

Seeing it without all the summer foliage around it is a totally different experience. It looks more exposed this time of year, almost a little lonely out there. But it is still one of those places I like to swing through whenever I am out on a ride. It is close to home, it is free, and it takes a few seconds to ride through. Sometimes that is all you need.

Pennsylvania covered bridges are kind of my thing. I have been visiting them for years, and the state has a lot of them. I want to say somewhere around 119, though I could be off by a few. Either way, it is enough to keep a rider busy for a good long while if you set your mind to tracking them all down. My goal this year is to get out and visit as many as I can while the riding season allows it.

A Quick Stop at the Pleasantville Covered Bridge

On the way home, I swung past the second covered bridge that is close to home. These two are less than two miles apart, which is pretty cool when you think about it. This one I did not stop at because there is really nowhere good to pull over. It is tucked into a developed area with houses on either side and a business nearby, so you do not get a great view of it from a distance. But riding through it is still worth it, and if you have been watching the channel for a while, you have definitely seen this one before. Old faithful.

Let’s Talk About These Indie Ridge Gloves

Okay, real talk. I have been dealing with a glove situation. I picked up a pair of Indie Ridge gauntlet gloves on sale for around 35 bucks. Great price, nice gauntlet style that keeps the cold air from sneaking up your sleeve, and decent knuckle protection tucked under a layer of leather. On paper they check a lot of boxes.

The problem is the stitching on the inside. It feels like tiny little pins jabbing your fingers the whole time you are riding. I wore them once, stuck them in the cabinet, and did not touch them for over a year. The only reason I pulled them back out is because my old gloves are starting to fall apart at the wrist from constantly pulling them on and off. So here I am, giving the Indie Ridge gloves another shot and hoping they break in.

I actually went out to the Cycle Gear in King of Prussia a while back with Goofy Bastard and Scott from Scott’s Moto Adventures. Found some gloves on the sale rack that looked promising, but the only size they had in my size was red and I wanted black, so I passed. Looked them up online later at the same sale price, almost pulled the trigger, then read the reviews. A lot of people mentioned the gloves coming apart. Dodged that one.

When it comes to gloves, I know what I want. I want a palm slider, I want knuckle protection, and I want gauntlet style. It feels like a lot of the affordable gloves out there are missing at least one of those things. If I am just getting a plain leather glove with nothing else going on, I might as well wear gardening gloves. So the search continues.

If you have tips on breaking in stiff leather gloves or have a recommendation for gloves that check all three of those boxes without breaking the bank, drop it in the comments. I am genuinely open to suggestions at this point.

Getting Out There When You Can

Cold weather riding is not for everyone, and honestly on this particular day I was reminded of that when I got off the bike and immediately tried to blow warm air on my fingertips. I smacked myself right in the face with my own hand. Forgot I had the helmet on. Classic move. Zero out of ten, would not recommend.

But even with cold fingers and questionable glove choices, getting out to ride Pennsylvania covered bridges close to home is always worth it. They are a big part of what makes riding around here so great. A little history, a little scenery, and zero admission charge. This year I want to make a real effort to get out and see more of them. If you have a favorite covered bridge in Pennsylvania, let me know in the comments. I am always looking for the next one to add to the list.