The Ride Your Butt(er) Off for a Cause! 161K is the middle event in our Build-Up-to-200K Spring Series, bridging the March 107K and the May 200K. It’s designed to give riders a longer day in the saddle, a taste of real randonneuring terrain, and plenty of motivation in the form of excellent pastries, all while promoting a good cause.

100% of the entry fees for this event will go towards fundraising for The Boys & Girls Club of Newton. The Boys & Girls Club of Newton helps young people reach their fullest potential by providing a safe, supportive environment and hands-on programs in athletics, STEM, arts, and leadership. Through activities such as cooking and wellness classes, academic support, and career exploration, members gain vital skills, confidence, and mentorship. By promoting healthy habits and fostering an inclusive community, the Club ensures every young person is empowered to grow and lead. This mission is centered on creating the leaders of tomorrow. Fundraising efforts directly enable the Club to provide the opportunities, mentorship, and support that shape these future leaders.

The ride starts and finishes at the Chamounix Carriage House in Fairmount Park. From there, we roll out through the quiet streets of the Main Line, easing into the day before reaching our first control at The Buttery, a beloved stop in Malvern for Philly-area cyclists and one of the inspirations for the ride’s name.

After leaving The Buttery, the route drops into the Great Valley, where riders will enjoy a few easy miles on the Chester Valley Trail (CVT). The calm doesn’t last forever, though, as the first of two notable climbs begins on Yellow Springs Road. This climb is about one kilometer long, averaging roughly 7%, and serves as a solid introduction to the day’s hillier terrain.

From there, the ride heads into classic Chester County scenery, following the quiet country lanes of Horseshoe Trail (the road, not the actual horse trail) and Nantmeal Road. The route reaches its farthest point from the start at French Creek State Park, where riders will find a control and a chance to refocus before heading back east.

The return trip includes more rolling farmland before tackling the second big climb of the day: Horseshoe Trail from Nantmeal, a little over half a mile at around 8%. It’s short, punchy, and earns its reputation, but the reward is near. Riders are treated to a beautiful, flowing descent on Birchrun Road, leading straight to the next control at the Butterscotch Pastry Shop (pictured above), another favorite cycling stop and a well-earned morale boost.

From there, the route makes its way toward Spring City, where a Wawa control provides a final opportunity tostock up on water, calories, and any other necessities before the ride back to Philadelphia and the finish at Chamounix.

With scenic roads, just enough climbing to keep things honest, and some of the best pastry stops in the region, Ride Your Butt(er) Off for a Cause! is a challenging but approachable step toward a spring 200K, and a reminder that long rides are better when butter and sugar are involved.

This event supports the Boys & Girls Club. Optional donations can be made here: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/john-m-barry-boys-and-girls-club-of-newton-inc/end-of-year-appeal