COATESVILLE, PA — Miles of preserved countryside, historic villages and winding roads along the Brandywine will become a playground for cyclists this September as Bike the Brandywine returns with a new starting point and its first family ride.
The Brandywine Conservancy’s annual cycling event will begin and end at Plantation Field on Sept. 19, placing riders in the middle of thousands of acres of preserved land. Cyclists can choose from routes of approximately 25, 45, or 62 miles, while families will have a new 4.5-mile option designed for younger riders.
The event is not a race. Instead, organizers encourage participants to ride at a pace that lets them take in the scenery, historic landscapes, and communities along the Brandywine Creek Greenway.
For 2026, the biggest change may be the new family route. Adults can register with up to two children ages 6 to 14 for an approximately 4.5-mile out-and-back ride along quiet country roads, with a family-friendly rest stop at the halfway point.
The longer routes offer progressively bigger challenges.
The 25-mile course follows portions of the Brandywine Creek Greenway past the West Branch of the Brandywine, Embreeville Mill, and historic Marshallton Village before returning through Unionville.
The 45-mile route adds more countryside west of The Whip Tavern, while the 62-mile metric century takes riders past the King Ranch, Marshallton and Unionville villages and open agricultural lands.
Cyclists should still expect some climbing. Organizers estimate roughly 1,500 feet of elevation gain on the 25-mile route, 3,000 feet on the 45-mile course, and 3,900 feet on the metric century.
Event Details
- What: Bike the Brandywine
- When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; departures begin at 7 a.m.
- Where: Plantation Field, 355 Apple Grove Road, Coatesville, PA 19320
- Cost/Tickets: Family Ride, $35. Standard registration Sept. 1–17, $75 per rider. Packet pick-up and day-of-ride registration Sept. 18–19, $85 per rider. Brandywine members and registrants purchasing qualifying memberships may receive a 20% discount.
- More Info: https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/bike-brandywine
Riders will receive route markings and cue sheets, access to stocked rest stops, and Support and Gear assistance from Trek Delaware. A free lunch after the ride and a commemorative T-shirt are also included.
Rest stops will be spaced approximately every 10 to 20 miles depending on the course, with hydration, nutrition, and bathroom facilities available.
The day begins early for the longest-distance riders. Check-in for the 62-mile route opens at 6:30 a.m., with riders departing at 7 a.m. Check-in for the 25- and 45-mile courses begins at 7:30 a.m., followed by an 8 a.m. departure.
Family Ride registration opens at 10:15 a.m., with that group leaving at 10:30 a.m. Lunch begins at 11 a.m., and ride support concludes at 4:30 p.m.
Participants can also pick up their packets early from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 18 in the courtyard of the Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffmans Mill Road, Chadds Ford. The ride itself does not start or finish at the museum.
A Ride With a Conservation Mission
Bike the Brandywine also serves as a fundraiser for the Brandywine Conservancy, which has worked for more than 55 years to protect land and preserve water quality and quantity throughout the region.
Proceeds from the ride support that land and water conservation work, giving participants a chance to pedal through landscapes similar to those the organization works to preserve.
The event takes place rain or shine, although flooding or hurricane or tropical storm warnings could lead to cancellation. Registration fees are nonrefundable.
All riders must wear helmets and closed-toe shoes. Riders under 16 must be accompanied by an adult completing the same course, while the longer rides are open to participants age 14 and older. E-bikes meeting the event’s requirements are permitted for riders age 16 and older.
Because the routes use public roads, motorists will remain present throughout the day. Riders are expected to obey traffic laws, stay to the right, use single-file riding in traffic and follow other safety rules established by organizers.
For cyclists who want a challenging day in the saddle, families looking for a shorter introduction to riding together, or anyone eager to see Chester County from two wheels, Bike the Brandywine offers several ways to experience the landscape.
And with a new home at Plantation Field, this year’s ride puts the scenery — preserved farms, woodlands, historic villages and the Brandywine itself — at the center of the journey.
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