The Poconos Fall Foliage peak is set for October 22nd, according to the Pocono Mountains Visitor’s Bureau website.

Week of Thursday, October 15, 2015 – Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Northern Tier: The Northern Hardwood forests are in full color. The Oaks should be in full color this week and will hail the end of the color for the northern tier. While you are out mountain biking, make sure you look out for the bright orange of the Red Oaks and dark red of the White Oaks. The Wyoming Valley and Lower Wayne county area should be in peak color by the end of the week into next weekend so check out the rail trail biking with a bike rental from Pocono Bike Rental!

Central Region: All of the trees in the region should be at their peak fall foliage color this week. The Oak trees have really started to show their colors in the last few days. They are displaying a wonderful array of pigmentation. From russet orange to deep bronze, and auburn reds to a crimson hue.

Southern Poconos: Autumn’s coloration is nearing its glory. The reds of the Red Maple and Virginia Creeper, the deep maroons of Black Gum, oranges of Sassafras, and the brilliant yellows of Black Birch and Cherry provide striking displays along the roadways and across the landscape.  Most of the landscape is covered with Red, Black, Scarlet, Chestnut, and White Oaks which are just beginning to reveal their autumn colors. Over the next week or so, the Red and Scarlet Oaks will turn red, Black Oaks will show a russet brown along with Chestnut Oaks, and the White Oak leaves will turn to a purplish red color that is one of the favored colors of autumn. The mountains around Jim Thorpe and the forests in Hickory Run State Park provide excellent opportunities to see, to explore and  to enjoy nature at its finest! The projected date for peak color is October 22, 2015.

Fall Foliage Activities:

The Pocono Food Truck Festival with over 20 food trucks, a food network celebrity, live music, scenic chairlift rides is at Shawnee on the Delaware this weekend. There is always stuff going on in Jim Thorpe for the Fall Foliage Festival that happens there the first 3 weekends in October and concludes October 18th. Bushkill Falls is truly an amazing experience this time of year during the fall foliage! The Lake Harmony area brings you up close to the water reflecting the full spectrum of color during the fall season.

The Lehigh Gorge State Park is by far the best place to view the fall foliage up close and in all it’s vast glory by biking in the Poconos! Check out the White Haven area to stay and go see the fall foliage while mountain biking with us here at Pocono Bike Rentals.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry Weekly Fall Foliage Report: October 14, 2015

Some information used with permission by the DCNR and was excerpted from:
Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau and more fall foliage information can be found on their website. Their Fall Foliage Peak map can also be found on our fall foliage bike tours page.
The DCNR Penn’s Woods Fall Foliage Webpage
Why Do Autumn Leaves Change Color?
Penn’s Woods Fall Foliage Interactive Story Maps

Poconos Fall Foliage tours are offered in only one place, Pocono Bike Rental! See the fall foliage and stay in shape at the same time!

Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation — or anywhere in the world frankly, and right now it’s in FULL SWING!

This is no empty boast. Only three regions of the world support deciduous forests that display fall autumn color: eastern North America; the British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe; northeastern China and northern Japan. Forests in other regions are either tropical or dominated by conifers. Poconos Fall Foliage we feel is the best because of our unique mountainous Pocono Plateau.

Pennsylvania’s location between 40° and 42° North latitude and its varied topography from sea level on the coastal plain to over 3,000 feet in the Laurel Highlands supports 134 species of trees and many more shrubs and vines that contribute to the display of autumn color.

Pennsylvania is the meeting ground of northern trees that flourish only on mountain tops farther south and southern species that are at the northern limits of their range.  Gray and paper birch, mountain maple and mountain-ash from the north share Penn’s Woods with southern red oak, sweetbay and umbrella magnolias, sourwood, persimmon and sweetgum from the south. This influences the Poconos Fall Foliage enough to create the most diverse color palette in the world. Ohio buckeye, bur oak, and shingle oak, common to the Mississippi Valley, have eastern outposts on the Allegheny Plateau also providing an awesome fall foliage experience.

For years, scientists have worked to understand the changes that happen to trees and shrubs in autumn. Although we don’t know all the details, we know enough to explain the basics and help you to enjoy nature’s multicolored autumn display. Three factors influence autumn color — leaf pigments, length of night, and weather, but not quite in the way we were told as children. The timing of color change and leaf fall are primarily regulated by the increasing length of night. None of the other environmental influences-temperature, rainfall, food supply, and so on-are as unvarying as the steadily increasing length of night during autumn. As days grow shorter, and nights grow longer and cooler, biochemical processes in the leaf begin to paint the landscape with nature’s autumn palette so this year’s longer winter, wetter summer and brief cold spell we just got really has little effect on the peak color palette and it’s timing.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry Weekly Fall Foliage Report: October 14, 2015

Some information used with permission by the DCNR and was excerpted from:
The DCNR Penn’s Woods Fall Foliage Webpage
Why Do Autumn Leaves Change Color?
Penn’s Woods Fall Foliage Interactive Story Maps

Poconos Fall Foliage tours are offered in only one place, Pocono Bike Rental! See the fall foliage and stay in shape at the same time!

PoconoBikeRental.com is a proud member of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau and more fall foliage information can be found on their website. Their Fall Foliage Peak map can also be found on our fall foliage bike tours page.

Start planning your Fall Foliage Poconos Getaway!

There’s a chill in the morning air and hints of orange-red on the tree limbs. Fall is here and foliage experts are predicting a spectacular color season! We had a very wet spring and winter delayed summer and the trees LOVE these stressful conditions! Some folks have expressed concern about the recent dry spell, but trees and most other plants slow their intake of moisture during this time of year, so it should be of little consequence to the foliage.

Experts say the late beginning to the summer season has set the stage for potentially exceptional fall colors in the Northeast. Though the weather through mid-October will ultimately determine how splendid of a display will emerge, it will continue well into late October, according to Accuweather.com. The Pocono Mountain’s Visitor’s Bureau also predicts a late fall foliage peak season and forecasts the weekend of October 17th and 18th to be the Fall Foliage Peak Time.

Pennsylvania in fall provides one of the most diverse color palette’s in the world, according to many botanists and forestry experts, and the Poconos a 2,400 square mile mountainous region of PA offers the best way to see it. With over 127 deciduous tree varieties changing color for our viewing pleasure, it truly never disappoints.

Though the early emergence of color can already be seen in many locations throughout the East, the peak of colors will hold off for a while. “Pennsylvania fall foliage and the timing of the Poconos peak fall foliage season has experienced another round of summer-like temperatures, which is hindering color change,” states Tom Williams, owner of Pocono Bike Rental, a bike rental business located in the heart of the Poconos. “We are located at the entrance to the Nationally recognized Lehigh Gorge State Park (featuring 26 miles of Rail Trail Mountain Biking) which is deep inside 1,000 foot near vertical Lehigh Gorge walls offering it’s own unique Eco-system of temperature, humidity and sunlight.” “The fall foliage is affected greatly by this Appalachian Mountain altitude disparity especially being that the Pocono Plateau starts at over 1,200 feet above sea level and climbs to  2,600 feet affecting exposure to the rising and setting sun at a more shallow fall angles.”

Late this coming weekend, temperatures return again to more unseasonable summer like levels and that should again momentarily delay the full emergence of the fall color spectrum. The experts of The Foliage Network have stated “The weather plays an important role in the timing and duration of the fall foliage season.  In general, the best weather for the foliage features warm, sunny days and cool, crisp evenings.  With respect to precipitation, occasional rain (not long duration heavy rain) is best.” So this may mean we may just have a extra lengthy visual performance with an encore set of coloring into November!

The Poconos Fall Foliage while world famous for its visual artistry, is also unique in the fact you can access it quite easily via Biking, Whitewater Rafting and Hiking Tours. The Lehigh Gorge State Park located in the heart of the Poconos in the town of White Haven, PA, also offers excellent fishing and hiking on the Lehigh River. The White Haven, Poconos area boasts 4 disc golf courses 1 being located at Hickory Run State Park which provides both rustic and modern RV camping. The park is famous for it’s hiking trails and features the worlds largest Boulder Field! While enjoying the Poconos during the peak fall foliage season and participating in outdoor adventure sports, it gives you a great opportunity to maintain fitness while witnessing mother nature’s finest display of magic.

The final dam release of the Whitewater Rafting season on the Class 3+ Lehigh River is occurring October 9th, 10th and 11th, and the fall foliage will be at it’s peak! During that weekend it is also the Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce’s Outdoor Fall Festival featuring regional musicians, arts, craft and food vendors along with many family fun kids activities.

The fall season, otherwise known as Autumn, is the time of year when we have one last chance to use the great outdoors for a little more summer like fun before winter sets in so check out the Poconos Fall Foliage doing it in it’s truest form. The Poconos is but a 2 hour drive from both New York City and Philadelphia and most points in New Jersey are within that drive time as well.

Poconos Fall Foliage tours are offered all over the Northeast PA Poconos Resorts and State Parks. See the fall foliage and stay in shape at the same time and we obviously suggest you go on a fun fall foliage bike tour with Pocono Bike Rental!

PoconoBikeRental.com is a proud member of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau and more fall foliage information can be found on their website. Their Fall Foliage Peak map can also be found on our fall foliage bike tours page.

Lehigh Gorge State Park,
Rail Trail – 10 Mile Section
White Haven to Rockport, PA
Fitness Case Study
Andre Thomas, East Stroudsburg University, 
Internship Program in cooperation with:

PoconoBikeRental.com
322 Main Street White Haven, PA

“With the rising cost of healthcare in America, now is the best time to take control of your health.”

           “Did you know that rising health costs are closely associated with inactivity?” According to a study in 2004 by Dr. Guijing Wang and Dr. Caroline Macera, it was shown that for every dollar invested into mountain biking, an approximate $2.94 surplus of direct medical benefit was made. (Guijing Wang 2015)[1]. This shows that rail trail biking is cost beneficial from a public health perspective. In addition to being cost effective, it augments other essential areas of your life such as: family bonding, meeting new people, and recreational activities. The Lehigh Gorge Rail trail starts in White Haven sits just below the Pocono Plateau at just over 1100 feet above sea level, and it provides riders with refreshing Pocono air along the Journey, a nice change of pace compared to the tri-states’ surrounding cities.  White Haven (Elev: 1150′) to Rockport (Elev: 896′) Section 1 – Lehigh Gorge Trail 10 miles (Avg.5-1% downhill grade)

If you are stressed from a long week of work, a weekend outing on the trail could be just what you need! A study conducted by The Center for Disease and Control (CDC) has shown that outdoor physical activity helps prevent Heart Disease and Osteoporosis, controls high blood pressure, and reduces the risk of Diabetes and Arthritis.[2] Biking on the rail trail is an awesome way for people of all ages to stay in shape while putting low stress on your joints. As compared to running on concrete, grass, a treadmill or an elliptical, mountain biking is a low impact, fun and fat burning exercise. A beautiful day spent Biking equates to a physical and mental confidence boost on or off the trail, and plays a role in emotional well-being. Rail trail riding doesn’t have to be an exhausting activity because it can be done at your own pace and leisure.

In a report from the surgeon general, the CDC states that “People of all ages can benefit from moderate physical activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking only 3 times a week”. This small amount of time dedicated to exercise releases endorphins a chemical which reduces pain perception. “Through a modest increase in daily activity, most Americans can improve their health and quality of life.”(Manley 1996).[3] The Lehigh Gorge State Park Rail Trail has also been voted by Outside Magazine as “1 of the best 50 rail trail rides in America” (Outside Magazine May 2014).[4] Pocono Bike Rental, takes pride in providing customers with the safest mountain biking experience in the Northeastern PA at an affordable family rate! Whether it be losing weight or building cardiovascular fitness an all- inclusive wellness program will help.

     We have conducted an authentic study on the benefit of biking on the trail and its effect on your cardiovascular system. By using a polar heart rate monitor on myself while gauging heart rate on the trail, we were able to analyze pre (101 bpm) & post (118 bpm) heart rates, at normal/resting (64 bpm) and interval heart rates and compare those to average ranges for a baseline. A heart rate of about 60-70% of your maximum is the best range for fat burning. This is known as “The fat burning zone” because of the rate that fat is optimized and endurance is built. For example, if you are a new biker that is looking to shed some pounds, your body would rely more on utilizing fat as a fuel source as compared to avid mountain bikers. Since they tend to move at a faster pace, carbohydrates are now being expended because they provide the body with more immediate energy that meets the demand required.[5] “Using this concept, you can approximate the point at which fat burning peaks during exercise”. (Huff post Healthy living). [6]

My Pre-resting heart rate was increased to about 101 bpm, well above normal (64 bpm) due to an onset anticipation of biking. So as you can see it is in fact possible to lose weight at your own steady cadence even before getting on the bike. One method to find maximum heart rate is to subtract 220 from your age, then take about 40-60% of that number to find your “maximum fat burning zone.” On average we found that around an excess of 400-600 calories  are expended along the 10 mile trek (about 1-2-hours) depending on size, gender and fitness level. Peak heart rates for this test subject (140+bpm) occurred early on in the mostly downhill ride in order to get up to speed, efficient cadence and rhythm then the optimum heart rates (120+ bpm) for fat burning came at around 20 minutes of sustained pace. On top of riding the wonderful Lehigh rail trail to trim the edges, a healthier balanced diet that limits intake of fat and cholesterol is also beneficial for sustaining energy along the ride. Remember, healthy, low processed carbs without all the sauces are easier to digest as well cheaper to prepare.

As we all know, a balanced diet plays an integral role in weight loss if it’s your objective. These steps are vital to your body’s sustenance and efficiency. Interestingly enough, The Lehigh Gorge Rail trail s .5 -1% grade between White Haven and Rockport so the return trip is uphill if you choose to forgo the return shuttle. According to an article on Livestrong.com, it is proven that nearly 3 times the calories are burnt biking uphill than on a flat terrain. The simple reason is that your body is forced to work harder due to the increased gravity and there are multiple factors that influence this. These include Hill grade steepness, Cycling length, speed, pedaling gear, and wind resistance. They continue by stating, “These are uncontrollable factors, but still play a crucial in how many calories you may burn”. [7] So you can double your caloric burn of upwards of 1200+ calories, if you want to ride down and back to total 20 miles.

“Eating a quick snack beforehand rich in carbohydrates like a salad, peanut butter and jelly sandwich, or oatmeal prevents the body from using muscle tissue over fats or carbs.  The use of muscle tissue is the body’s response to finding any source of fuel when carbs or fats aren’t available for use for energy. Your muscles are made up of protein which is the body’s last resort for energy. When your body uses protein stores as a form of energy, the result is loss of body mass or weight.”[8]  These complications can lead to changes in metabolism, which is the rate at how fast you burn calories, and the disorder known as anorexia. Each week on our free fit rides, we will be conducting similar observations of the improvement on heart rates of bikers on the rail trail and prove its benefits to the public health.

“In conclusion, we learn that for the cost of an order of wings and a pitcher of beer you can substitute a healthy bike ride down the Lehigh Gorge State Park Rail Trail!”

[1] Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA (2009).

[2]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed arthritis and arthritis-attributable

Activity limitation—United States, 2003–2005. MMWR 2006;55:1089–1092. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5540a2.htm

[3]Audrey F. Manley “Physical Activity and Health” A report of the Surgeon General National Center for Chronic disease prevention and health promotion (1996)

[4] http://www.covepoconoresorts.com/blog/better-by-bike

[5] How the Body Works By Dr. Peter Abrahams

[6] Huffpost Healthy living http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-greenfield/fat-burning_b_1246983.html(2015)

[7] http://www.livestrong.com/article/315791-calories-burned-by-biking-uphill/(2014)

[8] http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/body-burn-carbs-protein-energy-9112.html

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-eat-cycling

The Lehigh Gorge Fitness Case Study in PDF form: Lehigh Gorge State Park Rail Trail Case Study

Poconos Bike Rentals rides the digital Pocono geography

Socially speaking the Poconos are a hot topic and a top trending keyword on the internet right now in the tri-state (NJ, NY, PA) area. “The people that are searching for things to do and places to visit are heading not only to Google for suggestions but using the search function of their favorite social media site, mobile app or video display service for ideas” says Tom Williams, owner and manager of Poconos Bike Rentals located in White Haven, PA at the start of the historic Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail, a world famous highlight of the Poconos.

Social media has played a role in business for a few years now but it has really taken hold in the outdoor activities, travel and resort industry. For this reason the staff at Pocono Bike Rental all pitches in when it comes to adding fresh content to multiple social platforms. One such platform is called Refer Local; it is similar to the daily coupon deals like groupon and living social but with a traditional print media angle. It’s paired with inline and online print mentions and ad rotations which give it a media shotgun like approach.

A key to their success is their highly interactive website with social media plugins imbedded into the site as well as share buttons on every page. The Pocono Bike Rental website also includes a page dedicated to tripadvisor with its review form built-in and uses a sidebar widget to display the latest reviews and rankings.

The website is tied into the Google+ page, facebook, twitter and keeps current with the latest blog posts from PoconoBikeRental.com through a newsletter function. Any and all points of social interest are on the table such as cross marketed blog authoring and other accredited citations such as The Poconos Visitor Bureau.

“YouTube is used extensively in producing high quality commercials, informational videos and other digital media content”, states Nicholas Toro, Pocono Bike Rental Videographer, and adds, “It is our sole medium for rich video content to promote our business efficiently.”

Tom speaks volumes about local SEO (search engine optimization) and paid traffic like PPC (pay per click) but also stresses “You need all 3; Social, organic and paid”.

Pocono Bike Rental Website:
https://poconobikerental.com
Pocono Bike Rental YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/poconobikerentallehighgorge
Pocono Bike Rental Google+ page:
https://plus.google.com/u/1/+PoconoBikeRentalLehighGorge
Pocono Bike Rental Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/poconobikerental
Pocono Bike Rental Twitter feed:
https://twitter.com/poconobikerent
Pocono Bike Rental tripadvisor listing:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g53991-d7170689-Reviews-Pocono_Bike_Rental-White_Haven_Luzerne_County_Pocono_Mountains_Region_Pennsylvania.html

Tom Williams, Media Contact, Pocono Bike Rental
570-899-5025 poconobikerental@gmail.com
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