Laceyville: Song of the Stone Castle
44 miles | 4,648’ | 64% unpaved
Climb through the scenic countryside surrounding Lawton and Rushville, where quiet gravel roads, rolling farmland, and a well-earned stop at Song of the Bread make every mile worthwhile.
This challenging route, with several notable climbs, is best ridden on the weekend to enjoy the fresh delights at Song of the Bread. What goes up must come down, and the steep roads reward climbers with sustained descents. Rolling up, down, and around these hilly farms, riders will lose track of all the cows, horses, and other farm animals dotting the route.
Named after the sweet music made by crackling bread fresh out of the oven, Song of the Bread has earned something of a cult following for its traditional French baking. Family-run and only open Thursday through Saturday, this bakery doesn’t accept credit or debit cards, so make sure to bring cash if you plan to resupply here. Perhaps it's the delicious French bread, sweet pastries, or the charm of the owners, Betsy and Tim, but riders don’t want to miss this hidden gem, just barely off route at Mile 14.
On the back half of the route, riders will find themselves in Lawton, with several options for resupply, including a diner, music venue, and convenience store inside an iconic stone castle. Although Lawton lacks a traditional main street, it has become quite the community hub, with ballfields, a hardware store, and a small outdoor mall. If you need anything to finish out the route, Lawton is sure to have it.
