Pittsburgh: A City for Peanut Butter Bicycle Bars

"The Banana Seat" from OTB on Carson Street

 

It's not what you think. Honest.

 

That picture looks somewhat disgusting. I know.

 

But wrapped inside those little fried bacon blankets exists incredible banana slices, warmed to perfection. Both lie atop a spread of delicious, creamy homemade peanut butter from Pittsburgh's own Wholey's.  All that on top of a turkey burger, my friends. Add a splash of ketchup, and I swear you'll say "Burgatory who?"

 

This is what I discovered on my "rest day" bike ride to the Southside. I know, I know. I've preached about how important rest days are. But when the forecast predicts 79 and SUNNY, an out-of-towner would think every single building and residence in Pittsburgh had a fire drill. People flock to the great outdoors when the sun shows its face in Pittsburgh.

 

My day started with a bike ride to church at the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community (HMBFC). The HMBFC is actually a church that exists in the Southside that was once a bar. Yes, they actually turned a bar into a church, not the reverse. And it happens to be incredibly accessible by bike. They don't even mind if you show up in padded spandex pants either. Win!

 

Bike racks outside of HMBFC

Three Rivers Heritage Trail, Friends of the Riverfront

 

From our church, we took a short ride over to OTB Bicycle Cafe, where I made out with that beauty of a burger shown above. If peanut butter and bacon aren't your thing, they even have a "secret" Paleo menu, for the health-conscious populace.

Aubrey and Abby enjoying a little outside seating action.

OTB parking

After OTB, we rode to Point State Park, all accessible by trail (for the exception of about three bike-friendly blocks). To see just how bike-friendly Pittsburgh has become, check out BikePgh's website. REI also gives free bike maintenance classes, as well as other sessions on how to show your bike a little TLC.

Point State Park, Pittsburgh PA

From the Point, I highly recommend spinning your wheels up the Allegheny to Redfin Blues, a raw bar and grille that seemingly fell from space onto Washinton's Landing but should only exist on a Florida coastline. Order a Corona and shrimp cocktail, and you'll expect to see dolphins jumping in the river.

Before returning home, we popped into the Milkshake Factory back on Carson for a little more gluttony.

I was really busy eating more peanut butter (in milkshake form) to take
 a picture so I borrowed one from Allison Lehman.



Biking around Pittsburgh and stopping to eat a few times makes blowing off a "rest day" and working out for six consecutive days all worth it. After all, "it's all about balance," right?