The list of registered riders for the PA1000k has been updated at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000K.html
There currently are 6 open slots remaining, before the field limit is reached.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
New Jersey Randonneurs
The Official Bulletin Board of the New Jersey/NYC Randonneurs
PA1000k (8/1/08 edition)
Moderator: Tom Rosenbauer
14 posts
• Page 1 of 1
PA1000k (8/1/08 edition)
by Tom Rosenbauer » Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:08 am
- Tom Rosenbauer
- Randonneur RBA
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:06 am
PA1000k update #1
by Tom Rosenbauer » Thu Jun 26, 2008 2:16 pm
The PA1000k website at
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000K.html
has been updated with:
- cuesheet
- list of services and points of interest on route
- revised map/profile
- revised route description (with links)
- revised schedule
- list of registered riders
The start time is now 4AM ... this should be early enough to miss most of the Friday morning rush hour traffic before getting to more rural areas past the first controle in Cherryville. The first day's segment to the sleep-over controle is only 213 miles, however there are several major climbs and some challenging terrain to get through. That being said, riders who can maintain a 12.5 MPH pace can reach Milford by sunset for an easy ride along Rt 11 into the hotel at Hallstead. If possible, you should try to keep at least a 11.5 MPH pace in order to reach the 190 mile mark by dark -- this will allow you get through all the steep twisty descents in daylight.
The second day starts out with some much gentler terrain along the NY Southern Tier to the next controle. This should allow most riders to leave a bit later (and get some more sleep). The list of services posted on the website:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... dNotes.pdf
works out some options for you to consider as far as departure time and pacing from the sleep-over controles.
Please note that the course takes you through some desolate areas. Use the list of services on route to map out your ride plan. Take note of particular stretches that have limited services. You should also be making plans for alternate means of transportation, in case circumstances prevent you from finishing under your own power.
There currently are 6 slots left before the rider field limit is reached ... if you have a riding partner who has not registered yet, they should do so ASAP.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns ... and keep training !!!
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000K.html
has been updated with:
- cuesheet
- list of services and points of interest on route
- revised map/profile
- revised route description (with links)
- revised schedule
- list of registered riders
The start time is now 4AM ... this should be early enough to miss most of the Friday morning rush hour traffic before getting to more rural areas past the first controle in Cherryville. The first day's segment to the sleep-over controle is only 213 miles, however there are several major climbs and some challenging terrain to get through. That being said, riders who can maintain a 12.5 MPH pace can reach Milford by sunset for an easy ride along Rt 11 into the hotel at Hallstead. If possible, you should try to keep at least a 11.5 MPH pace in order to reach the 190 mile mark by dark -- this will allow you get through all the steep twisty descents in daylight.
The second day starts out with some much gentler terrain along the NY Southern Tier to the next controle. This should allow most riders to leave a bit later (and get some more sleep). The list of services posted on the website:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... dNotes.pdf
works out some options for you to consider as far as departure time and pacing from the sleep-over controles.
Please note that the course takes you through some desolate areas. Use the list of services on route to map out your ride plan. Take note of particular stretches that have limited services. You should also be making plans for alternate means of transportation, in case circumstances prevent you from finishing under your own power.
There currently are 6 slots left before the rider field limit is reached ... if you have a riding partner who has not registered yet, they should do so ASAP.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns ... and keep training !!!
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
- Tom Rosenbauer
- Randonneur RBA
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:06 am
Re: PA1000k (8/1/08 edition)
by Steve » Fri Jul 18, 2008 6:28 pm
LOL Do not beg or pray for a hearse to come pick you up in Towanda... It won't.... 
<laughs evilly>
This will be the adventure of the season!! (I can say this because the Furnace Creek 508 is not till October, and that is out of the season LOL)
Can't Wait to hit the road!
Ciao
Steve
<laughs evilly> This will be the adventure of the season!! (I can say this because the Furnace Creek 508 is not till October, and that is out of the season LOL)Can't Wait to hit the road!
Ciao
Steve
“I've always got such high expectations for myself. I'm aware of them, but I can't relax them.”
- - Mary Decker Slaney
- - Mary Decker Slaney
-
Steve - Regular Member
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:38 am
- Location: king of prussia
PA1000k update #2
by Tom Rosenbauer » Sat Jul 19, 2008 12:24 pm
Greetings, PA1000k participant!
Several updates have been posted on the PA1000k webpage:
The list of riders and reservations has been updated ... let me know of any changes or corrections. The field limit of 16 riders is now full. However, I might be able to squeeze in another rider or two, if you know of somebody else who would like to sign up.
The cuesheet has been updated with a couple of course changes and several corrections and clarifications.
-The previous cuesheet update (draft 3) had a change to the location of Controle #2. This was motivated by a preride checkout during the time of day that most of you would be coming through -- I was not entirely happy with the rushhour traffic at the busy intersection in Cherryville, where the original controle was located. The new controle (Gulf Market) has a much safer approach and will limit the amount of time spent on Rt 248 which will be relatively busy.
- The current cuesheet update (draft 4) has some rerouting at mile 207, just before the first sleep-over controle. While Rt 11 will not have a lot of traffic when you come through, the shoulder is in bad shape and I did not like the idea of riders taking a line on the main road at night, with fast traffic. Instead, you will turn off on a parallel road (Old Rt 11) that is in much better shape and is much quieter. I've added 2 spotting cues to help you find this turn at night.
I've also posted an Excel file of the cuesheet, if you would like to use your own format. If you do make changes, do so carefully, since there are 3 worksheets that are all cross-linked.
I've also posted a list of services and points of interest, on route. This has recently been updated with a couple of changes and the addition of rest room locations. As I previously mentioned in my last update, you should take note of the long stretches between services that are highlighted. In particular:
- You should consider your options between controles 3 and 4 -- if you don't replenish your supplies by Rt 209 (mile 110), you have 22 miles and a major climb ahead of you before the next controle, just as the day is heating up.
- There is a long stretch before contole #8 with no services. The deli near Franklindale is a good place to replenish supplies.
- The leg between controles #8 and #9 is very long. However, there are several really good options to consider in the Little Pine Creek State Park area. As shown on the list of services, there is a restaurant just before you enter the park, one in the park, and one in Waterville, just as you exit the park.
- Controle 13 in Blue Ball is a post card drop with no services. However, there are several opportunites to replenish supplies before the controle in the numerous towns you'll be passing through. At the controle, you can find some services along Rt 23, off course. Alternatively, there are several good options 10 miles later in the Morgantown area around mile 570.
- There is a long stretch between controle 13 and the finish. The Joanna store is a good option near mile 572, if you pass through before closing time. If you are coming through late, there are 24-hr options in Morgantown and Gilbertsville.
You should prepare 2 drop bags, one for each sleep-over stop. You can drop then off at the hostel when you sign-in at the start. Please note the 12lb weight limit and the use of smaller bags will be appreciated. I will be staffing the first sleep-over controle and Ron and Barb Anderson will be staffing the second one. When you arrive at the hotel, go to the front desk area to look for any posted messages. The message board (or clerk at the front desk) will direct you to the staffed volunteer room, where you can collect your drop bag and room key. Food will also be available at the volunteer room. You will be paired off, based on your arrival, into rooms with 2 double beds. When you are ready to leave, return your key and drop bag to the staffed volunteer room. Drop bags can be picked up at the end of the event at the hostel, starting at 6PM Sunday.
The mileage on the first day is relatively short, in consideration of the hilly terrain. If you can maintain a 10hr per 200k pace, you should be able to get clear of the steep, twisty descents by nightfall. The terrain after the first sleep-over controle is much gentler, allowing you to bank some time. The notes in the "List of Services" document has some pacing/departure time options for you to consider at each sleep-over controle.
I've also posted updated safety instructions for you to review:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... ctions.pdf
In particular, take note that you should be making plans for alternate transportation, if circumstances prevent you from finishing under you own power.
Also, if you haven't seen the "What to Expect on a PA Brevet" document:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/WhatToExpect.pdf
... you should review this for an overview on hostel proceedures and parking your car during the event.
Just under 2 weeks to go, before you clip in for the start ... hope your training is on track!
As always, send me note if you have any questions or concerns.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
Several updates have been posted on the PA1000k webpage:
The list of riders and reservations has been updated ... let me know of any changes or corrections. The field limit of 16 riders is now full. However, I might be able to squeeze in another rider or two, if you know of somebody else who would like to sign up.
The cuesheet has been updated with a couple of course changes and several corrections and clarifications.
-The previous cuesheet update (draft 3) had a change to the location of Controle #2. This was motivated by a preride checkout during the time of day that most of you would be coming through -- I was not entirely happy with the rushhour traffic at the busy intersection in Cherryville, where the original controle was located. The new controle (Gulf Market) has a much safer approach and will limit the amount of time spent on Rt 248 which will be relatively busy.
- The current cuesheet update (draft 4) has some rerouting at mile 207, just before the first sleep-over controle. While Rt 11 will not have a lot of traffic when you come through, the shoulder is in bad shape and I did not like the idea of riders taking a line on the main road at night, with fast traffic. Instead, you will turn off on a parallel road (Old Rt 11) that is in much better shape and is much quieter. I've added 2 spotting cues to help you find this turn at night.
I've also posted an Excel file of the cuesheet, if you would like to use your own format. If you do make changes, do so carefully, since there are 3 worksheets that are all cross-linked.
I've also posted a list of services and points of interest, on route. This has recently been updated with a couple of changes and the addition of rest room locations. As I previously mentioned in my last update, you should take note of the long stretches between services that are highlighted. In particular:
- You should consider your options between controles 3 and 4 -- if you don't replenish your supplies by Rt 209 (mile 110), you have 22 miles and a major climb ahead of you before the next controle, just as the day is heating up.
- There is a long stretch before contole #8 with no services. The deli near Franklindale is a good place to replenish supplies.
- The leg between controles #8 and #9 is very long. However, there are several really good options to consider in the Little Pine Creek State Park area. As shown on the list of services, there is a restaurant just before you enter the park, one in the park, and one in Waterville, just as you exit the park.
- Controle 13 in Blue Ball is a post card drop with no services. However, there are several opportunites to replenish supplies before the controle in the numerous towns you'll be passing through. At the controle, you can find some services along Rt 23, off course. Alternatively, there are several good options 10 miles later in the Morgantown area around mile 570.
- There is a long stretch between controle 13 and the finish. The Joanna store is a good option near mile 572, if you pass through before closing time. If you are coming through late, there are 24-hr options in Morgantown and Gilbertsville.
You should prepare 2 drop bags, one for each sleep-over stop. You can drop then off at the hostel when you sign-in at the start. Please note the 12lb weight limit and the use of smaller bags will be appreciated. I will be staffing the first sleep-over controle and Ron and Barb Anderson will be staffing the second one. When you arrive at the hotel, go to the front desk area to look for any posted messages. The message board (or clerk at the front desk) will direct you to the staffed volunteer room, where you can collect your drop bag and room key. Food will also be available at the volunteer room. You will be paired off, based on your arrival, into rooms with 2 double beds. When you are ready to leave, return your key and drop bag to the staffed volunteer room. Drop bags can be picked up at the end of the event at the hostel, starting at 6PM Sunday.
The mileage on the first day is relatively short, in consideration of the hilly terrain. If you can maintain a 10hr per 200k pace, you should be able to get clear of the steep, twisty descents by nightfall. The terrain after the first sleep-over controle is much gentler, allowing you to bank some time. The notes in the "List of Services" document has some pacing/departure time options for you to consider at each sleep-over controle.
I've also posted updated safety instructions for you to review:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... ctions.pdf
In particular, take note that you should be making plans for alternate transportation, if circumstances prevent you from finishing under you own power.
Also, if you haven't seen the "What to Expect on a PA Brevet" document:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/WhatToExpect.pdf
... you should review this for an overview on hostel proceedures and parking your car during the event.
Just under 2 weeks to go, before you clip in for the start ... hope your training is on track!
As always, send me note if you have any questions or concerns.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
- Tom Rosenbauer
- Randonneur RBA
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:06 am
PA1000k update #3
by Tom Rosenbauer » Thu Jul 24, 2008 2:53 pm
Greetings, PA1000k participant,
Draft 5 of the cuesheet has been posted on the website (apologies to anybody who has reformatted draft 4). The following changes have been made:
- Mile 227: Added note about a possible 1-block detour in Binghamton and included a map of the impacted area. The road being worked on (about 2 blocks of Rt 11 / Court St in the center of Binghamton) was not passable by car, but it appears that the side walks were open. If the road and sidewalks are both closed, you can take a minor detour around the closed section, using the map to assist with navigation.
- Mile 521.9: Added missing cue, keeping you on Rt 501 just past the Rt 78 junction.
- Mile 546: Added note about a possible detour. Paul Scearce recently scouted this section and reports:
"Rt 897 is closed for construction just beyond Reinholds. There is a well marked detour that adds about 2 miles to the route. I checked out the construction and at this point it doesn't look like a cyclist could safely get past on 897 to avoid the detour. I couldn't estimate if the construction will be complete by the next weekend. There is currently a large trench across the road."
The detour cues have been included in the cuesheet, in the eventuality that the road work is not complete by the time you come on through. The detour cues should follow the same roads as the marked detour signs -- if there is a conflict, the detour signs would probably be a safer bet to follow. If the road is passable, you will just stay on Rt 897.
I hope this will be the final update to the cuesheet. I know several of you have been entering the course into your GPS's and mapping programs -- if anybody finds any problems, please contact me ASAP.
For those of you who have recently registered (we now have 17 riders), you should check the message board for important updates that were previously sent.
Looking at the long range weather pattern, it appears we may have some below average temperatures by the start. Even if this holds true, it is vitally important that you keep track of your fluid and electrolyte intake. As you head into the afternoon hours, you should make sure you don't run out of water between any long stretches between services on course.
Collectively, the PA1000k rider roster has many veteran randonneurs with plenty of experience in completing challenging events ... consider taking advantage of this if you happen to be going through a rough stretch and need help in dealing with any issues that may develop. Conversely, please keep an eye out for any rider who appears to be riding beyond their safety limit. And finally, if you have any doubts about your preparations in getting through the "Endless Mountains" under your own power, please contact me *before* you clip in for the start.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
Draft 5 of the cuesheet has been posted on the website (apologies to anybody who has reformatted draft 4). The following changes have been made:
- Mile 227: Added note about a possible 1-block detour in Binghamton and included a map of the impacted area. The road being worked on (about 2 blocks of Rt 11 / Court St in the center of Binghamton) was not passable by car, but it appears that the side walks were open. If the road and sidewalks are both closed, you can take a minor detour around the closed section, using the map to assist with navigation.
- Mile 521.9: Added missing cue, keeping you on Rt 501 just past the Rt 78 junction.
- Mile 546: Added note about a possible detour. Paul Scearce recently scouted this section and reports:
"Rt 897 is closed for construction just beyond Reinholds. There is a well marked detour that adds about 2 miles to the route. I checked out the construction and at this point it doesn't look like a cyclist could safely get past on 897 to avoid the detour. I couldn't estimate if the construction will be complete by the next weekend. There is currently a large trench across the road."
The detour cues have been included in the cuesheet, in the eventuality that the road work is not complete by the time you come on through. The detour cues should follow the same roads as the marked detour signs -- if there is a conflict, the detour signs would probably be a safer bet to follow. If the road is passable, you will just stay on Rt 897.
I hope this will be the final update to the cuesheet. I know several of you have been entering the course into your GPS's and mapping programs -- if anybody finds any problems, please contact me ASAP.
For those of you who have recently registered (we now have 17 riders), you should check the message board for important updates that were previously sent.
Looking at the long range weather pattern, it appears we may have some below average temperatures by the start. Even if this holds true, it is vitally important that you keep track of your fluid and electrolyte intake. As you head into the afternoon hours, you should make sure you don't run out of water between any long stretches between services on course.
Collectively, the PA1000k rider roster has many veteran randonneurs with plenty of experience in completing challenging events ... consider taking advantage of this if you happen to be going through a rough stretch and need help in dealing with any issues that may develop. Conversely, please keep an eye out for any rider who appears to be riding beyond their safety limit. And finally, if you have any doubts about your preparations in getting through the "Endless Mountains" under your own power, please contact me *before* you clip in for the start.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
- Tom Rosenbauer
- Randonneur RBA
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:06 am
Re: PA1000k (8/1/08 edition)
by Paul Scearce » Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:30 pm
A word on the detour I found at mile 546: the street signs can be a bit confusing, but the detour route was clearly marked. For instance, 0.8 miles into the detour, where you turn right to remain on Reinholds Rd, I originally thought was a right turn onto Brunners Grove road which is on the left. This caused me a bit more confusion at Smoketown road where the signpost is cockeyed. I wasn't sure at first if I was turning onto Smoketown or Reinholds rd, or where I had left Brunners Grove rd. The roads are correct as listed on the Cue Sheet, but this may be more helpful when looking at a map than when actually riding the course.
Paul
Paul
- Paul Scearce
- Rando-newb
- Posts: 10
- Joined: Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:11 am
PA1000k (8/1/08 edition) - GPS
by jimloganpa » Mon Jul 28, 2008 6:11 am
I mapped the route on Garmin Mapsource. I can't attached the .gdb file directly here. I can email it to you on request. Or if you want it in a different format (like gpx), let me know.
There are gaps in the maps for the segment after control 2 (a pedestrian bridge across the river), and after control 13 (the park Tom referred. I did A and B segments for each of the gaps - i.e. the A segment is before the gap and the B segment after the gap.
I name routes by the starting control of each segment.
I did a better job on not putting intermediate waypoints on intersections than the last time I sent out a GPS file, so there should be fewer spurious U-turns this time.
Jim Logan
Pittsburgh, PA
There are gaps in the maps for the segment after control 2 (a pedestrian bridge across the river), and after control 13 (the park Tom referred. I did A and B segments for each of the gaps - i.e. the A segment is before the gap and the B segment after the gap.
I name routes by the starting control of each segment.
I did a better job on not putting intermediate waypoints on intersections than the last time I sent out a GPS file, so there should be fewer spurious U-turns this time.
Jim Logan
Pittsburgh, PA
- jimloganpa
- Rando-newb
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:31 am
PA1000k update #4
by Tom Rosenbauer » Wed Jul 30, 2008 2:04 pm
Greetings, PA1000k participant,
Draft 5a of the cuesheet (posted on 7/25/08) is current and is going to press as the official cuesheet that will be available at the start. There are, however, a couple of special items to take note of:
- The "a" in "Draft 5a", is to correct a typo at mile 137: Rt 590 is the correct road.
- Mile 74: There is road construction on State St. -- last weekend, the old roadway was removed in preparation for resurfacing. If the road happens to be closed due to resurfacing, follow any detours to Rt 611 in Portland.
- Mile 81: The "Cedar Lake Rd" sign is now gone, but the road is still marked as Rt 616 both before and after the turn. This turn is a little bit tricky and if you miss it, you will not be very happy with the bonus climb as you backtrack. At this turn, there is a "Hard Right" onto Hoagland, which is very well marked. However, you will NOT be taking Hoagland, instead you will "Bear Right" onto Cedar Lake Rd / Rt 616. There is also a "Cedar Lake" sign at the intersection in question, which points you in the right direction.
- Mile 95: The cuesheet already mentions "... bottom of steep descent..." but I would like stress that this descent should be taken with extra CAUTION: the descent is VERY steep, there are several potholes, and there is some gravel at the abrupt T Right turn at the bottom. If you overshoot, you'll end up in the bushes.
- Mile 203: The cuesheet already cautions about the rough road, but I would like to stress that extra caution should be taken. The road is on a moderate downhill and many of you will be passing through in the dark, at the end of a long, hard day. Please take EXTRA care in picking your way around the ruts with a little less speed.
- Mile 494: The turn onto Gap St is already marked as "Easy to Miss" and already has 2 spotting cues: You'll be in the town of Valley View (after a 24+ mile stretch along Rt 25) and there is a sign to "Good Springs". Paul Scearce has suggested some additional spotting cues: there is an abandoned gas station on the left at the turn and if you pass a Ford dealership on your right, you've gone too far.
A "Rider Progess" message area has been added to the PA1000k webpage:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=277
... the volunteers will be posting updates during the event, if you have anybody interested in following along.
The list of registered riders has also be updated ... we now have 18 participants.
If you are looking for someplace good for dinner on Thursday evening, several participants are headed to McCooles off Rt 313 in Quakertown, around 5:30PM.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
Draft 5a of the cuesheet (posted on 7/25/08) is current and is going to press as the official cuesheet that will be available at the start. There are, however, a couple of special items to take note of:
- The "a" in "Draft 5a", is to correct a typo at mile 137: Rt 590 is the correct road.
- Mile 74: There is road construction on State St. -- last weekend, the old roadway was removed in preparation for resurfacing. If the road happens to be closed due to resurfacing, follow any detours to Rt 611 in Portland.
- Mile 81: The "Cedar Lake Rd" sign is now gone, but the road is still marked as Rt 616 both before and after the turn. This turn is a little bit tricky and if you miss it, you will not be very happy with the bonus climb as you backtrack. At this turn, there is a "Hard Right" onto Hoagland, which is very well marked. However, you will NOT be taking Hoagland, instead you will "Bear Right" onto Cedar Lake Rd / Rt 616. There is also a "Cedar Lake" sign at the intersection in question, which points you in the right direction.
- Mile 95: The cuesheet already mentions "... bottom of steep descent..." but I would like stress that this descent should be taken with extra CAUTION: the descent is VERY steep, there are several potholes, and there is some gravel at the abrupt T Right turn at the bottom. If you overshoot, you'll end up in the bushes.
- Mile 203: The cuesheet already cautions about the rough road, but I would like to stress that extra caution should be taken. The road is on a moderate downhill and many of you will be passing through in the dark, at the end of a long, hard day. Please take EXTRA care in picking your way around the ruts with a little less speed.
- Mile 494: The turn onto Gap St is already marked as "Easy to Miss" and already has 2 spotting cues: You'll be in the town of Valley View (after a 24+ mile stretch along Rt 25) and there is a sign to "Good Springs". Paul Scearce has suggested some additional spotting cues: there is an abandoned gas station on the left at the turn and if you pass a Ford dealership on your right, you've gone too far.
A "Rider Progess" message area has been added to the PA1000k webpage:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=277
... the volunteers will be posting updates during the event, if you have anybody interested in following along.
The list of registered riders has also be updated ... we now have 18 participants.
If you are looking for someplace good for dinner on Thursday evening, several participants are headed to McCooles off Rt 313 in Quakertown, around 5:30PM.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
- Tom Rosenbauer
- Randonneur RBA
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:06 am
PA1000k drop-bags
by Tom Rosenbauer » Thu Jul 31, 2008 7:19 am
With the full field of riders (potentially 19 riders), I would really appreciate it if you would pack the *smallest* drop-bags that you can get by with - thanks. If you plan to ride with another riding partner, you can consider sharing a drop-bag, and I'll put you in the same room at the over-night controles.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
- Tom Rosenbauer
- Randonneur RBA
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:06 am
PA1000k Preliminary Results
by Tom Rosenbauer » Mon Aug 04, 2008 1:48 pm
Preliminary results for the PA1000k have been posted at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... 080801.pdf
... please let me know of any errors or other issues. Results will be submitted later this week and will then become final, pending RUSA/ACP certification. Also, complimentary ACP medals were handed out to all the finishers, but it appears that 3 finishers did not get theirs ... I'll get these to you, if you drop me a note.
Congratulations to all the finishers ... seeing that all the times were well below 70 hours, it is very apparent that you were all very well prepared to take on the worst that this challenging course dished out.
If you have any photos or comments to pass along to the volunteers:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... nteers.pdf
... I'll post them on the website.
If you have a "Favorite section" or "Hardest Climb" you care to vote for, I'll tabulate your responses in the ride report.
Many of you had some comments about some of the roads towards the end that were very busy and a bit marginal for riding ... we'll certainly be looking into some rerouting options to minimize these hazards for next time. If you have any other suggestions, please do pass them along to help improve the event for next bunch of riders to clip in ... Thanks!
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... 080801.pdf
... please let me know of any errors or other issues. Results will be submitted later this week and will then become final, pending RUSA/ACP certification. Also, complimentary ACP medals were handed out to all the finishers, but it appears that 3 finishers did not get theirs ... I'll get these to you, if you drop me a note.
Congratulations to all the finishers ... seeing that all the times were well below 70 hours, it is very apparent that you were all very well prepared to take on the worst that this challenging course dished out.
If you have any photos or comments to pass along to the volunteers:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... nteers.pdf
... I'll post them on the website.
If you have a "Favorite section" or "Hardest Climb" you care to vote for, I'll tabulate your responses in the ride report.
Many of you had some comments about some of the roads towards the end that were very busy and a bit marginal for riding ... we'll certainly be looking into some rerouting options to minimize these hazards for next time. If you have any other suggestions, please do pass them along to help improve the event for next bunch of riders to clip in ... Thanks!
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
- Tom Rosenbauer
- Randonneur RBA
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:06 am
Re: PA1000k (8/1/08 edition)
by reddan » Wed Aug 06, 2008 1:33 pm
Tom, thanks for a great event! I had a wonderful time, the support was fantastic, and I can't imagine a better ride for my first >600K brevet.
I've put together a ride report here: http://randanneuring.blogspot.com/2008/08/eastern-pa-1000k-or-long-weekends.html, for those who are interested.
As far as Favorite Section, it's a tossup for me between the lovely long descent on 192 into the overnight controle on Day 2, and the vigorous rollers through Lancaster into Reinholds on Day 3.
Hardest Climb? Kinda spoiled for choice, but I'd say the hardest single climb for me was coming out of Waterville, due both to the length of the climb and to the poor choice of food immediately beforehand (ice cream and grilled cheese do not a happy climbing Dan make...)
I've put together a ride report here: http://randanneuring.blogspot.com/2008/08/eastern-pa-1000k-or-long-weekends.html, for those who are interested.
As far as Favorite Section, it's a tossup for me between the lovely long descent on 192 into the overnight controle on Day 2, and the vigorous rollers through Lancaster into Reinholds on Day 3.
Hardest Climb? Kinda spoiled for choice, but I'd say the hardest single climb for me was coming out of Waterville, due both to the length of the climb and to the poor choice of food immediately beforehand (ice cream and grilled cheese do not a happy climbing Dan make...)
Dan Blumenfeld
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
http://randanneuring.blogspot.com/
My bikes:
--RANS Rocket (the commuter, utility, and salt/slush bike)
--Lightning P-38 (the brevet rig)
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
http://randanneuring.blogspot.com/
My bikes:
--RANS Rocket (the commuter, utility, and salt/slush bike)
--Lightning P-38 (the brevet rig)
-
reddan - Rando-newb
- Posts: 3
- Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 6:36 am
Re: PA1000k (8/1/08 edition)
by Steve » Fri Aug 08, 2008 12:15 pm
PA 1000K
I've said before that there is no such thing as an easy 600K, because even the flat ones subject riders to fatigue that can not be duplicated on shorter rides. So it naturally follows that there is no such thing as an easy 1000K! This being said, the 622 miles that Tom Rosenbauer put together, to make this ride, offered some of the most challenging climbs in the area… "The area." Well, to be clear, the area, in this case, extends to the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania!
In these reports, I always mention the people I happen to be riding with, so this report will be no different as far as that goes. Timothy Argo, Daniel Blumenfeld, Crista Borras, Bill Beck, (Who I am not sure if I am going to forgive after that photo he took of me at Blairstown!) Joe Brown, Rick Carpenter, Greg Conderacci, Mary E Crawley, David Goodwin, Guy Harris, Jim Logan, Andrea Matney, Chris Mento, George Metzler, Emily O Brien, Kelly Smith, Chuck Wood, Billy Olsen, and of course, me, Steve Scheetz. I listed everyone, because even the people I was not riding with for a long period of time, I did share some time with, and did chat with, so there you have it, the entire field of the PA 1000K!
For some reason, I can never seem to be able to sleep effectively the evening before a big event. Did this one qualify? Well, I remember bolting up right, jumping out of bed, thinking I was late, only to look at the clock as it was saying 10:21PM… I am thinking that oh yes, this qualifies! While I did manage to get back to sleep, the alarm ripped me, (they are very cruel that way,) back into reality right at 2AM. Having packed everything the night before, all I had to do was jump in the car and go. The idea of thinking about anything at 2AM was simply bad, so I made sure that I did not have to. I toyed with the idea of riding out to the start, but decided against it due to the problem of logistics, the transportation of drop bags, and whatever else I was not thinking of, at the time.
4:00AM came around next door to instantly! Knowing most everyone on the list above, I barely got to make the hello rounds before it was time to leave. There it was; the rider meeting followed shortly by the rider take off.
The terrain of the first 33 miles can be characterized as rolling, and it would take us through Hellertown, Bethlehem, and then all the way to the base of the Blue Mountain Ridge, close to the Ski area. I rode this section, mostly, with Dan B, who was riding his recumbent, although there was a large group that had both tandems in it, and pretty much everyone else that we were sort of mixed in and out of. It was actually pretty cool, because I don't usually ride with the people who registered for this 1000K, and it was very nice to chat in that setting. Once we got to the first control, I was in and out in the time it took to check in. Needing/wanting nothing there, I was looking to roll out as soon as possible. Rick C was also ready to go, so we took off together.
We had a very nice set of roads for the next segment. The climb to the top of the ridge is actually a reasonable climb, the descent COULD take a rider all the way to "Ludicrous Speed!" The rest of the way to Fox Gap is the reason why I love riding in Carbon County. Smooth roads with lightly rolling hills, the riding just feels nice. Anyone who has ever done the Gap Gallup, hosted by the Lehigh Wheelmen Association, he/she has ridden these roads and he/she knows exactly what I am talking about! However, like all good things, we arrived at the bottom of Fox Gap entirely too soon! Some riders climb better than others, knowing that this was still one of the FIRST climbs of the ride, I took it easier than usual, which is to say I practically crawled up the side of the ridge! Knowing that everyone would be at the top ahead of me, I settled on the notion that I would be able to catch some on the descent. Knowing the roads of the course was extremely helpful to this end, but there is one distraction, and that is the single level house that was built with ramparts and golden dog statues on its roof. Somehow, I always pause whenever I pass that house… Those reading this, who have no idea what I am talking about, let me put it this way… Some houses are built in places where they should not be. For example, there is this mansion built with a Mexican motif along a route where there is nothing but trailer parks. This is an oddity, to be sure. However, this house with the ramparts? Fortunately, I have seen it enough times that it almost did not faze me, so I kept on rolling. My bottles were pretty dry by the time I arrived at the top of Fox Gap, so when I made it to Portland, eight miles later, I was really looking for water! David G had the same idea, and we chatted a bit while we filled up our bottles. Greg C and Andrea M came around the corner as we were standing there, and when we all went across the bridge, I recall pointing toward the Delaware Water gap.. I didn't notice that they had stopped until I was all the way across, but when I went back, I was amazed to find that they were taking photos in almost the exact same spot that the group I was with used on Tom R's 300K. Anyway, it was one of those views that is peerless, and when I see a view like that, I stop wondering why I ride!
The rest of the way to Blairstown was uneventful, the roads are relatively quiet and smooth, and we made excellent progress. To say good things about this area really makes me want to say something like: "I would never have known I was in New Jersey!" Would that be wrong? All the way to the control, the roads were flawless, and in addition to that, we were riding in the shade. We met up with everyone who had gone ahead. I remember really looking forward to the orange brownies that we bought the last time we went through this area, but alas, there were none to be found.
Shoving off, I was not feeling 100%, though I could not figure out why. The next leg was even more scenic than the last, but it turned out that it was the most problematic, for me. I was drinking, but the day was warm and humid, so I was feeling the effects of dehydration. I was taking salt, but with two major climbs, and one heavy duty minor climb, my legs were cramping at regular intervals with less than 100 miles in them. What was worse was what happened all the way up the second major climb. I only had to unclip once, but my performance level was down in the sub basement… While I knew what was wrong, I also knew that fixing it would take time, time I did not want to take. It was frustrating knowing that there was not a thing I could do about what was happening until I reached the next control in Barryville, though after I relayed this to Tom, I believe I may have left the impression that I was considering dropping out. I say this because I got the distinct impression that he was trying to talk me out of such action. Well, that was cool, but I didn't want to hear it… I was in a place where I knew what needed to be done, and I wanted no distractions from it. so I did what I could to assure him that I just needed some time to sort things out…. In the immortal words of Marshall Ulrich: "I had to give myself a little talk and say: "So I'm suffering. Big deal. I expect to suffer, and really, I just don't care."
With that in mind, I got back on the bike and headed northwest toward Hawley. I was reminded of the 600K over the next couple of roads, because they were identical. Anyone who read my report on the 600K will remember a point where Maile Neel was nearly blown off of her bike, and I decided, at the time, that rather than continuing forward, we should take shelter from the wind under a big oak tree. Well, coming upon the tree again, I thought about taking a photo to send Maile's way. However, according to Maile, the tree was unrecognizable without the black skies and lightning bolts, so I guess I will have to go back sometime when there is another storm and take a shot of it then… Lake Wallenpaupack was a welcome sight, stopping at a convenience store to replenish, since I was still feeling pretty low, I did not make a long stop of it, in fact, I continued on as quickly as possible, stopping yet again in the thriving metropolis of "Gravity." It is funny the way things turn out, because Gravity seems to be a hop skip and a very HUGE jump to the top of the next ridge! By now I was starting to feel better, though I was still riding slower than usual and my legs still felt a few twinges, now and again, that let me know that I was still not completely out of the weeds. The descent to Carbondale was a welcome relief to the massive climb to the top of the ridge. Arriving at said descent, I pedaled a few power strokes before settling into my aero crouch, hovering over my seat with my nose about an inch off of the end of my aerobars, and my hands in the drops. I feel the most comfortable hitting ludicrous speed in this position, because I have the illusion of control! Moving easily toward the town, I know that I was somewhere either side of 60 MPH, and this was at least the fourth time of the day this happened. Yes, going up is slow, but going down?
Tempted as I was to sign in and leave the Dunkin Donuts control in Carbondale, I decided to buy an iced coffee, sit and drink it. I was not all that surprised to see Billy Olsen rolling down the hill, but I blinked twice when I saw a smaller figure coming down right behind him in the form of Emily O'Brian, on her FIXED GEAR! How she managed to do those climbs on that bike is not important. What is important is that she DID do those climbs on that bike, and that puts her in an entirely different category from the rest of us! Well, it was an easy decision to ride with Billy and Emily, especially since it was rapidly becoming dark… In the darkness, it is always better to be riding with someone than alone. So away we went, continuing through "The Endless Mountains" region of Pennsylvania… Reality? It was not so tough.. We climbed up and out of Carbondale, and that took some time, but there were a lot of rollers between us and I-81. I recalled passing a sign for Elk Mountain, and I new that we were closing the distance. Soon we would be riding north, and finally stopping for the evening. Given the fact that my legs were still trying to cramp up, I was looking forward to a bed….
That last stretch, before the control, demonstrated a type of terrain that we had not seen most of the ride…. As amazing as it sounds, the road was actually FLAT for the last 5 miles, or so that we would be riding… Food Shower Sleep, in that order. With the wake up call set for an hour and a half, I was sure that we would be able to leave and start rolling under the cover of darkness.
Binghamton, had it been awake to see, would have been, probably, as freaked out as the police officers who watched the group of cyclists riding through the darkness all light up. Billy, Emily, and I were just cruising along chit chatting about the usual topics people chit chat about while on a 1000K, in the dark, right before the dawn of the second day, but we all seemed to be feeling pretty decently. The main group came up on us shortly after day break, so we decided to ride with them for a while. While we were cruising in a pack, I noticed that the one tandem was doing a lot of pulling, so since the flats are sort of my forte, I should be helping out at the front. What I did not count on was dropping everyone else BUT said tandem.. That was most definitely not my intention, so I slowed down a bit and waited for the group to get back together, and even though it took some time, we were all together in the rain during the last 10 miles, so that was nice. The knowledge that everyone was needing some food, was evidenced by the fact that everyone was looking around the store for that perfect food… The control in Sayre, most definitely, did not come too soon, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that we were very happy to see that they had a decent selection of food there!
The difference was night and day after we crossed the Susquehanna river from Sayre. Billy Emily and I went from urban to country on that bridge like the flipping of a switch. We enjoyed the road south to Towanda because it was actually pretty nice. the rolling sections, (I love rolling sections,) were almost built for me, there were some flat sections, and we did not even mind the fact that there were a couple of crunchers to keep us all honest! We were rolling through dry air at this point, and that was a welcome change from the rain leading into the last control. Andrea and Greg came up at one point, but it was a comment right before we were going to cross the bridge into Towanda, that made the difference… I was chatting with Andrea and Greg, and somehow, out of the blue, Andrea said: "It's going to rain again." This sort of thing is like saying: "I am really happy that there were no flats during the ride…" (And saying this while there are still more than 5 miles to go to the finish) Certain things just are not said on rides! Well, Andrea proved this one out, because it started raining less than 2 minutes from when she made the statement…. Thanks Andrea, thanks a lot!! Emily had been talking about how she was having a craving for scrapple, so it was a very easy decision to stop at a local diner, hang out, and eat… This is one of the things that makes the long Brevets fun.. Riding through some town and spending a little time there. I have driven past/through Towanda, several times, but I never considered stopping, until I was there on my bike.
Now that we were all fed, had coffee, and were feeling pretty good; we took off to the next control in the town of Canton. This was a pretty cool section. Lots of ups and downs, but the road was quiet, and peaceful. The only disturbance in the silence was the noise created by the squeaking of my chain from all of the rain we rode through earlier that morning.. However, now that we had lots of sun, the squeaking did not matter…. In fact, sun has a way of making everyone feel much better about everything in general. "What my frame split in two? Oh that is OK, at least the Sun is out…" Well, maybe not that good, but close! Remembering what was on the elevation profile, I identified our proximity to Canton when I started noticing the huge ridge looming in front of us. A few more ups and downs and we were rolling into town… Even if we did not see riders leaving as we were pulling in, we would have known that this was the place by the quart of 10w30 sitting on the sidewalk in front of the control. My first order of business, before signing in, even, was to do something about that squeak in my chain! THAT would have become very annoying as the ride continued forward!
Over all, we did not spend much time at the control, especially since we spent so much time at the diner in Towanda. We were ready to ride fairly quickly, all things considered, so away we went, heading to the ridge in front of us. Roads can be cruel sometimes, and this particular one was not an exception. The elevation profile had this gigantic spike with what could only be described as hair on top. Well, not knowing the road, it came as a complete shock to me when I lost count on the string of hills, resembling the Manayunk Wall's lower half in steepness, after 7. Also, each up hill was a half mile in length. This stretch lasted 17 miles, and took what seemed like forever, yet only lasted about an hour and a half. To the next control was 70 miles, but I saw a lot of down hill, on the map profile, so I don't think any of us was not really worried about time. Right then, we were only thinking of the descent into the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania as we rode through English Center. The view was breath taking, as we discussed grades and laughed at the notion of having to climb up some of what looked like a sheer cliff face painted with green textured paint to resemble foliage! We continued on our trek, stopping to attempt to capture the magnificence with our cameras, but I have to say… Once I saw the results, I realized that I captured nothing…. The photo, firmly ensconced in my head could not be captured by my camera, and that was the way that was.
We saw a general store before the climb out of the Canyon, and it was a no brainer to stop and top off our fluids. This was the second major spike of the day, and while it was a long climb, it was not an unreasonable climb. I still took my time going up, Billy Olsen was feeling particularly strong as he motored up through the canyon up to the top in Haneyville. It was also at what I called the sweet spot for Emily. Certain grades she had the perfect gearing for, and she took this climb head on. We had a conversation about just that subject when I caught up with her on the rolling section at the top. I was feeling pretty good at this time, because I DID take my time up the climb. Billy rode ahead, which was fine, but Emily and I were not about to chase him down, because we knew he would be stopping at the next control at the bottom of the spike we were now on top of. The temptation to just rip down the descent was too great.. I really don't know how fast I was going; I just know I was down the hill before I knew what hit me. Crossing the bridge into Lockhaven my calculations had the control pretty much around the corner, so I just headed in that direction… While we spent some time at this control, nobody was not about to complain It was over 90 miles since we stopped for breakfast in Towanda, so it was definitely time for something to eat.. We had another big spike to look forward to before we hit the easier terrain down to second sleep stop in Lewisburg….
This next climb was not so bad. Any climb done in the big chain ring can not possibly be THAT bad…. Of course if it does not ever end, then, maybe….. At the top of this spike, there was a little mini spike that did not look to be too terribly difficult… However, once we arrived on the side of this "mini spike" we realized the error in this assessment, because I seem to recall sucking wind going up! Anyway, that was just part of the expectation. At least it was cooling off now and we were all feeling much more comfortable as a result. We did stop to look up at the Galaxy a couple of times, because without the moon, it inspired one word from my vocabulary… "WOW!!!"
I WAS feeling better right up until I realized that we had a really long way to go to the sleep stop…. The only saving grace at this point was the fact that the road was going to be fairly easy terrain the rest of the way, so this was a good thing.
Several miles up the road, we met up with Ron, one of the volunteers manning the sleep stop. He was checking to see how we were doing, informing us that we were at the end of the pack. No, none of us were shocked at this news, we were just pacing, we had a plan, and that was that. My first course of action was a shower. Emily and Billy decided to eat first. I can't remember what was on the TV in Ron and Barb's room, but it was something cheesy and distracting. Distraction was very welcome at this particular point because I knew that day 3 was going to come before I knew what hit me! In fact, it seemed like once I got in bed, I blinked once and the alarm was ringing… Crawling around, getting ready was a very slow process, but once I was up and awake, I was feeling pretty decent and ready to roll.
We rolled south into Sunbury, stopping for caffeine, a bit of food, and I bought some vitamin "I" for that stubborn pain that would not go away. After Sunbury, we had several ups and downs, but the variation in the terrain kept us awake as the sun came up. There were several views that bordered on spectacular as we headed south along the Susquehanna into Millersburg, and while we were still feeling good, Breakfast was most definitely in order! Stopping at a restaurant in Millersburg, We were joined by Andrea and Greg. The conversation was light, and I recall making some sort of lame joke, and when called on it, saying something like "That is about the funniest I can be on the third day of a 1000K!" For some reason people thought THAT was funny… Hmmmmm Greg and Andrea shoved off before we did, but Emily, Billy and I stayed together. The next stage was rolling as we headed east, though there were two big spikes left to climb, one on either side of the next control. Meeting Volunteer Paul S along the route was a welcome addition; he was riding his fixed gear, and escorted us up to the top of the first of these big spikes. Not being much of a climber, and having to stop half way up for a phone call, I found myself chasing after Billy and Emily on the 10 mile descent… (Did I say 10 mile? OH YEAH!) I was ripping down the side of the ridge, even though it was not much of a downgrade, I was pushing hard to catch back up, passing a bunch of motorcycles who were doing wheelies and such along the way. The next part was a bit surreal, because when I saw the two cyclists in front of me, I expected them to be Emily and Billy. However, this was not the case. Instead, it was Greg and Andrea. I was baffled that I had not caught up, but I guess I spent more time than I thought.
Continuing a pretty solid pace after the descent, I wound up catching up a mile or two before the control. It was here that we ran into and started riding with David G. He was suffering from the sleep depravation, so we invited him to ride with us, and we would definitely keep him awake! Big spike 2 for the day was fast approaching, so we all prepared for a long slogging climb up to the top of the ridge before descending to I-78 as we made our way to the Penultimate control in Blue Ball, Lancaster County..
I was most definitely ready for the descent when it finally arrived, and I was actually feeling like it was going to be a fairly easy ride to the next control, because the way to Blue Ball, from here, was mostly rolling terrain. Billy, who had felt pretty good just kept on riding, David and I waited for Emily at a gas station, and planned out our next course of action. We stayed together, but for the rest of the distance to the control, we played leap frog with Greg and Andrea. I have only seen the view once before, but the road we were riding on gave us a clear view of Blue Ball from about 8 miles away, and to quote Emily, I was smelling the Barn Doors! Excitement built up, in me as I was thinking about getting home, and this more or less carried me in… The Penultimate Control was a postcard drop where we printed our times and signed our cards to confirm. So there we were, about to embark on the final leg of this 1000K. Is everyone sure they want to know "the REST of the story?"
After pausing briefly at the Johanna Store, near Morgantown, we received a couple of really nice breaks in the form of long descents. The first was over familiar ground, to me, and that would take us into Hopewell Park. From there, we would head up to the top of Shed Road, and descent for a while, yet again, right before we descended down to the Sckuylkill River. Oh those barn doors were starting to smell rather pungent, at this time! We had a couple of climbs left, but that did not matter a bit.. We were pushing, and once we arrived into Gilbertsville, it was time to really start hammering the rest of the way home due to the fact that it started out with a downward trending rolling section, followed by a number of miles of flat road! We were really making progress, right up until we saw the flashing lights at the head of the road we were supposed to turn onto. Apparently there was a head on collision, but everyone was OK, despite all of this, we were not allowed to ride down the road. Instead, I knew the area enough to take us around the affected area, because there was NOTHING that was going to get in the way of us finishing! Did those Barn Doors have fresh paint??? Rolling around everything and sliding up onto 563, I could almost smell the soup Tommy was cooking! (Oh we still had more than 10 miles to go, but they were flat miles) Well, it was flat with one roller… Now despite everything, those miles seemed to take forever, despite the fact that we were making very solid time! Pulling into the Hostel, I dropped my bike on the ground, staggered into the building, 67 hours and 28 minutes after I left, and proceeded to drink some warm coke as I was considering the food options!
Most everyone was still there, and that was good, because everyone was recapping the day. It was right about this time that we heard some news about the accident. Apparently the tandem with Mary C and Kelly S was being passed by a car that misjudged the distance between it and the oncoming truck and they were sort of stuck. Apparently, Andrea and Greg happened into that area around the time Mary and Kelly were allowed to leave, and they finished up with the tandem. It was very cool seeing that everyone made it back safely, and despite the fact that there was one DNF, I am thinking that it was better that it was a medical issue, and not an accident of some sort.
First of all I want to convey my respect and congratulations to everyone on this event. There was nothing easy about it, and while I did not realize it from the very beginning, I was in the presence of some really awesome riders. Emily, whose skills on a bike are nothing less than super human! Viewing her descending could be compared to viewing a Picasso… Her pedal stroke is so smooth and so fluid; it truly is art in motion! Crista and Chuck? I never imagined a tandem doing such things… All that AND great conversation too! Billy Olsen who did a 1200K the week before, AND delivering such a performance? One word… "WOW!" Dan B who was just a blast to chat with, chose THIS ride, to be his longest ride ever, on a recumbent??? This 622 miles with 48,000+ feet of climbing???
Finally, I need to thank Tommy Rosenbauer, for hosting yet another first class brevet! I believe I speak for everyone when I say that I had an AWESOME weekend! I look forward to next year!
I've said before that there is no such thing as an easy 600K, because even the flat ones subject riders to fatigue that can not be duplicated on shorter rides. So it naturally follows that there is no such thing as an easy 1000K! This being said, the 622 miles that Tom Rosenbauer put together, to make this ride, offered some of the most challenging climbs in the area… "The area." Well, to be clear, the area, in this case, extends to the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania!
In these reports, I always mention the people I happen to be riding with, so this report will be no different as far as that goes. Timothy Argo, Daniel Blumenfeld, Crista Borras, Bill Beck, (Who I am not sure if I am going to forgive after that photo he took of me at Blairstown!) Joe Brown, Rick Carpenter, Greg Conderacci, Mary E Crawley, David Goodwin, Guy Harris, Jim Logan, Andrea Matney, Chris Mento, George Metzler, Emily O Brien, Kelly Smith, Chuck Wood, Billy Olsen, and of course, me, Steve Scheetz. I listed everyone, because even the people I was not riding with for a long period of time, I did share some time with, and did chat with, so there you have it, the entire field of the PA 1000K!
For some reason, I can never seem to be able to sleep effectively the evening before a big event. Did this one qualify? Well, I remember bolting up right, jumping out of bed, thinking I was late, only to look at the clock as it was saying 10:21PM… I am thinking that oh yes, this qualifies! While I did manage to get back to sleep, the alarm ripped me, (they are very cruel that way,) back into reality right at 2AM. Having packed everything the night before, all I had to do was jump in the car and go. The idea of thinking about anything at 2AM was simply bad, so I made sure that I did not have to. I toyed with the idea of riding out to the start, but decided against it due to the problem of logistics, the transportation of drop bags, and whatever else I was not thinking of, at the time.
4:00AM came around next door to instantly! Knowing most everyone on the list above, I barely got to make the hello rounds before it was time to leave. There it was; the rider meeting followed shortly by the rider take off.
The terrain of the first 33 miles can be characterized as rolling, and it would take us through Hellertown, Bethlehem, and then all the way to the base of the Blue Mountain Ridge, close to the Ski area. I rode this section, mostly, with Dan B, who was riding his recumbent, although there was a large group that had both tandems in it, and pretty much everyone else that we were sort of mixed in and out of. It was actually pretty cool, because I don't usually ride with the people who registered for this 1000K, and it was very nice to chat in that setting. Once we got to the first control, I was in and out in the time it took to check in. Needing/wanting nothing there, I was looking to roll out as soon as possible. Rick C was also ready to go, so we took off together.
We had a very nice set of roads for the next segment. The climb to the top of the ridge is actually a reasonable climb, the descent COULD take a rider all the way to "Ludicrous Speed!" The rest of the way to Fox Gap is the reason why I love riding in Carbon County. Smooth roads with lightly rolling hills, the riding just feels nice. Anyone who has ever done the Gap Gallup, hosted by the Lehigh Wheelmen Association, he/she has ridden these roads and he/she knows exactly what I am talking about! However, like all good things, we arrived at the bottom of Fox Gap entirely too soon! Some riders climb better than others, knowing that this was still one of the FIRST climbs of the ride, I took it easier than usual, which is to say I practically crawled up the side of the ridge! Knowing that everyone would be at the top ahead of me, I settled on the notion that I would be able to catch some on the descent. Knowing the roads of the course was extremely helpful to this end, but there is one distraction, and that is the single level house that was built with ramparts and golden dog statues on its roof. Somehow, I always pause whenever I pass that house… Those reading this, who have no idea what I am talking about, let me put it this way… Some houses are built in places where they should not be. For example, there is this mansion built with a Mexican motif along a route where there is nothing but trailer parks. This is an oddity, to be sure. However, this house with the ramparts? Fortunately, I have seen it enough times that it almost did not faze me, so I kept on rolling. My bottles were pretty dry by the time I arrived at the top of Fox Gap, so when I made it to Portland, eight miles later, I was really looking for water! David G had the same idea, and we chatted a bit while we filled up our bottles. Greg C and Andrea M came around the corner as we were standing there, and when we all went across the bridge, I recall pointing toward the Delaware Water gap.. I didn't notice that they had stopped until I was all the way across, but when I went back, I was amazed to find that they were taking photos in almost the exact same spot that the group I was with used on Tom R's 300K. Anyway, it was one of those views that is peerless, and when I see a view like that, I stop wondering why I ride!
The rest of the way to Blairstown was uneventful, the roads are relatively quiet and smooth, and we made excellent progress. To say good things about this area really makes me want to say something like: "I would never have known I was in New Jersey!" Would that be wrong? All the way to the control, the roads were flawless, and in addition to that, we were riding in the shade. We met up with everyone who had gone ahead. I remember really looking forward to the orange brownies that we bought the last time we went through this area, but alas, there were none to be found.
Shoving off, I was not feeling 100%, though I could not figure out why. The next leg was even more scenic than the last, but it turned out that it was the most problematic, for me. I was drinking, but the day was warm and humid, so I was feeling the effects of dehydration. I was taking salt, but with two major climbs, and one heavy duty minor climb, my legs were cramping at regular intervals with less than 100 miles in them. What was worse was what happened all the way up the second major climb. I only had to unclip once, but my performance level was down in the sub basement… While I knew what was wrong, I also knew that fixing it would take time, time I did not want to take. It was frustrating knowing that there was not a thing I could do about what was happening until I reached the next control in Barryville, though after I relayed this to Tom, I believe I may have left the impression that I was considering dropping out. I say this because I got the distinct impression that he was trying to talk me out of such action. Well, that was cool, but I didn't want to hear it… I was in a place where I knew what needed to be done, and I wanted no distractions from it. so I did what I could to assure him that I just needed some time to sort things out…. In the immortal words of Marshall Ulrich: "I had to give myself a little talk and say: "So I'm suffering. Big deal. I expect to suffer, and really, I just don't care."
With that in mind, I got back on the bike and headed northwest toward Hawley. I was reminded of the 600K over the next couple of roads, because they were identical. Anyone who read my report on the 600K will remember a point where Maile Neel was nearly blown off of her bike, and I decided, at the time, that rather than continuing forward, we should take shelter from the wind under a big oak tree. Well, coming upon the tree again, I thought about taking a photo to send Maile's way. However, according to Maile, the tree was unrecognizable without the black skies and lightning bolts, so I guess I will have to go back sometime when there is another storm and take a shot of it then… Lake Wallenpaupack was a welcome sight, stopping at a convenience store to replenish, since I was still feeling pretty low, I did not make a long stop of it, in fact, I continued on as quickly as possible, stopping yet again in the thriving metropolis of "Gravity." It is funny the way things turn out, because Gravity seems to be a hop skip and a very HUGE jump to the top of the next ridge! By now I was starting to feel better, though I was still riding slower than usual and my legs still felt a few twinges, now and again, that let me know that I was still not completely out of the weeds. The descent to Carbondale was a welcome relief to the massive climb to the top of the ridge. Arriving at said descent, I pedaled a few power strokes before settling into my aero crouch, hovering over my seat with my nose about an inch off of the end of my aerobars, and my hands in the drops. I feel the most comfortable hitting ludicrous speed in this position, because I have the illusion of control! Moving easily toward the town, I know that I was somewhere either side of 60 MPH, and this was at least the fourth time of the day this happened. Yes, going up is slow, but going down?
Tempted as I was to sign in and leave the Dunkin Donuts control in Carbondale, I decided to buy an iced coffee, sit and drink it. I was not all that surprised to see Billy Olsen rolling down the hill, but I blinked twice when I saw a smaller figure coming down right behind him in the form of Emily O'Brian, on her FIXED GEAR! How she managed to do those climbs on that bike is not important. What is important is that she DID do those climbs on that bike, and that puts her in an entirely different category from the rest of us! Well, it was an easy decision to ride with Billy and Emily, especially since it was rapidly becoming dark… In the darkness, it is always better to be riding with someone than alone. So away we went, continuing through "The Endless Mountains" region of Pennsylvania… Reality? It was not so tough.. We climbed up and out of Carbondale, and that took some time, but there were a lot of rollers between us and I-81. I recalled passing a sign for Elk Mountain, and I new that we were closing the distance. Soon we would be riding north, and finally stopping for the evening. Given the fact that my legs were still trying to cramp up, I was looking forward to a bed….
That last stretch, before the control, demonstrated a type of terrain that we had not seen most of the ride…. As amazing as it sounds, the road was actually FLAT for the last 5 miles, or so that we would be riding… Food Shower Sleep, in that order. With the wake up call set for an hour and a half, I was sure that we would be able to leave and start rolling under the cover of darkness.
Binghamton, had it been awake to see, would have been, probably, as freaked out as the police officers who watched the group of cyclists riding through the darkness all light up. Billy, Emily, and I were just cruising along chit chatting about the usual topics people chit chat about while on a 1000K, in the dark, right before the dawn of the second day, but we all seemed to be feeling pretty decently. The main group came up on us shortly after day break, so we decided to ride with them for a while. While we were cruising in a pack, I noticed that the one tandem was doing a lot of pulling, so since the flats are sort of my forte, I should be helping out at the front. What I did not count on was dropping everyone else BUT said tandem.. That was most definitely not my intention, so I slowed down a bit and waited for the group to get back together, and even though it took some time, we were all together in the rain during the last 10 miles, so that was nice. The knowledge that everyone was needing some food, was evidenced by the fact that everyone was looking around the store for that perfect food… The control in Sayre, most definitely, did not come too soon, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that we were very happy to see that they had a decent selection of food there!
The difference was night and day after we crossed the Susquehanna river from Sayre. Billy Emily and I went from urban to country on that bridge like the flipping of a switch. We enjoyed the road south to Towanda because it was actually pretty nice. the rolling sections, (I love rolling sections,) were almost built for me, there were some flat sections, and we did not even mind the fact that there were a couple of crunchers to keep us all honest! We were rolling through dry air at this point, and that was a welcome change from the rain leading into the last control. Andrea and Greg came up at one point, but it was a comment right before we were going to cross the bridge into Towanda, that made the difference… I was chatting with Andrea and Greg, and somehow, out of the blue, Andrea said: "It's going to rain again." This sort of thing is like saying: "I am really happy that there were no flats during the ride…" (And saying this while there are still more than 5 miles to go to the finish) Certain things just are not said on rides! Well, Andrea proved this one out, because it started raining less than 2 minutes from when she made the statement…. Thanks Andrea, thanks a lot!! Emily had been talking about how she was having a craving for scrapple, so it was a very easy decision to stop at a local diner, hang out, and eat… This is one of the things that makes the long Brevets fun.. Riding through some town and spending a little time there. I have driven past/through Towanda, several times, but I never considered stopping, until I was there on my bike.
Now that we were all fed, had coffee, and were feeling pretty good; we took off to the next control in the town of Canton. This was a pretty cool section. Lots of ups and downs, but the road was quiet, and peaceful. The only disturbance in the silence was the noise created by the squeaking of my chain from all of the rain we rode through earlier that morning.. However, now that we had lots of sun, the squeaking did not matter…. In fact, sun has a way of making everyone feel much better about everything in general. "What my frame split in two? Oh that is OK, at least the Sun is out…" Well, maybe not that good, but close! Remembering what was on the elevation profile, I identified our proximity to Canton when I started noticing the huge ridge looming in front of us. A few more ups and downs and we were rolling into town… Even if we did not see riders leaving as we were pulling in, we would have known that this was the place by the quart of 10w30 sitting on the sidewalk in front of the control. My first order of business, before signing in, even, was to do something about that squeak in my chain! THAT would have become very annoying as the ride continued forward!
Over all, we did not spend much time at the control, especially since we spent so much time at the diner in Towanda. We were ready to ride fairly quickly, all things considered, so away we went, heading to the ridge in front of us. Roads can be cruel sometimes, and this particular one was not an exception. The elevation profile had this gigantic spike with what could only be described as hair on top. Well, not knowing the road, it came as a complete shock to me when I lost count on the string of hills, resembling the Manayunk Wall's lower half in steepness, after 7. Also, each up hill was a half mile in length. This stretch lasted 17 miles, and took what seemed like forever, yet only lasted about an hour and a half. To the next control was 70 miles, but I saw a lot of down hill, on the map profile, so I don't think any of us was not really worried about time. Right then, we were only thinking of the descent into the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania as we rode through English Center. The view was breath taking, as we discussed grades and laughed at the notion of having to climb up some of what looked like a sheer cliff face painted with green textured paint to resemble foliage! We continued on our trek, stopping to attempt to capture the magnificence with our cameras, but I have to say… Once I saw the results, I realized that I captured nothing…. The photo, firmly ensconced in my head could not be captured by my camera, and that was the way that was.
We saw a general store before the climb out of the Canyon, and it was a no brainer to stop and top off our fluids. This was the second major spike of the day, and while it was a long climb, it was not an unreasonable climb. I still took my time going up, Billy Olsen was feeling particularly strong as he motored up through the canyon up to the top in Haneyville. It was also at what I called the sweet spot for Emily. Certain grades she had the perfect gearing for, and she took this climb head on. We had a conversation about just that subject when I caught up with her on the rolling section at the top. I was feeling pretty good at this time, because I DID take my time up the climb. Billy rode ahead, which was fine, but Emily and I were not about to chase him down, because we knew he would be stopping at the next control at the bottom of the spike we were now on top of. The temptation to just rip down the descent was too great.. I really don't know how fast I was going; I just know I was down the hill before I knew what hit me. Crossing the bridge into Lockhaven my calculations had the control pretty much around the corner, so I just headed in that direction… While we spent some time at this control, nobody was not about to complain It was over 90 miles since we stopped for breakfast in Towanda, so it was definitely time for something to eat.. We had another big spike to look forward to before we hit the easier terrain down to second sleep stop in Lewisburg….
This next climb was not so bad. Any climb done in the big chain ring can not possibly be THAT bad…. Of course if it does not ever end, then, maybe….. At the top of this spike, there was a little mini spike that did not look to be too terribly difficult… However, once we arrived on the side of this "mini spike" we realized the error in this assessment, because I seem to recall sucking wind going up! Anyway, that was just part of the expectation. At least it was cooling off now and we were all feeling much more comfortable as a result. We did stop to look up at the Galaxy a couple of times, because without the moon, it inspired one word from my vocabulary… "WOW!!!"
I WAS feeling better right up until I realized that we had a really long way to go to the sleep stop…. The only saving grace at this point was the fact that the road was going to be fairly easy terrain the rest of the way, so this was a good thing.
Several miles up the road, we met up with Ron, one of the volunteers manning the sleep stop. He was checking to see how we were doing, informing us that we were at the end of the pack. No, none of us were shocked at this news, we were just pacing, we had a plan, and that was that. My first course of action was a shower. Emily and Billy decided to eat first. I can't remember what was on the TV in Ron and Barb's room, but it was something cheesy and distracting. Distraction was very welcome at this particular point because I knew that day 3 was going to come before I knew what hit me! In fact, it seemed like once I got in bed, I blinked once and the alarm was ringing… Crawling around, getting ready was a very slow process, but once I was up and awake, I was feeling pretty decent and ready to roll.
We rolled south into Sunbury, stopping for caffeine, a bit of food, and I bought some vitamin "I" for that stubborn pain that would not go away. After Sunbury, we had several ups and downs, but the variation in the terrain kept us awake as the sun came up. There were several views that bordered on spectacular as we headed south along the Susquehanna into Millersburg, and while we were still feeling good, Breakfast was most definitely in order! Stopping at a restaurant in Millersburg, We were joined by Andrea and Greg. The conversation was light, and I recall making some sort of lame joke, and when called on it, saying something like "That is about the funniest I can be on the third day of a 1000K!" For some reason people thought THAT was funny… Hmmmmm Greg and Andrea shoved off before we did, but Emily, Billy and I stayed together. The next stage was rolling as we headed east, though there were two big spikes left to climb, one on either side of the next control. Meeting Volunteer Paul S along the route was a welcome addition; he was riding his fixed gear, and escorted us up to the top of the first of these big spikes. Not being much of a climber, and having to stop half way up for a phone call, I found myself chasing after Billy and Emily on the 10 mile descent… (Did I say 10 mile? OH YEAH!) I was ripping down the side of the ridge, even though it was not much of a downgrade, I was pushing hard to catch back up, passing a bunch of motorcycles who were doing wheelies and such along the way. The next part was a bit surreal, because when I saw the two cyclists in front of me, I expected them to be Emily and Billy. However, this was not the case. Instead, it was Greg and Andrea. I was baffled that I had not caught up, but I guess I spent more time than I thought.
Continuing a pretty solid pace after the descent, I wound up catching up a mile or two before the control. It was here that we ran into and started riding with David G. He was suffering from the sleep depravation, so we invited him to ride with us, and we would definitely keep him awake! Big spike 2 for the day was fast approaching, so we all prepared for a long slogging climb up to the top of the ridge before descending to I-78 as we made our way to the Penultimate control in Blue Ball, Lancaster County..
I was most definitely ready for the descent when it finally arrived, and I was actually feeling like it was going to be a fairly easy ride to the next control, because the way to Blue Ball, from here, was mostly rolling terrain. Billy, who had felt pretty good just kept on riding, David and I waited for Emily at a gas station, and planned out our next course of action. We stayed together, but for the rest of the distance to the control, we played leap frog with Greg and Andrea. I have only seen the view once before, but the road we were riding on gave us a clear view of Blue Ball from about 8 miles away, and to quote Emily, I was smelling the Barn Doors! Excitement built up, in me as I was thinking about getting home, and this more or less carried me in… The Penultimate Control was a postcard drop where we printed our times and signed our cards to confirm. So there we were, about to embark on the final leg of this 1000K. Is everyone sure they want to know "the REST of the story?"
After pausing briefly at the Johanna Store, near Morgantown, we received a couple of really nice breaks in the form of long descents. The first was over familiar ground, to me, and that would take us into Hopewell Park. From there, we would head up to the top of Shed Road, and descent for a while, yet again, right before we descended down to the Sckuylkill River. Oh those barn doors were starting to smell rather pungent, at this time! We had a couple of climbs left, but that did not matter a bit.. We were pushing, and once we arrived into Gilbertsville, it was time to really start hammering the rest of the way home due to the fact that it started out with a downward trending rolling section, followed by a number of miles of flat road! We were really making progress, right up until we saw the flashing lights at the head of the road we were supposed to turn onto. Apparently there was a head on collision, but everyone was OK, despite all of this, we were not allowed to ride down the road. Instead, I knew the area enough to take us around the affected area, because there was NOTHING that was going to get in the way of us finishing! Did those Barn Doors have fresh paint??? Rolling around everything and sliding up onto 563, I could almost smell the soup Tommy was cooking! (Oh we still had more than 10 miles to go, but they were flat miles) Well, it was flat with one roller… Now despite everything, those miles seemed to take forever, despite the fact that we were making very solid time! Pulling into the Hostel, I dropped my bike on the ground, staggered into the building, 67 hours and 28 minutes after I left, and proceeded to drink some warm coke as I was considering the food options!
Most everyone was still there, and that was good, because everyone was recapping the day. It was right about this time that we heard some news about the accident. Apparently the tandem with Mary C and Kelly S was being passed by a car that misjudged the distance between it and the oncoming truck and they were sort of stuck. Apparently, Andrea and Greg happened into that area around the time Mary and Kelly were allowed to leave, and they finished up with the tandem. It was very cool seeing that everyone made it back safely, and despite the fact that there was one DNF, I am thinking that it was better that it was a medical issue, and not an accident of some sort.
First of all I want to convey my respect and congratulations to everyone on this event. There was nothing easy about it, and while I did not realize it from the very beginning, I was in the presence of some really awesome riders. Emily, whose skills on a bike are nothing less than super human! Viewing her descending could be compared to viewing a Picasso… Her pedal stroke is so smooth and so fluid; it truly is art in motion! Crista and Chuck? I never imagined a tandem doing such things… All that AND great conversation too! Billy Olsen who did a 1200K the week before, AND delivering such a performance? One word… "WOW!" Dan B who was just a blast to chat with, chose THIS ride, to be his longest ride ever, on a recumbent??? This 622 miles with 48,000+ feet of climbing???
Finally, I need to thank Tommy Rosenbauer, for hosting yet another first class brevet! I believe I speak for everyone when I say that I had an AWESOME weekend! I look forward to next year!
“I've always got such high expectations for myself. I'm aware of them, but I can't relax them.”
- - Mary Decker Slaney
- - Mary Decker Slaney
-
Steve - Regular Member
- Posts: 26
- Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:38 am
- Location: king of prussia
Re: PA1000k (8/1/08 edition)
by Coluber42 » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:58 pm
Howdy,
Thanks again to Tom for a great ride! My ride report is posted at http://www.emilysdomain.org/pa1000k.html
I have some more photos that I'll get around to posting somewhere one of these times.
Happy riding, everyone!
Thanks again to Tom for a great ride! My ride report is posted at http://www.emilysdomain.org/pa1000k.html
I have some more photos that I'll get around to posting somewhere one of these times.
Happy riding, everyone!
- Coluber42
- Rando-newb
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:56 pm
Re: PA1000k (8/1/08 edition)
by Tom Rosenbauer » Wed Aug 13, 2008 6:35 pm
Emily,
Great report! I really enjoyed your unique perspective of the challenging
terrain. And I agree that words and pictures don't give some of the nice
course segments justice, but your excellent report comes pretty close!
And congratulations on your "Endless Mountains" PA1000k finish ... I was
going to say "amazing accomplishment", but that doesn't quite describe what
you have done here ... and I'm at a loss of words to adequately describe it.
I have, however, posted an additional "Endless Mountains" PA1000k report at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... 80801.html
... with pictures and rider comments.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
Great report! I really enjoyed your unique perspective of the challenging
terrain. And I agree that words and pictures don't give some of the nice
course segments justice, but your excellent report comes pretty close!
And congratulations on your "Endless Mountains" PA1000k finish ... I was
going to say "amazing accomplishment", but that doesn't quite describe what
you have done here ... and I'm at a loss of words to adequately describe it.
I have, however, posted an additional "Endless Mountains" PA1000k report at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1000 ... 80801.html
... with pictures and rider comments.
Regards,
-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
- Tom Rosenbauer
- Randonneur RBA
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:06 am
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