PA 150k/200k (Oct 18, 2008 edition)

[Tom Rosenbauer]

Registration and event details for the PA150/200k are available at:
http://www.parandonneurs.com

Please note that the start/finish is at my house on College Hill -- **NOT the hostel**.

With a bit of luck, the Fall foilage should be in full color. There will be a post-ride BBQ -- come share your epic tales from the past year and goals for 2009!

Hope to see you as we close out a very successful 2008!

Regards,

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

[Tom Rosenbauer]

The cuesheets for both the 150k and 200k routes have been updated. The current revision is dated 10/15/08 which has a detour for Red Hill Rd (closed due to bridge construction).

There is some major road construction in Milford, but the road is passable. Watch for lots of loose gravel and rutted roads.

The Carversville General Store (controle 4) closes at 3PM. If you get there after closing, drop a postcard in the mailbox at the store (a stamped postcard will be given to you at sign-in, for this eventuality). If you are on pace to get to Carversville after 3PM, you should plan to replenish your supplies in either Milford or Point Pleasant.

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

[Tom Rosenbauer]

Preliminary results have been posted at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA1502 ... 081018.pdf
... please let me know of any corrections or other issues. Results will be submitted to RUSA in a couple of days and then become final, pending certification.

Congratulations to the 21 riders that clipped in and finished, for another 100% finish rate for both the 150k and 200k. Both courses were pretty tough, but the finishers proved to be even tougher. With the Red Cliff Rd bridge out, this edition covered a bit more of Cafferty Road. Although this road is not very impressive on the course profile, many of you commented that this was one of the tougher segments. Again, this confirms that 'altitude gain' doesn't alway give the whole story.

Along with the many regular riders, there were a good number of first-time participants. Among the first timers completing their first Eastern PA brevet was Kate Marshall, riding with PA300k veteran Victor Urvantsev. Too bad the PA 300k did not go up Mud Run -- otherwise, Victor may not have led Kate astray by missing that 'Quick Left' to continue up Upper Mud Run. Instead, Kate and Victor logged an extra 5 miles and several hundred feet of steep climing by going all the way to Martins Creek. Fortunately, volunteer John Freeman happened to meet up with them and got them back on course.

In the fine randonneuring tradition of anciens showing the way for first time riders, first time rider Todd Synder rode with Matt Farrell and Joe Brown; Ivan Umble introduced his brother Gerald to our sport; Greg Pedano and Andy Brenner met up with some of the first finishers, to get in comfortably within the time limit. Congratulations to you all, and thanks to the veterans for showing the way.

Eastern PA Super Randonneurs Joe Brown and Guy Harris added to their RUSA mileage. Other SR's this year are Dan Blumenfeld and Maile Neel. Eastern PA volunteers riding today were: Ron and Barb Anderson (PA1000k), Rick Carpenter (sign-in sheets), Paul Scearce (PA1000k). Other volunteers this year include: Steve Scheetz (course sweep on several events) and Len Zawodniak (PA 600k). Thanks also, to the volunteers who participated in course prerides: Paul Shapiro, Joe Kratovil, Jonathan Levitt (PA400k) and Steve Scheetz, Maile Neel (PA600k).

Although a bit chilly in the morning, the weather was nearly ideal. The foilage was probably at about peak color, although some trees were still showing a bit of green while others were quite bare. Mile for mile, this is one of my favorite courses that offers many great vistas along quiet back roads. With the exception of Rt 32, the road conditions were mostly in good shape this year, with some freshly paved segments.

If you have any comments or pictures you care to share, I'll post these in the ride report for the web-site. Thanks for coming on out, and making this a successful event to close out the regular Eastern PA brevet series. Keep in mind, you can now ride all year long, starting with the Eastern PA R-12 series the inaugral event scheduled for November 15, 2008:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/R12ClubNov1.html

Regards,

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

[jud]

Tom,

Great course and meticulous cue sheets as always. You always find beautiful watercourses to follow and you must check your directions numerous times. They are so accurate. I hardly ever see any mistakes. I have been doing these PA randonnees of yours since the beginning, which if memory serves was a 200k in 2004. As I recall, the first controle was at your house. We also did Fox Gap and Diane took videos of all of us climbing the last section. You and Nate finished first, if I'm not mistaken.

The weather was chilly at the beginning Saturday but with all that climbing, it was easy to warm up. Traveling the course, it felt like "Tom's Greatest Hills (Hits)," with Mud Run and Wind Gap as a prelude to Fox Gap, which this time was the full-length climb, not the abbreviated one I did in the 300k earlier this year. I felt as good on that climb as I have in the 10 or so times I've done it, maybe too good, because I pushed a bit and it wore me out for the later ascents of Lomasson's Glen and Jugtown.

Needing some sustenance, due to constant climbs and having missed breakfast due to a late start from home, I convinced Guy to stop for cinnamon rolls in Milford. Just as I was beginning to feel OK again on Red Cliff Road (only about 5 percent grades) you had to throw in my least favorite, Cafferty Road, a little before the last controle at Carversville. And that first 20 miles of the last 37-mile leg back was brutal. I don't remember previously riding that first part of Buttermilk Road, but boy did it hurt.

Ah, but the pain subsides and memories of good companions and beautiful views remain. I think I've now done 12 of your PA rides over the past five years, including a fleche, two populaires, four 200ks, three 300ks, one 400k and one 600k. I've enjoyed them all. I'll be back for more in 2009.

Thanks to your family for letting us use your house,

Jud Hand

[bluegitane]

Tom,

Thank you for running this lovely event of yours again, now that pain has disappeared and all is well in the best of worlds. I reckon having entertained some more sinister thoughts against you while grinding my way up and down Cafferty Road. In fact I have now understood why your 1200 is the Endless Mountains: onto Cafferty Road, continue for 375 miles, then turn around and come back the same way! That would certainly live up to the name.
This last section makes me almost regret this old day's nemesis, Lower Saucon Road. Almost. And not quite honest.
Was a bit disappointed not to see my old friend the big black bear seen on the Fall of 2005 just before reaching Rt 191 at mile 26).

Records show this was # 8 time I showed up on this event in either its 200 (7 times) or 150 (1 time) format, since the first one run in a cold April (or was it March?) morning in 2004. Since one of these was not quite legal (Fall 2005 ridden the day after for reason of oversleeping), that leaves me 4 attempts to go before reaching the bar of 10 PA200s officially completed - 100,000 feet of Tom's hills!!!. The fun (and the fear alike) remain the very same as on day one, and I hope it will be so for many more to come.

Is it old age creeping up, or has there never yet been a wet one? I can't remember getting wet on the PA200 any other way than via cold sweat (plenty of that for sure).
One sure thing is that those hills don't get any more easy with time. I was meditating this on Saturday while trundling along on 30 x 27 while a few years ago I used to think nothing of this same course on 42 x 28... That must be global warming's fault...

[Paul Scearce]

I've just decided I love Cafferty road. I wasn't too keen on it when I was riding it, but I just got back from my weekly 60 mile commute/training ride that takes me over a mountain and back, and that seemed easy today. I feel I can only get away from the kids for an organized ride a couple of times a year. When I do, I look forward to a challenge, and so far, Toms 200k's haven't let me down. They are also well scouted and clearly cued. I felt quite confident to ride without mounting a computer on the Witcomb.

Laurent, I think your bear could be hanging around near my hometown. I saw one on my training ride last week.