New Eastern PA R-12 event schedule for 3/7/09

[Tom Rosenbauer]

Andrew Mead is the organizer for the Spring Forward 200k, scheduled for March 7, 2009 as part of the on-going Eastern PA R-12 series of events. Event details at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/R12ClubMar1.html


Regards,

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

[EricKeller]

I think there is a problem with the cue sheet at mile 71.3. Should read TRO Main Street instead of TRO River Rd?

Response:
Eric, you are correct -- thanks! Correction has been made on draft 3 and posted on the website (be sure to use your browser's "refresh" button).

Regards,

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

[ADMead]

Greetings all!

While the view outside currently is less than ideal for a brevet, this week's warming trend should clean the roads nicely.
More importantly, it appears as though we may have our first brevet start (in a long while anyway) with temps at or above freezing.
I'm looking forward to another great Pa R12 event. The course is based on a Permanent I developed and benefits from Tom's special care in cue sheet enhancements. I've ridden every road on the route, but never as a single ride. It should be fun.

The post-event pizza location is a couple miles south of the start/finish location, but is conveniently located to Rt 222 for those of you headed north and east afterward. I'll be there listening to tall tales and accepting critique of the course. I promise to consider all of your feedback when finalizing the permanent.

Look forward to seeing you all Saturday!

3/5 UPDATE:
The prospect of spring-like weather is bringing randonneurs out of the woodwork. The list is up to 19 including:
Jack Brace, Joe Carbone, Rick Carpenter, Matt Farrell, John Fessenden, Bill Fischer, Jamie Gartenberg, Guy Harris, Mike Lutz, George Metzler, Chris Nadovich, Bill Olsen, Chris Newman, Curtis Palmer, Tom Rosenbauer, Juan Salazar, Keith Spangler, Ivan Umble, Jerry Umble, and your humble organizer. The group includes several familiar faces and many new ones. This will be a great opportunity to meet new folks and have a great day in the saddle.

Joe Carbone wisely inquired about breakfast, so check the post below for THE hot breakfast tip in Ephrata. There are a few fast-food options at the Rt 222/322 interchange and also along Rt. 272 north of the starting location for those of you driving in Saturday morning.

As our numbers are increasing, I would like to ask that we park on the east side of the parking lot adjacent to Rt 272 and furthest from the prime "front-door" parking spots of our host business. I plan to arrive by 6:15 and will be in a dark blue Ford Explorer. Shouldn't be too hard to find me.

Andrew

[Tom Rosenbauer]

Please note that the start time is 7AM, NOT 7:30!! (The cuesheet had the correct start time but the website has recently been updated with the correct starting time.

The latest cuesheet is Issue 4, dated 3/3/09 -- this should be final, unless somebody points out any issues. The latest cuesheet has a minor clarification to include a spotting cue at mile 94.2 for the controle, which incidentally, will be at fellow randonneur, George Metzler's house. The controle will actually be in his white, detached garage at the end of his driveway, and will be stocked with some goodies, along with the question that needs to be answered for the infomation-type controle.

Also, although the days are getting longer, sundown is at 5:59PM and everybody should plan on bringing their lights and reflective gear along -- even if you typically will be getting in before sundown, unforeseen circumstances may delay you.

As I type this, the temperature outside is plummeting to the single digits -- but the weather forecasts are firming up with high's in the mid 50's for Saturday. This will almost feel like a heat wave .... time to break out the Endurolytes and Ice Socks

- Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

[jcarbone]

Quick question Does anyone know of a decent place in Ephrata to get some breakfast Saturday morning before the ride?

[ADMead]

The Pancake Farm is just around the corner from the start.
http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/The.Pancake.Farm.717-733-7118
Well known. Excellent place to grab breakfast.
They open at 5:15am on Saturday. Get there early as it can get crowded quickly.

[Tom Rosenbauer]

Andrew has posted the following important update on the message board:
.... As our numbers are increasing, I would like to ask that we park on the east side of the parking lot adjacent to Rt 272 and furthest from the prime "front-door" parking spots of our host business. I plan to arrive by 6:15 and will be in a dark blue Ford Explorer. Shouldn't be too hard to find me. ....

... Andrew has also updated the list of riders planning to clip in, along with some good advice for a pre-ride breakfast on the message board:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=314#p1041

With this being the first long ride of the season for many, this is a good time to review the Safety Instructions which are posted here:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA150k ... ctions.pdf

Also, if this is your first PA event, the following will give you an overview of what to expect:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/WhatToExpect.pdf

There are a number of new riders planning to come out this Saturday, including:
- Jack Brace, a SIR transplant who has recently moved to our area
- Joe Carbone from Long Island
- John Fessenden who is signed up for the EM1240
- Chris Nadovich, who is planning a cross country tour this summer
- Lisa Scheller and Wayne Woodman from Allentown

I'm counting on the veteran Eastern PA riders to not only welcome the new riders, but to also offer some camaraderie during the first couple of miles ... I'd like everybody to make it to the first controle stop without going off course and logging some bonus miles!

As always, feel free to contact me (or Andrew) with any questions or concerns. Have a safe ride!

Regards,

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

[our2pt2]

Spring Forward 200K Ride Report

Today, myself and around 25 other riders did the Spring Forward 200K. This ride is one in a series of 12 rides designed to help R-12 participants achieve their goal of doing 12 200K's...one per month, for a year. I'm not in the hunt. I just did it for fun. Andrew Meade put the ride together and organized it. Great job, Andrew!

An absolutely stellar day was put before us for our endeavor and it was greatly appreciated. After a long, harsh and often dangerous winter of riding, I really needed to have a day where there was little chance of sliding across the road on a rogue sheet of ice. I had a reading of 35F at the start and a high of 73F. Man I love Spring!

I rode pretty hard most of the day, but not anything over the top. I didn't want to spend my day alone and I was rarely alone today. In the early stages, there was some confusion at an intersection by some riders behind me and I did find myself alone out front, but just cruised along. Since Rick Carpenter had the sign in sheet with him, there was no reason for me to hammer.

I arrived at the first control, got my card signed, grabbed some food and hung out waiting for Rick and the group he was with. Once they showed I was ready to go and grabbed the stack of sign-in sheets from Rick and hit the road. Not long after that, there was a mistake in the cue sheet and I found myself wandering around looking for some way to get back on cue. I asked for directions and found my way.

Not long after, Juan Salazar caught up to me and we rode to the lunch controle together. Jaun was trying an all Spiz diet, but I was hungry for some real food. I sat down and has a nice chicken sandwich, fries and a Coke. Really hit the spot! Just as I was sitting down, Rick wanders into the control and I handed over the stack of sign-in papers to him and he and Juan took off. I enjoyed my lunch, then hit the road myself. I was briefly with Mike Lutz, but he slowed to chat and I sped on.

A short time later I was joined by Jamie from NY. He and I were a few minutes now behind Rick and Juan and we would catch a glimpse of them up ahead every now and then. Then came the crash of Juan and Rick. Rick slid in some gravel and Juan followed suit. I didn't get the full story, but there were Boy Scouts that were there to patch Juan up as he was the most injured. I didn't see his wounds, but apparently his right elbow was the worst of it all. Luckily, both of their bikes were fine as they used their body's to soften the blow.

Jamie and I caught up to Juan and Rick at the next controle at Metzger's house and we all left together, still with a pretty fast pace. With the exception of climbing over Welsh mountain, the hard climbs were behind us and we just cruised along.

We reached the penultimate controle and grabbed some assorted snacks. Me, a Dr. Pepper and an ice cream bar. Rick, beef jerky. Juan, Spiz and I don't recall what Jamie had. Jamie opted to stay behind and rest a bit. We had been keeping a tough pace and he was done with that nonsence and would wait for someone else to ride with.

Rick, Juan and I set out on the final leg of our journey and the climb of what we dubbed "the hump".. We reached the foot of the mountain and I suggested we set up base camp and try for the summit in the morning, but they would have no part of that. Up we went. We got really spread out on the climb...me in the back with the beginnings of cramps in my left calf. I guzzled water and made it over the "hump" and after a lovely 50 mph descent caught back up to Rick and Juan. From here it was smooth sailing to the end.

We reached the final controle at 4:17 and I had a finishing average speed of 16.96. Not too shabby. Had I not gotten lost and added the miles and time, I probably would've finished at 4:00 and at or over 17 mph.

Either way is was a most enjoyable ride and the longest ride i've ever done on this particular bike. Good company, good food, beautifully scenic terrain. I had a great time!

Curtis Palmer

[Jamie G]

It doesn't get any better than that!
Beautiful, balmy weather, scenic rolling hills (ok, jagged, saw-tooth rollers) through the countryside,
and great riding companions!
-Thank you Andrew and Tom for putting on another awesome ride!
-Thank you George for allowing us to stop at your home...it was great meeting you and I'm
looking forward to riding the Fleche with you (and Rick, Juan and Bill).
-Curtis, I enjoyed our stretch of riding together as we tried to close the gap between
us and Juan and Rick.
-Congrats Juan and Rick...you guys are unstoppable...I hope you guys are feeling good and
heal/recover quickly.
-Bill, as usual, it's always a pleasure riding with you...thanks for your entertaining stories/jokes
which really help to make the ride more enjoyable as the miles melt away.
-It was great meeting some new guys too.
- A thoroughly enjoyable event!
Looking forward to the start of "the series" next month.
-Jamie Gartenberg