College Hill 200k Preliminary Results and Ride Report

[Tom Rosenbauer]

Preliminary results for the College Hill 200k (6/6/09 edition) have been posted at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA200k ... 090606.pdf
... let me know of any corrections or other issues. Results will be submitted to RUSA this week, and will then become final, pending RUSA certification.

It was just about as perfect a day as one could wish for, to be out riding ... temperatures remained in the 70's with low humidity ... mostly sunny skies, but enough cloud cover to keep the on-road temperatures very pleasant. The many streams on course were flush with all the recent rain over the previous week.

Special thanks to Bill Slabonick, who stopped by the finish to greet the riders at the end.

12 riders clipped in and all 12 finished for a 100% finish rate. First finisher Len Zawodiniak got around the course in just under 9 hours. Several riders took this opportunity to keep their R-12 streak alive, including Guy Harris who is doing all his R-12 events on his fixed gear bike. As noted by Ron Anderson, this ride attracted pairs of riders: either brothers or couples. Read Ron's ride report at:
http://doublesupersecrettandemrandosoci ... revet.html

Many of you may recall Joe Carbone's epic 17-hour PA200k account from last April:
viewtopic.php?f=11&t=335
... now for the "Rest of the Story" in Joe's words....

Tom,

I want to thank you for your encouraging words and for hosting this wonderful event. We could not have asked for a better day.

As you may recall, this is my third PA brevet and the first that I finished within the designated time frame. The first, March 7, Spring Forward out of Ephrata, I did not make in to control 3 on my Surly LHT. I did manage to complete 90 miles. The second, Eastern PA 200 k out of Quakerstown, I change my strategy by using a lighter bike, Specialized Allez. Many of the riders that day will recall the 50+ mph winds. While I did manage to complete the ride, in just over 17 hours, I was frustrated by the challenges of the wind and the mountains that I had to traverse. We do not have any of the terrain close to what I experienced on that day here on Long Island.

Several of my fellow PA randonneurs sent encouraging words following my ride report regarding the PA 200 K for which I am grateful. There were times on the ride that I wondered why I was putting myself through this. My wife's words kept ringing in my ears, "There is a fine line between a hobby and a mental illness". I know I may have crossed that line.

This endeavor is truly a learning process. I began to evaluate what I needed to do to experience success. Therefore, on the Specialized, I replaced the existing crankset for a triple. I had the opportunity to test this out at the end of April by riding in the Shelburne Falls 200 K in western Massachusetts. I did attain success by completing the event in just under 12 hours. The crankset changed help me with some of the hills. However, I am quickly learning that the mountains here in the PA series are not to be taken lightly. Therefore, I need to work on getting stronger.

The College Hill 200 K truly is a challenging course with some of the terrain similar to that of the PA 200 K on April 4. Fortunately, we did not have to deal with the wind. Leading into the ride I knew I had to face some similar "demons" including the climb to Fox Gap and Staats Road plus whatever unknown climbs Tom may have stuck in the route for good measure. Cafferty Road comes to mind.

We started out as a group on a cool, cloudy morning which gradually changed into a beautiful late spring day. Somewhere around the ten mile mark I dropped my cue sheet, it popped out of the clip several times during the day. While retrieving it, the last riding trailing me past by. From this point forward I would face the challenges of the ride on my own.

I manage to keep a steady pace, averaging around 12 + mph for the first leg of the ride. Being somewhat familiar with this section of the course I manage not to miss Fetterman road like the last time. As I approached Rt 191, which would begin the long climb up to the Fox Gap controle, I decide that I would ride as much of the climb as possible. I developed a strategy that once I stopped I would walk for .2 of mile then ride as much as possible until I had to stop again. I managed to ride segments of .4 miles then walk a little and start again. I managed to get to the controle with about 18 minutes to spare.

While I continued to proceed on the course, I knew the second section to controle 3 I needed to increase my time to allow for any unkowns along the way. On the April 4 ride I had an encounter with a bird crashing into me. Today, I had a little long haired daschund chase me for about a half mile. The crazy dog almost got hit by a car. I reached Skoggy's Deli with 45 minutes to spare. After a quick mixing of my Hammer nutrition drinks I was on my way. I definitelly limited my time in the controles, a smart strategy. I did not experience any of the legged cramping that I did on my last to PA rides.

As I left the controle, I could not help but notice the many different yard sales going on in the town. The people had the right idea, a beautiful day to sell their junk. I'd rather ride. The course quickly reminded me of another challenging hill from the last ride, Lommanson Glen road. Although relatively short, compared to the others, I struggled to get up it. Throughout the ride I kept reminding myself of the Blood, Sweat and Tears song, "What goes up must come down." Montana Road was a welcomed sight.

The next "demon" to exercise was Staats road. Again, if needed I would use the same strategy employed on the Fox Gap climb. I am happy to say in this case, I need on to take a break on time. Thank God for the triple crankset.

As I proceeded rolling up and down the hills, enjoying the scenery, I looked forward to get a small bite to eat. I arrived at controle 4, the General store, just prior to 3 PM. I manage to loose a little time in my "cushion". I had about 30 minutes to spare. After a quick bite, I was on my way.

With approximately 38 miles to go I figured I need to average about 9 + mph to get me home before the closing time of the last controle. The first turn on the last leg was a instant uphill battle. Very funny Tom, considering I just put a little food in the tank.

Over the next 4 hours, I battled several climbs and love the exhilarating downhills, especially Lower Saucon Road. I truly was beginning to wonder if I would make it battling the last climb on Buttermilk Road. Perhaps if this hill was earlier in the ride, I may not have been that much of a challenge. However, with over 115 miles under the belt it tried every ounce of will I had remaining.

Finally entering Easton, I knew I was going to be home free. I arrived at 7:15 at the WaWa Food Mart. (I wonder where they came up with that name.) Perhaps I really should not question that since I am one of a select group of people that manages to endure the many challenges of these rides -- that could question my sanity.

-Joe Carbone

Congratulations Joe! If anybody has any other comments, stories, or pictures to share, you can post them here or send them to me.

Regards,

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

[slabfoot]

It is always a pleasure to meet and greet the riders as they roll in to the finish. Here is a link to some photos I shot on Tom's porch as the finishers were arriving.

http://picasaweb.google.com/slabfoot/68 ... directlink.

Bill