Eastern PA 200K
Saturday May 27, 2006
Ride Report
Rider Statistics
31 Registered riders
29 Finishers
2 DNF (Did not finish -- withdrew)
Weather
Mix of sun and clouds with increasing humidity. Temperature low 60'sF at the start and got up to mid 80'sF by the early afternoon. The first finishers encountered some isolated showers later in the day while later finishers managed to stay dry this time!
Special Thanks ...
... to Judson Hand and Nate Morgenstern for stepping up as volunteers and helping out at the finish.
Robin Landis, Mordecai Silver, and Laurent Chambard ...
... relaxing at the hostel Friday night. Chris Scherer and Laurent below.
Katie and Barbara ...
... topping off with some oatmeal before the ride.
Riders ...
... headed on out, in the early morning sun along Lake Nockamixon. Special thanks to Ben Tufford for sharing some of his photos for this report. Ben also distinguished himself by following the RUSA rules to letter ... he missed the Millbrook turn and instead took Montana Rd all the way to the bottom and ended up at Rt 57. He could've just gone about mile along Rt 57 to get back on course. But the rules say you need to go back to where you originally got off course. And that's what he did. So he effectively climbed Lomasson's Glen twice!!! Kudos, Ben.
Jim Moore riding in the early morning mist ...
... along the Lehigh River / canal towpath near Easton.
"Thanks for organizing a great event and checking back in with me. Looking at the results, I'm amazed at how fast the PA riders are ... Being on a recumbent may have been a handicap on the hills, but I really think that my result was more about the rider than the bike. I appreciated your conversation and encouragement in Easton. I'm sure I'll see you at another event." --Jim Moore
Jim's view to his right is below:
Terry Hiledbrandt ...
... enoying the camaraderie of a paceline. Nice color coordination, Terry!
Janice, Katie, and Laurent ...
... headed up Mud Run Rd.
Riding up Mud Run
Covered Bridge ...
... in Tinicum County
Brian Hafner ...
... on Mud Run.
"Thanks for the great ride last Saturday. You really know how to design a challenging (for me anyway) route. The support has perfect and the food was wonderful. Hope to see you out on the road again." -- Brian
Below, the view at the top with Wind Gap and the Appalachians in the distance.
Barbara Harris ...
... cresting the Fox Gap climb.
Guy Harris
at the top of Fox Gap.
The views ...
on the other side of Wind Gap along Cherry Valley Rd.
Geese and Gooslings ...
... greet riders at the top of the Lower Saucon Valley climb.
Pat Fleming and Katie Sayers ...
... relaxing after the ride.
"I just wanted to drop you line to thank you again for a fun, fun, FUN event. I had a great time!
I’m glad to see you are more proficient at planning good weather than my hometown RBA Laurent! Now if you could just do something about getting me up those hills easier…..
Hope to see you again soon, until then – a tailwind"
--Katie
Janice, Laurent, and James Romer ...
... back at the hostel.
"Tom, thanks for running this event. I had a good ride in good company. And I appreciated the pizza at the end as well." --Janice
"Many thanks again for running this wonderful 200 of yours yesterday. I think it was the fourth time I came on it, and pleasure remains the same irrespectively from time of the year, degree of fitness, or weather conditions. Unmistakable sign of a truly classy Brevet. It was great too to see your efforts rewarded by the sort of size of the field that this event deserves. The word is obviously spreading out! I am now eagerly looking forward to the 300." -- Laurent
And here's what others had to say ...
"Thanks for all your efforts today and in the prep for the ride. Controls were great, route was superb, cue sheet was detailed and accurate. I had a great time" --Pete LaVerghetta
"First, kudos for putting together an awesome route! I can't wait to ride it again, and next time I'm going to try harder talking some of my friends from Morris Area Freewheelers & Western Jersey clubs into doing it. The route is a perfect blend of challenging climbs well-spaced between some absolutely beautiful flat to gently rolling countryside. My favorite section was the part bewteen Bangor and the controle at Martins Creek; I think I only saw two cars the entire length of that greenery-lined road. Then you really made me work hard on the climb up Lommason's Glen/Buckhorn/Castners...at the top of it I was thinking what a sick genius you were for putting that in there! ;) At the end I started to cramp up a bit on Ridge Rd. but I was by myself, and used the small ring to work up the long inclines. It was nice to finish, shower, have a bite to eat, and chat with my fellow riders at the end before departing for home." - Ray Morro
"Thanks for a great event Tom, ... Maybe I'll catch you at another event this year or next." -- Keith Custer
"Tom, as always, I really enjoyed riding your scenic and challenging route Saturday. The 90-minute drive each way was well worth it for the ride and for the good-natured companionship of Nate and Chris in the first section and Ed Pavelka in the last. I was also glad to see that 31 riders started and 29 finished. The word seems to be getting out. The number of finishers is more than the previous two PA 200k's combined (16 in 2004 and 11 in 2005). Your very informative and up to date website has helped I'm sure. Except for a little humidity, the weather cooperated, too. In all, a terrific day." -- Jud
"I want to add my "thank yous." Not only did the route and companionship measure up to all of Jud's praise, but the organization and the q-sheet were superb. I had a great time, as did everyone else I saw on the road. Thank you also to Jud and Nate for volunteering at the end. It was a treat treat to be so well taken care of." -- Paul Shapiro
"It was a wonderful brevet, and I'm seriously considering doing the 300 too." -- Mordecai Silver
The ride was absolutely spectacular in every respect--beautifully organized, meticulously planned and routed. I can't remember a stretch of road where traffic was dicey or the road wasn't good, and the scenery was breath-taking. Good climbs, great downhills. Plus you drew a very friendly crowd of riders. What with all the really serious riders, I don't feel the least bit ashamed of finishing in the middle of the pack. Thanks again for the ride--wholly memorable." -- Robin Landis
And a final word from Nate Morgenstern ...
... who accomplished his goal of getting in under 8 hours and set a new course record in the process. Way to go Nate!
"Tom, you know, I just love this route: over 9000' of vertical gain, descents to let it fly, descents to keep one sharp, mostly good surfaces, minimal traffic to deal with, absolutely great views, of course the mandatory flowing water ;-) and controls placed strategically. Another great job of organizing it for us. The only thing I missed was riding with you and some of the others, who I only saw at the start and finish.
I did, once again enjoy Jud's company, but only for the first 45 miles, as he drifted back on Cherry Valley. Chris, who had been with us at the beginning, overshot Lower Saucon, caught us at the PetroMart, chased us from there and caught up with me at Aherns. He and I shared company until the final few kickers on Castners at the top of the Lomasson's Glen climb. I thought I'd see him again at the Little York Tavern, but with Millbrook and that lovely Sweet Hollow in that leg of the route, I most likely opened the gap wider. I doubt I had anything on Chris on the later climbs, but, as you know, I like both sides of the mountains.
To everyone else, CONGRATULATIONS, as any finish on this challenging course is a worthy accomplishment. During the preceding weeks Tom was waiting anxiously for me to decide whether I would ride, concluding that if I did, the weather would cooperate. I finally made my forecast, expecting wet roads and a passing shower--not enough to keep me away. I hope those of you who did get a little wet weren't uncomfortable. And, lastly, what about the food Tom set up for us at the hostel...no need to leave hungry from Tom's brevets!" -- Nate
