Water and Wind
300K Brevet
Saturday 1 April 2023
05:00 EDT Start Time
05:00 EDT Start Time
Chamounix, also known as Montpelier, is a historic home located in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Federal-style house was built in 1802 by George Plumsted who was a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, then enlarged to nearly double its original size by subsequent owners after 1853.
We will use the Carriage House for our start/finish, which is the building on the left as you approach the eyelet at the end of Chamounix Drive.
There is ample parking near the end of the road by the stables. Riders can also park on either side of the Mansion in the designated parking areas, or off the circle to the right. Parking is free to riders during the event.
Suggested parking locations for the start/finish are public places, with theft and vandalism a real possibility, especially in cities. Park during the event at your own risk. Please do not leave valuables in your car during the ride.
Riders are advised to make sleeping arrangements at or near the start/finish. Please don't try to drive a long distance before or after a tough brevet. Multiple options are available.
As you approach the finish control there are two buildings in the cul-de-sac eyelet. We are in the Carriage House on the left awaiting you with refreshments and eager to hear your tall tales, some of which might even be true.
This event needs volunteers for the following jobs:
Contact Organizer to Volunteer.
Views of Blue Mountain dominate the southern tier of most eastern and central Pennsylvanian counties, providing an ever-visible backdrop cutting across the northern or western horizon. Transport corridors and road beds piercing the barrier necessarily pass through either large water gaps or wind gaps, low gaps in the ridge caused by ancient watercourses. The barrier ridge of Blue Mountain forms a distinct boundary between a number of Pennsylvania's geographical and cultural regions.
Long time riders of of PA Rando events know Blue mountain well. Our routes have crossed Blue Mountain countless times in the history of the club. As our events were often staged from starts in Easton or Quakertown, not far south of the ridge, Blue Mountain had to be crossed practically for any ride to the North. Now as more events start in the Philadelphia area, Blue Mountain becomes a stranger, as it's not reachable from Philly within the constraints of a 200K. So sad. Something must be done!
Fortunately a 300K route can reach the mountain from Philly! And the Wind and Water 300K is specifically designed to correct center-city bike-rider unfamiliarity with Blue Mountain -- a real Pennsylvania mountain -- perhaps our most iconic.
Newbies to the Blue Ridge and veteran Blue Mountaineers alike will be happy to learn it's a gentle re-introduction. After transiting the northern suburbs to reach the Delaware River, this route follows the river on classic PA rando roads with little climbing all the way up to the first crossing of Blue Mountain at the magnificent Delaware Water Gap, itself a mild climb through the split Blue Mountain here locally named Mt Tammany and Mt Minsi.
Then riding West on the PA rando classic Cherry Valley Rd with the Blue Ridge to our left along the way, the route skips past Fox Gap (a gentle re-introduction, remember!) and shuttles instead over to Wind Gap, now crossing the mountain back to the South with another relatively mild climb.
From there, it's more classic PA Rando routing rolling through Easton, Quakertown, New Britain, and down through the suburbs back to Chamounix in Philly where you can tell the innocent folks about the wonders you have seen "North of the Wall".
This ride is a randonneur style bicycle event under the sanction of Randonneurs USA and Audax Club Parisian. Completing this event can help you train and qualify for Paris-Brest-Paris and earn RUSA and ACP awards. You need a current RUSA membership to ride this event. You can sign up for RUSA here.
First time riding with PA Randonneurs? Read an overview of what to expect on your first PA brevet. All participants are obliged to follow the rules for riders as well as local vehicle laws (PA, NJ, NY). Safety is a primary concern. All riders must sign a waiver. Please read these Safety Instructions.
These events are not for beginners. The courses are hilly. You may face extremes of weather: heat, cold, wind, rain. The roads are unmarked and open to automobile traffic. There will be night riding in the longer events. There is no sag wagon. Complete several ordinary century cycling events before starting a 200K brevet; complete several 200Ks before starting a longer brevet.
Breakfast Buffet at the start, Dinner buffet at the finish.
The online URL for this event info page is
https://parando.org/info/event/2023-04-01/300
For all other information about Pennsylvania Randonneurs, visit our web site https://parando.org/