Fall Classic
200K Brevet
Saturday 15 October 2022
07:00 EDT Start Time
07:00 EDT Start Time
Cafe Metzler is a unique start location in that it is located at the home of George and Erin Metzler at 403 Noble Road near Atglen, Pennsylvania. Our base of operations is his garage located behind the house. Once you've parked your car, unloaded, and are certain you have all your gear for riding, ride down the hill from the parking area approximately 1/4 mile. George's house is on the left. We will stage the start in the large turn-around area in front of the garage at the end of the driveway. Food is not generally available before the ride start so you'll want to eat before arriving. The nearby Dutchway Family Restaurant is recommended, but check to make sure you have time to eat and make it to the start on time. Water is available at the garage.
Parking is available at the Freedom Life Church, approximately 1/4 mile up the hill (west) from the start location on the right. Enter the driveway and then turn right again into the upper parking lot.
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.
Several motels are available in the area.
Make your own reservations by calling the hotel directly.
Café Metzler is located in the garage behind the house where you started. It will be obvious to all but the most brain dead of randonneurs. Turn into the driveway and follow to the garage to finish. You can return to your car after you check in to the finish control.
Brandywine 200k: Houses, Horses, and Hollows
Highlights include the meandering along Brandywine Creek, lots of shade, visiting THREE states, riding along numerous roads incorporating the word "Hollow," and an almost unheard of in Lancaster County 3 mile descent.
After a few miles we begin on an uncharacteristically straight and level Highland Road, which follows the top of a ridge into Western Chester County. You gradually lose elevation as you meander along Buck Buck Run Creek, while skirting the edge of Chester County's horse country which once included a 13,000 acre northern connection of famous King Ranch in Texas.
We follow the Brandywine River South from Modena at mile 15. As the river grows and the valley widens you will begin to see the landscapes that Andrew Wyeth made famous in his artwork around his hometown of Chadds Ford which is mile 34 on the ride. As we climb out of the Brandywine Valley on Twaddell Mill road we enter the "House" part of the 200K and enjoy the classic colonial and federal style architecture of Delaware. The Centerville Bakery at mile 38 offers the tastiest treats of the ride. Shortly after refueling, look for this home on the left side of Way Rd, its a beauty.
We re-enter PA just south of the mushroom capital of the world, Kennet Square, which produces over a million pounds of mushrooms per week. 100,000 people typically visit this town of 6,000 during the annual Mushroom Festival.
We continue West and South entering Maryland in open farm fields as we reach the Southernmost point of the ride at the Landhope Farm controle. Rather than dropping all the way down to Susquehanna we will remain up on the ridge headed following the Susqueahanna but inland. As we return to PA again we see horse but rather than leading a pampered life in the stables of Chester County these are work horse used heavily by the Amish.
Having now seen houses and horses, we begin our focus on hollows. There are Tanning Yard Hollow and Scalpy Hollow, both rather bucolic, shaded roads along the way to Buck where the route overlaps with the 150k route. You'll want to check your supplies before passing the Turkey Hill oasis in Buck. There aren't many options for the next few miles. From Buck, we climb to the top of the ridge for another hollow visit, this time on Snyder Hollow with a glorious 3 mile descent along a little creek. Enjoy. A quick info control as we approach Pennsy Road and we skip the final scaling of the ridge by following the Atglen-Susquehanna Rail Trail back to Quarryville. It's stone dust surface is suitable for even the skinniest of tires. From Quarryville it's a short 10 miles to the finish.
We know you have worked up an appetite by then. Cafe Metzler will be ready.
There are several steep, extended climbs. Wide range gearing is highly recommended.
| Date | Finishers |
|---|---|
| 2014-09-07 | 24 |
| 2015-09-12 | 22 |
| 2015-12-05 | 19 |
| 2019-10-12 | 10 |
| 2022-10-15 | 14 |
This ride is a randonneur style bicycle event under the sanction of Randonneurs USA. Completing this event can help you train for Paris-Brest-Paris and earn RUSA 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.
To receive credit for finishing a randonneuring event you must complete a brevet card as required by the rules. PA Randonneurs accepts traditional brevet cards filled out with stamps/signatures and backed up with merchant receipts. PA Randonneurs encourages use of the eBrevet cell phone app. (Version 1.3 minimum required) as an electronic brevet card assistant. Nevertheless, you must check into all controls on the app -- or provide traditional proof for each control. Your finish time and finish code from the app must be written on the paper card, along with your signature, or you may be disqualified.
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. Complete several ordinary century cycling events before starting a 200K brevet; complete several 200Ks before starting a longer brevet.
Event registration includes a post-ride buffet at the always enjoyable Cafe Metzler.
The online URL for this event info page is
https://parando.org/info/event/2022-10-15/200
For all other information about Pennsylvania Randonneurs, visit our web site https://parando.org/