Pennsylvania Randonneurs

Eastern PA
600K Brevet

Saturday 19 May 2018
04:00 EDT Start Time

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Eastern PA 600K Brevet

Saturday 19 May 2018
04:00 EDT Start Time

Start Location

Weisel Youth Hostel

7347 Richlandtown Road
Quakertown, PA 18951
215-536-8749

Serving as our traditional "rando clubhouse" the Weisel youth hostel is a congenial venue for brevets of any length.

Parking

Enter the main hostel driveway off Richlandtown Road. After about 200 feet, turn right on the gravel road before the barn, then another immediate right to park your car in the large, grassy field next to the main driveway. Do not park at the end of the driveway by the hostel building. The parking spots near the hostel are reserved.

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.

Lodging

Lodging is available for a nominal fee at the hostel for the evenings before and after the event.

Finish

Showers available at the hostel. Join us at the post-ride banquet and share your epic tales and goals for the coming year. Relax in the hostel's comfortable great room or porch.  A dormatory in the hostel is available for a nap before traveling home

Ride Description

This 600K brevet comprised two loops that start and return back to the Weisel hostel.  The first loop is approximately 400k and head up to the Rt 97 corridor and Hawks Nest.  After returning back to the hostel for the sleep-over stop, the second loop is a 200k out-and-back course into the Lancaster area.

Setting out at the hostel start/finish, we head to Danielsville where we make our first crossing over the Applachian Trail at Little Gap.  After an exhilarating descent past the Blue Mountain Ski resort, we follow the valley road which offers spectacular views of the mountain ridge off to our right.  As we approach Wind Gap, we head up the Allegheny Front through Promised Land and on to Hawley.  We then ride along the scenic Lackawaxen River and, after crossing the historic Roebling Aqueduct, join up with scenic Rt 97 for the run to Port Jervis via Eldred (pronounced El Dread on account of the climbs that bracket it). At Port Jervis, we begin our return leg back to the hostel overnight controle -- down along the Delaware River on the NJ side of the DWGRA, over the dreaded Old Mine Road climb, and into the controle in Water Gap. From there it's the usual riverside route through  Portland, Bloomsbury, Rieglesville and back to Quakertown.

The route returns to the start/finish hostel at approximately the 400K point.  There are 2 showers available in the upstairs bathroom with a sign to indicate male/female usage (bring your own towel).  Food will also be available. There is a dormatory available for resting before setting out on the remaining 200K.  Sheets are provided but you may want to bring your own pillow.  Earplugs and a small flashlight might also be useful.  You should plan on packing a drop bag for this stop -- you can leave the bag either in your car or at the hostel.

The second day's loop is an approximately out and back segment. We go out along the Penn ridge, generally descending to arrive at Limerick, PA, a time-forgiving postal controle. Here it is traditional to write a limerick on the postcard. From there we ride directly to Rt 23, which then takes us into the Amish country and to the turnaround in New Holland. The return path follows the more rural PABike Rt "S"  to Morgantown, and then steers north through French Creek state park and the hills around Perkiomenville.

As shown in the route profile, there are several steep, extended climbs.  A triple or 39x27 is highly recommended.

Course History

DateFinishers
2009-05-3017
2010-05-2217
2011-05-2125
2011-06-253
2012-06-0218
2013-06-0113
2014-05-3120
2015-05-3017
2016-06-049
2017-06-1011
2018-05-1911
Course Record 2017-06-10: Sean P Connelly (26:41, 22.5 kph)

General Info

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.

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 also accepts Electronic Proof of Passage (EPP), but the only form of EPP accepted  is the eBrevet cell phone app. (Version 1.2.4 minimum required). Your finish time and finish code from the EPP app must be written on the paper card or you will 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.  There is no sag wagon. Complete several ordinary century cycling events before starting a 200K brevet;  complete several 200Ks before starting a longer brevet.

Registration

Registration Fee

For PA Rando members: $75
There is an extra $10 charge for registration if you are not a member of Pennsylvania Randonneurs.
Prices include $10 discount for pre-payment.

Includes

Registration is closed for this event.

Schedule

03:00 Sign-in, Bike Inspection
03:50 Rider meeting
04:00 EDT Riders depart

Conditions

Finish Cutoff: 20:00 EDT 20 May 2018 (40 hours)

Daylight Hours

Sunrise: 05:39
Sunset: 20:15

The hours for this event extend beyond daytime. Riding at night without appropriate reflective gear and lights will result in an immediate disqualification. See the rules Article 10 for requirements. See the reflectivity guide for best practices.

Weather

Weather forecast for start location: Quakertown, PA.

This event runs rain or shine. Rides are sometimes postponed or canceled if there is a significant chance of extreme conditions that threaten safety (e.g. ice, snow, high winds). Check the message board for last minute announcements.

Questions About This Event?

Please click here to ask the organizer a question about this event.

The online URL for this event info page is

https://parando.org/info/event/2018-05-19/600

For all other information about Pennsylvania Randonneurs, visit our web site https://parando.org/