August's Hawk's Nest Ride Report

Preliminary results have been posted at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/PA200k_Results130817.pdf

The weather certainly cooperated, and probably was one of the 10-best days of the years for a ride.  All 16 starters  made excellent time and finished for another 100% finish rate -- congratulations for being part of that success.  Of note, there were 3 first-time Eastern PA participants:
-Jane Brown
-Jim Holman
-Scotty Steingart
Well done!  Jim and Scotty also completed their very first brevet ever, and Scotty also joins a select list of first timers who came in as a first finisher.

These first time participants just need to complete 11 more rides of 200k or more, to earn their R-12 award -- just like Jeff Butt, who completed his R-12 on this event.  Jeff is looking to ride 3 more PA events in the coming months, and he'll also notch an Eastern PA R-12.

Grace Pineda writes: "...It was one of the best riding days ever, but the route was The Best.  Even compared to your other spectacular routes, this was a masterpiece.  Love the long rolling stretches. Not as much climbing, but what there was delivered sufficient pain to be memorable. Thank you and Don. Thanks also to Jane and the other riders from the Philly area (Berks?) who let me ride with them...."


Matt Farrell writes: "...I wanted to thank both you and Don for your work on the Hawk's Nest 200K yesterday. Especially being just a few days after the completion of the Endless Mountains 1240k. 
After my completion of The Big Wild Ride in Alaska. I had some concerns that any other ride would be lacking in fun & scenery. Happily I was proven wrong during Saturday's ride. The ride was just what I needed to instill in my mind how fortunate we are to have such beautiful choices of rides locally and fine people to share riding them with. It was great to reconnect with the others that had just complete their big rides of the year by sharing our stories while pedaling thru the Promise Land area. The newer leg to Eldred was a very welcomed change from staying on Rt. 97 thru Hawk's Nest....."

Jim Holman writes: "...Many thanks to you and organizer Don Jagel for your time and energy in making this ride possible.  Thanks also go to Scott Franzen for inviting me as a guest rider. The weather could not have been much better, the course was enjoyable and scenic, and our group of riders worked well together.  All in all, it was a fun day...."

Norman Smeal writes: "...Yeasterday was a fantastic day ..."

Special thanks to organizer Don Jagel, for running the start controle and sending the riders off on their way, and then greeting them at the finish controle, to sign everyone in and make sure everyone was in safely.

The Eastern PA summer schedule concludes with Andrew Mead's Silver Spring 200k on September 7.  This is fantastic route that heads all the way down to Port Deposit in Maryland.  Although Andrew tells me he's taken a few of the climbs out, you'll want to bring some low, climbing gears along for this one.  Cafe Metzler will be open at the finish for a postride BBQ.  Event details have been posted at:
http://users.rcn.com/trosenbauer/R12ClubSep3.html
... as usual, drop me a note by the Thursday before the event (9/5).


Regards,

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA