Sunday, November 26, 2017

December R12 Brevet: Little Britain

*** Update 1 ***
The cue sheet has been updated and posted on the website.  Make sure you have the version dated 11/26/2017.  For those of you familiar with the route, we are using the "winter bypass" that avoids a couple short stretches of gravel road.  The route is entirely paved in the broadest meaning of the term.

Please make note that the section crossing Texter Mountain following Control 2 (miles 29 - 40) has already seen some slick conditions prompting the application of anti-skid materials.  Avoid outrunning your guardian angel on the descents.

*** Original Post ***
Details and event registration for the final R12 brevet of 2017 have been posted on the website.  Registration will remain open through 5pm on November 30.

This route offers a different twist on Lancaster County by looping generally north and south from a central start-finish location.  The route is laid out generally as a figure-8 and returns to the start location after 60 miles providing a safety bail-out should weather conditions or rider conditioning take a turn for the worse.  The route map is here.

Breakfast is available nearby at the Oregon Dairy Restaurant, approximately 1 mile north of the start location along SR 272.  The food is good and plentiful and there's even a breakfast buffet.  The baked oatmeal is one of my favorites.  The restaurant opens at 6am which leaves ample time for breakfast and to make you way to the start.  Please note that the starting time is 7:30 am to avoid having to start in the dark and allow plenty of time for a hearty breakfast.

Our finish controle will be at the Highland Pizzaria in the shopping center.  It offers a decent selection of food for hungry riders and an excellent selection of beer for those wanting a few liquid carbs to assist in post-ride replenishment.

Parking is not abundant at the start finish area, but there should be enough to manage.  We will be staging for the start at the north side entrance along Landis Valley Rd   You should park in that general area away from the store fronts.  Carpooling will help.  There is ample additional parking at the Landis Valley Farm Museum about 1/4 mile from the start on the opposite side of Oregon Pike.

Finally, as the end of the year approaches you should take the time check your RUSA and PA Randonneurs membership status and renew, if necessary.   You can renew your RUSA membership at:  https://rusa.org/pages/memberservices   The PA membership list is posted on website at: .


Andrew Mead
- Eastern PA RBA

Registered Riders (as of 11/30/17 )
1 Jimmy Aspras
2 Marc Bernardo + membership
3 Gavin Biebuyck
4 Matthew Farrell
5 J Scott Franzen
6 James R Haddad
7 James P. Holman
8 Greg Keenan
9 Jeff Lippincott
10 Alexander Manta
11 Nicholas Manta
12 Rudi Mayr
13 Andrew D Mead - organizer
14 Chris Nadovich
15 Cameron O'Mara + membership
16 Michael D Povman + membership
17 Joseph Ray + membership
18 George Michael Retseck




Sunday, November 19, 2017

Ride Results: Milford 100k

Preliminary results have been posted at:
http://www.parando.org/PA100k_Results171118.pdf
Results will submitted to RUSA in a few days and become official at that time.

The prospect of windy, cold, wet weather had many registrants re-thinking their plans for the Milford 100k with half of the field opting to stay inside and warm.  Four hearty randonneurs clipped in and, along with tireless organizer Bill Olsen who completed the course check-out ride the weekend earlier, finished for a 100% completion rate.  Temperatures were moderate compared to the week before and the rain held off for a while so riders at least didn't have to start in the rain.  Congratulations to Sean O'Connor who notched his first populaire finish.  After finishing the Milford course, he should be ready to tackle a brevet. 

Much appreciation goes to organizer Bill Olsen.  You've seen him at a majority of the 2017 brevet events as he is tireless in making sure PA Randonneurs can offer the number of quality events on the calendar.  Bill's insistence that we include populaires on the calendar is the reason the Milford 100 happens.  Not only is it a way to attract new potential randonneurs, but it offers another opportunity for randonneurs pursuing the RUSA Cup. Be sure to thank Bill the next time you see him.  As for populaires in 2018, we scheduled only the October 150k for now.  RUSA has eased the requirements for adding new events to the schedule.  Our intent is to offer a few more populaires in 2018, but consider volunteer availability, rider interest, and weather with the hope that populaires will be well attended and fun.

Next up is the Little Britain 200k on December 2.  Event details have been posted on the website.  A partial course checkout ride yielded a few minor tweeks to the cue sheet.  Look for an update after Thanksgiving.

Andrew Mead
-Eastern PA RBA


Sunday, November 12, 2017

Ride Results: Blue Mountain 200k

Preliminary results have been posted at:
http://www.parando.org/PA200k_Results171111.pdf
Results will submitted to RUSA in a few days and become official at that time.

After a string of unseasonably pleasant brevets our run of good luck was snapped for the Milford, NJ start of the Blue Mountain 200k.  The mercury had dipped to 20F as riders clipped in.  Riders reported that it was a little slow starting out in the cooler early morning temperatures but once they reached the Wind Gap controle they had tailwinds all the way to Danielsville and the very welcomed Miller's Market controle.  The snow blowing onto the roadway from Blue Moutain was a warning of the tough section ahead up into the headwinds funneling through Lower Smith Gap Road.  Once riders made it to Water Gap and headed south along the river they all knew they had the rest of the ride 'in the bank.'  Sunny skies and moderating temperatures made for a decent day for a brevet and another 100% finish rate.

Congratulations to freshly minted randonneurs Alexander Manta and Zachary Rachell who braved the less than ideal weather to notch their first brevets.  I'm sure we'll be seeing more strong finishes from these two.

Jimmy Asparas typed this after his fingers thawed.

Hey Bill,

Thanks for organizing the ride yesterday. I always appreciate the volunteers that get up so early and hang around all day for us riders.

It was the coldest start since February, and the wind added another element to the mix that made for a slow day. I fought the wind with Chris Maglieri until a couple miles from Miller's Market. I have to give a shoutout to Miller's - the woman working there was super nice and even gave me a free banana because she said they were on the way out. I wouldn't be opposed to making that the stop of our future Danielsville controles.

The climb up Blue Mountain was nice to warm up the body after the controle. The unexpected snow making being blown into the road/my face on the descent was...interesting.

I enjoyed some pretty nice views and was thankful that we made a left onto 191 instead of a right up to Fox Gap. Although maybe if I was feeling better maybe I would have made the right for kicks ;)

I found my legs somewhere right after Water Gap and had a decent ride all the way back, finishing just before it got too dark which was my goal for the day.

With Saturday's completion, Jimmy Aspras he joins an elite group of PA Randonneurs who have earned the PA R-12 honor.  The R-12 is hard enough in its own right, but to complete 12 consecutive monthly PA brevets is quite the accomplishment.  Chappeau, Jimmy!

Special thanks to Bill Olsen and his able assistant Chris Nadovich for their exceptional organizational skill.  Bill even managed to pre-ride next weeks 100k route while everyone else rode the 200.

Next up is the Milford Populaire 100k starting from the same Bridge Street Bagel & Deli venue as this weekend's 200.  Starting time is 7:00am.  Registration is open through 5pm Thursday.

Registered Riders as of 11/16 include:
1 Jimmy Aspras
2 Marc Bernardo
3 Jane M  Brown
4 Joe A Brown
5 Sean O'Connor
6 William Olsen - organizer
7 Michael D Povman
8 Aleksey M Vishnyakov
9 Naomi Wyatt

In December we will head west to Lancaster County for the Little Britain 200k starting from Landis Valley near Lancaster.  Mark your calendar and make plans now for this December 2 season ender.

Andrew Mead
Eastern PA RBA