Welsh Tract Wander Course Notes

A pre-ride of the Welsh Tract Wander 200k was completed on December 1 by Iwan Barankay, Tibor Barankay, and Brad Layman. Congratulations to Tibor (17) for completing his first 200k—a remarkable feat, especially in frigid conditions!

Tibor (left) and Brad were feeling victorious after reaching a spot to eat lunch

The latest cue sheet is VERSION 5, and the RWGPS file was last modified on 2024-12-3 13:13:11 EST. RWGPS file and cue sheets can be found here.

Weather and Gear Recommendations

The forecast for Saturday’s event looks similar to what we experienced during the pre-ride: sub-freezing temperatures in the morning with a slight warm-up in the afternoon. Dress warmly, and consider layering with thermal gloves, hats, buffs, a windbreaker vest, insulated shoe covers, and chemical hand warmers (e.g. Hothands). Avoid waterproof clothes or those that are too airtight, as you will sweat in them on the climbs and then shiver on the flats. Use insulated water bottles or carry them in your jacket pockets or bike bags to prevent freezing. Check out our post on instagram (link) for further tips on how to stay warm. 

EBrevet

We encourage riders to use the ebrevet app to check in at the controls. Search for "ebrevet" by Chris Nadovich in the app store. Your brevet card will have a code to check into the app at the start. Then, you need to open the app at each control, hit “GPS Update” and check in at each control. You can close the app between controls and keep your phone in airplane mode if you prefer. This is not a tracking app - it just allows you to check and upload the time when you are at a control. For any questions, contact the ride organizer.

Route Highlights

This new route has a similar feel to the Tscheschter Kaundi 200k. Riders will escape the city through suburban roads, eventually reaching quiet country lanes and the picturesque farmlands of Amish Country.

Runnymede Rd

Be prepared for some traffic lights during the first 10 miles. Please be patient and obey all traffic laws. After clearing the suburbs near Philly, the roads open up with fewer stops and more scenic stretches.

Controls

The first control is a Wawa near West Chester at mile 31. It does not have indoor seating, so we recommend keeping your stop short to avoid losing body heat—especially with a descent right after.

None of the route’s controls have indoor seating (except the start/finish). For those looking for a warm break, two food establishments with indoor seating are noted in the cuesheet and RWGPS:

• Victory Brewing (mile 61): Plenty of seating and food options (two vegan food options) with a fast service.
• Little Anthony’s Pizza (mile 74).

Bridge Closure (Mile 46.5)

There is a closed bridge on the route near mile 46.5 on PA-82. During the pre-rides, we found it to be passable by walking through the barriers. According to PennDOT, engineers are in the early stages of assessing the bridge and no construction has been planned yet. 

PA-82 bridge over Doe Run is closed to cars but passable on foot

(If the bridge is impassable on December 7, riders will have to backtrack on PA-82 briefly and turn right on Wilson Rd, right on Ryan Rd, right on PA-842/Clomnell Upland Rd, right on PA-841/Chatham Rd, and then left on Greenlawn Rd where you can rejoin the route.)

Climbing and Final Stretch

This route doesn’t have as much climbing compared to other PA Rando rides, but the rolling hills in Chester County can be taxing. The climb up Pumpkin Hill (mile 78, 1km at 8%) might be the toughest. If you’re feeling fatigued, remind yourself that the last 30 miles are flat and mostly follow the Schuylkill River Trail. Given the cold temperature, it is sometimes better to take it easy on the climbs to avoid excessive sweating.

Safety and RUSA Requirements

Riders and bikes will be inspected before the start to ensure that all RUSA safety requirements are met. The ride starts before sunrise and we want you to be safe in the evening! Per RUSA rules, front and rear lights set to “steady,” reflective vests, and ankle straps are required for riding before sunrise and after sunset. A new RUSA rule also requires bikes to have brakes. If you have questions about these requirements, contact Iwan, the event organizer.

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday! Stay safe, dress warmly, enjoy the ride, and look forward to enjoying some holiday festivities with your fellow riders after the ride.