Earlier this year, PA Randonneurs held the Water & Wind 300K as part of the spring SR series. Cold rain and even snow in the higher northern stretches made that ride a grueling test of determination. Of more than 30 registrants, only five riders finished. In the aftermath, club organizers started thinking about offering a second 300K later in the season to give riders another chance to complete the distance for their Super Randonneur series.
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| Anton Lindberg completed his PA SR Series with this ride (photo by Ray Prosser) |
September 27 was the perfect fit: long daylight hours, cooler fall weather, and Chamounix already reserved for the Endless Mountains Liberty Bell 1234K. The result was a brand-new route from Philadelphia to Hawk Mountain and back - a ride that blended tough climbing early with scenic riverside miles on the return.
18 riders started the event and 17 finished, including the pre-rider. This proved to be just the opportunity some riders needed. Anton Lindberg capped off his Pennsylvania Super Randonneur series with this ride - chapeau! Several riders also notched big milestones: Andrew Arkebauer, Nathaniel Heller, Daniel Steinberg, and Joey Wendel completed their first-ever brevets, and Joey Doubek, Nick Gunderson, Owen Kobasz, and Kostiantyn Maistrenko completed their first 300Ks. Congratulations and chapeau all around!
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| A rider up the road; approaching Kutztown (photo by Dan Powers) |
The day offered nearly ideal conditions: mild temperatures, little wind, quiet rural stretches, and fall color starting to emerge along the Schuylkill River. The Hawk Mountain climb - 2 miles long at an average of 8.2% - was the centerpiece of the route, followed by a flatter second half rolling back toward the city. Riders finished at Chamounix alongside participants in the Endless Mountains Liberty Bell 1234K, creating a lively, shared celebration on the porch. We hope the experience left riders both satisfied with their accomplishment and inspired - perhaps to return for the 2026 Super Randonneur Series, or even to take on the Endless Mountains themselves one day.
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| Jake Prosser (photo by Ray Prosser) |
In true randonneuring fashion, there were also a few unexpected challenges along the way. Several riders encountered a stationary train blocking the route between Gibraltar and Birdsboro, but managed to find their way around and rejoin the course. And on the final hill up to Chamounix, Nathaniel Heller flatted within sight of the finish, opting to walk the last half mile with good humor after an already long day.
A special thanks goes to the volunteers who made this event possible. Sean Martin helped at the finish by checking riders in and making an emergency ginger ale run. Chris Nadovich supported the finish as well, while also shouldering the enormous task of organizing the EMLB 1234K. Ray Prosser drove to the top of Hawk Mountain to greet riders with water and captured photos of nearly everyone next to the park sign. Those photos, along with others submitted by riders, are collected here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qYXdJ4H4qeGYarid9. Their efforts made the day smoother, more memorable, and more fun for all.
Here’s what some of the riders had to say:
Erin Fulton writes...
Thanks for a great event! I enjoyed both the company when riding with others as well as the quiet solitude through the scenic rural stretches. The Hawk Mountain climb was a highlight—tough but rewarding. The fall colors along the Schuylkill River Trail were stunning, and Phoenixville and Manayunk were bustling with good energy. Crossing paths with the Endless Mountains 1200k riders at the conclusion was something special. Wrapping up the day chatting on the porch was the perfect finish. Getting held up by train just added a little more to the adventure to the day :)
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| The train that created an obstacle for several riders (photo by Erin Fulton) |
Daniel Steinberg writes...
This was such a great introduction to randonneuring and I'm sure the route design was a big reason for so many first-timers.
Beautiful roads, the front loaded climbing was really helpful to get over the distance-jitters for those of us more accustomed to 200kms, and the oscillations between trail and road on the back half kept things fresh.
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| Nathaniel Heller rides through the covered bridge near Reading (photo by Daniel Steinberg) |
Nathaniel Heller writes...
Thanks again for organizing such a great event; had a blast and appreciated the camaraderie.
And, as I joked on the porch last night, I hope my flat at the bottom of the climb to Chamounix sets a PA Randonneurs record for “last possible place on the route to have a deeply frustrating problem.”
PS - Confirmed this morning it was city glass that went straight through the tire tread…tire is in the bin!
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| Daniel Steinberg on the SRT (photo by Nathaniel Heller) |
Dan Powers writes...
Thanks again for organizing. That was a tough route but feels like a great accomplishment and I know exactly what I need to do to improve for future brevets.
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| Approaching Hawk Mountain (photo by Dan Powers) |
Ben Keenan writes...
Thanks to Brad and volunteers for a wonderful day of riding on the 300K route. We were blessed with almost perfect conditions – mild temperatures, no wind to speak of and miles and miles of quiet back roads through countryside starting to show its fall colors. Special thanks to Anton and Kostiantyn for riding with me. Also special thanks to the Endless Mountains – Liberty Bell riders, organizers and volunteers for a successful event and your monumental achievements. Watching the grand brevet riders roll into Chamounix was a proud moment for the club.
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| Approaching Hawk Mountain after passing Wanamakers General Store (photo by Ben Keenan) |
Up next is the PA Randonneur's Fall Classic on October 18. Join us for either a 154K or 200K out of Easton, PA. This ride is a club favorite due to the fall foliage and scenic route. Registration is open until the end of the day on Wednesday, October 15.
