Lackawanna 200K Rider Report

Preliminary results for the Lackawanna 200K have been posted on the website. Please review the results and inform me of any necessary corrections. The results will be submitted to RUSA in the coming days and become final pending RUSA certification. All fourteen riders (including two preriders Pat Gaffney and Joe Ray) finished the course within the time limit. Congratulations and well done to all. 

While setting a new course record, Chris Maglieri took some time to take photos like this.

This was the tenth running of the Lackawana 200K, making it one of our most often offered brevets. But for many of the newer riders in the group it was their first experience with Shades of Death and the Paulinskill Viaduct, or the inadequacy of the Dunkin' in Portland compared to the good old Portland Diner. The last time Lackawanna was offered by PA Rando was 2018. Seems like forever ago. 

 But this old favorite did not fail to satisfy the new riders. Many commented about how nice the course was -- the beautiful November weather was a factor, I'm sure. The last time Lackawanna was run was March and the roads had snow on the shoulders. 

Thanks to   Pat Gaffney and Joe Ray for preriding and staffing the start and finish, respectively. It turned out to be critcal we had a second preride when Joe Ray discovered the Headquarters Rd bridge was closed. It allowed us to change the route to avoid it.  Pat Gaffney scouted a last minute report of York Rd being closed for a downed wire, but no reroute ended up being needed for this. 

Chris Maglieri (who never seems to get slower with age) nudged downward his previous course record. Eight years ago, in  2017, he rode the course in 8:10, but now in 2025 he made it around in 8:08, even though the Headquarters Rd detour changed the route to include the more difficult climbs on Geigel Hill Rd.  Maybe when you are in your 70's, Chris,  you'll finally crack 8 hours?

Although Chris always seems to get a little better, Decendants Brew Pub was just as mediocre as I remember it being. I think the reason we stopped running the Lackawanna was our fatigue at being disappointed by the mediocre beer and food at the "Shi*s Inn" aka, Descendants. I mean, it's not bad, parking is convenient, and it doesn't suck to have a warmish place to finish on a cold Fall night. No worries. When we return to Milford in February, the finish will be at Pipolo's, which is decidedly less mediocre if not exactly better. 

Before we get into the Jan/Feb Hope to wherever winter brevets that start near Easton, there is one last Philly start in December for the Oley Valley & Hopewell Furnace 200K, which is the final brevet of the 2025 season. Info and online registration can be found at the event website.  Hope to see you there.