Hope to New Hope 200K Ride Report

A cold and windy day. But not that cold. It was almost above freezing  at times.  The sun almost came out. And there was no snow. Well, not much snow. So, basically, a nice day by Hope 2 New Hope standards. 

The brevet starts just before dawn. Brrrrr!

Seven out of seven riders, including one prerider, all made it back to the warmth of Frank's Trattoria having bested the gods of winter, for a 100% finish rate.  Congratulations and well done to all. Preliminary results have been posted on the website.  Please review the results and let us know if something is not quite right.  The results will be submitted to RUSA after review and will become official once certified. 

Start volunteer and prerider Bob Dye made sure everyone knew what to expect.  Finish volunteer Nigel Greene welcomed the finishers with warm pizza. 

 

RBA Emeritus Tom Rosenbauer writes...

I was pleased to see that everyone made it to the finish in good time -- chapeau to the audacious randonneurs that persisted in such frigid riding conditions.  And even more impressively, all managed to resist the siren call of stopping as they passed their cars at the halfway point.

 

First finisher (by like 3 hours!) Chris Maglieri had enough extra time to snap some photos. 

 

Hope to New Hope 200K Pre Ride Notes

The course was pre-ridden by Bob Dye on 1 January.  The latest cue sheet is VERSION 1, and the RWGPS file was last modified on 2024-12-31 13:59:20 EST. RWGPS file and cue sheets can be found here. 

Prerider Bob Dye writes...

New Year's Day was a good day for the Hope to New Hope 200k pre-ride. The roads are mostly in great shape with many wide and smooth shoulders.   This is a good route for a winter-time ride although there was no ice or  snow seen anywhere. There was a cause for concern just after mile 84 with two sinkholes in the shoulder. These look like bottomless potholes and  there was no warning near them. Also, high winds had left some debris on the road which hopefully will be gone by Saturday. The restrooms at Bulls Island (miles 79 and 94) were open and heated.

The route passes through the flashing-light intersection of Greenwich St and Main St  twice - first at mile 2.3 and then at 48.5. It's a left turn (north) the first time at the flashing light and a right turn (south) later. This may confuse your GPS. Mine was totally flummoxed and directed me the wrong way (which I ignored) and  then insisted on a U-turn for the next 5-10 miles. Be ready to disobey! 

Start time Saturday is 6AM Saturday.  I'm looking forward to seeing you then.

Welsh Tract Wander 200k & Holiday Soirée Report

On Saturday, December 7, the Pennsylvania Randonneurs gathered for their 2024 grand finale, featuring a 200K brevet and a festive holiday soirée. Both events were organized and hosted by the ever-gracious Iwan Barankay.

Organizer Iwan Barankay gives final instructions before the start (photo by Mike Riley)

Ride Participation and Results

The Welsh Tract Wander 200K saw 33 participants at the start, with 29 riders (including 3 pre-riders) successfully finishing the course—a solid 88% completion rate. Preliminary results have been posted to the website for review. If you spot any discrepancies, please let us know before results are submitted to RUSA for final verification.

Ben Keenan and Jakub Piven make their way through the city (photo by Matt McCloone) 

Chilly Morning Start

The day began at Café chez Iwan, where riders gathered on a frosty morning to enjoy donuts, slices of stollen, and camaraderie. With winter temperatures arriving suddenly in the Philadelphia region, gear strategy became a hot topic of discussion. Riders shared their approaches to cold-weather layering, with some later admitting they overdressed, leading to challenges with sweat and chills. Overall, though, most managed to stay warm throughout the ride.

Daniel Oh won the Most Visible Rider Award

Congratulations to First-Time Finishers

Special kudos to Tibor Barankay (age 17!), Katie Bishop, Stacie Brunner, and Joe Doherty, who completed their first brevets. Tackling a challenging ride like this in winter conditions is no small feat and earns them extra respect in the randonneuring community. 

Riders stick together as they make their way out of Center City (photo by Matt McCloone)

A time-proven strategy to finish a tough route in adverse conditions is to team up with a fellow rider. This helped Simona Dwass and Stacie Brunner as well as Nigel Greene and George Swain to complete the brevet. Bravo!

Weather and Route Highlights

As the day progressed, temperatures crept above freezing, but riders faced stiff winds in the open countryside west of Cochranville. Fortunately, the route turned north and east after that stretch, sparing riders a full day of headwinds. Riders knew the real milestone was reaching Phoenixville around mile 100, where the remainder of the ride promised an easier spin along the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT).

Festive Finish

Most riders finished after nightfall but were welcomed back warmly to Café chez Iwan for the end-of-year holiday soirée. Finishers and friends shared stories of their day over drinks, snacks, and a hearty vegan chili, enjoying the chance to relax after a chilly but rewarding adventure.

Ride finisher Nova Patch and volunteer extraordinaire Ulli Barankay

A Look Back at 2024

This event capped a productive and memorable year for the Pennsylvania Randonneurs. The 2024 calendar included a populaire (154K), eleven 200Ks, an SR series (200K, 300K, 400K, & 600K), and a grand brevet (1234K). Thank you to everyone who participated or volunteered—you made this year a success.

Tracey Hinder proudly displays her SR Series medals (photo by Iwan Barankay)

During the post-ride soiree, RBA Chris Nadovich presented SR Series finishers with their medals, which were beautifully arranged on a commemorative plaque celebrating their achievement. Michael Evangelista actually earned his PA SR Series by completing this 200K. Congratulations to all SR Series finishers for their dedication and hard work throughout the year!

Thank You to the Volunteers

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this event a success. Tibor and Iwan Barankay, along with Brad Layman, completed a pre-ride to ensure the new route was ready and safe for the day. Iwan and his wife Ulli went above and beyond by graciously opening their home to the club for the entire event, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Chris Nadovich and George Retseck were on hand to greet finishers and make the end of the ride feel celebratory.

Special thanks also go to the friends who joined us at the soirée to support the riders and contribute to the festive spirit, even if they couldn’t ride that day. Your presence and contributions are deeply appreciated!

Riders shared stories and warmed up with vegan chili at Cafe chez Iwan

Ben Keenan writes:

This ride was a certifiable butt freezer (which somehow made it all the better). If anyone heard me on the course whining and complaining and/or inventing new suggested names for “Pumpkin Hill,”  I hereby (from the warmth of my office) retract the comments!  Thanks to everyone that shared the miles, especially those that traveled to be there.  Special thanks to Brad for another thoughtfully designed and beautiful course and to Iwan for another great soiree and vegan stew (five stars from the team of reviewers!).  Everyone enjoy the holidays and hope to see you on a ride soon!

George Swain writes:

Thanks again for hosting a great event at your place. I loved the ride - please pass that along to Brad - and the party was great fun. Looking forward to seeing you down the road. I'll definitely be back for more PA Rando rides in 2025.

Mike Riley writes:

Thank you for organizing a fantastic ride.  See you in January. 

Looking Ahead to 2025

The new year kicks off with a 200K brevet on January 4, 2025. Details are available on the club website, and registration is now open for this ride, as well as the February brevet. The full 2025 ride calendar has also been posted, so mark your dates!

Thank you for a fantastic year, and we’ll see you on the road in 2025! 

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.

Hollywood Hot Dog 200K Ride Report

Preliminary results for the Hollywood Hot Dog 200K brevet are posted on the website. Please review the results and inform the RBA of any necessary corrections. The results will be submitted to RUSA in the coming days and become final pending RUSA certification.  

After days of unseasonably warm and dry weather, the morning of the Hollywood Hot Dog 200K started with appropriately brisk fall temperatures in the mid 40's that, over the course of the day, would rise to about 60 degrees under clear blue skies - great weather for a fall ride. 

The riders gathered at the start as the breaking light of dawn replaced the fading night stars. Many took advantage of the hot coffee, restrooms, and food offered by the international coffee shop that has a location at the start.

This scenic brevet includes a few miles of light gravel on bike paths, crossing the Delaware River, challenging climbs out of Easton, PA, and fantastic food stops for controls. In the late afternoon, a brush fire, fueled by the dry conditions caused by  the 40 day drought, led to a minor re-route but all riders handled the updates with ease. 

The brevet had a strong turnout with 26 starters and 24 official finishers for a 92% completion rate. This was the first brevet for eight of the starters (30% of the field)! At the other end of the spectrum of Randonneuring experience, Chris M. earned another K-Hound award (which requires completing 10,000K of RUSA events in one year) while Mac V. completed his "R60" ride (which means that he has ridden at least a 200K brevet or permanent every month for 5 years)!  

The brevet ended at the restaurant/brewery next to the coffee shop. Finishers, greeted by cowbells, cheers, and applause, enjoyed big plates of hot food and glasses of cold beverages with the hearty gusto that comes from an all day ride with significant climbs. Sitting in the comfort of the restaurant with the warm glow of achievement, stories were shared, photos taken, and tales of longer rides and great adventures, past and future, offered ideas and inspiration to all. I suspect that some, if not all, of the newly minted Randos will be back to take on the adventure and challenges offered by this unique and engaging sport.

Mac Vergara posted this excellent video about the brevet.

Here's what some of the riders had to say:

Graham L.: That was a bit more challenging than I imagined, but I made it with minutes to spare and was met with cheers and applause. First brevet. Fun!

Paul S.: This was my first Brevet and I don’t think it could have gone any better. Wonderfully welcoming riders, excellent fall weather, and a beautiful route. Challenging but not grueling. Maybe let myself cool down a bit too much at Tabora after a bit too much sugar. As the sun set eight of us grouped up in the dark and made fast work of the power line trail and through the suburban neighborhoods. Awesome ending at Iron Hill for some camaraderie. Thanks for the great day!

Photo by Chris M.

Chris M.: It’s always a pleasure to ride the scenic farm roads and enjoy the beauty of the old stone homes. The twisty turny downhills are a blast to let the bike go and double the 15 mph speed limit! 

Mac V.: Nigel, thank you to you and the PA Rando volunteers so much for organizing yesterday’s lovely adventure. You all took care to make sure the route would be fun and safe for everyone. The safety notes about the route were spot on! It was a great adventure through the countryside with folks, both long time randos and new faces, that I’ll be reminiscing about for quite a while. And, it was a fun surprise to see you, Chris N and Janice C riding down Route 29 in the opposite direction, that put a smile on my face!

Joey D: Top notch day in the saddle! Great bagels and conversation. 

Photo by Mac V.

Ben S.: Beautiful ride! Despite knowing about the climbs after Easton (from the Water and Wind 300k), I clearly didn’t heed the pre-ride warning (I know Pat “claims” that he has no relation to Gaffney Hill, I choose to believe that it is a human-made hill created by him to punish overly ambitious Randonneurs). I was completely destroyed by the time I got to Tabora Farms. Despite filling my bottles with cider and eating many donuts, I slowly grinded my way to the end. Very happy I was able to spend Saturday cycling among so many riders—old and new—looking forward to the next brevet! Thank you to all the organizers, the pre-riders, and to Iwan for, among other things, giving me the final push to attend!

Photo by Ben S.

Photo by Ben S.

 

Photo by Ben S.

Iwan B. : Dear Nigel and Pat,

I wanted to thank you for organizing yesterday's brevet. I had a great time, as the weather was neither too hot nor too cold. And the Bangers & Mash at the finish were divine.

Hollywood Hot Dog Pre-ride Notes - part 2

I completed a second pre-ride on Saturday November 2, starting at the same time the event will occur (taking into account the time being set back the next day). It was my first time on the route and it was scenic and challenging. A great course for a cool fall day. 

Be sure to read the original notes; everything there still applies. These are some additions:

• Start: There's a Starbucks at the start that opens early. A good option for Starbucks' stuff and restrooms. The ride organizer may be in there when you arrive. 
• Pennypack trail - There's a port-o-john at about the mid-point of the trail in case the coffee side-affects kick in early. The overall cue for this section is stay on the trail until Byberry Road.
• There are some shoulderless sections of road throughout the route, be aware, be seen, and know when to take the lane if necessary.
• DNR trail - the DNR trail is crushed stone, similar to Pennypack trail. There was a large tree down near the end of the trail, but it is crossable. The Rangers are aware of the issue so, hopefully, it will be cleared by ride date.
• Refuel at Phillipsburg! The following section has significantly more climbing but significantly fewer services.
• At about mile 87.8, on the other side of the second covered bridge crossing, the Tohickon family campground store has food, water, and restrooms. 
• Tabora Farms has fantastic baked goods! Treat yourself!
• Be alert for deer along the Power Line trail especially at dusk and early evening.
• Expect busy traffic in the last few miles of the ride.
• Finally, DON'T TRUST THE BIKE LANE on Fitzwatertown Road mile 119.3 -119.9 (after the 5 points intersection)! Cars park in it and they can be very hard to see at night. Stick to the main part of the road.

See you at the start!

Nigel 

Hollywood Hot Dog Course Notes

Based on a pre-ride by Pat Gaffney, there were some updates and tweeks to the route.  The latest cue sheet is VERSION 3, and the RWGPS file was last modified on 2024-10-29 16:42:17 EDT. RWGPS file and cue sheets can be found here.  Some of the text below was based on comments by Iwan Barankay who pre-rode the course in 2023.

A few miles into the brevet, you are on the Pennypack Heritage Trail (very hard-packed stone, so no challenge for any tires), where Pat Gaffney used to have fun as a kid with his mountain bike in the forest to the right. But now you are on a shared use trail with rules, so please announce yourself to the many pedestrians on the trail walking their dogs, who are invariably called Trooper, Cooper, Hooper, or Blooper.

Soon, carried by memories of the sad fate of the Lenni Lenape, you reach the first open control in New Hope. Perhaps find a coffee or a snack to prepare you for the walk across the Delaware immediately following.

Then comes 12 miles along the flat, featureless river road (aka NJ 29). Please team up with a friend here; or enemy; failing that, prepare music, an audiobook, or a podcast; otherwise, you end up like me, recalling memories I paid my therapist handsomely to forget.  

At Frenchtown, because of bridge construction on 29, you are mercifully detoured onto the D&R trail along the river.  This is a really nice section of the D&L. The only issue is at the end when you make a sharp right onto a gravel road that Tees back onto Frenchtown Rd. The final short section of this gravel is relatively steep, and the gravel is soft. You need to decide: ride or walk. There are no half measures. If you decide to ride, pedal with purpose. If you hesitate climbing that soft stuff, it won't be pretty.

When you reach Milford, the true PA Randonneur thing to do is to get a bagel at Goldberg's right at the corner. Toasted bagels with cream cheese are fast, but fancier stuff with eggs can take a while.

Super special note. Be extra careful with bridges. Especially the METAL GRID BRIDGES OF DOOM. We emphasized them in the cue sheet: Do not ignore our warnings. Slow down. There is a bridge with such a slippery surface that I had to unlock unique ninja warrior moves so I didn't end up kissing the cold metal grid.

After Easton, the real climbing begins, so make sure you have gentle gearing on your bike and enough sugar in your thighs. Whatever glucose or self-esteem you have lost in those hills, you can scrumptiously refuel them at the Tabora Farm & Orchard control.  Restrooms are open (!), and they have a copy of the US Constitution in there so you can reevaluate how you feel about Shelby County vs Holder (2013).

From there, it's an easy finish back to Hollywood. 

Please be careful with the swelling evening traffic in the suburbs. Ensure your lights are on and don your safety vest at Tabora -- even when it is still light.