Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Blue Mountain 400k

*** Start/Finish ***
The start/finish is at Weisel Hostel.  There is a parking lot at the hostel, halfway between the house and the road on the right. Don't park in the few spots right next to the house -- these are reserved for the house parents and event personnel. Your RBA and volunteer Len Z. will be there Friday night for the start.  As usual, breakfast items, including hot oatmeal will be available one hour before the start.  Volunteer Norman S. will be greeting you at the finish. Some of you may also see Len Z. along the course at a secret/revitalement controle during the event. 

*** Hostel Overnight Accommodations ***
Gerri Anne and John are the hostel parents … if you meet them, you can identify yourself being with the "Bike group/PA Randonneurs" There are 3 dorm rooms on the second floor designated as: Male, Female, and Family. Friday night arrivals before 9:30PM should go to Female dorm, afterwards, to the Male dorm. You can claim a bunk in your dorm room and find sheets and pillow cases in a metal cabinet on the second floor landing.  You can keep your bunk for use on Saturday night. There are kitchen facilities available for your use (refrigerator, stove, etc.). You may store your bike in the Great Room, to your left when you walk in.  There are 2 showers available at the hostel in the upstairs bathroom (there is a sign on the door to
indicate male/female usage). When you are ready to leave, strip the sheets off your bed and place them in the hamper on the second floor landing.
You may want to consider bringing along:
o Pillow
o Ipod and/or ear plugs and eye mask
o Flashlight
If roughing it with the dormitory-style hostel accommodations is not for you, there are several chain hotels in the Quakertown area. 

*** Driving after the event ***
If you are very tired when you reach the finish, it may be a good idea to take a nap before a long drive home, so you don't end up with serious injuries like David Nakai did: 
.. Dorm rooms are available at the hostel finish, and we'll find a spot for you whether you have made a reservation or not.

*** Course Notes ***
While 90% of the roads are in good enough shape, 9% are in pretty rough condition, and the remaining 1% are in appalling shape.  After two pretty rough winters in a row, the untreated cracks from last year have now become gaping potholes and craters this year -- if you hit one of these at speed, it will most certainly ruin your day.  Unfortunately, this is especially true for just about all the roads in Bucks County, where you will be riding in the dark at the start and finish. Some of the bigger hazards have been highlighted on the cuesheet, but you should be on the look-out for potholes at all times, and keep a safe distance while riding in a group so you can safely maneuver around these hazards.
-Mile 1.6: As noted on the cuesheet, the first couple of miles of Ridge Rd are very rough.  Please keep a safe follow distance if you are in a big group, so you can pick your way around the potholes.
-Controle 2 is an untimed postcard drop (which you will be given along with your brevet card)
-Mile 23.0: You'll be passing by the Milford bakery which usually is open before the official 6AM opening time.
-Controle 3 is officially the Village Farmer and Bakery, but you may use any store in Water Gap to get your card signed.
-Mile 100.3: there is a diner in Bowmanstown which is the last opportunity to replenish your supplies for the long 49 mile segment between Controles 3 & 4.
-Mile 151.2: there is minimart to replenish your supplies for the long 51 mile segment between controles 4 & 5.
-Controle 5 in Jonestown is the same one used in previous editions but it has changed ownership from Hess to Speedway.
-Controle 6 has a diner that can be used instead of the mini mart.  However, it no longer is open 24 hours, and will be closing at 11PM.  But the Minimart has a "Drivers Lounge" on the 2nd floor with chairs and a couch if you would like to take a long rest.

*** Ride Safely ***
Your safety is the number priority on an Eastern PA event.  While the risks outlined in the event waiver cannot be completely eliminated, the following will hopefully help keep you as safe as possible.

Your responsibility as the rider includes:
- Showing up in reasonable physical condition for the event
- Bringing a reliable bike in good working order
- Complying with all traffic laws along the course 
- Respecting the rights of all other users of the route (including pedestrians)
- Planning for the situation where you can’t finish the ride

Although every effort has been made to provide you with a scenic route that minimizes car traffic and other hazards, the following list highlights some areas to take some extra care:

With the rough winter we just had and as outlined in the course notes above, you should be extra vigilant for potholes and rough road surfaces.
- One of the most dangerous thing you will encounter on the road just might be another cyclist.  Keep a safe following distance when riding with other cyclists you are not familiar with.  Please avoid forming a large bunch at the start of the ride.


Equipment
- Helmets are mandatory.  Riding without a helmet will result in an immediate disqualification.
- Please note that the bike inspection checklist includes redundant lighting for both the front and rear lights.
Bringing along a cell phone is highly recommended.
- Mechanical assistance is not provided.  
- SPOT trackers will be handed out to selected riders. If you are given one, they have a feature to call for help if you need it and are out of cell phone range -- if you are unfamiliar with how to use this feature, a volunteer will be happy to explain it to you.  If you have a personal unit not already listed on the PA Randonnerus SPOT Tracking webpage:  http://www.parando.org/SPOT_Links.html
please send me a link to your SPOT webpage.

Food / Hydration
- In general, the route heads you into some desolate areas, with limited opportunities for food and water.
- Plan on replenishing supplies at the controles stops.  The controles are typically at a store or restaurant.

Abandon  
- If you feel like abandoning the ride, it may be an indication that you are not eating and drinking enough.  Take a break, eat something, and it's likely that your outlook will improve.  Before you know it, you'll be making that last turn back to the finish.  And remember the golden rule of "… eat before you're hungry and drink before you're thirsty."
If you are still riding past the ride time limit or if you intend to abandon the ride, please contact me on my cell phone: (610) 417-7161
- It is your responsibility to make arrangements for alternate transportation

In case of accident  
Should you become injured, or arrive just after an accident resulting in an injured person (rider, motorist, or passer-by):
- Call 911 for an ambulance, describing where you are and the condition of the injured person(s)
- Contact me along with any other organizers listed on the cuesheet 
- Be sure to carry identification along with your emergency contact information in case you are knocked unconscious

Near-miss
Please mention any safety hazard you might have spotted, or near-miss incident you saw. We value this feedback highly and it will help PA Randonneurs improve the next edition of the event.

Have a safe ride! 

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

*** Roster as of 5/1 ***
1 Michael Anderson - Friday and Saturday Night Hostel
2 Eoghan Barry - Friday and Saturday Night Hostel
3 Ed Bernasky - 
4 Gavin Biebuyck - 
5 Chris Errico - 
6 Matthew Farrell - 
7 Joe Fillip - 
8 William Fischer - 
9 Cecilie Gaffney - 
10 Patrick Gaffney - 
11 Guy Harris - 
12 Greg Keenan - Saturday Night Hostel
13 Eric Keller - Friday Night Hostel
14 Tim Kirch - 
15 Robin C Landis - Friday and Saturday Night Hostel
16 Gil Lebron - Friday and Saturday Night Hostel
17 Gary Mass - 
18 William Olsen - 
19 Tom Oswald - Saturday Night Hostel
20 Bob Torres - Friday Night Hostel
21 Gilbert Torres - Friday Night Hostel

Monday, April 27, 2015

Crush The Commonwealth



Local PA Randonneur  Gavin Biebuyck set out this past weekend, to Crush the Commonwealth -- a 400 mile challenge, to ride unsupported from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia along Bike Route-S:
http://www.crushthecommonwealth.com/

Gavin sent me the following ride report of his epic ride:

Summary
Finished the 2015 Crush the Commonwealth with Brett from Philly in 30:40 Saturday morning at the Liberty Bell.  Norman S welcomed us and we snapped photo at the Bell with my PA Rando jersey on - first time I took my long-sleeve jersey off in the 30-miles of chilly/cold riding!  Conditions were great this year with the GAP trail dry and as hard as it can be, and with tailwinds from Rockwood to Somerset and all the way to York.  Couple randonneurs represented with Erica from NJ finishing strongly despite her first time and "flying blind" having left her Garmin and other supplies at the bus station.

Tom Oswald's sub-30 hour time from 2 years ago was not threatened and truly remarkable considering I had help from Paul and Brett all the way from Breezewood whereas Tom rode alone.  Got very cold Saturday night and every piece of clothing and fresh set of hand and foot warmer pads applied in York.  Paul too cold and drowsy to continue so felt bad leaving him on the floor at the York Sheetz at 3 am.  After last stop at Morgantown Burger King where Brett remarkably consumed 3 breakfast sandwiches, Brett and I decided not to try to hammer and break 30 hours.  Rode the Route 23 rollers, the annoyingly overpriced-SUV-congested Phoenixville streets, and the equally triathlete-congested Schuylkill Trail at a leisurely pace of 14 mph or so and chatted about bike's and road race training.  Brett is a Cat 1 racer who has ridden kermesses in Belgium.  Despite his 6'-5" height he has the most aero bike position I have seen - as flat a back as Zabriskie or Julich.  Something to do with the no-rise stem and likely 12" drop from saddles to bar!  It seems every racer in Philly know Brett because I heard at least 7-8 passing bikers greeted him on our way in from Manayunk.

The details:
About 40 bikes with lights blinking in the dark at The Point fountain at 5 am Friday morning.  We were escorted to the GAP through 15 miles of bike trails to McKeesport by Pgh bike enthusiasts (about 35 CTC starters I think?).

"RAAM guy" Jason started very fast and broke away on his aero bike as soon as we hit the GAP after the neutral roll-out.   By mile 40 I was riding with large group of 15 or so including some teammates from Baltimore Bike Club and some other very determined racer-looking guys weighing 140-160 pounds.  Pretty intimidating compared to the normal turnout.  We passed Jason at about mile 50 - he was having technical issues with tri-bottle holder and the GAP knocking his bottles off.  He also had a flat (tubeless) and replaced rear 25mm tire with a 23mm which couldn't have helped on the GAP.  We could manage 15 mph and not a bit faster for 106 trail miles!  At Ohiopyle at mile 65, 5 hours in, we made our first stop.  I grabbed a bottle and a banana bread loaf and hit the trail in first place after a 10-minute stop.  The BBC team and others sat down for breakfast - I never saw them again.

After a nature break at mile 80 I was joined by group of 4 including Jason and Erica.  Despite dry conditions the last 20 miles to the end of the GAP at Rockwood sucked as usual and my fat tires (650b x 42 at 45 psi) were the secret weapon as I found myself alone and 5 minutes ahead of Jason, Erica, and 2 Pgh mountain bike guys.  After bathroom break, switching shoes, and lubing chain at end of trail (7 hours in, mile 106) I rode hill out of Rockwood with Jason with a nice tailwind.  I was feeling good but Jason had suffered on trail with skinny tires and lagged behind me and I did not see him at Somerset where I stopped for about 40 minutes at mile 116.

At Somerset Sheetz, Brett and Paul from Ohio rolled in and I rode with them for 20 miles trying to catch Erica and the 2 mtnbike guys before I flatted (rear small piece of glass - 9 minute diagnosis/tube change).  I rode 30 miles alone to Bedford with glorious tailwind and then caught up with Erica and noticed the Pgh mtnbike guys just rolling out of a convenience store.  Erica stopped at Bedford Subway and so 3 of us rode to Breezewood.  Turns out we leapfrogged Brett/Paul and Jason at Bedford and 3 of us arrived at Breezewood (mile 177) in first place.

After Brett/Paul/Erica arrived the 5 of us (Erica stayed) left Breezewood  about 10 minutes after seeing Jason ride by the Sheetz - we never saw him again after that and assumed he was going to ride to first finish as he had told us his plan was to ride with minimal off-bike time.  Five of us rode the pot-holed, grassy Abandoned Turnpike 9-mile stretch together.  Creepy in the two tunnels and group of locals with flash-lights strolling the 6,300' tunnel as we rode through!  The 2 Pgh guys had a room in Chambersburg and were riding very strong so we "let them go" and Paul/Brett and I rode smoothly to Chambersburg (mile 228), after suiting up in more layers and reflective gear at top of Cowans Gap (mile 206).  Cold but pretty 58-mile ride through Adams County rollers to York.  At York Sheetz with about 100 miles to go we were very cold and drowsy.  Paul could not go on so Brett and I rode the final stretches together.

At the finish was a guy waiting for Jason - we were surprised he did not finish ahead of us because we had not seen him on our ride in.  Realized we finished first and a little guilty about not pushing it more in the last 50 miles.  Apparently Jason got lost and his front light failed causing him to ride slow at night.  He finished about an hour after us just before Stef Burch finished - reigning champion Stef was first female finisher yet again!

All in all felt pretty good but the constant rollers and out-of-saddle efforts have my knee very tender.  Carrying extra set of shoes in Camelback backpack not such a good idea - neck and upper back pain required some Aleve on the ride.  I rode the first 106 miles on the GAP in sandals and then put my Northwave shoes on and carried the bulky sandals for 275 miles.  Did not use my small ring and got by with a 48x30 low gear for the hills around Somerset, Bedford, and to Cowans Gap.  382 miles and 15,000' elevation gain per Brett's Garmin.  25:30 hours riding time averaging 15 mph.

Apart from poor shoulder and busy Route 30 stretch around Chambersburg for 30 miles, the route was not bad - highly recommend riding Chambersburg to Lancaster at 1-5 am when there are no cars on the road!  Lots of twigs, branches on the GAP so I am glad I removed my fenders before the ride.

Consumed banana loaf, 5 chocolate bars, 2 Sheetz burritos, 2 breakfast sandwiches, quart of Ben/Jerrys, 4 choc milks, 5 Gatorades, some beef jerky/nuts, and a few coffees.  Carbo loading (several course meal and dessert) and several Pgh beers the night before were probably helpful.  No cramping but took several enduralytes just in case.

Hoping not to ride CTC again as I have ridden both ways.  Good company riding with Bob and Nick from Philly, Stef B, Erica, Paul, and others.  I think riding with others and talking through the night are the key to riding straight through.

-Gavin

Monday, April 20, 2015

Water Gap 300k/200k Ride Report


Fog blankets the valley from atop Little Gap (photo compliments of Greg K.)

Preliminary results for the Water Gap 300k have been posted at:
http://www.parando.org/PA300k_Results150418.pdf
and for the 200k at:
http://www.parando.org/PA200k_Results150418.pdf
...Please let me know of any corrections or other issues.  Results will be submitted shortly, and become final, pending ACP certification.

Going all the way back to last November, we've had weather conditions with freezing cold, wind, snow, icy roads, and some wet thrown in as well.  But in the category of "Careful of what you ask for", the +80F temperatures for the Water Gap 300/200k was almost too much heat too soon, after such a long spell of cold weather riding.  21 of the 22 300k starters made it around the course in good time. All 4 of the 200k riders made it to the finish, with one rider finishing beyond the time limit.  Of note, there were a number of first time Eastern PA participants, including Alfred D., Jim R., and Joseph R.  Jim also finished his very first 300k -- congratulations on that accomplishment.

Jim R writes: "...Thanks again for organizing such a great 300! I am very glad that such a great and beautiful ride was my first 300, and my first ride with the PA randos..."

Joe F. writes: "...Tom: It would be hard to imagine a more perfect weather day than the one we had yesterday for the 300 Km. A tough but fair course, good company throughout the ride -- what could be better? (Well, I could do without Gallows Hill Road, but I quibble.) ;-) Thanks to Norm for seeing us off in the morning, and to you for greeting us with a smile at ride's end!.."

Jim H.  writes: "...Although I was parched at times, the weather could not have been much better for my first PA 300k brevet.  A tough and challenging course although my reunion with Old Mine Rd., which I rode on my very first brevet, was none too favorable. :-)  A spectacular 'valley fog' view from the top of Blue Mountain as well as great river views for a significant portion of the course.  And nice folks to ride with. Thanks for yet another great ride.  Thanks also to Eoghan and Norm for greeting us at the start, Norm for signing us in, and to Pat and Cecilie for their course intelligence. ...."

Chris E.  writes: "...thanks for organizing the 300k on Saturday (along with all the other brevets), it was a beautiful route and a fun ride. . ...."

Greg K.  writes: "...Thanks for another great ride.  The spring weather finally showed up along with a perfect pattern of rain on Friday... sunny riding...rain on Monday.  Among the many memorable moments was crossing the top of blue mountain to find the valley filled with a think fog.  Thanks again. . ...."

Joe R. writes: "...Thanks again for being such good company on my first Eastern PA brevet.  
I was pretty sure when I started a few minutes after the main group left the hotel that it was going to be a long solitary day, but instead I had the ultimate intro to the route courtesy of the organizer himself,... That hot-dog-and-pie special is worth every bit of $2.95 plus tax...."
Photo compliments of Joe R.

Larry B writes: "...I went into this ride not knowing what to expect. Physically I thought I was ready for the ride with lots of miles of training before the ride. Mentality I just wasn't there ... I think I know why Tom gave me the SPOT tracker because if anyone can get lost on a ride, it's me. Thank goodness that didn't happen since I was with riders all day who knew the course. Chris E. was the real work horse out on the course. It's been sometime since I have been around a rider that strong who just puts his head down and keeps cooking. He finished 10 minutes behind the lead group only because he took a break 10 miles from the finish line. He could have finished way ahead of everyone.  You see all kind of bikes on a rando ride and I was super impressed with Tom O's custom built bike he made out of mismatched steel. Jim H. was one tough climber, next time he can use  hand signals pointing up which means we climb again lol ... Thanks again to all the riders I rode with ... without them my ride wouldn't have been as easy. And thanks to all the volunteers and to those who did the pre ride. This was a great ride and a chance for me to get back the rando fever once again. ..."

If you have any other comments or pictures to share, you can forward them to me for inclusion on the PA Message board.

Your safety is the number priority on an Eastern PA event. Please mention any safety hazard you might have spotted, or near-miss incident you saw. We value this feedback highly and it will help PA Randonneurs improve the next edition of the event. Although the preride scouting report highlighted the rough roads to watch out for, I was absolutely mortified at how bad some of the roads were in Bucks County. On my way home from the hotel finish, I looked at some of the alternate roads.  But instead of having just potholes, the alternate roads had no shoulder and busy traffic in addition to potholes.

Special thanks to organizer  Norman S. for signing in the riders, cooking the oatmeal, and sending the riders on their way at the start.  And thanks also to volunteer  Eoghan B. for helping out with the bike inspection.

The Eastern PA 2015 spring schedule continues with the Blue Mountain 400k on May 2nd. Event details have been posted at:
http://parando.org/PA400K.html
... use the on-line registration form by the Thursday before the event if you'd like to join the roster.


-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Water Gap 300k/200k

*** Start/Finish ***
Organizers Norman Smeal and Eoghan Barry will be signing you in at the Hampton Inn start and performing the bike inspection. The hotel will be putting out coffee, bagels, danish and fruit one hour before the start, and Norman will have some hot oatmeal for you as well.  Your RBA will be greeting you at the finish -- if you don't see me in the lobby, I may be in the volunteer room,  #108 which is right off of the lobby.  If you arrive at the finish before I do, you can get your card signed at the front desk and leave it there for me.  The volunteer room is available for you to take a shower, if you like.

*** Course Notes ***
A volunteer preride was completed by Patrick and Cecili G. this past weekend.  Patrick reports: "...Thanks again for another great route.  It was clear and cold when we started out.  Probably a little too cold, but by the time we made to the top of Blue Mountain the sun, and the climb, had warmed things up considerably.  There is not too much to report on the first leg; some random debris on the shoulder of 378, but nothing you can't get around quite easily.  
There is still a fair amount of gravel on the shoulder up Blue Mountain Drive and Cherry Valley Rd from 191 to 611 still has some rough patches.  Other then that the second leg was pretty smooth.
After leaving control 3, River Road has some rough patches along the shoulder.  The routing up Hollow Rd and Hidden Lake Drive was a nice change of pace to River Rd.  There was certainly less traffic than River Rd, but it was not car free.  There is a lot of gravel on the turn onto Community Dr.  The road itself is not in bad shape, but there is a lot of debris (branches and sticks).  After that it was pretty easy going all the way to Flats Deli.
The next section is fine, until you reach Old Mine Rd.  The road is in its usual bad shape up the climb, but no worse than years past.  There are a few rough patches that riders should watch out for on the stretch to the river crossing, particularly on the one lane section just before the bridge.
There is nothing to report from Water Gap to Belvidere.  The roads there are all in pretty good shape.
Heading to the final control the bear left at mile 166.6 joining Durham Rd is just before the stop sign.  Gallows Hill Rd is in pretty bad shape.  Being that it is a long slow uphill, you can pick your way around the potholes and what not, but it is a little rough.  There is some gravel in the turn onto Maple Rd and Stoney Garden Rd is still pretty rough, as it was last year.  Riders coming through after dark should be cautious.  Once you hit Saw Mill Road the roads are in good shape the rest of the way.
Thanks again, we really enjoyed this ride. ..."

-If you've never been across the Rt 80 bridge near Water Gap, it's a little bit tricky.  You need to look for a sidewalk/ramp about 50 yards past the Rt 80 underpass which you will cross under. The picture below shows the ramp on the left, which is in between the road you will be traveling (on the right) and Rt 80 (far left):



You will be facing on-coming traffic as you go across the bridge walkway.

*** Ride Safely ***
Your safety is the number priority on an Eastern PA event.  While the risks outlined in the event waiver cannot be completely eliminated, the following will hopefully help keep you as safe as possible.

Your responsibility as the rider includes:
- Showing up in reasonable physical condition for the event
- Bringing a reliable bike in good working order
- Complying with all traffic laws along the course 
- Respecting the rights of all other users of the route (including pedestrians)
- Planning for the situation where you can’t finish the ride

Although every effort has been made to provide you with a scenic route that minimizes car traffic and other hazards, the following list highlights some areas to take some extra care:

With the rough winter we just had and as outlined in the pre-ride report above, you should be extra vigilant for potholes and rough road surfaces.
- One of the most dangerous thing you will encounter on the road just might be another cyclist.  Keep a safe following distance when riding with other cyclists you are not familiar with.  Please avoid forming a large bunch at the start of the ride.
- The descent from the top of Little Gap is long and steep and it is easy to reach speeds of +50 MPH.  But just because you can go that fast, doesn't mean it's a good idea. There are a couple of turns that could have loose gravel and the winds off the mountain can be unpredictable. Please don't go any faster than your guardian angel can keep up with!

Equipment
- Helmets are mandatory.  Riding without a helmet will result in an immediate disqualification.
- Please note that the bike inspection checklist includes redundant lighting for both the front and rear lights.
Bringing along a cell phone is highly recommended.
- Mechanical assistance is not provided.  
- SPOT trackers will be handed out to selected riders. If you are given one, they have a feature to call for help if you need it and are out of cell phone range -- if you are unfamiliar with how to use this feature, a volunteer will be happy to explain it to you.  If you have a personal unit not already listed on the PA Randonnerus SPOT Tracking webpage:  http://www.parando.org/SPOT_Links.html
please send me a link to your SPOT webpage.

Food / Hydration
- In general, the route heads you into some desolate areas, with limited opportunities for food and water.
- There are limited services available between Little Gap and Water Gap.
- There are limited services available on the Water Gap loop.
- Plan on replenishing supplies at the controles stops.  The controles are typically at a store or restaurant.

Abandon  
- If you feel like abandoning the ride, it may be an indication that you are not eating and drinking enough.  Take a break, eat something, and it's likely that your outlook will improve.  Before you know it, you'll be making that last turn back to the finish.  And remember the golden rule of "… eat before you're hungry and drink before you're thirsty."
If you are still riding past the ride time limit or if you intend to abandon the ride, please contact me on my cell phone: (610) 417-7161
It is your responsibility to make arrangements for alternate transportation

In case of accident  
Should you become injured, or arrive just after an accident resulting in an injured person (rider, motorist, or passer-by):
- Call 911 for an ambulance, describing where you are and the condition of the injured person(s)
- Contact me along with any other organizers listed on the cuesheet 
- Be sure to carry identification along with your emergency contact information in case you are knocked unconscious

Driving after the event
If you are very tired, it may be a good idea to take a nap before a long drive home.  Rooms are available at the finish hotel.

Near-miss
Please mention any safety hazard you might have spotted, or near-miss incident you saw. We value this feedback highly and it will help PA Randonneurs improve the next edition of the event.

Have a safe ride! 

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA

*** 300k Roster (as of 4/17) ***
1 Eoghan Barry - Volunteer
2 Gavin Biebuyck - 
3 Larry E Brenize - PA1
4 Jonathan Clamp - 
5 Alfred Dolich - 
6 Dawn M Engstrom - 
7 Chris Errico - 
8 Matthew Farrell - 
9 Joe Fillip - 
10 J Scott Franzen - 
11 Cecilie Gaffney - Preride
12 Patrick Gaffney - Preride
13 James P. Holman - 
14 Greg Keenan - 
15 Eric Keller - 
16 Alexander Kojevnikov - PA2
17 Gil Lebron - 
18 William Olsen - PA3
19 Tom Oswald - 
20 James G Reilly - PA4
21 Gilbert Torres - 
22 Bob Torres - 

*** 200k Roster (as of 4/17) ***
1 Joseph Ray -
2 Christopher Anson Knight -
3 Donald Jagel -

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Fleche

The newly-built Princeton Wawa, replete with the train station's *heated* waiting lobby, was an overnight oasis. Photo compliments of CJ A.

Preliminary results have been posted at:
http://www.parando.org/PA_Fleche_Results150412.pdf
...Results will be submitted this week, and then become final pending ACP/RUSA certification.

All 8 teams made it safely to the Quakertown finish for a 100% team finish rate -- congratulations to all the captains and their teams for another excellent result.  The Eastern PA Fleche is now in it's 8th year, and after some pretty rough years with stormy weather, we now have a 4-year streak of good weather going. However, as teams headed northwest will attest to, there were some pretty stiff winds to deal with.  And overnight temperatures dipped below freezing as teams headed toward their 22-hr controle.


3 Rivers of Guiness
On previous fleches, Bill F. has led a 2nd team of all fixed-gear riders.  But this year, they decided to ride with gears as team '3 Rivers of Guiness' on a course through the rolling terrain of Lancaster.  Having ridden a similar course with Bill F.and Rick C. in 2010 on team Squadra Bricconi, they get my vote as this year's over achievers.  Bill F. is one of a handful of 7-time PA Fleche finishers.

Cumberland County Cruisers
Team Cumberland County Cruisers was back again, this time under the leadership of  Bill R. They have participated in all but one edition of the PA fleche and have a pair of 7-time finishers: Dawn E. and Rick L. With a course that generally headed northwest, they get my vote for having the most adverse conditions with stiff headwinds for most of their ride.

Escargots Volants and Les Vieux Clebards
The Escargots are another long-time participant of the PA Fleche, and this year, they attracted so many riders that they formed a second team of "Old Dogs" to compliment the "Flying Snails".  But early in the roster planning process, they were divided into an 'A' and 'B' team -- this of course made me think of Mr "T"  http://tinyurl.com/kh9phl9 and the "B" Ark. http://everything2.com/title/B+Ark
CJ A. writes: "...I thoroughly enjoyed myself on my first flèche. Great weather, great teammates (on both squads!), a great and semi-familiar route... what more could I ask for? ...  Paul, Jon, and Katie provided the comedy, Captain Chris kept us in line, and Janice kept me going with her own silent resolve.  The newly-built Princeton Wawa, replete with the train station's *heated* waiting lobby, was an overnight oasis.... a thing randonneurs dream about (or dream in!). I can now see why the Flèche is a fan favorite. Definitely on my calendar for next year.  ..."
Once again, the Escargots get my vote for the best documented ride with CJ's photo album posted here:
http://goo.gl/ksvJma



Now You've Gone Too Far
Team "Now You've Gone Too Far" under the leadership of Eric K. has in past years, earned my "Overachiever" vote.  Their course generally follows the last day of the Endless Mountains 1240k.  But this year they managed to avoid bonus miles, and once again enjoyed some favorable tail winds.  Larry M. writes: "...It was  very good to see you again early Sunday morning at our 7:45 am arrival!  Riding with Eric K & Greg K worked out just perfect as our average pace of about 13 MPH kept us together at all times, especially during the cold (28F) hours of the early morning - it was 43F Saturday morning 8 am when we started from State College.  What made the fleche route special for me was seeing the daylight versions of what I had cycled at night during the EM 1000 & EM 1240, especially on rt. 192 from State College to Lewisburg.  And the opposite was true about riding at night what I cycled in daylight during the EM rides - like the endless double whammy climbs up Ruth Road, and then Church Road up to the glimmering Big White Church on the steep hill in the vicinity of village of Hereford. It had an erie feel as we did the steepest climb of our fleche route  in the dead of night with the village lights all reflecting off the church steps, steeple and front doors.  It was at this point I reflected on the New Jersey fleche route I did a few years ago which seemed like a powder puff roll in comparison.  As always, kind regards for your hard work organizing these RUSA events, ..."

Sinister Nuts

Team Captain Bill O. leading the way (photo compliments of Bob T.)

Sinister Nuts captain Bill O. has finished all 8 editions of the PA Fleche - quite a remarkable feat indeed!  Guy H. is another 7-time finisher, and but for a certain volcano that erupted in Iceland one year leaving Guy stranded in the UK, he would most likely have 8 finishes as well.

Sins of the Fleche
Team Sins of the Fleche, under the leadership of Dan A., is another long time PA Fleche participant.  They were one of a total of 5 teams that converge upon Muellers Too for their 22-hr controle.  Patrick C. writes: "...A wonderfully-run event, as always. Thanks for doing what you do, ..."  And you can view his Sinners photo album at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/84651613@N00/sets/72157651490562927/


Super Unknowns
With a team of all first-time participants, team "Super Unknowns" under the leadership of Gil L. gets my vote for rookie of the year.  They also get my vote for the most exciting 25k to the finish, arriving at the hostel with just a handful of minutes to spare.  With a 22-hr controle near New Hope, they faced many sharp rollers through Bucks County as they headed to the finish.

Thanks to all the team captains for all their hard work in coordinating their teams and planning.  And special thanks to volunteers Jane and Joe B. for preparing the soup and chili, and all their help at the hostel finish. With so many teams this year, I couldn't have managed it without them.

The spring calendar continues on April  18th with the Water Gap 300/200k,  Event details have been posted at: http://www.parando.org/PA300K_B.html
As usual, use the electronic registration on the website by Thursday if you want to join the roster.

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA