PA 150/200k

*** Update 1 (10/14) ***
The cuesheets for both the 200k and 150k  have been updated to draft 9, dated 10/14.  The controle in Stewartsville  has been changed from Rossini's Market (which is no longer open) to a Duncan Donuts that is just a bit further down the road on Rt 57.  REMINDER: Be sure to use the "refresh" button on your web browser to avoid any stale cuesheets that might be cached on your computer.

With the help of volunteer Chris Roth, the entire course has been checked out.  In general, the course is in fairly good shape and there are even some new fresh ribbons of smooth asphalt in places.  However, there are some additional areas that you should take some extra caution:

- Some of the colorful foliage has already started to fall down on the road, along with fruit and other debris from trees.  You should watch out for these hazards, especially if conditions are wet.

- Just about all the roads in Bucks County (where the hostel start/finish is located) are in very poor shape. While many of the big potholes have at least a crappy patch job, there are still several large potholes and cracks, especially on Old Bethlehem Rd (mile 4.8) and Rt 212 (mile 9.9).  Please be on the lookout for these hazards, and leave enough room to maneuver if you are with a group of other riders (which of course, is a most likely situation at the start).

- There were warning signs for chip and oil road work on Lower Saucon Valley Rd near mile 16.  As of Wednesday (10/14), this has not been done yet.  Hopefully, this will still be case by Saturday -- but if not, you will want to take extra caution on the long steep descents on this road.

- Mile 27.1: There is some loose gravel in the turn onto Newlins Rd

- Mile 33 (150k only): Immediately after the turn onto Lower Little Creek Rd, there is road construction and a 1-lane bridge with a stop sign for traffic control.

- Mile 40.7 (150k only): There is some loose gravel on the shoulder from previous tar and chip work.

- Mile 87.0 (200k) / 55.4 (150k): There is a steep twisty descent with lots of leaves, gravel, and other debris in the corners.  Please take this descent a bit slower and with extra caution.  A note has been added to the cuesheet as a reminder.

*** Original Post ***
The PA Randonneurs fall series kicks off on October 17 and you have a choice of either a 150k or 200k course.  Hopefully, the fall foliage will be in peak color.  The start/finish will be at the Weisel hostel, with breakfast served 1 hour before the start  We'll also have the traditional post-ride BBQ, where we can recap the accomplishments of the past year and look forward to the challenges of the coming year. Registration and other event details are at:
http://www.parando.org/PA150_200K_A.html

With only about 10.5 hours of daylight available, 200k riders will need lights and reflective gear, unless you have previously finished  the course in less than 9.5 hours.

Long-time PA and NJ randonneurs will remember that the design of the 200k course is based on the "Hilly 100 miles" of the 2003 edition of the NJ600k.  It's been run as an October event ever since then, as one of the most challenging 200k's on the PA schedule.  The first notable challenge is the short but very steep climb up Lower Saucon Valley Road, as a warm-up. After the big climb up Fox Gap, another one awaits you up Lommason's Glen.  After the Montana Road descent, we head over to Tunnel Road, which is the "kinder and gentler" way up Jug Town mountain.  But in between, another little lump in the form of Mountain View Road awaits you. About half way up the climb, be sure to look out to your left, where a nice vista can be seen through a break in the trees.  The 150k course generally follows the 200k route until Mud Rud, where 150k riders will go directly to Belvidere while 200k riders head into Cherry Valley and up Fox Gap.

Additional Course Notes:
-Mile 40.9 (200k): As you descend the backside of Wind Gap, watch out for some very hazardous sewer grates in the shoulder -- they are actually more akin to wide open storm drains, and will most certainly ruin your day if you hit these at speed. You'll want to take a line more to the left in order to avoid these hazards.
-Mile 111.1 (200k) / 79.7 (150k): There is bridge construction that is closed to cars but is easily bypassed  if you dismount and walk around the barriers. Since the road is closed to through traffic, you'll practically have the road all to yourself.  But as you get closer to the road closure, the road becomes less maintained -- be sure to watch out for gravel, potholes, and debris, especially on the descent and curve about one mile away from the bridge that is out.

As noted on the website, you should park your car in the large parking lot half way down the driveway on the right -- Not  the few spots near the house (which are reserved). Breakfast items (oatmeal, bagels, etc) will be available 1 hr before the start.  If you are staying at the hostel on Friday night, early arrivals before 10PM should use the woman's dorm and later arrivals should use the men's dorm.  I'll be arriving late on Friday night after a high school football game, but the house parents John and Gerry Anne will be expecting you.

SPOT trackers will be handed out to selected riders.  If you have a personal SPOT unit not listed here:
http://www.parando.org/SPOT_Links.html
... please send me a link to your tracking page.

200k Roster (as of 10/16)
1 Charles J Arayata - Friday Night Hostel
2 Eoghan Barry -
3 George Brandt -  Guest
4 Bob Burdalski -  Guest- Friday Night Hostel
5 Brian Campbell -  Guest
6 Richard G Carpenter -
7 Alfred Dolich -  Guest
8 Matthew Farrell -
9 J Scott Franzen
10 Patrick Gaffney -
11 Michael J Gorman -  Guest
12 Jeffrey A Gregg -
13 James R Haddad -  Guest- Friday Night Hostel
14 Steve Harding - Friday and Saturday Night Hostel
15 James P. Holman -
16 Paul Ilechko -  Guest
17 Donald Jagel -
18 Greg Keenan -
19 Paul S Kramer -  Guest- Friday Night Hostel
20 Gil Lebron -
21 J Michael Lutz
22 Nicholas Manta -  Guest
23 Gary Mass -
24 Chris Nadovich - Friday and Saturday Night Hostel
25 Brian Pho -  Guest- Friday Night Hostel
26 Althea Grace Pineda -
27 Eric Quinn -  Guest
28 Joseph Ray -  Guest
29 Bob Torres - Friday Night Hostel

150k Roster (as of 10/16)

1 Nigel Greene -
2 Sarah M Lutz -  Guest
3 William M Slabonik -  Volunteer
4 Keith A Spangler -  Volunteer

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA