***Update (#2) with Course Notes: Introducing the Four State 400

***Update #2:

The cue sheet and RWGPS files were updated again with minor changes in order to make a few cues clearer. The cue sheet is now Version 14 and the RWGPS file is up to date as of 2023-05-11 12:59:49.

***Update from pre-ride:

On May 6, Ben Keenan and Brad Layman completed a pre-ride of the Four State 400. The weather was absolutely beautiful - a nice change from the soaked April events. Here's to the saying "April showers bring May flowers" and not just more showers.

Pre-riders Ben Keenan (left) and Brad Layman (right)

We are happy to report that the course is full of scenery--farms, hills, and creeks--and a variety of terrain to enjoy. The climbing is intense and challenging. We found the second and third 100k to be the most challenging sections. Do not plan to set any personal best times for the 400 and do not estimate your finish time based on other brevets with less climbing. Take your time on the climbs and rest at the controls. Seriously, throw out any preconceived notions about how fast you think you should go. But remember that for every climb, there is a descent. And this route is full of winding (but not too steep) descents that you can coast for several minutes.

Ben Keenan with his signature messenger bag

Eat early and often. Riders are strongly encouraged to prepare for the intense climbing by coming to the event well-rested and prepared to refuel throughout the ride. Get good sleep on Thursday night and eat a big breakfast at the start of the event. Refueling at the controls - especially in Birdsboro, Coopersburg, and Bloomsbury - is critical. Yes, get that donut. And another one for the road.

There are several other convenience stores that provide standard fare but options for different times to eat along the route: Landhope Farms in Oxford PA (mile 75); in Bird-in-Hand (postal control) there is a Turkey Hill (mile 95) and the Bird-in-Hand Bakery (mile 97); an Exxon in New Holland (mile 105); an Exxon in Riegelsville (mile 176); across from the Citgo control in Bloomsbury are two truck stops, with a Burger King and Subway (mile 186); Milford Market/Citgo (mile 195); Wawa in Doylestown (mile 219); Wawa in Lafayette Hill (mile 239).

The ride out of Philly in the early morning hours and the late night return to Philly should be quiet. The route is made up of many tranquil roads with little traffic; the busiest are mostly around the controls, but riders won't be on any of them for long. When possible, depart controls with other riders for at least a couple of miles to navigate through the busy sections and increase your visibility on the road. On the pre-ride, Lancaster seemed to have the busiest roads, particularly around Bird-in-Hand. When encountering traffic, be visible, assertive, and communicative, and remind yourself that peaceful roads are coming up soon. Riders should especially stick together after the penultimate control in Bloomsbury to ride the final 100k in the dark.

The trees and flowers are in full bloom and lovely. Be prepared if you suffer from allergies. The fields in Lancaster County are ripe and smelly including unpleasant odors from burn piles.

Staats Rd at sunset

Sunset provided a nice distraction while climbing Staats Rd on the pre-ride. The descent after the climb and the ride back to Philly was in the dark. The temperature dropped very quickly during that descent. We experienced varying temps in the early morning hours and after dark, with chilly air around creeks and rivers. Be prepared to be strategic with your clothing so you don’t overheat on the climbs or get cold on descents. Removable arm sleeves, zip-able vests, and other easily removable gear is very helpful. After a full day of riding, 50 degrees at night feels a lot colder than it did in the morning.

Fog encountered in the Brandywine Valley. Temps were significantly cooler along creeks and rivers in the morning and at night.

Most of the roads were quiet and easy to navigate at night. The busiest road we faced in the dark was River Rd/NJ-29 from Milford to the Lumberville Bridge. There was less traffic on this road than what you see during the day, and there is a wide shoulder along most of it. Be prepared for significant riding in the dark by wearing your reflective vest and ankle straps and having your lights charged. Again, group up with other riders at the Bloomsbury control to ride the final 100k in the dark for increased safety.

The cue sheet (version 11) and RWGPS file (updated 2023-05-8 15:21:49) reflect the changes based on the pre-ride. It is recommended that riders break up the route into smaller sections to download to your device. We split it into two halves by using the Birdsboro control as the halfway point. There is cell service on most of the route. There were stretches without cell service but they did not last long.

***Chamounix Classic 200 Notes:

A pre-ride is not planned for this event. Iwan Barankay reported a fallen tree on the Lincoln Drive Trail near mile 123. It might be cleared out by the day of the event, but keep your eyes out in case, especially if riding this section at twilight.

***Original Post:

The 2023 ACP SR Series continues with the Four State 400, which will be held on May 13.  Registration is open until 11:59pm on May 6. Details are available on the PA Randonneurs website.  The event starts and finishes at the Chamounix Carriage House in Philadelphia and will take riders through Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey. It is a new route that features several areas known by PA Randos, including the Brandywine, Lancaster County, Oley Valley, the Reading Prong, Bucks County, and the hills around the Musconetcong Gorge in NJ.

A pre-ride is planned for May 6. This blog post will be updated with a course report following the pre-ride.

The new route contains a lot of climbing. For riders who are nervous about the amount of climbing, it might help to break the route into smaller sections. The biggest climb of the route is at the beginning of the final 100k with a climb over Staats Rd. After that, there is a long flat section on River Road followed by some gentler hills on the way back to Philly.

Section (km)	Total Climbing (ft)	Biggest Climb (ft)
0-100	4,450	241
100-200	4,550	455
200-300	4,400	515
300-400	3,600	537
Total	17,000	537

The ride organizer conducted course scouting rides over the winter during the route planning process by breaking it into two halves. During these rides, the first 200k was found to be pleasant despite containing more than half of the overall amount of climbing. The second half contains the steepest climbs, including Oysterdale Rd out of Oley Valley and Staats Rd over Musconetcong Mtn. These climbs will be challenging given their distance into the ride, so be sure to save energy. More details and tips to come in the pre-ride report.

We will also be offering a 200k event for those not wanting to tackle the challenge of a 400k. The 200k route will be the Chamounix Classic. Registration for the 200k is open until 11:59pm on Wednesday, May 10.