***UPDATE (Postponement): Covered Bridges 200K Pre-Ride Course Notes

The event has been postponed by 24 hours due to forecasted heavy rain and potential flooding. The ride will begin at 6:30am on Sunday 24 March. See the email from Iwan for more details.

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The Covered Bridges 200K is back for a third edition as the 2024 PA Super Randonneur Series kicks off. We are very excited to have 76 riders registered for the brevet, making it our largest-ever event in PA Randonneur history! We welcome a number of riders who are new to the club and/or riding first brevets. Below is a report compiled after three club volunteers completed a "pre-ride" of the route.

Van Sandt Covered Bridge, the first of eight bridges

George Metzler, Joe Ray, and I [Brad Layman] completed our pre-ride on Saturday 16 March. Joe and I rode together, while George started about an hour earlier and rode solo. We did not encounter any road closures along the route. The latest cue sheet is Version 2 and the latest RWGPS route was updated on 2024-03-18 12:59:05 EST.

The route begins from the Chamounix Carriage House Hostel and follows suburban roads out of the city. On the way to New Hope, gently rolling hills will help riders warm up before the big hills. The second control is any business in the town of New Hope. The New Hope Ferry Market on the righthand side of Main Street has public bathrooms (open at 8am) and a coffee shop (open at 9am). There is also a Starbucks and Dunkin in the center of town (both open at 5:30am). Sadly, the beloved French bakery, C’est La Vie, permanently closed last year. Keep in mind that there is a brunch provided by the club about 20 miles later. Since the pre-riders miss out on the club brunch, we stopped at the Lumberville General Store for a nice breakfast (about 6 miles past New Hope).

Joe Ray passes the Stover-Myers Mill next to Tohickon Creek

After moving on from New Hope, the route follows the Delaware River and reaches the heart of the course, which means hills. The first is Tohickon Hill, followed by a control at Cabin Run Covered Bridge. Enjoy the reward of climbing with some nice descents on beautiful roads like Hollow Horn and Dark Hollow.

Riders will later emerge from the hills next to the river again where the club brunch is located in Tinicum Park. Club RBA Chris Nadovich and Joe Ray will be there serving food and drinks (including a vegan option). Unfortunately the park bathrooms are not available at this time of year.

From Tinicum Park, riders can see the wall-like ridge at the edge of the river valley. Shortly after brunch, riders will be heading up that ridge on the notorious Uhlerstown Hill Rd. This climb is the steepest of the route, with a gradient that reaches over 30%. There is a gate at the bottom and another at the top. I was able to ride around the first gate without dismounting thanks to someone who did some brush clearing recently. The climb doesn’t pick up for a little bit so it is possible to remount if you walk around the first gate. We all had to dismount for the gate at the top. Riders get a short respite after the climb before it picks up again on Perry Auger Rd. There is a reward of a fun descent on Kintner Hill Rd.

Gate at the bottom of Uhlerstown Hill

Ealer Hill Rd and the PAR classic Buckwampum Rd are the next big hills. Another scenic descent on Stifer Valley Rd will lead riders to the control at Knechts Covered Bridge. At this point, the most challenging hills are behind but there are some rollers on the way back to Philly. The last control before the finish is at Tabora Farm, widely known by riders in the Philly region for their baked goods. A bathroom at Tabora is unmarked and located behind the coffee counter, so you have to ask permission to use it.

Knechts Covered Bridge

This is a difficult route due to the steep hills in the middle, particularly between miles 45 and 70. None of them are long, but they are steep enough to provide a real challenge. It can also be tempting to think the last 50 miles will be an easy coast back to the city. The rolling hills and occasional waits at traffic lights can throw off your rhythm. The waits at the intersections along the 202 trail can be especially frustrating. You will probably have more fun if you don't aim for a personal best finish time on this route. Eat and drink throughout the ride, be prepared with the right gearing including a 1:1 ratio, don’t attack early in the ride, and don’t be ashamed to walk a steep section like Uhlerstown. Approach each covered bridge with caution; they are often at the bottom of hills, and the bridge surfaces are uneven and slippery, and some have wide gaps between boards.

RUSA rules (Article 10) state that riders must use a headlight and taillight in steady mode when riding before sunrise or after sunset and in conditions of limited visibility. Riders must also have reflective vests and ankle straps. Though we might have plenty of light from morning twilight, the ride officially begins about 25 minutes before sunrise. There is also a possibility that riders will finish after sunset, as well as the possibility of limited visibility if it rains. Therefore all riders will be checked at the start for functioning lights, reflective vests, and ankle straps.

Riders using the eBrevet app will be provided with a start code at check-in. Be sure to press the “Update GPS” button in the top left corner of the app before checking in to each control on the app. This will work even if the phone’s data is turned off. (Read more about the eBrevet app here.) Riders who forget to check in at a control are subject to disqualification. Riders also have the option of using the Brevet card to check in at controls. ALL riders must keep their brevet card with them throughout the ride, whether using the app or card for check-ins.

Chamounix Carriage House

We discourage you from coming by car. Ride to the start or use public transportation. If you are driving to the event, please be sure to read the parking details on the event page: "We believe that Chamounix is a generally safe place that is convenient and comfortable, but there have been instances of petty theft in the area. Do not leave valuables in your car. There should be nothing visible that might tempt thieves. If you must leave clothes and minor gear someplace during the event, it would be best to leave these inside the Carriage House, but please don't leave anything of great value. Thank you for your understanding." 

For those coming by train from New York and staying until Sunday, please note that the earliest train you can take back to New York is leaving Philadelphia 30th Street Station at 9:35am. A new rule exists that you can't take a bike on the train on Sundays arriving in New York between 9-12am. See schedule here: https://content.njtransit.com/sites/default/files/NEC-WKND-111223.pdf

Lastly, have fun, ride with friends, make some new ones, enjoy the scenery and treats along the way, and be safe. And plan to stick around afterwards at Chamounix for dinner and to share tales of your adventure.

Brad Layman

Co-organizer

Iwan Barankay

Co-organizer

Chris Nadovich

Regional Brevet Administrator