The Bleu Kaundi 600K is coming up quickly, and riders are preparing for all kinds of goals and challenges. For some, this will be a first attempt at the 600K distance. Others are continuing their SR Series journey, building fitness for longer events later in the season, or simply looking forward to another big weekend on the bike. Last month, 15 riders completed their first-ever 400K, and we are hopeful that many of them will return to tackle the next milestone.
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| Time to earn the final stamp of the series! |
If you rode the Four State 400K, it is completely normal if you are still feeling a bit sluggish. It has only been about two weeks since that ride. A hard 400K effort can take time to fully absorb and recover from, especially if it was your first time at the distance. Continuing to ride, while also prioritizing sleep, nutrition, and recovery, is usually better than trying to force yourself back to feeling “normal” immediately.
One reassuring thing for first-time 600K riders: many experienced randonneurs believe the 400K is actually the more difficult distance. The 400K sits in a difficult place where most riders are still trying to push through with very limited rest while riding deep into the night. Once you have a 400K under your belt, a 600K becomes more about managing your time, sleep, and energy across two days. In many ways, a 600K is simply adding another ride onto the following morning.
The biggest thing to think through ahead of time is your timing plan. How much sleep do you realistically need at the overnight control? How long do you expect the second day’s 200K to take, considering you'll have tired legs? Everyone approaches this differently. Some riders are comfortable with very short sleep stops while others benefit greatly from getting a few solid hours of rest before heading back out.
As with all PA Rando SR Series rides, expect plenty of climbing. But riders should know that the Ronde van White Clay 200K earlier this spring actually had the most climbing per mile of any ride in the series. Day 1 of the 600K contains slightly less climbing than the Four State 400K while also being about five miles shorter overall. That should give riders a chance to reach the overnight control a little bit earlier and settle in for some rest before the final leg.
Day 1 does include two longer stretches without major refueling opportunities at the beginning and end of the route. The first intermediate control does not come until 57 miles into the ride. Riders should consider grabbing a couple to-go snacks at Chamounix before the start and make sure bottles are fully topped off. Fortunately, this section will likely be cool and dark for most riders, making it a good opportunity to settle in and complete a substantial portion of the route before the first stop. The first intermediate control is a bagel shop in Milford, NJ, and makes for a nice breakfast stop. There is also the Milford Market and a gas station convenience store in town and along the route.
At the end of the day, there is a 47-mile stretch between the Redner's Quick Shoppe control and the return to Chamounix. Riders should stock up well before leaving Redner's. There is a park restroom and water fountain (marked on RWGPS) along the Perkiomen Trail, approximately 18 miles after the Redner's control, providing a chance to top off bottles before the final 30 miles back to Chamounix.
The remainder of the Day 1 controls are fairly well spaced out. Riders should note that the Bowmanstown control at mile 118 is a postal control, though Relly’s Deli and the Bowmanstown Diner are nearby and directly along the route for anyone looking to stop for food or supplies.
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| Waffle with cherries at Bowmanstown Diner (Mile 118) |
Day 2 follows the Tscheschter Kaundi 200K route. While no ride in southeastern Pennsylvania is ever truly flat, the second day is relatively manageable at roughly 7,000 feet of climbing.
Riders who have previously ridden the TK200 will notice a few changes to controls:
- The Wawa in Dilworthtown has been added as an official control. Previously, it was simply marked on RWGPS with a recommendation to stop.
- The Christiana control, which serves as the midpoint of Day 2, has changed from a postal control to a pizza shop that opens at 11:00 AM on Sunday. Since Day 1 already includes a postal control, there was no need for a second one. However, the Christiana control is now an info control, so riders who arrive before opening time do not need to wait for the pizza shop to open. Riders looking for alternative refueling options should note that there is a Turkey Hill approximately 7 miles before Christiana and another about 15 miles after; both are along the route and marked on RWGPS.
- The Ludwigs Corner Wawa has been added as a control, replacing the Sheeder-Mill covered bridge control. The goal here is to encourage riders to stop, refuel, and reset before the final stretch home. Note that the route does not pass the Wawa in Phoenixville anymore in order to use roads with less traffic.
- All of the Wawas and Turkey Hills along the Day 2 route are open 24 hours. This is especially noteworthy for riders planning to ride straight through.
- The intermediate controls on Day 2 are all info controls, meaning they do not have closing times listed on eBrevet. This gives riders a bit more flexibility if they get a later start on Sunday morning and need time to settle into the second day.
Two riders have already mentioned that they plan to ride straight through without sleeping at the overnight control. If you are considering riding straight through, please let me know ahead of time so we can make arrangements for volunteers to be available for your finish.
Pre-rides are also planned over the coming days. I will be completing a pre-ride over Memorial Day Weekend, and David Coccagna and Matthew Willett are planning a joint pre-ride for May 31-June 1.
Check back on this page for route updates after the pre-rides. I will also break down the RWGPS route into a Day 1 file and Day 2 file and post the links once the route is confirmed.
The registration fee increases this Saturday, May 23. Final registration closes on Wednesday, June 3, at midnight. Looking forward to seeing everyone back out on the road soon.
Brad Layman
RBA, Pennsylvania Randonneurs
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