2022 Rusty Rail 200K Ride Report

Eight intrepid riders clipped-in to accept the challenge of the Rusty Rail 200 on Saturday,  conquering four epic ascents and navigating through an impromptu detour on Sawmill Road with aplomb.  The weather was near perfect with minimal headwinds and comfortable temperatures allowing all riders to complete the ride in short order.

Newly-minted randonneurs Nick and Jared

The climb up Stone Mountain

It is not too early to register for the PA Randonneurs Fall Classic on October 15th, featuring 150K and 200K options of the Brandywine: Horses, Houses, and Hollows.  The ride starts and ends at Café Metzler in Atglen, PA.

RUSTY RAIL 200K Pre-Ride Report

For September, PA Randonneurs is offering up the third running of the Rusty Rail 200K on Saturday, the 10th.  Located in Central PA, it ranges between Mifflinburg and State College (Happy Valley), providing a bit of a change from the usual PAR fare.

A pre-ride was conducted by Steve Schoenfelder today who found the course to be as challenging and beautiful as ever.  There is new pavement on scenic Sinking Spring Rd making it one of the best places to ride a bike in the state.  The most significant change to the route is the closure of Subway at the first intermediate control in Milroy.  The dining options are all at one location now: Rutters or Arbys.

The route is 100% paved, so venturing off pavement onto gravel or dirt roads is not recommended during this event.

The ride starts and ends at the Rusty Rail Brewing Company, the largest brewpub in Central PA where great food and beverages may be had.

Endless Mountains Liberty Bell -- Pre-pre Announcement

 

The final day is approaching for  registering for the EM Liberty Bell 1000K out of Philadelphia. Click here for the event info, cuesheets, RWGPS link, and online registration. The final-final date is 8 September, but we might need to advance this. If you intend to ride I recommend registering right now. We have a few more open beds at the overnights. As soon as all those beds are filled, we will cut off registration. So please register now if you want to ride, as I will cut off registration early if we fill up.  

There are a few minor announcements regarding the event:

Second Overnight

The overnight hotel for the second overnight stop has been changed. Formerly, the second overnight was in Pine Grove, but this seemed a little late. We've moved the hotel for the second overnight to be in Lewisburg, PA. This provides a better 400/300/300K split of the 1000K and avoids issues with "check out time". Also, the controls after both overnights have been changed to untimed controls. So if you sleep a little late, you'll have two segments to catch up to the clock.  

GPS Data and Route Splitting

There continue to be minor changes to the route. These have all been published to the website and the latest  cues are version 7. Please be sure you download/print the latest data/cuesheet. There certainly will be more changes in the upcoming weeks and there is a pre-ride scheduled. 

The GPS data for this 1000K route will not fit in many GPS devices. It's too big. My recommendation is to split the route yourself, perhaps into at least three routes, corresponding to the first, second, and third days. Then TEST IT in your GPS unit. Don't just download it to the device and hope it will work brevet day. Rather, well before the start, and immediately after you download it, activate the route and see if there's an error when the device tries to navigate with it.  I will try to split the route into three and publish the three segments after the pre-ride, but the split segments will be "unofficial" and I can't guarantee they will fit in your device. My recommendation is that you do this yourself, and test it.

Vegan Options

PA Rando has always had vegetarian options at meals, but at the request of our vegan riders, we will be trying to have as many vegan options as possible. Our breakfast oatmeal has always been made with no milk.   When we have pasta with sauce the sauce has always been marinara with no cheese. We have had nut based creamer for coffee. And we've usually had hummus. 

But now, we will add vegan yogurt. We will still have peanut butter, but we'll switch from Nutella to Justin's. Tomato pie will be no cheese. We  will try to find at least one vegan baked good. We will try to have good vegan entrees that everyone will like: roasted potatoes, rice and beans, pasta marinara, pierogies, etc.... 

Carnivores please don't panic. There still will be meat options, but we will make the effort to have vegan options alongside. I hope this helps vegan riders do better and encourages them to ride our events (and maybe even volunteer to help out at some ... hint, hint). 

Also, I emphasize that we can only try to do this. I'm afraid PA Rando cannot guarantee that there will be sufficient food that you personally like hot and ready for you at every staffed control. That's not the deal. Fundamentally, randonneuring is self supported. You and only you are responsible for your needs.  PA Rando will try our best to have good food options available at the start, finish, and overnights. If the past is any indication, we do this pretty well compared to some other regions. But it can be difficult to put together a multi-option menu in a remote control location. Have mercy on the very few and very tired and overworked volunteers who in running a complex event have lots of things to worry about.  They don't need more worries. They are doing their best for you.

--

Chris Nadovich

POO 200k Ride Report

I was recently made aware of the unfortunate (although appropriate) acronym for the Portland Opulent Outhouse ride. We’ll have to change the name in the future…….

8 riders completed this challenging ride for a 100% completion rate.  All riders reported favorably on this new course and concur that it is one of the more challenging routes on the PA docket.  Humidity was high from the beginning and temperatures got quite uncomfortable in the early afternoon but the PA riders were able to overcome these obstacles.

Kerry Moody, in his first ride on a PA Randonneurs course was the first finisher and will hold the course record for the foreseeable future.   Between the high humidity and relentless climbing of this course, I didn’t expect to see a sub 9 hour finish but Kerry Moody snuck in for a 8:59 finish followed closely by Ben Keenan.

It was a wonderful group of tough riders yesterday and it was a blast riding with the group at the start and seeing everyone at the finish.  I hope to see everyone at next month’s Rusty Rail 200k!

Results will be posted on the PA Rando website shortly, please review and report any discrepancies.

From Dale Houke:

Bill, just wanted to drop a quick note to say thanks again for organizing Saturday's brevet.  What a great day of riding - the route was tough but had such a nice flow to it that I hardly noticed all the climbing, and we couldn't have asked for more cooperative late summer weather!

Opulent Outhouse Course Notes

A route checkout was conducted on 7/23.  I’m hopeful the weather will be cooler on 8/6.  Overall, I think riders will enjoy the route although it has a little more traffic than some other PA events.  It should also be noted that this is a very challenging route that probably rides harder than the advertised 8,800 feet of elevation gain would imply.

 There is essentially nothing open in Portland before the ride starts.  Although the Dunkin Donuts opens at 5:00, it ONLY has drive-through service.

 You’ll want to start the ride with adequate provisions to last you through the first 54 miles. The only water you’ll find before Barryville is at the Millbrook Village Historic Site at mile 17.9.  Sadly the eponymous Raymondskill Falls “opulent outhouse” is essentially closed and has 3 portable toilets on its porch therefor no water is available.  You’ll still need to stop at the opulent outhouse to answer the control question which can be seen on the “Forest Restoration Project” sign. 

Road Notes (these are documented on the cue sheets):

Mile 3.8: The Station Road Bridge is closed to traffic and an impenetrable concrete barrier has been installed.   You’ll need to lift your bike over this and a second barrier after crossing the bridge.

 

Mile 17: After crossing the Appalachian Trail, the Millbrook Rd. descent is littered with pot holes (some quite deep).  Take extra precautions on this steep descent and don’t outrun your guardian angel.

Mile 20.1: Walpack Flatbrook Road remains closed and you’ll have to squeeze by the 2 barriers as we did last month.

Mile 30.8: This is a seldom used (by PA Randonneurs) stretch of Old Mine Road that has not been resurfaced.  Much like Millbrook Road, take care on this descent as you slalom around the pot holes.

Mile 31.8: Although cyclists do not pay a toll when crossing the Dingmans Ferry Bridge, please remember to slow/stop as you approach the toll takers lest you draw their ire.

Mile 85: A section of Pa390 has been chip sealed.  The chip seal is relatively well compacted in the lane but some loose gravel is still present along the shoulder.

Mile 116.8: You’ll be crossing a fairly busy stretch of US209 with limited site lines.  Although the speed limit is 35, it appears that the locals think it’s an interstate.  It may be best to walk if (like me) you sometime have trouble clipping in under duress.

Hawks nest (Bushkill Approach) 200k ride Report

20 riders started and completed the Hawks Nest (Bushkill Approach) 200k on 7/9 under sunny skies with little wind and just a little heat later in the day.  All riders completed the event with smiles on their faces and enjoyed post ride food and beverages at the Village Bakery.   Results have been posted on the PA Rando website; please review and advise if you see any errors.  It was especially great to see a mix of experienced riders and some new names to PA Randonneurs.

Congratulations to first time randonneurs Paul Knight and Alisa Olmsted, welcome to randonneuring!  I think most riders would agree that this is a fairly challenging course for a first brevet – chapeau!

Special thanks for Gavin Biebuyck for manning the start and allowing the organizer an extra hour of sleep.

The next event on tap is a new 200k which visits an old favorite site of the past.  See y’all on August 6th!

Chris Nadovich writes....

To be able to ride a brevet as a participant, for a change, is wonderful beyond words. I can just ride my bike, socialize or ride alone to enjoy the day as I choose. Thank you so much volunteers Matt Farrell, Gavin Biebuyck, and organizer Bill Fischer for giving me a day of joy, reaffirming why I love riding my bike.

Except for when my handlebar bag fell off. That wasn't so joyful. It was my own damn fault, of course -- I forgot to fix the velcro straps on the bottom of the bag.  My decaleur doesn't have a lock clip and these straps are the sole retention system. Maybe I should work on that.

I was bombing down River road, just 2.5 miles into the brevet. Just as I was preparing to slow down and make the left onto Hollow Rd I hit some minor bumps and the bag popped off. This itself would have been a mere embarrassment, but the large Swift bag hit the pavement just ahead of my front wheel. Moving at about 20+ mph, too fast to avoid it, I'm pretty sure I rode over the bag square with both wheels.  I had switched my hands fully into the drops a few seconds earlier with my weight shifted back in preparation for breaking, so I was in good position to control the bike through the impact. Nevertheless, it must have been my guardian angel that kept the bag smashing under my wheels from snagging on the bike somewhere and sending me down to the pavement at speed.

The gear from the bag exploded everywhere -- yard sale! Fortunately, I was able to recover everything relatively intact. A few Lara bars were crushed by passing cars unsympathetic to my plight, but the important stuff (phone, wallet, brevet card) were recovered unscathed.

After that inauspicious start, it was all good. What a beautiful day for a bike ride!

From Steve Schoenfelder

Thanks to PAR, and organizer Bill Fischer for yet another spectacular ride through the wilds of PA, NY, and NJ.

 The weather was much better than predicted with clouds parting and blue skies emerging early in the day.  I was feeling youthful at the start and maintained a spritely pace.  After a bit, I found myself  drafting behind Jon, who was sporting a well-worn PA Randonneurs wool jersey.  Turns out Jon, who was planning to ride LEL for a third time, had cut back on his brevets in 2015, the year I started with the club.  At any rate, the fellowship that emerged made for a great ride with the miles flying by.  Jon was instrumental in scoring some water at a firehouse/senior center just before the Roebling Aqueduct when we were running low. 

During most rides, I can recall some periods of enduring (some would call it suffering).  This ride was unique in that I enjoyed every mile.  The sky was blue with puffy clouds.  The traffic on 402 didn’t seem all that bad.  The run along the Lackawaxen was as beautiful as ever.  The potholes on Old Mine Rd were not as bad as feared.  It was, in fact, rainbows and unicorns all the way.  Alright...I would have preferred to ride over the I-80 bridge, rather than push my bike as is required.

And so, thanks again to the volunteers who made this event possible: Bill, Matt, and Gavin.  Special thanks to Chris N for distributing wool jersey orders at the start.

Patrick And Cece Gaffney write:

Thanks to PA Randos, Bill, Gavin, and Matt for putting on a lovely 200 this past weekend.  The weather was great and the course was beautiful.  We saw our first ever rattlesnake on a PA brevet, curled up on the double yellow line on PA 590.  Riding with a nice group of new, old, and regular faces, made for a lovely day.  Thanks again, see you down the road.

 

Hawks Nest 200k Course Notes

 Hawks Nest (Bushkill) Pre-Ride

A pre-ride of the Hawks Nest (Bushkill Approach) route was completed on a sunny day with tail winds in all directions.   The route is essentially unchanged although the cues are enhanced to document current conditions and services.

 Notes on services:

Services are VERY limited for the first 60 miles.  The only reliable sources of food and water before Eldred are the Pickerel Inn General Store at mile 25 (sorry no ammo on sale this year) and the Rowland Cooperative at mile 50.  Sadly the 402 Café has still not reopened and has been changed to an info control.

 The listed control at Eldred is “The Corner Restaurant” at the Northwest corner of Rte. 55 and 32 which has excellent sandwiches and ice cream.  If riders want a shorter stop, Peck’s Market is a full service grocery store on route shortly after you make the turn East onto Rte. 32. 

 Port Jervis is an open control with the excellent Riverside Creamery listed on the cue sheet.  There is a slop sink in the bathroom of Riverside Creamery for convenient bottle refilling.   If riders need additional provisions, Woogie’s Deli is 1 block off route at the corner of US209/Pike St. and King St.  If anyone has a serious mechanical issued there is also a well stocked bike shop off route: Action Bikes at 27 Front St.

 The Hainesville General Store is under new management; fortunately the new management has the same excellent baked goods and deli food.  The cashier was genuinely happy to see us and was looking forward to greeting more riders on 7/9. 

 Road Notes:

Traffic on SR402 from mile 24-39 is a little heavier than optimal but the shoulder is generally adequate for single riders.   After enduring that stretch, riders will enjoy beautiful roads following Decker Creek and the Lackawaxen River.

 At mile 103.9, you will see an ugly “Road Closed Sign” and a suggestion to detour by bearing right up hill on Pompey Rd.  Thankfully you can ignore this sign and proceed along NPS 615 as usual.  There has been some erosion of the hillside ahead and there are 2 remarkably robust barricades at mile 108.9 that you’ll need to pass.  The first one is relatively simple, the second one may require you to lift your bike onto the top of the concrete divider and squeeze your thin body between the divider and barrier.

Shortly after this bit of calisthenics, you’ll turn left to cross the bridge over Flat Brook and commence the climb on Old Mine Road. I’m happy to report that the resurfacing of this section of Old Mine road is weathering nicely which makes the climb slightly less horrible.  There has also been some improvement to the road as you near the single lane passage before you approach I-80.

 For riders that have not crossed the I-80 Bridge; after crossing under I-80, look to your left and you’ll see a hand rail marking the ramp up to the bridge.   At the end of the handrail you’ll take a sharp left to proceed up the ramp and onto the bridge.