SR Series in the Time of COVID

Did you know that Pennsylvania Randonneurs had, until last year, offered a complete SR series since 2007, the first year it was eligible to offer one?  Breaking that streak was heartbreaking.  As we take on the 2021 brevet season still faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a full Super Randonneur series is my top priority. Much uncertainty remains.  Once simple tasks suddenly require hours or days to complete.  Against this backdrop and recognizing that RUSA and ACP are allowing great flexibility in scheduling that I announce a decision to slightly postpone the 2021 SR series.  If you've been watching the website closely you may have already noticed the date changes.  

We have two ACP 200k events planned.  The March 13 event will be run in the format resembling the R-12 events beginning from the Park-N-Ride in Portland, PA.  This route is a Figure 8 design and will utilize the COVID protocols we've used since last fall.  

The "official" kickoff brevet for the SR series will be the April 17 Pagoda 200 starting from Hugh Moore Park in Easton.  The route is a loop, but our plan is to staff some of the controls to allow contact-free riding, if so desired.  We plan to have food available at the start and finish as has been our tradition for the SR events. 

The remaining SR events will be staged from the Holiday Inn East in Easton using the routes we debuted in 2019.  The 300k will be run on May 1; the 400k will be run on May 22; the 600k will be held on June 5.  All of these events have food offerings at the start and finish, at least that's the plan for now.  Our hope is that the extra delay will allow pandemic things to settle a bit before we ride.  COVID protocols are more difficult on the longer events as overlapping loops have their limits.  Additional staffed controls will be added, but all riders should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 100k.  

Plans may change; that's just the nature of things these days. We are hopeful that we can adjust and offer the SR series brevets that meet our own expectations and yours. If conditions dictate a change, we may alter the dates.  But please realize that we have every intention of offering the complete SR series in 2021.

Andrew Mead
Eastern PA RBA

The New New Hope to Hope 200K (Cancelled)

Update 4: Cancelled

Yes, the heavy snow hit us, and the event is canceled. We will issue refunds for all registered riders.

 

Update 3: Likely Cancellation

Unless the heavy snow predicted for Thursday and Friday misses us, the New New Hope to Hope 200K will be cancelled. It's not possible to reschedule. Anyone registered will receive a refund for your entry fee.

 

Update 2:  POSTPONEMENT

The New New Hope to Hope 200k scheduled for Saturday, February 6 is being postponed until February 20.  The snow storm earlier in the week deposited well over two feet of snow on most of the route.  While some clearing has occurred in the past two days, rain/snow forecast for Friday combined with overnight lows around 20 almost guarantee significant black ice on the route this Saturday.

If you are currently registered for the brevet, your registration will be automatically moved to the new event on February 20.  If the new date does NOT work in your schedule, contact the organizer by Tuesday, February 9 to obtain a refund of your registration fee.  There is no action required if the new date works for you and you intend to ride then.  If you were on the fence about the 6th, the new event will be live on the website soon and you'll be able to register for it.

Follow this space for additional updates

Andrew Mead
Eastern PA RBA

Update 1: 

Some tweaks have been made to the cues and RWGPS route so as to improve the "snowy shoulder compatibility" of the route. The latest update was 2021-02-1 20:14:38 EST cuesheet version 3

Original Post:

On Saturday 6 February at 7AM, weather permitting, we return to Pohatcong to ride last month's GPS-boggling route in reverse, as the new version of New Hope to Hope. This time turn RIGHT the first time you reach the blinking light.  Information and online registration is available on the event page.

There's a clearing trend, but will it be soon enough?

As a major winter storm will hit the area early in the week, we will be monitoring road conditions carefully. We will postpone or cancel the event if road conditions have not improved prior to Saturday.  Stay tuned for updates.

Park away from active stores down by the Movie Theater. There are numerous drive-in joints, gas stations, and even a Wawa in this plaza if you need anything, but the idea is that you will show up self-sufficient and have some personal supplies stashed in your car. The course is a figure 8 and you will return to your car at Pohatcong after each loop.

Many services can be found near the Start/Finish

The Southern loop passes twice through all the Delaware River towns providing many options for service. If seeing the water flowing in the river, and all that coffee you drank, is making you seek a rest room, consider stopping at Bull Island Rec Area (mi 32 and 48). There are rest rooms located on the right side of the main office building. In the winter, these rest rooms are relatively low traffic. 

The turnaround control for the Northern loop is the Dunkin Donuts at the I-80 interchange just beyond Hope, but riders seeking a quick cup of coffee at a lower traffic location might better choose the US Gas convenience store passed twice just a mile South of the turnaround, as the DD can sometimes be very crowded.

All riders must be a paid-up member of RUSA at the time of the event, so be sure to renew your RUSA membership for 2021 before you register. If your membership expires in 2020 the system will refuse you. You can join or renew RUSA membership here. PA Rando membership is not required for riding this event, but to promote PA membership there is a registration discount for PA Rando Members. 

Under pandemic rules, all intermediate controls are info controls. It is not required to enter any business to complete this 200K, although there are several stores available along the route if you choose this option. Masks are generally required at the start/finish and to enter businesses if you choose to do this.

The start and finish extend during night hours. The organizer will strictly enforce the rules regarding lighting and reflective gear.

Ride Report: NEW, Hope to New Hope

Full of anticipation that 2021 will be a better than last year, a tough group of 20 ever-hopeful randonneurs clipped in for a somewhat new version of the traditional Hope to New Hope winter-ready-brevet™. Of those that clipped in at the new start/finish at Pohatcong Plaza, 18 of the 20 completed the whole course within the time limit for a 90% completion rate.   Preliminary results have been posted on the website.  Please review the results and let me know if they align with your memory.  The results will be submitted to RUSA after review and will become official once certified.

It was about as hopeful a January day as could be expected for  the event. A  fortuitous gap in the recently difficult weather opened up to allow a reasonably rideable winter day with temperatures reaching the low 40s and no sign of  ice anywhere on the roadways.  There was some fog and drizzle to start out, it was always chilly, became windy toward the afternoon, but there was a good amount of sunshine.

Several riders complained about the headwind on the final leg back from New Hope, although a few admitted that the wind they faced in Lancaster County last month probably was worse.

Jon Elrath sporting wool pants with retro-reflective stripes.

 

Vadim Gritsus writes...

Once again, thank you for another masterfully crafted Brevet, skillfully scheduled between freezing rain and major area snow storm. Strategically positioned glass and sharp metal debris slowed me down when I was thinking of going too fast for my guardian angel. The roads were otherwise very pleasant, exactly what one would expect from PA Rando planning team! I must  admit I anticipated a major climb to be thrown in somewhere close to the finish but, thankfully, it never materialized. :) I also really appreciate your approach to controls, fast, efficient and without too much unnecessary exposure. An excellent start to a new year, looking forward to many more rides ahead!

The Terrific Tandem Team of Pat and Cece write...

Thanks for your efforts with yesterday's brevet.  The course was more challenging than it looked on paper.  The headwind on the final leg did not help matters.  All in all it was a great day especially once the sun came  out and chased away the dampness.  Thanks again.

Two riders finished most but not quite all of the course. Doug Haluza on a beautiful new front-wheel-drive recumbent became concerned about an biomechanical issue pedaling up the Harmony climb and decided to cut the North loop short and return to his car. Then, after working out the issue, Doug completed the South loop for something near a statute century on the day.   

Dawn Engstrom made brief pit-stop at a Wawa near the Start/Finish and this confused Dawn's GPS to decide the North loop was thus complete and incorrectly continue on the South loop.  After realizing the misroute, with any hope of a RUSA finish dashed, Dawn still soldiered on alone to battle the winds on the South loop and was satisfied with "only" 75+ tough (but non-RUSA) miles for the day. 

Riders are reminded that only the cue sheet is canonical for the route. A GPS unit can certainly help riders navigate efficiently. But even so, if they use a GPS, riders should consult the cue sheet regularly. Cue sheets serve as a check that mitigates GPS confusion and contain important notes and warnings not displayed by most GPS screens.  

The organizer is hopeful that everyone takes this advice to heart, as next month we return to Pohatcong to ride this same GPS-boggling route in reverse, as the new version of New Hope to Hope. This time turn RIGHT the first time you reach the blinking light.  Information and online registration is available on the event page.

The NEW Hope to New Hope 200K

Ever hopeful for a better new year, we are indeed running a New Hope 2 New Hope 200K brevet on 2 January 2021 starting from a new location: The Pohatcong Shopping Plaza in Phillipsburg, NJ. Start time is at 7AM. All the information, and an online registration link, are on the event web page.  You will find a link to the RWGPS data for the route (last modified 2020-12-27 09:55:30 EST) and links to cue sheets (version 6 is the latest).

Park away from active stores down by the Movie Theater. There are numerous drive-in joints, gas stations, and even a Wawa in this plaza if you need anything, but the idea is that you will show up self-sufficient and have some personal supplies stashed in your car. The course is a figure 8 and you will return to your car at Pohatcong after each loop.

Many services can be found near the Start/Finish

The turnaround control for the Northern loop is the Dunkin Donuts at the I-80 interchange just beyond Hope, but riders seeking a quick cup of coffee at a lower traffic location might better choose the US Gas convenience store passed twice just a mile South of the turnaround, as the DD can sometimes be very crowded. 

The Southern loop passes twice through all the Delaware River towns providing many options for service. If seeing the water flowing in the river, and all that coffee you drank, is making you seek a rest room, consider stopping at Bull Island Rec Area (mi 78.7 and 94.2). There are rest rooms located on the right side of the main office building. In the winter, these rest rooms are relatively low traffic.

All riders must be a paid-up member of RUSA at the time of the event, so be sure to renew your RUSA membership for 2021 before you register. If your membership expires in 2020 the system will refuse you. You can join or renew RUSA membership here. PA Rando membership is not required for riding this event, but to promote PA membership this new-year event is traditionally FREE for PA Rando Members. If you were a PA member in 2020, you were automatically renewed for 2021 and this event will be automatically free for you.

Under pandemic rules, all intermediate controls are info controls. It is not required to enter any business to complete this 200K, although there are several stores available along the route if you choose this option. Masks are generally required at the start/finish and to enter businesses if you choose to do this.

The start and finish extend during night hours. The organizer will strictly enforce the rules regarding lighting and reflective gear.

There was a pre-ride of this event on 23 December. On that day, the roads in question seemed in great shape. Famous last words. Always be aware of the possibility of black-ice when the temperatures are near or below freezing. It's also common to find debris on winter roads, so be on the lookout for rocks, unexpected potholes, and ice clumps. 

You will pass by your car after each loop.

The figure 8 shape of the course has a common exit on Greenwich St from the Pohatcong Shopping Center start/mid-control. Soon after the start, when you reach the flashing light in Stewartsville you will turn LEFT for the first (northern) loop. Then when you ride out Greenwich St the second time to the flashing light in Stewartsville, you will turn RIGHT for the final (southern) loop. This repeated segment is sure to confuse your GPS device, so please use your human brain and Cue Sheet Posititioning System to navigate out of the start of both loops and make sure you do the North loop first. If you want to ride the loops in reverse order, come back for the event next month when we'll do South loop first.

Bonne route!

--
Chris Nadovich
Organizer

Ride Report: Little Britain Redeux

 The December R12 brevet continued a long-standing tradition of "epic" rides that cap off our cycling season.  Seven hearty riders clipped in.  Six completed the route for an 86% finish rate.  Results are posted on the website.  Please review your results to confirm they match your recollection.  I will submit results to RUSA later this week to finalize them.

While it looked like the day would be a washout, the forecast began to improve on Friday and by Saturday morning the rain was subsiding.  Our timing was near perfect.  Indeed as riders zoomed down Bell Rd the line of rain was clearly visible just east of the route--maybe as close as a half-mile to the east.  It was obvious that it had been raining on the route mere moments before.  In spite of several recurring bits of darkening skies, the rain stayed away for the day.  The price for staying dry, however, was a strong and persistent wind from the north which forced everyone to dig deep, fight their inner demons, and keep turning those pedals over no matter how slowly.  The winds made the ride from the southern tip at Little Britain to the northern tip in Wommelsdorf (nearly 70 miles) seem like an entire brevet in itself.  More than one person remarked that abandoning at the mid-way control was considered.  

First finishers Gavin Biebuyck and Bill Fischer had this to say:

Brutal winds!  Bill and I almost called it quits when we got back to the start but had some let-up and shelter up past Middle Creek.  Still a very tough day but I liked doing the southern loop first. Let me know if you want gps EPP but mine will be identical to Bill's. We were so impressed George and Christian were riding solo in those winds.  Christian caught up with us early but he wanted to ride alone a few hundred feet back I think probably COVID cautious - but poor guy in those winds cause' we would have loved to draft George!  Anyway hope you had some shelter riding with/behind someone!

No promises, but I am seriously considering offering the option of electronic proof of passage (EPP) as part of our pandemic procedures for future brevets.  It certainly simplifies finish protocol.

George Metzler writes:

Thank you for organizing the brevet.  I had a great ride.  Temperatures really dropped towards the end.  However I stayed comfortable the entire day.  I saw Bill and Gavin leaving headed back in as I was several miles from the Wommelsdorf turn around.  

George pulled off the catch-up of the day.  He left the Little Britain control with the last group on the road and pulled to within 40 minutes of the leaders mostly on a solo charge into the wind.  Very impressive day.  Chappeau!

Conditions were more than Ron Anderson had anticipated; he wisely chose to abandon his effort at the mid-way control.  

Thanks for doing what you could to help me get around yesterday and sorry if I spoiled the club's 100% finish rate. I checked Chris's SPOT tracker, and it looks like you guys must have gotten it done with plenty of time to spare. 

If I'm going to get back to some of these rando rides it seems like I'll need to put in a little more effort to get some strength and fitness back.

Aspiring soigneur Ron set a high standard for the self-supported, well fed randonneur:

Ron Anderson's Well-Stocked Musette

Says Chris Nadovich:

I really liked the reversed Little Britain 200K although I can't say the same for that Lancaster County wind -- my goodness what wind! With the corn all down it just sweeps through that farmland unimpeded. I saw puddles with whitecapped waves, birds flying backwards, and cows tumbling across the fields (only kidding about the cows). And all that "fresh air" did not seem to diminish the "honey" aroma. Eeeew!

Although it felt like 2/3 of the riding hours were into a cold headwind, it certainly could have been worse -- way worse. As I drove in from Easton, it was pouring rain almost all the way to the start. And then suddenly the sun comes out just in time for the ride to begin. As we started off, we could see areas in the distance where the rain was still coming down, but not a drop fell on us all day. The wind blew it all away!

Thanks again for a "blast" of a route and congratulations to all the other brave riders who considered the various dire forecasts and still clipped-in to battle the Lancaster wind on a glorious December day.

I owe a huge thank you to Chris for providing motivation for two while my mental mojo was in the cellar.  I'm not sure I would have finished otherwise.

This brings the 2020 Pennsylvania Randonneurs brevet season to a close.  This was the year that almost wasn't as we had to cancel nearly half of our planned events, including the fleche and the SR series.  While we are surely happy to put 2020 in the rearview mirror, the start of 2021 will likely see our pandemic protocols remaining for a while.  Winter brevets typically see last-minute adjustments due to weather, so pandemic related adjustments or cancellations shouldn't be anything new.  

The 2021 season kicks off with a route figure 8 route starting in Phillipsburg, NJ, the New Hope to New Hope Next on January 2.  Event details are available on the website.  As has been our tradition, the January brevet is free to active members of Pennsylvania Randonneurs.  Due to the forced suspension of brevets for much of 2020, active members in 2020 have been extended through 2021.  You can check your status on the website using the Join/Renew link at the top of the page.  Once identified you can see the expiration date of your Pennsylvania Randonneurs membership.  You can also use your log in credentials to access the site; your membership expiration is reported in the upper right.

Until next year....

Andrew Mead

Eastern PA RBA

December R12 Brevet: Little Britain Redeux

*** Dec. 2 Update ***

Though I'm not usually one to put much faith into weather forecasts, forecast conditions for Saturday continue to deteriorate.  The NWS as of Wednesday afternoon calls for lots of rain (3/4 - 1-inch) and temperatures in the low to mid-40s.  The weather combined with the Little Britain route itself will make for a challenging day in the saddle.  Please be sure your bike is in tip-top shape and your rain gear will keep you as comfy as you need to be to ride.  

*** Original Post ***

Initial plans to introduce newer riders to one of the original Lancaster County brevet routes were scrapped when the new infection rate for COVID-19 took a sharp turn upward following Halloween and Election Day.  The Loop Around Lancaster route was always a crowd favorite, but its large loop architecture is not conducive to fully self-supported events.  Instead the December brevet will use the Little Britain route with its Figure-8 layout that allows riders to visit their vehicles at the midway point.  Instead of the usual northern loop first running, we will ride the southern loop first.  This should provide an opportunity for riders to see the views they were missing in that final stretch from lower Conowingo Rd, often ridden after sunset.  

You will return to the shopping center where the start-finish control and your vehicle is located around mile 71.  You can replenish supplies from a stash in your vehicle or you can take advantage of the food options at the center.  That's up to you.  The control itself will be an information control which does not require entry into any establishment to answer.  The northern control is at a Turkey Hill C-store.  It is an info control, but you can replenish supplies if needed.  Its a short jaunt back to the finish without major climbs (I didn't say flat).

As of mid-November I am still planning to use a group start procedure. This could change based on changes in recommended pandemic protocols or if the field grows appreciably over 10 riders.  I will make an announcement before the event if the free start protocol will be used.  If free start is used, I do NOT anticipate starting anyone prior to 7:00 am.  If you want to refresh yourself on the free start protocol, see Chris' Free Bridge post.  The only change is that there is no bridge separating parking from my start location.  I'll be operating from the back of my van as usual.  Walk up when you're ready to roll, drop off your signed waiver, receive your card and smile for the camera.  There will also be a container of energy bars and bottled water should you wish to grab something for later. 

You can review a summary of our pandemic protocols in the Riding in a Pandemic blog post.  

In addition to the logistical protocol recommendations for brevets, please respect the CDC recommendations for quarantine and isolation in this pandemic.  If you are experiencing symptoms (people I know who've been infected all comment about losing sense of smell and taste), if you have been in close contact with someone who is infected (you'll likely know this though a contact tracing phone call), or if you are confirmed infected and it has been less than 10 days from the onset of symptoms (or whatever the specific isolation guidance you were provided requires), please stay home, relax, and plan for the next brevet.  Your randonneuring friends and I will thank you.

Andrew Mead
Eastern PA RBA

Hawk Mountain Ride Report

What a difference a week makes.  The weather for Saturday's Hawk Mountain brevet was just about perfect regardless of the season.  Considering this is November, I don't see how it could have been any better.  Clear skies, moderate temperatures, and low winds, what could be better? Fifteen riders clipped in on Saturday and fifteen returned within the allotted time for a 100% completion rate.  Results have been posted on the website and will be submitted to RUSA later this week.  Please let me know if these results don't align with your recollection.

The field consisted of many seasoned randonneurs, some of whom are veterans of the route, and two rookies.  Congratulations go to newly minted PA randonneurs Karl Chen and Christian Mailloux for their accomplishment.  Hawk Mountain is typically Pennsylvania Randonneurs challenging.  It may not have Fox Gap, but near-constant terrain undulation connecting two significant climbs means its no cakewalk.  First finishers Chris Bella and Chris Maglieri blazed around the route just 5 minutes slower that the official course record.  Given the minor variations occurring in the route over the years, 5 minutes is not much difference.  All other finisher arrived well within the time limit with smiling faces and weary legs.  It's really hard not to be happy with 70s and sunshine for a bike ride in November.

Says Joe Ray:

Thanks to you and the crew for such a fine, challenging day yesterday.  This was my first time on this route, and I was ready for it to be over around Lickdale control, but having met up with Rudi a bit earlier we managed to get it done and enjoy some more scenery including a terrific sunset.

Hawk Mountain ahead!
Photo by Joe Ray

Iwan Barankay had these comments:

Thank you for a classic and historic brevet. Classic as it started and finished from the back of a sedan. It was my first time riding this brevet and that climb was loooong. Historic for all of our phones buzzing and ringing at about noon which is why I posted my ride as the Biden Harris 200k. Even for a non-partisan club, it was hard to escape the wide variation in mood between the riders on the road and the customers at the Turkey Hills along the route. It seems like global warming will extend the riding seasons further and further and I look forward to a balmy December ride.

Chris Nadovich writes:

I believe I've ridden this course 5 times, and although there have been more memorable laps (like that time I chain-ringed a Guinea Foul) no lap around this course has been more pleasant.  The views of the pastoral Autumn countryside were amazing. 

---

Of interest is that Iwan and Nick Manta decided to ride to the start of the brevet and logged 75 miles before they set out on the brevet.  Chapeau to you both.

Finally, thanks to my willing volunteers George Metzler and Steve Kraybill for staffing the finish control. I could not have done this without them.

We can all hope that the pandemic will be but a memory the next time we use this route so we can gather at the St. Boniface brewery for time of refreshment and the stories of epic adventure.

Next up is another perennial favorite, The Loop Around Lancaster on December 5.  Details are up on the website and registration is open.  I would recommend waiting before downloading the route or cuesheet.  I am investing another variation in the route which I hope to confirm next weekend.  I also plan to conduct a quality assurance visit of the recently reopened Pancake Farm on my course checkout ride.  Check this board and the website for updated details.

Andrew Mead
Eastern PA RBA