Endless Mountains
Brevet Week
September 26 - October 1, 2010
Brevet Week
September 26 - October 1, 2010
General Info
This ride is a randonneur style event sanctioned by RUSA and ACP. First time riding with PA Randonneurs? Read an overview of what to expect on your first PA brevet. All participants are obliged to follow the rules for riders as well as PA and NJ vehicle laws. Safety is a primary concern ... please read and carry these Safety Instructions with you.
Start/Finish Location
Hampton Inn
1915 John Fries Highway
Quakertown, Pennsylvania 18951
DIRECTIONS
Tel: 215-536-7779
Traveling far? A limited number of rooms have been reserved with a special group rate:
- Group code EMR 9/29/09 (the night before the start)
- Group code EMT 10/3/09 (the night after the finish)
Make your own reservations ASAP by following the links above. Looking for somebody to share a room? Make a connection using this message board.
Traveling really far? Lehigh Valley Airport (ABE) is the closest airport.
Registration
Opens March 20, 2010
Register On-Line -or- Mail Form - Closes 9/1/10
Early registration discount applies until August 1.
All riders must sign waiver and be at least 18 years old.
Field Limit: TBD riders
Registration includes:
- Preride breakfast buffet
- Hotel accommodations at 5 overnight controles
- Drop bag at each hotel (20 lb limit)
- Postride dinner buffet and hostel facilities
Refund policy:
- $20 processing fee applies before August 1.
- 50% refund August 1-31, 2009
- 25% refund September, 2009
- 0% for no show
Tentative Schedule
Sat (9/25) Arrive in Quakertown, PA
Sun (9/26) 200k to Hawley, PA
Mon (9/27) 200k to Towanda, PA
Tue (9/28) 200k to Lamar, PA
Wed (9/29) 200k to Mifflintown, PA
Thu (9/30) 200k to Pine Grove, PA
Fri (10/1) 200k to Quakertown, PA
Sat (10/2) Postride Brunch
13.5 hr. time limit each day
Climate
Daylight hours: 6:57AM - 6:44PM
Quakertown: 48-71F
Halstead: 45-63F
State College: 47-66F
Pine Grove: 46-69F
Start Controle
At the start/finish hotel, breakfast will be provided approximately 1 hour before the start. Limited storage will be available to hold luggage and bike cases
Sleep Over Controles
Each day of riding will end at a hotel for the overnight controle. A single drop bags for each rider will be transported to each of the over-night controles - the same bag will be dropped off for each of the destinations. Only medium sized 28x12x12" duffle bags or smaller and no more than 20lbs will be accepted (like this one). When you get to the hotel controle, go to the volunteer room to collect your bag and room key (the volunteer room number will be posted in the lobby or at the registration desk). The bags will be available each night by 4PM. When you are ready to depart, return your bag and room key to the volunteer room.
Post Ride
A postride buffet is included with your registration. A limited number of rooms are available for resting before traveling home -- you may also book a hotel room at the group rate for Saturday night.
This ride is a randonneur style event sanctioned by RUSA and ACP. First time riding with PA Randonneurs? Read an overview of what to expect on your first PA brevet. All participants are obliged to follow the rules for riders as well as PA and NJ vehicle laws. Safety is a primary concern ... please read and carry these Safety Instructions with you.
Start/Finish Location
Hampton Inn
1915 John Fries Highway
Quakertown, Pennsylvania 18951
DIRECTIONS
Tel: 215-536-7779
Traveling far? A limited number of rooms have been reserved with a special group rate:
- Group code EMR 9/29/09 (the night before the start)
- Group code EMT 10/3/09 (the night after the finish)
Make your own reservations ASAP by following the links above. Looking for somebody to share a room? Make a connection using this message board.
Traveling really far? Lehigh Valley Airport (ABE) is the closest airport.
Registration
Opens March 20, 2010
Register On-Line -or- Mail Form - Closes 9/1/10
Early registration discount applies until August 1.
All riders must sign waiver and be at least 18 years old.
Field Limit: TBD riders
Registration includes:
- Preride breakfast buffet
- Hotel accommodations at 5 overnight controles
- Drop bag at each hotel (20 lb limit)
- Postride dinner buffet and hostel facilities
Refund policy:
- $20 processing fee applies before August 1.
- 50% refund August 1-31, 2009
- 25% refund September, 2009
- 0% for no show
Tentative Schedule
Sat (9/25) Arrive in Quakertown, PA
Sun (9/26) 200k to Hawley, PA
Mon (9/27) 200k to Towanda, PA
Tue (9/28) 200k to Lamar, PA
Wed (9/29) 200k to Mifflintown, PA
Thu (9/30) 200k to Pine Grove, PA
Fri (10/1) 200k to Quakertown, PA
Sat (10/2) Postride Brunch
13.5 hr. time limit each day
Climate
Daylight hours: 6:57AM - 6:44PM
Quakertown: 48-71F
Halstead: 45-63F
State College: 47-66F
Pine Grove: 46-69F
Start Controle
At the start/finish hotel, breakfast will be provided approximately 1 hour before the start. Limited storage will be available to hold luggage and bike cases
Sleep Over Controles
Each day of riding will end at a hotel for the overnight controle. A single drop bags for each rider will be transported to each of the over-night controles - the same bag will be dropped off for each of the destinations. Only medium sized 28x12x12" duffle bags or smaller and no more than 20lbs will be accepted (like this one). When you get to the hotel controle, go to the volunteer room to collect your bag and room key (the volunteer room number will be posted in the lobby or at the registration desk). The bags will be available each night by 4PM. When you are ready to depart, return your bag and room key to the volunteer room.
Post Ride
A postride buffet is included with your registration. A limited number of rooms are available for resting before traveling home -- you may also book a hotel room at the group rate for Saturday night.
Ride Description (Preview)
The Endless Mountains Brevet Week offers a challenging tour of northeastern Pennsylvania. The course covers a variety of geological regions, including the Highlands, Water Gap, Poconos, NY Southern Tier, Pine Creek Gorge, Juniata River, and of course, the namesake Endless Mountains.
Participants are expected to be fully self-sufficient and confident of their ability to complete a challenging course with minimal support. Participants are responsible for making arrangements for alternate transportaton, if they cannot finish the ride under their own power.
The course is a loop that starts out from Quakertown, PA. It is largely based on the PA1000k and EM1240k, previously run in 2007, 2008, and 2009 with the addition of the Juniata River Valley segment. The 2008 PA1000k Ride Report has several pictures and rider comments that gives a good overview of what to expect.
Day 1 features 3 challenging climbs across the Appalachian Trail as we traverse the Pennsylvanian Highlands Region. Enroute, we travel through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area upon Old Mine Road -- the oldest continuously-used road in the US. As we exit the park, we cross the Delaware River at Dingmans Ferry and head into the Pocono Mountains Region of the Allegheny Plateau. As you ascend the Allegheny front upon Raymondskill Falls Road, be sure to look for the opulent outhouse. We briefly descend the plateau to ride across the Roebling Aqueduct and along the scenic Lackawaxen River into Hawley.
Day 2 features some challenging terrain through the Wyoming Valley and Endless Mountains before heading into
some gentler terrain along the NY Southern Tier and Susquehanna Valley where we trace the historic route followed by the Sullivan Expedition into Towanda.
Day 3 starts from Towanda, where we'll take Rt 414 into the scenic Pine Creek Gorge region where a pair of challenging climbs out of Waterville awaits us, up along Rt 44 and 144. Exiting the area known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, we head into the Lamar finish for the day.
Day 4 continues on journey southwest into the Juniata River Valley where we eventually head back east into Lewistown.
Day 5 brings us back again to the Susquehanna River. After a brief ride along the river, we continue working our way back east into the Hegins Valley Region and into the overnight controle at Pine Grove.
Day 6 takes us into the Pennsylvania Dutch Region and eventually back through French Creek State Park and to the finish at Quakertown.
As shown in the route profile, there are several steep, extended climbs. A triple or 39x27 is highly recommended.
Rider Comments
"...The scenery was absolutely fantastic - almost enough to take your mind off of the brutal climbs..."
-Craig Martek 2007 PA1000k
"...Thanks for your good organization on this ride and the brevet series. I doubt there are many, if any, series in the U.S. that are as well conducted and offer such challenging and scenic terrain..."
-Ed Pavelka 2007 PA1000k
"...The difficulty with these Pennsylvania climbs isn't that they continue for 20 miles; nothing on those roads stays the same for 20 mi. The grades are never constant, and there's usually a lot of up and down before you start going up for good. When you start really going up, it often gets extremely steep. But while they aren't that long, they are relentless, and the space in between big climbs is filled with little rollers, some of which are quite steep little kickers in their own right..."
-Emily O'Brien 2008 PA1000k
The Endless Mountains Brevet Week offers a challenging tour of northeastern Pennsylvania. The course covers a variety of geological regions, including the Highlands, Water Gap, Poconos, NY Southern Tier, Pine Creek Gorge, Juniata River, and of course, the namesake Endless Mountains.
Participants are expected to be fully self-sufficient and confident of their ability to complete a challenging course with minimal support. Participants are responsible for making arrangements for alternate transportaton, if they cannot finish the ride under their own power.
The course is a loop that starts out from Quakertown, PA. It is largely based on the PA1000k and EM1240k, previously run in 2007, 2008, and 2009 with the addition of the Juniata River Valley segment. The 2008 PA1000k Ride Report has several pictures and rider comments that gives a good overview of what to expect.
Day 1 features 3 challenging climbs across the Appalachian Trail as we traverse the Pennsylvanian Highlands Region. Enroute, we travel through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area upon Old Mine Road -- the oldest continuously-used road in the US. As we exit the park, we cross the Delaware River at Dingmans Ferry and head into the Pocono Mountains Region of the Allegheny Plateau. As you ascend the Allegheny front upon Raymondskill Falls Road, be sure to look for the opulent outhouse. We briefly descend the plateau to ride across the Roebling Aqueduct and along the scenic Lackawaxen River into Hawley.
Day 2 features some challenging terrain through the Wyoming Valley and Endless Mountains before heading into
some gentler terrain along the NY Southern Tier and Susquehanna Valley where we trace the historic route followed by the Sullivan Expedition into Towanda.
Day 3 starts from Towanda, where we'll take Rt 414 into the scenic Pine Creek Gorge region where a pair of challenging climbs out of Waterville awaits us, up along Rt 44 and 144. Exiting the area known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, we head into the Lamar finish for the day.
Day 4 continues on journey southwest into the Juniata River Valley where we eventually head back east into Lewistown.
Day 5 brings us back again to the Susquehanna River. After a brief ride along the river, we continue working our way back east into the Hegins Valley Region and into the overnight controle at Pine Grove.
Day 6 takes us into the Pennsylvania Dutch Region and eventually back through French Creek State Park and to the finish at Quakertown.
As shown in the route profile, there are several steep, extended climbs. A triple or 39x27 is highly recommended.
Rider Comments
"...The scenery was absolutely fantastic - almost enough to take your mind off of the brutal climbs..."
-Craig Martek 2007 PA1000k
"...Thanks for your good organization on this ride and the brevet series. I doubt there are many, if any, series in the U.S. that are as well conducted and offer such challenging and scenic terrain..."
-Ed Pavelka 2007 PA1000k
"...The difficulty with these Pennsylvania climbs isn't that they continue for 20 miles; nothing on those roads stays the same for 20 mi. The grades are never constant, and there's usually a lot of up and down before you start going up for good. When you start really going up, it often gets extremely steep. But while they aren't that long, they are relentless, and the space in between big climbs is filled with little rollers, some of which are quite steep little kickers in their own right..."
-Emily O'Brien 2008 PA1000k
Cue Sheet EXCEL Format
Map/Profile
Registered Riders
Message Board & FAQ's
Volunteers
Rider Progress
Preliminary Results
Pictures and Ride Report
Map/Profile
Registered Riders
Message Board & FAQ's
Volunteers
Rider Progress
Preliminary Results
Pictures and Ride Report
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