August R-12 Ride - New Jersey Transit 200k Permanent

The first weekend in August delivered a nice enough day to undertake the R-12 ride.  I was scheduled to travel to Canada for two weeks on the Sunday.  Leaving Saturday as the sole opportunity to get it done.  The day was warm and dry but not as oppressive as some of the rides in July.  Al joined me for a 7am start from Hillsborough.  With as many times as I've ridden this route the hills don't get even a little bit easier, which keeps it interesting and fun.  After 11 hours and 23 minutes we were back at our starting point.  I would depart for points north the next day without having the R-12 to worry about (see next post about bike mechanic school).

Al crests one of the many climbs on the NJT Route

Next ride:  Englewood, NJ  300k.  September 5th

The Rides of July 2010 - Hot, Hotter, and Hottest!

July 2010 would prove to be one of my most active cycling months ever.  In addition to completing the LOL, I finished three official 200k brevets.  Brief ride descriptions along with photos of the NYC 200k follow.

Paul riding on NYC 200k along the Hudson River

July 3rd- Princeton-Belmar-Princeton 200k Permanent

I've done this ride so many times I've lost count.  Paul, the route owner, joined me on what was to be an LOL prep ride undertaken just a few days before my departure to Lake Ontario.  On a rather warm day (low 90's) we made our way around the flat route at a medium pace finishing in 10hrs 30min.  With the exception of one flat suffered by Paul everything went smoothly.  The additional training was a confidence booster for me. 

July 18th - NYC 200k to Bear Mountain

The view of Manhattan from the bike path on the south side of the GW Bridge

The weekend after the LOL I would undertake this hilly NY affair.  This being one of my favorite rides and my fifth time in as many years taking the start.  I felt almost fully recovered from the 1000k.  Unfortunately, it was to be one of the hottest days of the summer.  I started the ride with my friends Al, Paul and Todd.  The heat took Al as one of its many victims that day about fifty miles in.  He had made it to the top of Bear Mountain grinding his way up Perkins Drive despite leg cramps that were starting to flare up at that point.  A few miles later at the Tirorotti Circle in Harriman Park he would call it day and phone for a ride back to the start.  Paul was the second of the group to have trouble, although he made it all the way to the control at mile 92 before a stomach problem overwhelmed him.  Todd and I rode the final leg together with Todd suffering through some cramps in the final fifteen miles.  We arrived at the finish in Manhattan with a total elapsed time of 11hrs 58minutes.  With all the training I'd done in the heat this summer, and the 1000k under my belt, the ride went smoothly for me.  I can be prone to cramping in similar conditions, but this time it was not a problem.

Rick Carpenter and Laurant Chambard ride through quiet NJ streets just north of the GW bridge

Katie is all smiles early in the ride

One of the seven lakes in Harriman Park, New York

Al recovering in the shade after the climb up Perkins Drive in the heat of the day

July 24th - Noximixon 200k

With Al's DNF at the NYC event he was still in need of an R12 ride for July.  With only one full weekend left we decided to go for it on the Saturday.  With the media broadcasting a hot weather alert we opted for a 6am start.  The day would reach the 100 degree mark as we worked our way around the hilly route through New Jersey and Pennsylvainia.  We took long breaks at the controls and gobbled electrolyte tablets like candy.  Al suffered some cramping near the end, but he didn't let it get the better of him.  We made it back to our starting point at Princeton Junction in 12hrs and 15min.  It would be Al's seventh 200k completion in as many months.  The streak lives on with him needing five more for the coveted award. 

LOL 1000k - New York and Canada

L.O.L. = Lap of Lake. The lake in question being Lake Ontario. The distance required to make it all the way around through New York State and Canada is 624 miles.

Jon and Al lead two Canadian riders on the Sea Way Train in New York State
 

Al and myself on day one.  It's starting to get hot.

This ride, indented to be the pinnacle of my 2010 season, has been on my calendar for about nine months. I registered at the first call, along with about fifty other riders. My friends Paul and Jon signed up as well. Unfortunately, as the date drew near Paul needed to withdraw with a stomach ailment. Although, he would be missed Jon was still intending to go, so I would have company. In addition, Jon had completed the route the prior year when it was run by the Ontario Randonneurs. His experience with the ride would prove invaluable.

The event was being organized as an unsupported ride. This meant that amenities, such as drop bags, or provided food and sleep stops would not be part of the organizers responsibility. This left the onus on the riders to figure out where to eat, sleep and to manage all their own gear. The extra planning was substantial. I did not feel that I could carry everything I needed on my bike for three days, despite equipping my Salsa Casserole with a handlebar bag and rear pack. My wife Lucy would be driving up to the ride start with me, then going off to do some sightseeing in the Niagara Falls area. I convinced her to visit Toronto as well and stay overnight while we would be passing though there. She would stay at the hotel with me on night two of the ride having any gear I needed with her. As for the hotel on night one I sent a package from home with the things I would need. A return envelope inside the package would allow me to ship anything I needed to get rid of back home. The plan was workable but very burdensome to organize. I envied my friend Jon who just decided to travel light, taking only what he could fit in the rear pack of his bike. Although, I did convince him to give a small overnight bag to Lucy to be taken to the hotel on night two.

With the logistics handled I was then able to concentrate on the ride itself. The start was in Ontario NY, which is a small town on the lake just east of Rochester. A very civilized start time was scheduled for 6am. We stayed over the night before at a hotel in the neighboring town of Webster. Jon drove up separately from New York City and met us at the hotel in time for dinner. We ate at a very nice Italian place a few minutes from the hotel, seeing other Randonneurs there as well. After dinner we drove over to Abbot's for frozen custard. After the refreshing respite we returned to the hotel for a good nights sleep. Jon would drive me to the start in the morning allowing Lucy to sleep in. After a somewhat restless night of sleep I meet Jon at 5am for the drive to the start. The location of which is at the RBA's home on the lake. A breakfast of bagels and coffee was promised starting at 5am. We would be in time to partake in a little food before starting out. Much to our surprise when we arrived we were greeted by a lady bag piper with full outfit. Quite unique to say the least. With breakfast in hand we moved to the road for the start.

Organizer Pete Duesel ready at the start

Day # 1 Lap of Lake

After a few last minute announcements from RBA Pete Duesel the group was off at 6am sharp. There were 50 starters in all. Several I recognized from our New Jersey brevet series. For most of the journey along the New York side of the lake we would follow what is known as the Sea Way Trail. The trail is actually just roads that are as close to the lake as possible offering many nice views along the way. The great thing is there are signs that clearly mark the way, so for much of the ride the cue sheet isn't needed. However there are a couple of spots where we use different roads so one must pay some heed to the sheet. The trail starts out as rolling terrain. Nothing particularly steep but fairly constant. We are rolling along with many other riders at about 20mph with a light tailwind. I am noticing that it is on the humid side and temperature predictions are for the mid-nineties. The thought of a hot humid day puts a bit of a knot in my stomach. We are scheduled for 400k today before taking a sleep break in Belleville, Ontario. After a few miles I come across a rider I've seen before. Al, from the DC area, recognized me from the 600k I attempted there back in early June. We both dropped out from the heat at around the same spot. He rides along with us as we chat about all things Rando. Soon we reach the first control at Oswego, NY stopping for a quick break. Oswego is about 60 miles into the ride.  So far we've made good time to here. We are ahead of the time I anticipated. This was a good thing because it was getting quite hot now, surely we were going to slow down at some point.

Jon and Al cycle by Lake near Cape Vincent, NY

After a brief rest we continue on towards the next control which is Cape Vincent, NY. Al has decided to continue riding with us. It is really heating up now. I had placed a small thermometer on my bike, it was registering well over 100 degrees. This was not the actual air temperature but rather the effect of the intense sunshine beating on it. The sun was also beating on the top of our heads with the same intensity. I made a note to use the ice sock I had packed at the next opportunity. There is no longer any doubt this was to be a long hot day. The terrain of the Sea Way trail remained about the same if not maybe a bit flatter on this 75 mile stretch. We manage a nice pace as the tail wind is still helping us. About half way to the control we spot a deli/grocery and decide to replenish our water supply. There are a lot of other riders stopped here and everyone appears to be suffering from the heat. I buy water and a bag of ice. The time has come for the magic of the ice sock. We spend about twenty minutes icing up water bottles, camelbaks and socks. We continue on with the ice cold socks around our necks. We get back into a good rhythm making good time despite the heat. My thermometer climbs to the ridiculous temperature of 111 degrees which is obviously somewhat hotter than the real temperature. I take a photo of it just the same as I've never seen it this high. We arrive at the control smoothly and in good time. There is a support vehicle there provided by the ride organizer with water. The driver Marcia reports several DNF's already. This does little to buoy my spirits. After refreshing water, sustained energy and replacing the ice filled sock around my neck we are off to the next stop - Canada.

Like us my bike thermometer is getting way too much sun.

After about twenty miles we approach the first of two bridge crossings. The bridge has the narrowest pedestrian walkway I've ever encountered. At the highest point, which is the suspension portion of the span, the path is so narrow it is nearly impossible to walk alongside the bike. I was bumped and bruised from banging into the metal rails of the bridge. The view of the St Lawrence River and the thousand islands was breathtaking, but the torture of the walkway had me focused solely on getting off the bridge as soon as possible. After the span is crossed the Canadian border is reached and we must pass through customs in the vehicle lane. The process goes smoothly with just the presentation of my passport and the answering of a few questions. The customs official is even nice enough to sign my brevet card as the border was designated as a control. After about two miles the second bridge appears with the same type of quirky walkway. It is equally torturous to cross. In addition, I notice at the top of the span the bridge bounces wildly up and down when trucks roll by. Not highly recommended for those with bridge phobias. Fortunately, I've yet to suffer from that affliction.

Jon takes our photo on the Thousand Islands Bridge.  Notice the narrow walkway.

Jon cycling on Canadian side of the lake on hot day #1.  The advertised boat ride looks inviting.

Once on Canadian soil we resume normal riding. The three of us pace line along the Thousand Islands Parkway to the town of Gananouque. Once there we decide we should have a decent meal since we've only had snack foods so far. We stop at a casual restaurant hoping they wont mind having some hot sweaty cyclists for dinner. My first experience with Canadian hospitality is a good one as we are welcomed and treated like royalty. As we are eating two other riders, Renato and Brian, come in and occupy a table next to us. They are from Canada and Renato has completed this ride last year with Jon. We all devour our food while conversing between bites. Upon leaving we don our reflective gear preparing for the long night ahead. Our current ride plan has us arriving at the sleep stop in the wee hours of the morning. Our next stop is an information control in Millhaven. On the route to there we pass by the town of Kingston, and the Glenora Ferry, which was part of the course when the ride started in Canada. Once past the information control we have 42 miles remaining to the sleep stop. I am looking forward to it immensely as I desperately need a shower and some sleep. We keep a steady pace and arrive in Belleville and the Clarion Inn. Both Al and I have packages, sent from home, waiting for us. It is now after 3am.  We all agree to meet for breakfast at 7:30 for an 8am departure.

Day # 2 Lap of Lake

It's a warm overcast morning as we depart from the hotel 1/2 hour behind schedule at 8:30am. The weather forecast called for showers for at least part of the day. The gathering clouds would seem to bear that out. As we pedal through the town of Belleville a female rider appears on my left. In talking to her I discover her name is Michelle, from Rochester, NY.  She is riding the LOL. having slept at the town of Napanee 25 miles back. Her three riding companions have all dropped out. We invite her to ride with us and she falls into step seemingly happy for the company. Our next control is in Bowmanville 75 miles away. We make it about half way before the rain begins. It's gentle at first but soon it's really pouring. We arrive at the town of Bowmanville totally soaked. Upon locating a restaurant with some bikes parked outside we decide to eat there. We enter the establishment dripping wet. The staff couldn't have been any nicer. They showed us to a table and immediately brought us towels to dry off with. After enjoying a nice lunch our waitress refreshed our water bottles with ice water. It was a great stop. Upon leaving the rain had stopped, at least for the time being Our next stop was Stouffille about forty miles away. The terrain is a bit more hilly today as we move away from the lake shore for the purpose of avoiding the city of Toronto. I welcome the hills which are not really too challenging, even though they slow our progress some. We have two flats on this stretch, one for me and one for Al causing us to lose some more time. When we arrive in Stouffile we are behind schedule. Peter the RBA is there along with Marcia and the support vehicle. We fill our water bottles from the vehicle and have a bite to eat at the restaurant. After a quick meal we depart for the next stop in Erin Mills a suburb of Toronto. We are outfitted with night gear since it will get dark along the way. There is more climbing on this section as well. It is pleasant enough but it does slow us up some. Plan #B called for us to arrive at the control around mid-night. It appears we would not make it on time. We arrive at the Tim Horton's at around 2:30am in desperate need of some refreshment. Coffee and muffins go down smoothly for me. With only 21 miles left to the sleep stop I feel confident we will make it in.

Endless rolling hills in Canada

Leaving the control we are quickly out of the suburban environment into much more rural surroundings. The heavily wooded area has no traffic to speak of and some moderate hills. At some point Jon and I found ourselves ahead of Al and Michelle. We had not noticed at first assuming they were just a short ways back. A very loud pick up truck, possibly the only vehicle we have seen for miles, pulls up alongside and asks me if I want to know where our friends are. He says he encountered them and they are lost. He actually offers to drive back to find them and direct them to our location. Jon and I stay put while he takes off in search of our companions. The truck is so load we can hear him driving around seemingly miles away. We then hear him returning. He reports he was successful and our friends will be here soon. He stays and chats with us while we are waiting. After about ten minutes the two are back with us. Our new friend in the pick-up wishes us well and drives off. We have about 8 miles to go to the hotel. Michelle says she is very tired and may have to sleep now. With hotel rooms waiting it seems extremely unappealing to sleep on the side of the road. I convince her to keep riding and to talk with us to stay awake. We move on, albeit ever so slowly. We arrive at the hotel at 5:30am, two and half hours beyond our plan. We all agree on a 9am start time. I get to my room and find Lucy sleeping peacefully in one of the beds. I organize my gear for the next day, shower and lay down for about two hours of sleep. I'm hoping it is enough to see me through.

Day #3 Lap of Lake

Climbing the escarpment to the top of the falls. 

A passing tourist takes a photo of the four of us in front of Niagara Falls (Canada)

Jon and I find ourselves alone in front of the hotel at 9am sharp. Al and Michelle arrive a few minutes later. We start off to a humid sunny morning. It has the feel of another hot day. We wind our way out of the city of Burlington and follow a service road alongside the Queen Elizabeth Expressway for about thirty miles. The roadway is cycling friendly but exposed to the sun and there is much traffic noise from the highway just overhead. We decide on a breakfast stop at 32 miles into the leg. Our first official control is the US Border 65 miles from the hotel. We all enjoy the break at the Tim Horton's and run into the omnipresent Pete and Marcia on our way out. We return to the service road, but only briefly, before we are directed elsewhere. The riding becomes more pleasant as we work our way back to the lake. We pass through Niagara on the Lake which is an agricultural area seemingly built up for tourism. We stop at one of the many farm stands to buy fresh peaches and blueberries. After all the processed foods the fresh fruit is a nice treat. Moving on we close in on Niagara Falls where there is a good size climb known as the escarpment.  At the top we are at the touristy area of the falls. We stop at one of the overlooks for a photo of the impressive view. We move on through thongs of tourists to the bridge which brings us to the NY side of the falls and to customs. We smoothly get through the process with the answering a few questions.

Niagara Falls New York is not nearly as nice as the Canadian side. In fact the surrounding area is quite seedy. We decide to ride right through until we find a more desirable location for lunch. We are directed back to the Seaway Trail which leads us to a small town with a Subway and convenience market suitable for our purposes. After a rather long break we get back on the road following the Seaway Trail. We are now in orchard country passing by countless trees of peaches and other fruits. The tail wind allows us to keep a steady pace with minimal effort. With over 500 miles in my legs I'm pleased and surprised to be able to ride so efficiently. Soon we find ourselves at the control in Olcott, NY. Many riders are here some coming out of restaurants having enjoyed a nice meal. We opt to refresh water and get back on the road. Our target finish time, according to plan # B, is mid-night. It's clear to me this is no longer possible, but I am in favor of mitigating further time erosion.

Chowing down at Charlotte close to the end.  I'm using my I-pod to stay awake

Upon leaving Olcott we continue on the Sea Way trail for 24 miles to a rather large state park. We stop briefly to put on night gear as darkness will be upon us soon. Leaving the park we are directed up an entrance ramp to the Ontario Parkway which is a divided super highway. Fortunately, the traffic is extremely light, but when cars do pass by it is quite a rush. I for one am not used to being passed at such high speed. To make matters worse there are some sections of very poor road surface. For most of the way the shoulder was unusable. The brain adapts quickly to the situation and I find myself enjoying the road as darkness falls. We stay on the highway for about 30 miles. Jon and I get ahead of Al and Michelle and we pass a large group of about ten riders just before exiting the highway. The control is just a couple of miles after the exit. We arrive in the center of Charlotte, which is a Rochester suburb, a little after midnight. The place is alive with activity, mostly from a biker bar with live music blasting from it. Across the street we spot a hot dog place. Fortunately, the menu is a bit more extensive than I would have thought. I opt for a veggie wrap which is actually not bad at all. Al and Michelle arrive while we are eating. The timing works out for us all to leave together for the last leg of 28 miles. The temperature has dropped considerably and arm warmers and leg warmers are in order.

Much of the remaining route is through the city of Rochester. Quite the party town it would appear as every car passing us by has someone yell out the window. Mostly those doing the yelling are voicing some form of objection to our mode of transportation. I simply put the blinders on ignoring any and all verbal assaults. Michelle who is from the town comes alive in the hilly terrain. It is all I can do to stay with her. After a fast descent Al has a flat on the rear. We pull into a bar parking lot for the repair. Peter and Marcia miraculously appear with the support wagon. A bar patron enjoying some fresh air outside the bar asks about 100 questions. Al and I focus on the repair while all the others deal with him. With the tire repair complete we resume riding through the city following the Sea Way Trail to Pete's house. The speed of our little group increases as we get closer. The last mile seems to be an all out sprint to the finish. We reach the driveway to the house, which is gravel, and gently ride in to the sound of applause. Lucy is there waiting for me. It is about 2:30am, more than two hours beyond the predicted finish of Plan #B. Truth is...I really don't care. I'm happy to be done.  Final result: 68hrs 32min.

Jon and I at the finish.  I can't believe we're really done.

Epilogue

I was too tired at the finish to know exactly what I was feeling. After a number of hours of quality sleep I awoke to sheer elation. The memory of the last three days was etched in my mind. As thoughts of the ride popped into my head I couldn't help but smile. To say it was fun would be putting it mildly. The ride was a total blast. I would do it again in a heartbeat. There was just the right mixture of challenge and adventure. We caught it lucky that there were not dire winds, as was the case in prior years. The climbing was on the mild side. Most of it being concentrated on the second day. Despite the hot first day, and the rainy spell the next day, the weather was manageable. The organizer and crew did an admirable job. We were promised no support at all, yet Peter and Marcia seemed to be everywhere providing whatever was needed, for which I am grateful.

A special thanks to my buddy Jon for all his knowledge, experience, encouragement and companionship during those three days. Also, thanks to Al and Michelle for the many hours of lighthearted conversation and humor.  The time passed quickly thanks to the excellent company.

NJ 600k Volunteer Ride - Redemption x 2

 Bob descending one of the multiple spans at the Jersey Shore

Considering the DNF in Virginia this ride would take on new importance.  I have completed an SR series for the last four consecutive years.  A streak I definitely wish to continue.  While I don't need two 600k's, I absolutely need one. So far this season I've finished none.  My confidence level is at least in the medium range although, given I have finished this ride three prior times, it should be higher.  I'm amazed at how an unsuccessful event can play with the mind.  The make up of this ride is quite different from the DC version in that this route is largely flat allowing one to gain a lot of time to be used later for sleep.  The tricky part is the night time start, Friday at 10pm.  With the finish control closing Sunday at 2pm.  I typically start this ride feeling sleep deprived in the first few hours.  The question is where and when to take sleep during the ride?  

I arrive at the Hightstown Days Inn which is the start this year.  I meet the five other volunteer riders there.  A sixth rider, my friend Paul, will be tagging along for the first 95 miles. Then riding back on his own.  The other riders are organizers Walt and Bob, volunteers Rick, Dawn, and my friend Jon.  All the riders are of abilities close enough to allow us to ride as one group.  Although, it was stated that riding the entire ride together was not a requirement.  Differing sleep needs have the potential to break up the group before the end.

Hightstown to Whiting - 50 Miles

 At 10pm sharp the seven of us head out for the first leg.  Although a somewhat humid night there is a bit of a chill in the air.  The further south we get the chillier it feels.  I started out with arm warmers and knee warmers, but most of the other riders did not.  After about 20 miles they are pulling them out of their packs.  We move along quite well on this segment despite chatting amongst each other for the first hour or so.  The terrain is as expected, mostly flat with an occasional small rise along the way.  We reach the first control in good time.  Needing little to nothing we move on quickly.


Whiting to Egg Harbor City - 43 Miles

This stretch  cuts through the New Jersey Pine Barrens region.  The roads traversing the vast wooded area are flat and largely free of traffic.  Now begins the serious pace lining.  Several riders are taking strong pulls on the front keeping the group moving at a good clip.  The night air feels cool and pleasant with the miles ticking off very efficiently.   We expected to arrive at Egg Harbor City at just about sunrise.  We actually arrive quite a bit before having really averaged a good pace.  At the control I mix up some more Sustained Energy which I am experimenting with,  having tested it on one prior permanent with decent results.  After a short break we are ready to depart.  We say goodbye to Paul who will be riding back to the start from here on his own.  Our next stop will be Burliegh, NJ.

Dawn riding on her first 600k

Egg Harbor City to Burliegh, NJ - 50 Miles

Shortly after leaving the control daylight comes.  We ride by the Atlantic City Airport seeing large parches of dense fog around.   We pass directly through one section of it.  As one would expect it is misty like light rain.  We will be facing a humid day with some fairly high temperatures but so far the going is easy and pleasant.  We are making a bee line for the Jersey Shore.  We cross some rather long bridge spans, which pass for hills in this part of the state.  Upon reaching the shore, at Ocean City, we head due south to the Cape May area.  Things get significantly more difficult here as the wind direction is from the south and we are very exposed to it for the next twenty miles.  The advantage to group riding soon becomes evident as Rick pulls us for what seems like forever before relinquishing the front. At which point Walt, Jon and I take somewhat shorter turns into the wind.  We manage to roll at about 16 mph for most of the stretch.  More so than a physical toll it's a tough mental section.  We are just grinding straight and flat into the headwind with little change in scenery.  Finally, we turn inland to the west to arrive at the control which is a cafe with a great breakfast menu.  A sit down meal sounds good at this point.  With an order of Banana pancakes quickly consumed I feel energized for the next leg.  The Sustained Energy appears to have helped me maintain a steady energy level, but with a belly full of food I decide to wait a while before mixing the next batch.

Burleigh to Mauricetown - 46 Miles

Turning inland after the control is a welcome relief from the wind.  I'm feeling quite rejuvenated and take some long turns on the front.  We quickly cover the 21 miles to an information control which is right by a very active bike shop.  Rick needed a couple of inner tubes, so we all took a quick break there.  After which we formulate the info control question to be used the next weekend.   Back on the road we continue to make good time.. Bob appears to be fading a bit, but hangs in for the most part.  He has been suffering from a bad allergy forcing him to reduce his training regimen considerably.  Typically, he would be pulling our legs off.  Today he seems to be working with nothing more than mental fortitude.  I know him to be plenty tough.  I'm hoping it will get him all the way around.  Our control in Mauricetown, another Wawa, arrives quickly.  I mix another batch of Sustained Energy for the next leg for which we quickly depart.

Walt and others passing through shore towns

Mauricetown to Fairton - 28 miles

With exception to a brief attack by huge biting flies near the Delaware Bay, this section of the route passes by uneventfully.  I've been looking forward to the rest at the Eagle Manor Estate which is the official sleep stop of the ride.  It is late afternoon as we approach the stop and it has gotten quite warm.  Some time out of the sun will be appreciated.  Walt unlocks the chain which crossed the half mile driveway into the property.  The huge estate home looms into view.  Out destination is the smaller home nestled on the property which is designated as a caretaker house.  Walt currently resides there and makes the home available as a sleep stop for this ride. There is food ready for us in the kitchen and we all take in some calories.  While we are all gathered around the kitchen eating I ask everyone if there is a sleep plan.  Up until now there has been no discussion on the topic.  At the moment I feel tired, having ridden through the night covering 217 miles, but I am not really sleepy.  It would be futile for me to attempt sleep now.  With the exception of Jon the rest of the group wants to sleep at this stop.  Jon's thinking was aligned with mine.  We decided we would leave the other riders and move on to Hammonton taking sleep at the Howard Johnson's motel.  We would all try and re-group later in the ride.  After eating Jon and I quickly depart for the next control in Daretown which is one before Hammonton.

Fairton to Daretown 32 Miles

Once underway, headed to the north our decision to move on is validated as we feel the expected tailwind.  Knowing this would be the case played into our strategy.  The weather is hot but the wind pushing us along more than compensates.   The going  is easy and the Wawa store is quickly reached.  With less than 30 miles to the intended sleep stop we need little time here and move out quickly.

Daretown to Hammonton 28 miles

The Hammonton control is to the northeast.  The wind is still beneficial, although not quite as much.  I'm feeling pretty tired but not at all sleepy.  I am glad we kept moving.  At our pace we figure we will reach the Wawa, which is the official Hammonton control, by about 8pm.  We will purchase any food we need and move on to the hotel, which is less than three miles away.  The planning is accurate as we pull into the Wawa at about 8:15 with the miles to get there being relatively easy.  With bags of food tied around our necks we ride the few miles to the hotel on Route 33.  The sun is setting as we pull in and sign up for a room. Once inside the room eating our food we discuss the sleep plan.  We should be asleep by 10pm after showering eating and laying out our gear for the morning.  Adding in 3 1/2 hours for sleep would have us waking at 1:30am.  Budgeting a half  hour in the morning to get dressed and check out of the hotel we would be on the road by about 2am.  We further projected we would cover the remaining 100 miles in about 7hrs, including the in-between control, for a finish at about 9am.  Before getting to bed I receive a text message from Walt.  He is with Rick and Dawn at Daretown having left Eagle Manor a couple of hours after us.  Their intention is to ride through to the finish.  They are willing to meet us at the hotel and have us leave with them.  We decide to stick to our plan and take sleep.  I learn that Bob left Eagle Manor soon after us and is riding straight through on his own without sleep.  I admire anyone who can go two consecutive nights without sleeping, but know that I can't.  My head hits the pillow right at 10pm and I am out like a light.

Hammonton to Vincentown - 48 Miles

Jon wakes me at 1:30am.  I get of bed feeling amazingly refreshed for having gone so long without sleep and then sleeping for such a short time.  Quickly we are dressed and ready to go.  We leave the room and head to the motel office to check out.  The office is locked and we can see no one is behind the desk where we checked in.  I bang on the door a couple of times to no avail.  Just as I'm preparing to slide the key under the door a person appears and lets us in.  I hand her the room key stating the room number we occupied. She replies with: "You aren't checking out at this hour are you?"  I affirm that we are indeed checking out and if there is any kind of paperwork involved could we kind of get to it so we can be on our way.  The details are handled quickly though it feels like forever because we are anxious to get moving.  Once underway we regain the route on County Route 542 headed for the Pine Barrens for the second time in as many days.  In the wee hours of the morning the barrens are a very quiet place to ride a bike. We don't see another vehicle or human being for many miles.  We do however encounter deer, raccoons, and other wildlife indigenous to the area.  Jon is setting a fairly brisk pace, especially given it is dark.  I feel decent enough to hang in, at least for now.  After about 20 miles we hit Chatsworth which is a small town on the more northern end of the Pines.  We are riding at a nice steady pace.  The temperature is in the mid sixties with little to no wind.  Taking the time to sleep appears to be paying off as I am alert and comfortable.  After Chatsworth we find ourselves on Sooy Place Road which we follow for about eight miles. The area is still wooded but there are a few houses nestled among the trees as we near a more populated area.  We now see occasional vehicle traffic here and there.  I wonder how the rest of our group are managing as we close in on the control.  On the approach road about a half a mile out I see bicycle headlights coming at us.  I can't imagine who else would be out here at this crazy hour.  Sure enough as we get close enough I see it is Walt, Dawn and Rick.  They have just left the control and are headed for the finish. They tell us they have been struggling with sleep deprivation and have been forced to stop for cat naps along the way.  With daylight only minutes away they should be okay for the remaining miles to the end.  Once at the Wawa control I order a breakfast of pancakes and fruit. The pancakes are the little microwaveable kind so I'm kind of surprised it takes so long for then to prepare them.  The workers at the store have been there all night and are apparently more sleep deprived than us.  The pancakes are definitely not worth the wait but there is little else available at 5am. The fruit however is quite good as is the coffee.  After listening to a lonely store customers life story (where we wearing a sign saying come talk to us?) we move on for the final leg.  We spent a bit more time than we expected, but we are still not far off our plan.  

Vincentown to Hightstown - 49 Miles

Jon cruises by corn fields on day two en-route to finish

With the return to daylight and a full stomach I am ready for this last stretch.  The final section starts out flat and gentle like most of the ride but somewhat unexpectedly becomes a bit hilly. There are no dramatic climbs mostly just little kickers with a few slightly bigger bumps.  Normally, I love this type of terrain, but it doesn't feel good to my legs today.  I struggle to stay close to Jon who seems to be having little difficulty with any of it.  Agress Road is the longest of the hills, but fortunately one of the last with about five miles to the finish.  I grind my way up while Jon stands and sprints up.  The remaining few miles are mostly flat so we ride in to the town of Hightstown and then loop around to the hotel which is on the outskirts of town.  We pull into the parking area at 9:05am.  The rest of the group is there by their cars having just recently arrived.  Bob is also there looking rested, showered and dressed in street clothes. He finished over two hours prior to Jon and I.  Walt, Dawn and Rick arrived 25 minutes prior to us.  It was a nice reunion and I'm glad that everyone finished safely.

Rick at Dawn at the Days Inn parking lot at the end of the ride

Epilouge

There are many 600's that are more challenging than this one, most especially in the terrain category.  However, most, if not all, are morning starts.  The night start concept adds an additional component of difficulty.  I have little problem riding throughout the first night, through the next day, and into the evening.  Once night two begins I need sleep! Preferably quality sleep in a bed.  I also welcome the opportunity to wash up and start out again with clean clothes.  While Jon and I were the last of the group to finish we moved efficiently on day two not having to struggle with sleep deprivation.  I admire the others for riding through, foregoing the amenities and grabbing a nap on a store front or park bench.  But, with that said I would not change the decisions we made as our plan is what worked best for us.  I'm feeling a bit more optimistic about the upcoming 1000k around Lake Ontario in New York and Canada less than three weeks away.

Stay tuned! 





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New Jersey Transit 200k Permanent - Redemption

 Paul on the way up Forge Hill Road in Changewater, NJ

I was in desperate need for a morale boost when my friend Al reminded me we needed a permanent for the month of June.  Exactly one week from the date of the DNF in Virginia we scheduled to ride my New Jersey Transit Permanent. As it turned out my friend Paul was also available on that date and would join us.  We decided on a 6am start to stay ahead of the worst of the predicted heat.  Also, to avoid potential thunder storms for later in the day. 

The three of us meet at the Mountainview Plaza in Hillsborough for the early start.  Nothing in the shopping center is open so we roll into the Hillsborough Diner next door to get our brevet cards documented. We start the ride right on time.  The temperature is a pleasant 61 degrees and we roll smoothly towards the Watchung Mountain Ridge and big climb number one up Morning Glory Road.   The climb goes by smoothly as we turn to the east headed for Sky Top Drive, the final climb up the Watchung Ridge.  The three of us separate a bit on the big climbs re-grouping at the top each time.  After reaching the top of Sky Top we quickly arrive at the Summit Control.  So far the ride feels easy, but the next stage to Budd Lake could easily change that.

Leaving the Summit control we turn to the west for what all riders agree is the most relentless stage of the route.  This section features constant rolling terrain with some steeper climbs mixed in.  Generally since the direction of travel is mostly to the west there is a headwind to add to the challenge.  However, today I notice immediately that something feels different.  For the first time I can remember we have a slight tail wind helping us along.  Paul has his climbing legs on today and leaves us behind early on the stage.  Al and I stay loosely together tackling the rollers in good form.  Even the few steeper grades don't have their normal bite today.  Upon arriving at the control I remark that I've never felt quite so good at this point in the ride before.   Paul is there waiting for us having arrived ten minutes ahead.   We take a twenty minute break before moving on.

The terrain on the next leg is not as difficult.  We are at the top of Schooley's Mountain having worked our way gradually uphill since leaving Summit.  We head towards the Muscanetcong River and have some nice fast descents on the way there.  An information control is reached at Changewater after which we climb Forge Hill Road..  After the descent on the other side of Forge Hill we go through the tiny down town area of Hampton and face another significant climb.  After which the Spruce Run Reservoir appears only a few miles before the Tiger Mart control.  We arrive there feeling remarkably good despite the fact that it is beginning to get quite hot.

After a short break we depart the Hampton control knowing that we will be facing about ten miles of serious climbing before the route flattens out for the final miles to the control   The big lump on the route is Wilson Avenue which is quickly followed by Herman Thou Road which is almost a twin to Wilson.  Just as ones legs feel ready to buckle there is another climb up Haytown Road followed by a one mile knee breaker up Cokesbury Road.  It all goes quite smoothly with none of us suffering to any great degree.  After turning off Cokesbury we are downhill to the river and then flat to the Bedminster control.  I'm a little surprised how easy it's been so far. With only seventeen miles of mild terrain left we are all in good shape to beat our prior times on this route, by a lot.

The last stretch proves to be no real problem.  Al suffers a bit from leg cramps with the heat and climbing, but he is confident he can make it through these final miles without too much trouble.  It's a bit downhill to the town of Raritan followed by a flat section along side the river.  Upon turning away from the river back towards Hillsborough there is a rather timid climb up Beekman Road and a similar climb up East Mountain Road.  From there it is an easy three mile roll to the finish.  We hit the Gulf Express and document our time of 11hrs 18min.  The fastest the route has been ridden year to date.  For Al and I it was a course PR.  Paul had ridden a faster time in 2009.  The most incredible thing for me was that I felt like I could head out for another lap, where in the past I was always fully cooked when ending this route.  It went a long way to helping me forget about the Virginia experience.

NJ 600k next weekend.  Stay tuned.

DC 600K - Too Hot to Handle - DNF!!

A happy couple on a tandem during the first segment

Prior to this event my DNF total stood at two.  I packed on my first 600k attempt in 2006, a hilly upstate New York affair called the Catskill 600k  Number two was in 2008 during a mountainous, hotter than hell, 1200k in Virginia called the Shenandoah.  As fate would have it the DC 600k also started in Virginia and was held on the first weekend in June just like the Shenandoah.  Those two factors should have had me steering way clear of this ride.  But, like a moth to a flame I eagerly signed up. I even convinced my wife Lucy to join me for the weekend, not really knowing what she would do for the two days I would be riding.  I silently vowed to find some time over the three days we would be away to spend with her.  Even if I was exhausted from riding I would amiably accompany her to dinner, movie, sightseeing, or to anyplace she might want to go.   As fate would have it packing it in on day one afforded us more time together than we would have imagined.

Driving down to Warrenton, Va, where the ride would begin and end, was strangely reminiscent of the Shenandoah experience.  The scenery was so similar it gave me an uneasy feeling.  After five hours on the road we arrived at the Hampton Inn, the official start, finish and overnight control.  This being a two loop route with about 400k on day one and 200k on day two.  It all seemed quite civilized and manageable.  Despite the hot weather forecast I was feeling confident of my ability to finish the ride.  I had no pre-conceived time goal other than to finish day one with enough time in hand for a few hours sleep.  At the sign-in and bike check the evening before everyone was talking about the heat.  It was hot, humid and would, according to forecasts, remain that way throughout.  Many riders were discussing no sleep strategies to maximize the night riding and take advantage of more moderate temperatures.  Deja Vu all over again.  I found it difficult to sleep that night despite getting in to bed by 8:30pm.  I tossed and turned for some time, yet awoke at 3am with no alarm. 

Warrenton, VA to Wolftown 52 Miles

It's 4am under the canopy in front of the hotel.  Organizer Lynn Kristianson signals the 46 riders to start.  It's a muggy 70+ degrees at this early hour, not an arm warmer or leg warmer in sight.  Certainly once the sun makes its appearance things will be heating up significantly.  I'm mentally prepared for the heat, and am counting on some hilly terrain here and there.  What I'm not expecting is constant hills.  As soon as we leave the city limits the terrain becomes a constant procession of rolling hills.  No one hill by itself presents any significant challenge but they never stop coming.  Feeling rested and strong I manage this section quite nicely.  I find myself with a group of about six riders whom only one, Maile, I am acquainted with.  It's a friendly group and as daylight breaks we enjoyed each others company.  We arrive at the control together agreeing to keep this initial stop short.  Spending little more than ten minutes at the stop we roll out rather loosely with a few of the group straggling behind.  It's difficult to get a large group through a control quickly.  We re-group on the road with a total of four riders, two riders taking more time at the stop.

Maile is all smiles riding in the heat and hills of Virginia

Wolftown to Batesville 51 miles

With two hours in hand we continue with the same type of terrain.  I'm thinking about asking someone if the whole route is this way but I don't want to be perceived as a complainer. No one else is commenting on it so I assume it's the routine here.  I vow to silently endure as the day just keeps getting hotter and the hills getting bigger.  Once again I flashback to my earlier Virginia experience.  I console myself by reasoning that I managed to ride over 600k within the time limit on that ride before dropping out.  Therefore, if the same thing happens here I will be an official finisher.  Fortunately, I am not reminiscing on the Catskill 600k where my day ended at mile 136.   I'm focusing  on how strong I'm feeling, how beautiful the surrounding scenery is, and how it really isn't all that hot yet.

At about half way to Batesville an information control, an historical marker on the side of the road, presents itself.  I fumble for my brevet card and pen as some of the group, most notably Maile, takes off.  It is a minute or two before I'm underway and I'm accompanied by two other riders, Joel and Lothar.  Everyone is feeling pressured to keep moving while the conditions are tolerable.  I tend to be a little poky getting the paperwork documented, putting me at a bit of a disadvantage.

I can't pinpoint the moment or mile that it happened, but suddenly I was tearing up one of the bigger rollers when I felt cramping in the hamstring area behind my right knee.  Odd, as I don't ever remember cramping like that before.  It caused me some concern as I slowed my cadence and let the cramp release.  I was losing Joel and Lothar as they appeared to be suffering no such affliction.  We were close to the control so I decided to just continue as best I could.  I am prone to cramping in the heat, when under trained, but thought I was well prepared this time.  Also,  the weak link is usually the inner quad muscle on one or both sides.  Not what I'm feeling now.  As I approach the control, which is atop somewhat of an incline on a busy highway I drop to the granny gear to ward off a return of the cramps.  A rider catches up to me from behind, senses my plight and places his hand on my back to gently push me up the incline to the entrance of the control.  I learn his name is Al.  He is friends with Maile, who is still at the control just ready to depart.  I decide I will need to take some recovery time here. I want to figure out what is wrong.  As I dismount the bike I notice my feet hurt.  The pieces of the puzzle begin falling into place.  I was forced to buy new cycling shoes less than a week ago as my old ones, which were quite worn, began hurting one of my heels.  The new shoes were a different brand and somewhat sleeker.  I only had the opportunity to ride about 25 miles in them before taking the start of the 600k. Anyone in the know would deem it seriously foolish to try a big ride with any equipment that wasn't thoroughly tested.  However, in this case I reasoned that I had only two choices; (a). use the old shoes that I know for sure would hurt my feet, or (b). use the new shoes that I didn't know would hurt my feet.  It seemed so logical to go with the new pair.  What did I have to lose?  The unknown factor being the new shoes not only hurt my feet, but were causing my hamstrings to cramp up as well.  I had packed the old pair in my suitcase as back-up.  They are back at the hotel.  Again two choices (a) ride the140+ miles remaining on this loop putting up with pain and cramps, or (b) ask Lucy to meet me at the next control and switch shoes there.  The next control is only twenty five miles away.  It's not likely Lucy can make it there in time as it will be a 128 mile drive for her.  I opt for plan A.

 Batesville to Howardsville 25 Miles

After a long break, long enough to realize how hot it has gotten, I am underway headed for the control by the river in Howardsville.  I start out alone, but ride well enough to overtake a rider.  The terrain is still quite hilly, in fact the hills are longer, and a bit steeper, but spaced a little father apart. For the first time there is actually some flat sections.  I continue to cramp on the hills, but am able to ride up them with a slow cadence.  The rider I passed catches me on one of the hills. I find out his name is George.  He is from the DC area.  It helps distract me from my suffering to chat with him about all things Rando and many other topics as well.  I enjoy the conversation but am not able to stay with him on the big hills and am soon riding alone again.  Another rider I know, Nick, passes me on one of the tougher climbs.  As he rides by he sums up the situation in just two words, "Holy Cow!"  After a few more hills I enjoy a longish downhill trend which leads me to River Road and the control.  It is a virtual reunion with riders who have dropped me,  Maile, Al, Joel, Lothar, and Nick are all there.  When I dismount the bike I notice, for the first time, how fatigued I feel.  I am listless, without energy.  I surmise that others are feeling similarly to me as no one appears to be making any effort to leave the control.  With the exception of Maile who had told me earlier her plan was to minimise the down time.  She leaves the control on her own.  I silently admire her for being able to stick to her plan.  I have no plan.  I have entered survival mode which allows for no plan.  My decisions are minute to minute based on what it takes to survive to the next minute.  I want nothing to eat, but decide I should have something.   A snack cake and ice pop seem to go down okay.  I need to drink but don't feel like it.  I manage to get down a Gatorade, but feel like barfing afterwards.  None of these are good signs.  I take some Endurolyte tables hoping they will stay down.  Mostly I just sit there with the other riders saying little and doing nothing.  I decide to head out after all the other riders except for Al have departed.  He remains seated in the same spot as I ride out to the road.  I'm hoping that at some point I can pay back the boost he gave me.  He may need it later.

Lothar leads the group up one of the countless rolling hills on the route

Howardsville to Louisa 54 Miles

The road is flat for awhile.  I still feel some fatigue but am riding smoothly.  I start to catch up to some of the riders.  Nick, George, Joel and Lothar are riding as a group.  I fall into step with them, hoping I can keep from getting dropped this time. The terrain is definitely more favorable I'm hoping it stays that way. No sooner do I form the thought when we come upon a good sized hill.  I climb with Joel and Lothar while Nick and George fall behind.  The three of us continue to the information control, another historic marker, at the 137 mile point.  After handling the paperwork we continue with more flat road.  Joel suggests picking up the pace to make some time during this stretch.  I reluctantly go along with the plan.  Loethar gets dropped after a mile or two.  We come to a small town at which point I decide I need to refill water.  Each bottle only lasts about 10 miles.  Joel stops with me.  I fill up both bottles and stash a store bought bottle in my back pocket.  We re-group with the other riders only to split up again, although somewhat differently on the next hill.  I feel my energy level diminish at the top of the climb.  Back on flat ground I can't keep pace with the two riders in front of me.  I fall back and ride alone soon to be passed by Nick.  Somewhere behind is Lothar and Al.  I'm riding at the pace I can manage.  Welcome back to survival mode.  A brief refreshing rain shower that lasts for about five minutes helps cool me a bit.  I ride past two riders off to the side of the road.  I ask if they are okay and they explain they are putting on rain gear.  I think they must be kidding as it is 96 degrees and humid.  What possible point would there be to wearing rain gear?  I ride for another ten miles at which point I reach the depths of my fatigue.  The thought of not finishing, which was buried in the back of my head, is now my most prominent thought.  With every turn of the pedals I consider making the call to Lucy to come pick me up.  Cell phone service is very spotty out here in rural Virginia.  So, the call would have to be made at the right point.  I scan the cue sheet noticing the route crosses over an interstate highway (I-64) in about ten more miles, which is the 169 mile point.  Generally, one can rely on cell service near the interstates.  I decide that if the call is to made that is the place to do it.  The ten miles tick off ever so slowly.  The terrain is moderate but I just have no fire left in me for a snappy pace.  I'm simply grinding along watching my odometer and cue sheet as each tenth of a mile passes.  Finally, the overpass appears.  I pull off to make the call.  There is no thinking about it anymore.  I see no other option.  I am physically and mentally done.  After discussing the options with Lucy we decide she will meet me at the next control in Louisa which is at mile 182, thirteen miles from my location.  The drive to there from Warrenton will take a little more than an hour and I'm guessing it will take that long for me to cover the distance at the rate I am moving.  Lothar passes by while I'm still on the side of the road.  I wave and tell him I'm okay.  He waves and keeps going.  As I resume riding I notice no improvement in my energy level despite about ten minutes rest. I expect the thirteen miles I've yet to cover to be excruciatingly slow and painful.   After slogging through five and a half miles of easy terrain I feel completely out of gas.  I pull over at a church and sit on the steps.  I feel like I can't go any further.  I eat the remaining half of a peanut butter sandwich which I've had with me since morning.   I wait about ten minutes to feel the effect.  Nothing happens.  I still don't want to move.   I notice a sign pointing to I-64 up ahead,  meaning there is an entrance to the interstate.  I presume there will be services at the interchange so I decide to go there.  It winds up being about two miles.  There is a gas station with convenience store just past the highway ramp.  I get the address from the store clerk and call Lucy so she can enter it in the GPS.  She agrees to pick me up at the new location.  While waiting I ask myself all the tough questions.  Am I sure this is the right decision?  The next control doesn't close for another four hours shouldn't I just rest for an hour or two then try to make it?   I remain committed to dropping out.  There is not a spark of fire left in me for this ride.  Either I wasn't determined enough going in, or the heat, the cramps and the sore feet just beat it out of me.  I am at peace with it ending here.  No regrets.

I would later learn that I was one of twelve riders to DNF, which equates to about 26%.  Most of the riders I met on the route made it around both loops.  Maile, Joel, Lothar, George and Nick all finished.  Unfortunately, I learned that Al dropped out at Palmyra about twenty miles behind me.

I learned a few things from the experience, one being overconfident can be as bad as a lack of confidence when it comes to 375 miles.  I came in with no plan, and, very few tools for combating the heat.  Most of the riders had carried with them ice socks.  I hadn't thought to bring one.  My hydration and nutrition were sub par;  two regular size water bottles filled with plain water, a single peanut butter sandwich, and one flask of Hammer Gel.  I also had Endurolytes which seemed to help minimally this time.  Add to all that the mistake of wearing new shoes.  All things to be stored into the memory banks for future reference. Hard learned lessons are the best kind as they are not soon forgotten.

New Jersey 600k in two weeks.  Stay tuned.

           

NJ 400k Volunteer Ride - Spinning through the Pine Barrens!

View of Downtown Salem, NJ the half way point

On Sunday May 23rd six riders gather at the Hightstown Days Inn to undertake the NJ 400k pre-ride, or volunteer ride as it’s known. The purpose of the ride is two fold. First and foremost is to check the route for hazards, road closures, etc, while testing the cue sheet for errors. Secondly, the ride allows those who are helping with the event to receive official credit for the distance even though done in advance of the actual scheduled date. At 4am organizer Paul Shapiro along with volunteers Katie Raschfdorf, Janice Chernekoff, Jon Levitt, Walt Pettigrew and yours truly depart Hightstown for points south.

Hightstown to Button Hill Campground 65 Miles
It is a pleasant 63 degrees with some humidity. The weather forecast calls for off and on showers throughout the day. With my rain gear safely stuffed in the rear pack I head out with the group in the pre-dawn darkness knowing it will be dark again when I return. Katie and Janice opted to ride at their own pace so the four of us pulled past them just beyond the downtown section of Hightstown. The riding conditions were quite nice. I found myself enjoying the quiet stillness of the early morning hour as we headed towards the first control in the New Jersey Pine Barrens. We cross I-195 and pass through Allentown heading towards the Fort Dix/Maguire military installation. Which upon our arrival we are greeted with daylight. We continue our southerly trek to Chatsworth which begins what is known as the Pine Barrens region. We enter the Wharton State Forest on CR 563 which leads us to Green Bank. Lots of canoeing and Kayaking takes place in this area as a well known estuary is nearby. From there we turn west onto CR 542 into Batso Village and the remaining couple of miles to the control at the Buttonwood Camp Ground. On the day of the ride there will be volunteers with food and beverage at the ready when riders arrive. Today there is nothing here, so after looking around the place briefly we push on in search of a commercial establishment. We follow the route to CR 623 and continue through Pleasant Mills and into Ellwood, where at the crossing of SR 30, White Horse Pike, we come upon the Elwood Deli. The rustic little place serves us well as we replenish fluids and intake a few calories. The temperature is up near seventy at this point so I opt to lose the arm warmers for the next leg. I notify Katie and Janice the location of the deli but they reply that they are turning back at Batso to enjoy a somewhat shorter day on the bike.

Button Hill Campground to Salem 55 Miles
Leaving the deli behind we head west towards the state of Delaware. Our control stop in the town of Salem is on the New Jersey side of the river. We notice the wind has picked up quite a bit giving us a fairly strong push from behind. This makes for some nice fast riding as we pace line our way past the cranberry and blueberry farms. We are keeping a nice average speed, but know that unless there is a shift in direction we will have to face a strong headwind on our return route. For the time being it doesn’t dampen our spirits as we enjoy the scenery change from the woods of the barrens to the open farmlands. So far we have encountered only a few sprinkles of rain. The rain gear remains in the pack. This is perhaps the most enjoyable leg of the route for me. The lightly traveled roads and open views of the area bring about a tranquil feeling. We continue our pace lining efforts with each of us taking turns at the front. While it requires a bit more effort on the front of the line I am enjoying my time there as it offers the best opportunity to look at the scenery not having to keep a constant eye on the rider in front. Although, as in most parts of our state one does need to keep watch for pot holes (more on this subject later). We pass through Alloway which has a lake somewhere and a lot of farms like the rest of the region. We encounter a brief shower that lasts only for a few minutes. Soon thereafter the outskirts of Salem appear and we are quickly in the down town area. The town is quiet on a Sunday. We find ourselves as the only lunch customers in the Bravo Pizza and Pasta, which is our control. The other years I’ve done this ride I’ve always enjoyed the pizza here. It doesn’t disappoint this time either. This stop is almost the half-way point at 120 miles. I enjoy the food, the rest and chatting with my ride companions.

Salem to Button Hill Campground 55 Miles
After the nice break we set out. We’re headed back to the pine-barrens region via a slightly different route than the outbound, although we are on some of the same roads for periods of time. As soon as we leave the city limits of Salem I immediately notice the headwind. I knew it was coming, and mentally prepared, but unfortunately my legs aren’t all that thrilled about it. I take my turn at the front, after which I feel blown up. This next section becomes my low point of the ride. I am not able to pull much. My fellow riders pick up the slack for me, giving me a lot of time to sit in the draft. I’m looking forward to the wooded sections of the barrens where our direction becomes more northerly, and there will be trees to block the wind. I watch as our average speed slowly dips from 16.7 mph to 16.5 mph. There is no way to keep the same pace as the outbound. A strong shower douses us for about five minutes and then stops. I notice as the passing showers move in the wind increases like squalls. The temperature is warm enough that it doesn’t pay to don a rain jacket. It’s easier to just get wet and then air dry when the shower ends. We decide that we will need a food stop in lieu of the empty campground at Batso. We detour off route to the town of Hammonton and stop at the Wawa, which is a control on the NJ 600k. I badly need this stop and eat heartily in an attempt to regain my prior energy level. It showers hard while we are sitting outside eating. Fortunately, we are sheltered under the roof overhang. The rain ends shortly and without delay we head back out towards our next stop in Vincentown.

Button Hill Campground to Vincentown 37 Miles

We work our way back to the route and into the pine-barrens. As anticipated the wind is not as difficult here. We continue with the pace lining and I begin taking some pulls feeling a little better. Walt, Jon and Paul are all taking longer and stronger turns at the front than me, but at least I feel like I’m contributing something. As we get to Chatsworth Walt hits a viscous pot hole and gets pinch flats on both tires. We pull off in front of a house to undertake the repair. I assist by putting a new tube in the front while Walt attends to the rear. It all goes pretty efficiently with Paul assisting by pressuring up one of the tires. There are little bugs eating away at us so we can’t wait to leave. With everything back together we start to head off when Paul yells from behind that he has a flat. After pulling apart the rear tire he finds a puncture in the tube and a sharp stone in the tire. The repair goes quickly, partially motivated by our desire to get away from the bugs. Just prior to leaving we get a call from Katie and learn that her and Janice have made it safely back to Hightstown. With all punctures repaired we continue on our way. Soon we find ourselves on Sooy Place Road which heads west away from the barrens. Even though the winds have subsided some west is a nice direction to be headed. I am beginning to enjoy the ride again feeling somewhat renewed from the food and the rest. We soon find ourselves crossing route 206 and pull into the Vincentown Wawa for our final rest before the finish. It is turning dark so we plan to leave with night gear and lighting on. While we are taking our break in the front of the store it rains hard. Again the roof overhang keeps us dry. The temperature is dropping making me feel a bit chilly. I decide to leave there with arm warmers and a wind vest for the final leg. The rain is reduced to a sprinkle as we depart for the final leg.

Vincentown to Hightstown 39 Miles

This next section is the most difficult to navigate. The cue sheet is very accurate, but it is night, there are a lot of turns, and we are all pretty tired. Fortunately, Paul has the GPS functioning to keep us on track. We follow the cue sheet as well to check it, but I confess to having a little trouble focusing. Although, between the four of us we manage to check all the cues and find they work fine. The roads selected are pleasant and mostly free of traffic. We stay on the quiet country lanes until Allentown where we cross I-195 and make a bee line for Hightstown on county roads. The rain picks up seriously as we near Hightstown. Then absolutely buckets for the last couple of miles to the finish at the Day’s Inn. I am very pleased to be done. Our finish time is 19hrs 30min, well below the 27 hour limit. I’m pleased with the outcome. Especially given that I felt rough for part of the time.

Epilogue

This is indeed a fun ride. The flatness of the route suits riding in a group. It was great to have three other riders, who I also consider friends, to share the miles with. As well as to share the work load. That is not to say that it’s particularly easy. The route has its own set of challenges. The winds can be bad in some of the more open areas. In addition, I find that 400k of essentially the same terrain can be difficult in and of itself. The lack of hills requires one to spin steadily for a very long time. Taking a toll on the muscle set involved. I find myself quite tired the next day and in need of as much recovery as a hilly ride of the same distance.

I look forward to seeing the main field of riders this coming Saturday!