Easter Sunday P-200k - The Peeps Ride!

Jon cruises en-route to Holland Township and Adamic Hill Road

 And so the season begins with the first of the SR series, the Princeton 200k.  I remember struggling to make it around this fairly challenging route last year aboard the recumbent.  Hopefully, things will be different now as I'm riding the Salsa Casserol upright, and, I've been riding 200k's all winter.  Out of a sense of obligation to my local group, the New Jersery Randonneurs, I offer to hold the volunteer ride, aka pre-ride, which is the weekend prior to the event.  Thereby making myself available to help out on the actual date of the ride.  The pre-ride was set for Sunday April 4th.....Easter Sunday.  Three other volunteers join me on the ride.  A few days prior while stocking up on the obligatory Easter food........."Peeps"......... I pick up a few extra packages for my co-riders.  They actually have some potential as a bike food in that they are super light and consist of mostly sugar. Given the fact that many places to purchase food along the route will be closed, they may come in handy.

I meet my fellow volunteer riders, Janice, Paul and Jon at the Princeton Forrestal Shopping center for a 7:00am start.  Jon has brought with him multiple bags of M&M's, another worthy bike food.   After getting our brevet cards signed at the hotel in the shopping center, which was the only business open, we get underway.  Janice prefered to ride at her own pace.  Opting not to stay together with us.  We exchanged cell phone numbers for emergency purposes before starting out.  The 50F starting temperature feels a little cool, but easily manageable after the tough winter we've just come out of.  The day is forecasted to warm significantly so we will not have to tolerate feeling cold for long. 

Paul enjoys the scenery and the weather on the first leg of the ride

Princeton to Frenchtown 36 Miles

This section starts out with an easy flat ride to the center of Princeton and then uses some very pleasant roads to the quaint little town of Hopewell.  Here we experience our first climb of the day heading up the north side of the Soutland Ridge on Rileyville Road.  It's a pleasant climb with a nice fast descent on the other side, interrupted by an abrupt left turn.  We then use some nice rolling county roads to pass trough Ringoes, Seargentsville and Kingwood.  The traffic, normally light on these roads, is non-existent today. With the brilliant sun and the thermometer rising it is a great day to be on a bike.  After passing though Ringoes, while climbing a steep little kicker on Horseshoe Bend Road, one of Paul's crank arms loosens and slips.  It takes a little while to figure out how to get it lined up again and re-tightened, but with the three of us working on it we manage to get it secure.  At least for the time being.  We then arrive at Frenchtown utilizing the Citgo Mart store as our control.  The actual ride will have a full service, volunteer manned control at the Legion hall, but today we will have to make do.  After a quick snack and the removal of a few layers we head out for the next leg.

Frenchtown to Asbury 26 Miles

We start out gently heading north towards Milford.  I'm noticing the wind is picking up a bit, but mostly on my mind is the steep climb up Adamic Hill Road that is not far away.  Last year I almost fell over on the recumbent trying to make it up this very climb.  I ended up walking almost the entire hill.  Hopefully, things will be different this time.  For now, I push Adamic from my mind and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Deleware river.  The view clear to the Pennsylvania side is striking.  This stretch of nicely paved roads has no shortage of scenic vistas.  I snap a couple of photos of my companions while riding alongside.   Inevitably, the turn to Mount Joy road comes up, the foothill to Adamic Hill.  Upon reaching Adamic I stop at the bottom to snap a photo of Paul and Jon on the start of the climb.  It takes me a minute to get the shot and get started up the climb.  The hill gets pretty steep quickly and stays that way for awhile.  Using the granny gear on the Salsa it's quite managable.  The climb, being less than a mile in length, doesn't last terribly long.  Soon I'm at the top joining my friends and looking at the historic Voledam Windmill, a local scenic attraction.  Appropriately so as we are in Holland Township.  Moving on we encounter more climbing, nothing as steep as Adamic but all take its toll.  The wind is actually relentless at this point and is becoming annoying.  After a screaming descent we start up another uphill entering Warren County and Paul's crank becomes lose again.  We are all thinking this could be big trouble, but fortunately this time we are able to effect a better repair.  Tightening it more securely than we did with the prior fix. It looks like it could go the distance now.  We resume the hill and soon arrive at the Asbury Deli, the half way point control. It is closed up tight.  Anticipating in advance that the control might not be open we make up an information control question to serve as proof of passage.  We ride on hoping to come across an open deli or general store to re-stock water and get some food. 

Jon and Paul begin the climb of Adamic Hill Road.

Asbury to Frenchtown 27 Milles

A serious climb presents itself immediatly after the control.  Fortunately since the control was closed I didn't eat anything, which makes the climb go a little better.  Seven miles later we arrive in the town of Stewartsville where there is a General Store open for business.  We phone Janice to let her know it will be open when she arrives.  We settle in for a nice lunch break.   Upon coming out of the store I notice how warm it has gotten.  I would later learn the high temperature was in the upper eightes.  We are not really acclimated to heat this early in the season.  I've been taking endurolytes all day and am hoping they will keep me from cramping.  There are still a few hills to cliimb.  We move on towards the Riegelsville cut-off which is designated as an information control.  The terrain is gently rolling, although somewhat into the wind, it is quite scenic and enjoyable.  As part of our pre-ride duties we come up with a control question at the Riegelsville cut-off to be used by the main field on the day of the event.  From here the route uses the same roads to Milford and Frenchtown as the outbound.  The ride alongside the river with favorable winds is delightful.  We soon find ourselves back in Frenchtown.  This time choosing the Frechtown Market as our control.  We arrive 10 minutes before the posted 3pm closing time.  The door is locked but after some coaxing the manager admits us.  We promise to quickly get what we need and exit.  We do so and enjoy our snack while sitting on the grassy area in front of the store.  Shortly we are underway again for the final leg.

Jon and Paul on the return to Frenchtown

 Frenchtown to Princeton 38 Miles

With the wind now in our favor this last section should go smoothly.  We start out at a brisk pace, but after a mile or two Paul says he needs to go easy for a bit as he is feeling kind of quesy (maybe peeps and m&m's are not the ideal bike food after all).  We back it down a bit.  However, in less than a mile we are headed up Ridge Road which has a steep short section at the beginning and then continues up gradualy for about two miles. After completing Ridge we work our way up another climb on 519.  Paul is hanging in quite well on the climbs despite not feeling too spiffy.  Next we turn on Oak Grove Road for about  5 miles of flat terrain before it ends with a steep little kicker.  The wind continues to be beneficial and we make good time here.  The hill comes and goes without incident.  I was not looking forward to it but when it arrived it wasn't bad.  A fast descent on Thatcher Hill Road, with a stunning panoramic view, drops us into the town of Flemington.  We wind our way across Rt 31 headed for Ringoes and Manners Road.  I remember Manners for having four sizeable rollers on it.  With lots of miles in the legs it feels tough, but manageable.  With the four knee breakers behind us we make a quick turn onto Lindberg Road, which is the final major climb of the day.  This is a two mile ascent up to the Sourland Mountain Ridge.  The climb begins gently then, as most worthy climbs do, pitches up steeply for the final quarter mile.  The three of us deal with the climb pretty well.  Paul is still suffering, but putting on a strong front.  From here the route to the finish is flat to downhill.  With the wind still in our favor we should make good time.  We drop out of the Sourlands via Hollow Road onto Route 518 east eleven miles from the finish.  A time check shows us with the potential for a finish around the eleven hour mark.  We quickly arrive in the little town of Rocky Hill just a few miles short of the finish. We decide to go hard for the last couple of miles in an attempt to get in just under the eleven hour mark.  Our efforts pay off as we arrive with enough time to run into the hotel and get a documented time of 10hrs 58min. Speaking for myself I am very pleased with the result. We would later learn that Janice finished successfully a short time later.  I enjoyed the ride, the beautiful route, and the good company.

 Paul and yours truly celebrating with Peeps at the finish

 Jon and Paul at the finish thinking about trying Peeps as a recovery food

March R-12 Noximixon 200k! The Final Chapter!

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Photos: Top - Mrs. Al supporting her husband at the Lambertville Control.

Bottom - The two finishers reflecting on a good ride.

I vowed to jump on the first decent weather day in March to complete my R-12 Series.  As luck would have it I would not have long to wait.  The first weekend of the month was predicted to be dry with temperatures ranging from mid-thirties to upper fifties.  I contacted my friend, and R12 riding companion, Al alerting him to the intended Sunday 7am start.  The proposed route was the newly approved Noximixon 200k, designed and owned by my friend Paul.  Al was agreeable with the plan. 

We meet at the Southfield Shopping Center in Princeton Junction a little before the scheduled start.  It's just prior to 7am and the shopping center is very still.  The coffee shop and pharmacy open at 9am.  The food market opens at 7am.  We agree to use the market as our start location, waiting at the door for them to open.  By the time we make a purchase, get documented, and use the rest room, it is eleven minutes past the hour.  I've come to accept a late start as normal for permanents..

Princeton Junction to Lambertville - 26 Miles

Once underway I feel the chill of the morning.  The temperature is a little under 35F with a slight wind.  I'm somewhat underdressed for the current conditions, but it is a very clear day.  I'm confident the sun will warm the air considerably in an hour or two.  I can manage some temporary discomfort.  It beats having to lug a bunch of uneeded clothes around the route for the majortity of the ride. After a few miles we cross US 1 and enter the town of Princeton.  It is eerily quiet at this hour as we pass by the University buildings.  With little to no traffic we are out of town in no time, headed for Pennington on some very nice roads.  With the sun shining, the pleasant scenery and the smooth roads it is a great day to be on a  bike. So far the route is mostly rolling.  However, once we reach Pennington we encounter Poor Farm Road, a fairly steep climb with nice scenery to look at on the way up.  Upon reaching the top Al places a call to his wife to coordinate her meeting us at the Lambertville control with energy drink bottles which were inadvertantly left at home.  Phone call complete we descend the back side of the hill.  The nine miles left to the control are a mixed bag of flat, rolling, and hilly terrian. Valley Road and Goat Hill Road are the final two lumps. The Lambertville control is a flexible one allowing the rider a choice of establishments.  We choose the coffee shop on Bridge Street.  Al's wife is there waiting when we arrive.  After a coffee and muffin we depart headed for PA.  I notice we are leaving with not much time to spare.


 Lambertville, NJ to Richlandtown, PA - 31 Miles

A few blocks past the the control we reach the bridge to New Hope PA.  Riding across the 1/2 mile span is not permitted.  As I'm walking I notice the wind has picked up.  Unfortunately, the direction will not be in our favor on this leg of the route.  I was hoping to pick up a little time to give us a cushion in the event of a mechanical, or other problem.  Given the increased wind and the terrain in front of us that doesn't look likely.  After negotiating the downtown area of New Hope we start with some gentle climbing, with a few steep kickers mixed in.  We pass through Lahaska on Street Road, which features a very steep little climb that I recall falling over on when passing through on the recumbent.  With the ability to stand and leverage the pedals I have no such problem today.  Although, it does take significant effort. We pass through the small little town of Carversville continuing our uphill trend.  Finally, the terrain eases up for a bit allowing us to pick up some time.  We contend with some rollers, and another sizeable climb on Route 313 at Quakertown at which point  we've reache the route's namesake, the Noximixon Resovior.  The remaining roads to the Richlandtown control are quite pleasant.  Were it not for the wind it would be perfect. We arrive at the 7-11 control with little time to spare.  We agree to keep the stop brief.  But with the temperature increase, now mid-fifties, we need to make clothing adjustments, as well as take in some calories.  Our goal is to leave in advance of the control closing time, even if only by fifteen minutes.

Richlandtown, PA to Milford, NJ - 18 Miles

Back on the road with our small time margin in hand we immediately feel the difference with the wind.  Now blowing more in our favor.  I'm encouraged that we may be able to pick up a little time on this leg.  Once again the road selection of the route is excellent.  There is almost no traffic for the first ten miles.  We deal with a few good sized rolling hills which present no problem as the wind, stronger than ever now, is aiding us.  Quickly we are Route 412, which leads us to a climb I've been dreading, Center Hill Road.  I climbed it before with Paul while accompanying him on a cue sheet test of some of the route.  It goes better for me today than the prior time.  Perhaps knowing it was coming helped.  Or, more likely riding the Salsa in lieu of the 'bent was the difference. I didn't even use the triple.  I wait a bit for Al at the top of the hill.  This is his first encounter with this bump and wisely he is climbing it conservatively.  We regroup and undertake the descent to the river.  Which is fast, twisty, and features an abrupt stop at the bottom with a hard right onto Route 32.  We then parallel the river for the next 2 1/2 miles, crossing back over into New Jersey at the Milford Bridge which brings us right to the control, a Citgo Mart.  We are 35 minutes in front of the cut-off.  

Milford to Ringoes - 20 Miles

We are underway having spent 20 minutes at the control.  I know the roads pretty well on this section and am hoping to make up a little more time.  The first few miles to Frenchtown are flat, add to that the wind and we manage a nice pace.  Coming out of Frenchtown we turn onto Horseshoe Bend Road which featrues some short steep climbs.  This is followed by Rt 519 in Kingwood which is basically rolling terrain as are the remaining roads to the Ringoes control.  I notice on the cue sheet that a bank ATM is an optional control should one decide to pass up the deli, which is listed as the primary control.  I convince Al that we should use the ATM through Ringoes to pick up some additional time. He consents providing we spend at least five minutes there giving him an opportunity to stretch.  Upon arrival I handle getting the two bank reciepts from the ATM while eating half a pb sandwich from my pack.  Al stretches out his fatigued legs while waiting for me.  The stop takes us less than 10 minutes.  We depart with 40 minutes in hand.

Ringoes to Kendall Park - 19 Miles

The first section of this segment is on Wertzville Road which takes us across US 202.  Wertzville features more of the rolling variety of hills.  I am quite familar with it having ridden it countless times.  With the wind still in our favor we should do well over the next 4 miles.  I start doing some mental math to project a finish time.  I would like to see us come at 12hrs or less.  That leaves us about 2 1/2 hrs to cover the remaining 30 miles.  Although there are a couple of substantial climbs ahead of us, and we have over 100 miles in our legs, I'm thinking we can make it. Once again I confer with Al laying out the plan.  He is tired, but agrees to give it his best.effort.  In a short time we turn off to the right to face Lindberg Road a sizeable climb up the Sourland Mountan Ridge.  After grinding our way up the two mile hill we have about nine miles of downhill and flat terrain.  Using this to our best advantage will be paramount to meeting the goal.  We do well descending our way down the other side of the ridge.  We then head east on County 518.  With the wind mostly at our tail we maintain a nice pace. I am feeling good at this point pulling us along at speeds between 18-24mph.  We quickly reach the US 206 crossing followed by our turn onto Canal Road and an abrupt climb up Old Georgetown Road.  This being the last major hill between here and the finish.  We both give it a good effort putting the climb behind us without losing much time.  The control, a CVS, comes up quickly.  We clock in at 5:56pm leaving us with 1hour 4minutes to make it to the finish.  With sunset just a few minutes away we need to switch to night gear and full lighting as well as document our passage through the control.  We depart at 6:11pm leaving us 49 minutes to cover the distance and document our finish time.

Franklin Park to Princeton Junction  - 12 Miles

My recollection of the roads on this part of the route are that of the flat and flatter variety.  Although, when we turn onto New Road just a few hundred yards from the control it is somewhat of an uphill for at least two miles. Once past that point it is mostly flat, save for a couple of little bumps.  I'm giving it a good effort with Al hanging right with me.  It's fully dark now which makes the going a little slower.  Navigating in the dark is trickier as well.  I'm not familiar enough with the route to know the turns without the aid of the cue sheet and street signs.  Fortunately, both have been quite accurate so far.  A navigation error at this point would put the goal out of reach.  I take the extra time to pay close attention to the cues and road signs until we are at the point where I know my way.  That point comes up on Plainsboro Road with about 3.5 miles to go. With no further need to navigate I pour everything I have into turning the pedals.  Al falls back at one point.  I ease up a bit to get him back on my wheel.  I announce when we are on the final road to the finish.  We have a little more than a mile to go.  Al gives everything he has rocketing out front and almost dropping me in the process.  I focus solely on spinning fast and smooth for the next few minutes.  Then the shopping center appears on our right.  We are in with a couple of minutes to spare.  The documented time is what counts so we fly up to the entrance of the same supermarket we started out from almost 12 hours ago.  We run to an open register, each grab a pack of gum, I ask the lady for a receipt, while blinding her with my helmet light. In my rush I neglected to switch it off.   She hands the slip over and I look at the time stamp printed on top, it reads 7:00pm exactly!  Boo-Ya!

Epilouge

Back outside the market we ask the shopping cart guy to take our photo.  He graciously agrees.  Taking one with my digital camera, as well as well as another with Al's I-phone.  I'm happy to have the R-12 behind me.  It's been a worthy goal and has kept me motivated during the off season.  The permanent rides were especially enjoyable.  I've developed a new appreciation for their value as flexible and fun alternatives to calendar brevets.  Eight of my twelve R-12 rides were permanents.  All started and finished in New Jersey.  Not a bad thing considering two years ago there were none available in the state.  The Noximixon 200k is a very welcome addition.  I look forward to riding it again.

As for Al he is rapidly becoming a full fledged Radonneur.  He has completed three official 200k's this year, one fourth of the way into an R-12.  He is planning to be at some of the calendar brevets this season.  How far he takes it will be up to him.  It would not surprise me to see him undertake a 300k or longer before the season wraps up. 

My focus is now on completing a Super Randonneur Series and a 1000 kilometer.  I'm hoping to do so on an upright bike.

Stay tuned!

February R-12 - NJ Transit 200k - Revised Route

Photos:  Top - Jon trying to stay warm waiting to depart Budd Lake.  

Bottom - Al with a grim look of determination preparing for the next leg.

I'm starting to get the hang of this R-12 deal. I watched calmly as two major snow falls came through the area leaving over two feet of heavy snow on the ground. Fortunately, the January R12 ride was in the books before storm number one showed up at the end of the month. Storm number two was very early in February, leaving me optimistic about my chances of getting a break later in the month. None the less, I spent some time on the RUSA web-site researching permanents in the warmer climates. A permanent in South Carolina looked particularly inviting. I admit to being seriously tempted. However, before making travel plans I had a bit of an epiphany. I reasoned that earning an R12 might be a sweeter accomplishment if done in one's own back yard, dealing with whatever nature dishes out. Perhaps the real challenge is picking the right opportunity, the right route on the right day. I've become quite proficient at analyzing the weather with quick links to weather.com and NOAA on my laptop. I've kept any non-work related commitments to a bare minimum keeping myself free and ready to go when opportunity comes knocking. Having gotten this far into it I've decided to make it or break it at home.

While waiting for the road conditions to return to some semblance of normal. I did three things. Shoveled snow, rode my indoor trainer, and worked on changes to my permanent route. The proposed new route would start/finish in my hometown, instead of Raritan. Also, proposed were some significant changes to three of the segments. I submitted the changes to RUSA for approval. The approval was granted and coincided with a reasonable weather outlook for Sunday 2/21. Given that the route would need an initial test ride it seemed prudent to ride the February R-12 on the revised course. My friend Al agreed to ride it with me despite an epic battle with the old route still fresh in his mind from the prior month. In addition, my buddy from the Bronx, Jon, would join us. Jon would be working on an R-13, or a second R-12.

Sunday morning at 6:30am I departed home on the Salsa Caserole for the less than three mile ride to the new start at Mountain View Plaza. It was the first time I ever rode to the start of a brevet from home. The temperature was in the upper twenties with a light wind from the west. My legs were a little stiff from the commute the day before. I'd only logged 75 miles the prior week and no road miles the week before. I was feeling a little under prepared for a hilly 200k. None the less I was mentally determined to get around it somehow. I arrive at the plaza and immediately spot Al behind his SUV preparing for the ride. Jon arrives moments later. We stop at the convenience market at the corner to document the starting time of our ride. We get underway about 10 minutes passed the 7:00am starting time, which seems to S.O.P. for Permanents. I've not done one yet where we departed on time.

Hillsborough to Summit - 28 Miles
This first section features significant changes. The route now starts about eight miles further to the south. We use a north east approach to the Watchung Mountain Ridge and join the original route quite a bit further to the east than before. The initial 11 miles features mild terrain as we ride next to the canal on Weston Canal Road to South Bound Brook. We then cross the Canal and the Raritan River into the town of Bound Brook. We cross US hwy 22 which brings us to the first significant climb of the day, Morning Glory Road. With fresh legs the climb presents no problem and serves to warm us up. Once at the top we join the old route which follows the lower part of the ridge through Warren and Watchung to deliver us to our second major climb of the day, Sky Top Drive. Again, we have no problem negotiating the three mile ascent to the top of the ridge. Once to the top we quickly reach the town of Summit and the first control at the East Side Deli. The deli is a waiting place for landscape crew workers. The food there is Spanish/Mexican. Jon enjoys a piping hot tamale. I would have tried one but it was not the vegetarian variety. I settle for half a PBJ and a Gatorade. Al, also passes on the cuisine eating a Cliff Bar. Soon we are back underway,

Summit to Budd Lake 33 Miles
This section is unchanged, which some will consider unfortunate given as it is arguably the toughest leg of the route. A relentless succession of sizable rollers serves to take a severe toll on the riders energy level. There is no let up until the control at Budd Lake is finally reached. Additionally, there is generally a head wind. True to form the wind is present today. I notice it most just as I crest the top of a hill. It feels like my brakes are rubbing holding me back. The miles are ticking off quite slowly. About half way to the control Al says that he is considering abandoning the ride at the Budd Lake control. It's kind of a deja vu moment as he made a similar statement on this section last month. I tell him that he doesn't have to decide now, he can wait until we get there. He says he would like to call for a ride in advance so he doesn't have to wait too long to be picked up. Jon encourages him to give it a few more miles before making the call. He agrees with this plan. The topic never comes up again. As we near the control Jon amps up the watts dropping me on one of the bigger hills. I'm feeling beat up and do not even give a thought to chasing him. Al has fallen back a bit so I wait up for him at the next turn which is about a mile from the control. We roll in together both of us happy to be at the Dunkin Donuts for a much needed rest. Jon is waiting for us at a table inside. After a coffee and bagel I, for one, am feeling much better. Al seems to have recovered as well and prepares to continue. I take a photo of Jon and Al outside the store as we prepare to leave. The wind chill is making us feel quite cold.  As the photos show no one has a happy face at this moment.

Budd Lake to Hampton 25 miles
This leg of the route is unchanged to the point the information control is reached at Changewater. With rested legs we undertake the few remaining hills which come about right away, then the terrain eases for awhile. It is a short 17 miles to the info control. We make pretty good time having no knee breaking climbs to contend with. We find ourselves in front of the church at Changewater. We provide the required information on the brevet card and prepare to follow the new eight mile section of the course to Hampton. I had fully intended to come out and ride this new stretch while waiting for RUSA to approve the revisions. Unfortunately, with the distance from home, and the relentless bad weather, I wasn't able to get it done. So, the three of us would be test pilots venturing into the unknown. I'm hoping the roads I selected using Google maps are at least paved. Jon decided at this point that he would pick up the pace to the finish as he needed to be done at a specific time. Knowing we would not keep up we say goodby. I was glad that he could ride with us for as long as he did. Getting back to NYC on a Sunday night is no easy deal. Immediately after leaving the church we hit Forge Hill Road which is quite a climb. I would estimate at least a 15% grade. Fortunately it is not terribly long and it is nicely paved. As an added bonus it has some scenic value. It's a keeper. We watch as Jon motors up ahead. I marvel at his climbing ability and energy level. The rest of the route to the Hampton control is mostly flat, or downhill, and features nicely maintained roads. Jon is still at the Tiger Mart/Dunkin Donuts when we pull in. He is just preparing to leave so we say goodbye once again not expecting to catch back up to him on the next section. Al and I spend a leisurly half-hour refueling and resting at this control. There are still some big climbs in front of us and I admit to feeling sub-par at this point. None the less we end the break and depart headed for the town of High Bridge.

Hampton to Bedminster 24 Miles
This section of the course is unchanged. It features some flat terrain passing by the Spruce Run Resevoir then gets pretty gnarly for about seven miles after that. I'm not feeling tip-top on the first few miles and am worried about the big climbs. I've had some leg twinges, which for me is genrerally a warning that leg cramps are not far off. We turn onto Route 31 for a few hundred feet before turning off on Creegar Road, which is a short steep kicker. We then descend into the small town of High Bridge. We pass through the downtown area and head for the biggest climb of the day, which is Wilson Ave. I'm nervous about getting up this hill. If I'm going to cramp this will be where it will happen. As I make the turn and see the steep pitch to the roadway I drop into my lowest gear. My intention is to climb very conservatively. Al gets ahead of me and is climbing at a faster pace. I block out the impulse to try and stay with him. I have to let him go and concentrate on keeping myself together. I make it up about halfway when my left inner thigh cramps up. I manage a quick dismount and immediately begin walking. The muscle continues to cramp while I'm walking up the hill. I see Al make it over the top of the hill as I continue my painful trek up. Once I am almost to the top I remount and begin spinning in my easiest gear, the muscle finally relaxes. I start down the descent knowing full well that the road pitches up once again shortly. Herman Thou Road is the second phase of this climb. Same road, different name, similar elevation profile as the first. I have the same trouble with cramping only this time it's less painful when I walk up the last section of the hill. I take that as a good sign. After another descent I meet up with Al. He's been waiting at the next turn. There are still two more climbs ahead of us. Neither as severe as the twin hills of Wilson and Herman Thou, but substantial enough, especially given my situation. We quickly make the turn onto Haytown Road, the first of the two remaining hills. As soon as I hit the upgrade I gear way down spinning up the hill as gently as I can. I make it to the top without cramping. Next up Cokesburry Road, the final climb of the day. I use the same technique and have a similar cramp free experience. I now know there is nothing else ahead that can hurt me. With plenty of time still in hand I'm feeling confident of a finish. The remaining few flat miles to the control pass by quickly. We pull into the Burger King just as daylight is leaving us. A short break for coffee and apple pie and we are back on the road for the final leg.

Bedminster to Hillsborough 16 Miles
The roads on this final stretch are unchanged to the town of Raritan. From the Burger King control we head south on Country Club Road for seven miles into the small train station town of Raritan. We pass by the Quick Check Market, which was the former start/finish control.  The revised route then continues south along the river into Hillsborough Township.  With the exception of a couple of small hillocks the terrain is mostly flat to the end.  I'm feeling fully recovered and am pulling us along at a nice pace. It is fully dark and there is little traffic.  The temperature is falling, but I'm still feeling comfortable. There are only a few turns and a few miles left to the finish.  I check the time noticing we have a chance to finish in under 13 hrs.  I tell Al I would like to pick it up a bit for these last few miles.  He admits to feeling pretty beat up but agrees to give it a try.  I take the front and notch it up maintaining between 19-22mph.  I'm surprised at how good I'm feeling despite working hard I'm in no distress.  Al hangs in on my rear wheel right to the finish where we pull up in front of the Pizza Shop.  Our finish time is 12hr 58min which is more than a half hour faster than our time last month using the old course.  Inside Joe's Pizza we collect Jon's brevet card which he left in the care of the counter guy and order a couple of slices.  Jon finished in 12hrs picking up almost an hour on us in the last 40 miles.  I send a text message to my wife letting her know we finished and I'll be home soon arriving the same way I left.......on my bike.

Epilouge

Overall I was pleased with the newly revised NJ Transit route.  I think the spacing of the big hills was better and the removal of the ridiculously difficult Ludlow Station climb was a plus.  Although I wasn't able to make all the hills today without walking I will on a good day.  The cramping was disturbing but I'm prone to it when I haven't trained enough.  It might have helped if I kept up with the Endurolyte tablets that I normally take at each control.  I took two at the first control at Summit and accidentally dropped the container spilling all the pills on the ground.  None the less, I will make an effort to ramp up the training and get back to consistent commuting.  Hopefully, there won't be too many more winter storms to contend with.

Eleven down - one to go.  Stay tuned! 

 

January R12 - New Jersey Transit 200k Permanent

Al by the frozen Watchung Lake



Yours truly - same location - wishing I had my mittens

This month's ride would serve two different purposes. One would be to fulfill my January R12 requirement. The second would be to erase the scar from an old DNF for my friend Al which occurred on this same route. The DNF was a result of a crash which happened 110 miles into the ride. Al and I were pace-lining on a slight downgrade when he suddenly went down. He suffered a concussion and was unable to finish. After seeing he was in the hands of capable EMT's I went on to finish the remaining 15 miles alone. That was almost three years ago and it was Al's first attempt at a 200k. I knew it bothered him that he didn't get to finish it. When I learned of a favorable weather forecast for Thursday, which coincided with a day off from work. I contacted Al asking if he wanted to take another crack at it. He quickly agreed and we were on for an 8:00am start.

Raritan to Summit 28 Miles
It was a chilly 20F at 8:00am in the quaint little town of Ratitan. We grab a cup of coffee at the Quick Check Market while we were getting our brevet cards documented. We get underway about seven minutes late which doesn't really bother me since we have 13 1/2 hours to finish the 126 mile course. Little did I realize how close it would be.

The early miles are fairly easy as the route heads north to Bedminster then turns to the east towards our first control in the town of Summit. The initial six miles are on Country Club Road which features a few small to medium rolling hills. The little hills help me warm up my core and legs. However, after a few miles my fingertips are quite cold. After the turn onto Washington Valley Road the terrain is fairly flat for the next sixteen miles. Even though the sun is starting to warm me up my fingers are going numb. As we pass by Watchung Lake I notice it is frozen solid. I can't resist the photo opportunity. We stop for just long enough to take a photo and push on. After about three miles we come upon Sky Top Drive, the first substantial climb of the day. This is a reasonably gentle three mile incline to the Top of the Watchung Mountain Ridge. I usually enjoy it, but today I absolutely love it as it serves to totally warm me including my fingertips, which were wavering between stinging cold and numb. Once to the top we are just a few turns to the control at the East Side Deli. We arrive feeling quite comfortable and with plenty of time in hand. I get my card signed, have a Clif Bar, a Gatorade and we head on to the west.

Summit to Budd Lake 33 Miles
This section wins the award for the most relentless leg of the course. There is no major climb just a seemingly never ending succession of large rollers. One would think that a town named Summit which is atop the Watchung Mountain Ridge would be at a higher elevation than a town named Budd Lake, but that is not the case. Budd Lake is 700 feet higher in elevation. The first of the big rollers start coming as we go through Madison, Chatham Township and Mendham. Some are more tolerable than others, but all them serve to tap the energy reserves. Al begins to falter a bit, starting to fall back. Having ridden with him for a fairly long time I can tell he is suffering. He really hasn't trained specifically for this type of ride. After all I did just contact him four days before. About halfway through the segment I start looking at the time. At our current pace we will make the control in time, but there will not be much of a cushion. While in my opinion this part of the route is the most punishing there is still much climbing to be done further on. At the top of one of the hills Al mentions that he doesn't see how he can finish. I sense he is regretting his decision to take the ride on. In the last mile to the control he asks if this is the town with a train station. Time for a white lie. I tell Al there is none. The truth is I really don't know if they have one, but I do know they don't have one on the line that runs past our starting point. I don't want Al to pack it in here. I feel he still has a chance at finishing. We arrive at the control 45 minutes ahead of the closing time. I'm also feeling the effects of the previous thirty miles. I will need to take in calories and fluids before moving on, but time is something we need to keep on a eye on. We spend about 20 minutes refreshing ourselves at Dunkin Donuts before continuing our western trek.

Budd Lake to Washington 23 Miles
The first few miles of the leg feel the same as what we just finished, but then things soften. There are still some hills later on but more of the kinder gentler variety. I'm hoping we can pick up a little time on this segment as we have no room for error. A flat tire or other mechanical issue will be a show stopper. Al is making the good effort to pick up the pace a bit. I'm sure he is still hurting but trying hard not to show it. Initially, he was following along on the cue sheet, but is now focusing all his effort on riding. Which is fine. I'm fairly comfortable navigating us around the route. We roll through Schooley's Mountain, fortunately we are already at the top and only need to descend into the valley and the town of Califon. We stop briefly in Changewater at the information control which is a church sign. At the outskirts of Washington we climb Skyview Drive, a short but steep little kicker. Finally we hit Route 31 and roll on that for a mile into the control at the Bagelsmith Market. We did pick up a little time as we are 48 minutes ahead of the closing time. I suggest to Al that we be brief as the next section is only 11 miles long and features two major climbs. We keep it to about 20 minutes including setting up for night riding. Sunset is in about a half hour.

Washington to Hampton 11 Miles
After only a mile of warm up on Route 31 we turn off onto Buttermilk Ridge Road. This is a fairly substantial climb, but not the worst we will be facing. Al climbs right with me as we both opt for our small triple chain ring to grind our way up. Once on top there is a long descent as we drop into the quiet little town of Asbury. After another two miles we approach the toughest climb on the route, Ludlow Station Road. The steepness of this grade has forced almost every rider who has passed this way to walk, for at least a portion of it. I only know of two who have managed to stay on the entire way. We are in full darkness but I can still manage to see the wall of the hill up ahead. I've been meaning to get my bike in for a tune-up as the chain will not stay on my 27T cog. All day it has been jumping off onto the 24T. The bike sat idle in the garage for much of a year while I rode the recumbent known as Mellow Yellow. I start up the hill in the small ring, which also requires some finesse to get the chain to drop on to. I get about 20 percent up thinking that maybe I can make it all the way, joining the ranks of the select few who have done so. It doesn't take long for that dream to fade as I find a driveway to bail into and clip out. I start the trudge up, which is almost as hard as riding. I see Al just behind using his two foot gear as well. When we reach a less severe section near the top of the hill we remount and continue on. There is only one more, not so bad, climb left before the control. I look down at my computer to check the mileage and notice it is not registering. It was working fine all day but now it is displaying 0 miles per hour and the odometer appears to be stopped at 85 miles. It must have stopped working shortly after leaving the Washington control but I didn't notice until now. From a practical standpoint we can't afford to take any time to diagnose and rectify the problem. I'm figuring I can navigate the rest of the route without a working odometer given my familiarity with it. But, on the other hand almost any navigational error would prove to be fatal. We climb the final bump with Al hanging right in there with me. From here it is a flat three mile roll into the control which is the Tiger Mart/Dunkin Donuts by I-78 in Hampton. We arrive 18 minutes before the closing time. The course has taken a toll on the both of us. It takes about five minutes to get documented and we spare a few minutes for a fast beverage. Al has not mentioned wanting to pack it in since the one time in Budd Lake. He's making every effort to stay ahead of the clock, and appears determined to finish. I've ridden with him long enough to know that when he decides he wants it he'll get it done.

Hampton to Bedminster 25 Miles
We depart the Tiger Mart with just a few minutes left in hand. To make matters worse after a few miles of gentle terrain passing by the Spruce Run Reservoir we will be dealing with some major climbing. I tell Al we need to somehow find a second wind on this stretch to make it. We tackle the first easy miles quickly. We turn onto busy route 31 having to make a quick left onto a steep upgrade, Creager Road. We catch a break in the traffic and grind up the steep climb. We then have a long descent into the town of High Bridge, which does have a train station on the Raritan line. Al makes no mention of it as we pass right by the depot crossing the tracks. We wend our way through the small downtown section of High Bridge on our way to the killer climb which is Wilson Ave. Just outside of town we make the right turn onto the hill. It pitches up quickly getting steeper as it goes up. I select my easiest functioning gear and grind up about halfway remaining in the saddle. After my legs really start to tire I stand for a bit and then resume the seated position. This is a tough hill to take on at mile 106. Once at the top it drops down for a bit. I don't see Al behind me, but am confident he is somehow getting up the hill. I descend conservatively in the dark as the road surface is not the best. At the bottom of the descent the road starts up again under a new name; Herman Thou Road. I wonder if Mr Thou and Mr Wilson are aware of all the pain caused to cyclists by the roadways that bear their names. It's kind of a crazy thought, but I am tired so it's acceptable, at least to me. After the climb and subsequent equally conservative descent. I reach a stop sign intersection where the cue sheet has us making a left and then right. I wait there for Al. In a few minutes he appears by my side and we continue. With the two turns complete we find ourselves on Haytown Road which unfortunately is another substantial climb. Once at the top we descend for what seems like a very long way arriving at another stop sign. I know by memory that this is Cokesburry Road a major climb. But, the good news is it is the last serious climb on the route. We grind up it together, but ever so slowly. It takes quite awhile to reach the turn off to Bissell Road which for the first time in awhile is more downhill than up. I've not been bothering to check the time during the hilly parts as I figured there is nothing much we could do to change anything. Once we are on flat ground I will calculate what we need to do to make it to the control in time. After descending Bissell we turn right on Rockaway Road which runs along the river. We are headed down stream so the terrain is now in our favor. We run this for the next two miles and then deal with a few smaller hills on Femely Road. After which we knock off two more flat miles and then make the turn onto Burnt Mills Road. From here it is a four mile run to the control on all flat road. I do the math and tell Al that we need to average at least 15 miles per hour for the next four miles to arrive 15 minutes before the closing time. I put what I have left into the pedals and take the lead. Al is right on my wheel. I can't tell how fast I'm going with my non-working computer but my guess is about 17mph. Not great, but it is night and I am tired so it will have to do. After about two miles my Dinotte headlight goes out. The battery has run down. I have a spare one in my pack but can't take the time to change it now. I ask Al to take the lead which he does. He holds the pace I was keeping and I follow behind a little to the left to use his light to see ahead. We arrive at the control 18 minutes before the cut off. Our control here is a Burger King. We need to order something so we have a printed, time stamped receipt. I gamble that it can't take very long to get a piece of apple pie so I order that and coffee which is self serve. Al duplicates my order. Pie and receipt in hand I sit at a table for about one minute wolfing down the warm dessert. Then I take my coffee outside with me to change my light battery. With the new battery in place we start the final 6.5 miles to the finish.

Bedminster to Raritan 6.5 Miles
We have about 30 minutes to work with. There are no hills larger than small rollers which won't slow us much. On the other hand it is night and there are three highway intersections with long traffic lights. One of which can take up to three minutes. We make a solid effort at a brisk pace. At least it feels fast to me, but I don't have a working speedometer. Whatever it is it will have to do. We are both right together and I'm impressed with Al's cadence. He is managing a fast spin on these final miles. On one of the little rollers it was all I could do to stay up with him. Unbelievably my headlight goes out again. Al agrees to take the front again. My spare battery apparently was not charged up very well which is another stupid mistake on my part. When we hit the first of the three highway intersections I check the time. We have a 1.5 miles left and close to fifteen minutes. We should make it. Upon pulling into the control we lay up the bikes and rush in to get documented. I grab a bag of chips on the way to the register with Al following suit. Fortunately, there is no line and we quickly have documentation showing us in six minutes before the cut off. I hear a familiar voice behind me and turn to see my wife. She was following the Tweets I'd been posting to Twitter throughout the day and decided to surprise me by meeting us at the finish. It just doesn't get any better than that.

Epilouge
I never remember being happier at the finish of a ride. I'm actually happier for Al's accomplishment than I am for having gotten my January R12 on the record. I felt if he had not finished it would be a sour experience for him. After a number of years trying to recruit him into randonneuring he was just now starting to get a true appreciation for it. It's hard for anyone to understand this type of riding until they have a finish under their belt. Al now has two. With hopefully, many more to follow.

Things I've learned while undertaking the R12 this year is that I've become too casual with preparation. Starting the ride with bike and equipment in top working order is a key element to successful randonneuring. The last two rides I've had to work through various problems. I later discovered that my malfunctioning computer was because of my new Dinotte headlight. One of the cardinal rules of brevets is to not use anything you haven't tested on a long ride before. The new light somehow interfered with the wireless computer and I didn't know it would happen. Also, I wasn't counting on the battery life to be so much shorter than that of my former light. Worst of all starting a tough ride with wonky gears is just stupid.

In addition, I'm giving some thought to softening my permanent route. Since many permanents are undertaken during the winter season, when we are not as well trained, it seems foolish to feature one with 8500 feet of climbing. I've reviewed the maps and have a modified route in mind that will take out the short extremely hilly leg from Washington to Hampton. In addition, the Washington control can be removed eliminating over two miles of riding on a busy highway. The third bonus to the change is a relocate of the start/finish closer to home. Preferably, at a spot that has more available parking then the busy train station town of Raritan. I'll be working on this over the coming months. Stay tuned!

Ten down Two to go!

December R12 Ride - PBP - with a twist!

Welcome to December in the wonderful eastern US. This has been one of the coldest months I can remember. Every weekend has just been insufferably cold, wet, or both. As the end of the month neared I was extremely nervous about getting this ride in. My friends Paul and Jon managed to get their December R12 requirement fulfilled on the second Saturday of the month. Originally, we had hoped to all ride together on the Sunday of that weekend. But, the forecast called for freezing rain, snow, or both. I encouraged them to take advantage of the dry day on Saturday, even though I was obligated to work. Unfortunately, I would not be able to join them. I was glad they decided to go on Saturday as freezing rain did fall on that Sunday morning. The conditions would not have lent themselves to a long ride, or any road ride for that matter. I targeted the following Sunday for my ride. Paul put me together with another rider who was scheduled on the same day so we would both have company. A major snow storm hit the night before dashing that opportunity. I waited somewhat anxiously as the days went by for my opportunity to present itself. Finally with just a few days left in the month I noticed a stunning forecast for Sunday December 27th. The temperature range was predicted to be 32F - 48F with some sun. That sounded like a winner to me. I decided to use the PBP route again as my friend Paul, the route owner, suggested the openness of the course should have allowed any residual snow to melt. As the day neared my friend Al agreed to join me. He has yet to finish a 200k, although he has started a couple of them with me.

Now for the twist in the plot. I decided to give the ride a try on my Salsa Caseroll upright in lieu of Mellow Yellow. I've been doing some commuting, and other rides, on my DF bikes for a couple of months, but I still considered Mellow Yellow my brevet bike. None the less I've had this overpowering urge to try a long ride on the Salsa. I was quite nervous about my ability to ride this bike 129 miles given that my longest distance on it year to date is 40 miles. Even the night before as I lay in bed waiting to fall asleep I considered changing my mind and taking the recumbent. Once morning arrived I stayed true to my plan and loaded the Salsa in the car and headed for the start. No turning back now.

While waiting at the starting control, the Dunkin Donuts in Princeton Junction, another rider rode in. It was not Al. I recognized Christine from our local rando rides. She was also doing the permanent to keep her R12 going. Al arrived a few minutes later. We agreed to ride as a group. We had coffee then the three of us pushed off towards the first control in Belmar. The sun was just starting to come up as we set out on the quiet streets heading southeast. There was a light to medium tail wind. The temperature, in the thirty's, was quite tolerable. We made steady progress for the first 15 miles, then I rolled through some broken glass causing a flat on the rear. With Chris and Al's help the offending glass shard was removed. The hole in the tire was large enough that we decided to use a boot. We inserted a new tube, re-pressured with a quick fill, then struggled but succeeded in getting the rear wheel back on. Off we go again smoothly sailing along through the New Jersey countryside. After another fifteen miles I felt the rear tire getting soft. I stopped to pump it up a bit hoping the leak was a slow one and we could make the control in Belmar before addressing the issue further. Unfortunately, that plan went out the window when after about a mile I felt the rim against the pavement. Flat tire change number #2! We could find nothing puncturing the tire, but there was a slice in the tube. I assumed it was a faulty seam and replaced it with my last spare tube. Back underway we soon pass through Wall Township and approach the outskirts of Belmar. In the final mile to the control I notice the rear tire feeling wonky. Sure enough it is almost completely flat. Again! I make it into the control, the Dunkin Donuts on Ocean Ave, and pump the tire using a mini-pump. I can hear air leaking out rather rapidly. I am telling Christine that basically I think I'm screwed unless I can find a nearby bike shop that is open. A couple of guys standing outside the DD overhear the conversation and inform me of a bike shop 1/2 mile away that is open right now. Chris calls the shop to confirm they will help me. They agree to help and she tells them I am on my way. We agree to try and meet up at the next control in New Egypt. After pumping as much air into the tire as I can I set off for DJ's Cycles. Once there they immediately put my bike on the stand. Given that I can't spare the time of any more flat tires I ask them to please just replace the tube and tire with brand new. The whole job takes about a half hour. While I'm waiting I adjust some layers of clothes, as the temperature has really come up to almost 50F. I eat a peanut butter sandwich which I had in my pack and procure some water from the market next door. After paying the bill I head out to resume the ride from the Belmar control.

Passing the Dunkin Donuts I continue south on Ocean Blvd. After a couple of miles the route turns to the west. I immediately feel a strong head wind after making the turn. Basically, I am mostly into the wind for the next thirty-five miles. There are a couple of minor climbs on this section which I thoroughly enjoyed because they provided some wind block. Otherwise it was a relentless grind all the way to the control. About half-way through I had to have a gel and energy bar to keep turning the pedals. Most of the time my forward progress was between 12 and 14 miles per hour. Only occasionally did I see the computer register a speed of 15 or above. I felt a profound sense of relief when I reached Main Street in New Egypt. I was even more elated when I spied Al and Christine at the Wawa control. They said they hadn't been there very long, so I grabbed coffee and a snack before heading out with them for the next stretch to Pemberton.

The wind would continue on this section but fortunately it was only a fifteen mile run to the control. We pass through the Fort Dix/Maguire Military installation and into the town of Browns Mills. We are rolling smoothly. My new rear tire appears to have ended my mechanical difficulties. We pass through New Lisbon and Pemberton Heights at which point we turn to the north. The control, another Wawa is quickly reached after the turn. We are now at mile 95. The total route distance at 129. A quick coffee is all I need. We are soon off to continue our northerly trek towards the next stop in Cranbury.

The wind is far more tolerable in this direction. In addition, there are a few small hillocks to break up the terrain a bit. I enjoy small hills or rolling terrain in the latter part of a longish flat ride. It feels good to work the legs a bit differently. I seem to gain energy and strength at a point when I should be tiring. I am also amazed that I've done this well on the upright bike. Frankly, I was in doubt that I would make it asking my wife to please be available in case I needed to be picked up off the route. I may wind up hurting for the next couple of days. But, at mile ninety I am feeling like King Kong. Also, I am impressed with my riding companions. Christine is a very confident and steady rider. She maintains a constant pace and appears to be in a comfortable zone all the time. As for Al, I am delighted he has made it this far. Long rides are not typically his cup of tea. He appears determined to finish this time. I have little doubt that he will. If he is doing any suffering he is keeping it to himself as I've not heard a single complaint. Darkness creeps up on us as we approach the small town of Chesterfield. Traffic is light, the weather is cooler, but quite tolerable, and we continue to make good time. We cross over I-195 just past Allentown. Then the NJ Turnpike just prior to Hightstown. Our next control is just six miles to the north. We cross US-130 and arrive at the pizza shop in Cranbury, which is the penultimate control. We decide to treat ourselves to a sit down meal. We enjoy slices of pizza and hot soup. The mood is jubilant as we all know the finish is but 7 short miles away and there is little that could prevent us from making it.

We step out of the Pizza shop into the chilly night air. It is starting to feel much colder. But, with just seven miles to the finish I'm not concerned. I've ridden in far colder this year. This short section is quite familiar to me as I've ridden through here literally hundreds of times. I don't bother turning my cue sheet as I could probably navigate these roads blindfolded. The cold is a bit more penetrating but given the short period of time I have to endure it I'm sure I can manage. Once I start smelling the barn I have trouble maintaining an easy pace. I always pour it on to finish quickly ending the ride on a high note. In the last few miles I kept distancing myself from my companions. I then back off, soft pedal for a bit, to let them catch up. We regrouped for the last time just a hundred yards from the Dunkin Donuts control. Pulling up in front at the same time. I'm feeling very pleased to have completed this ride overcoming the mechanical issues in the early miles and riding a bike I wasn't sure I could go the distance on. Christine was also happy to have gotten in the December R12 ride leaving only two remaining months for her. As for Al, although he was quite stoic about it he had to be thrilled to have completed his first 200k.

I definitely was sore and tired for a few days after the permanent. The muscle set used for upright riding is different from the recumbent. My quads and calves were very tender requiring a few days rest. I'm somewhat confused as to what to do going forward. The Adamo saddle has helped me make a come back to DF bikes, but I'm not sure it's a permanent solution I will try to continue commuting on the Salsa and the Trek Mountain Bike. The latter is now equipped with studded winter tires. Also, if I'm up to it I will try to complete January's R12 on the upright. Paul has a new permanent route approved. I've ridden some of the sections with him while testing the cue sheet for accuracy. The route features a nice mixture of terrain and scenery. I am very much looking forward to riding it.

Nine down - three to go. Stay tuned.

November R12 - Eight Down, Four to go!

The beach at Belmar, NJ

The month of November arrives on a Sunday this year, coinciding with day light saving time. Combine those two factors with a reasonable weather forecast and all forces seemed to be aligned to get the required monthly 200k in the books on the first day of the month. After numerous discussions with my friend Paul, and an equal amount of visits to the online weather sites we settled on the Princeton-Belmar-Princeton 200k. Since I have written two prior reports on this ride (Jul. '09, Sep. '09) I will not go into much detail this time.

The morning of the ride arrived with an extra hour added to the clock. The additional sleep was appreciated, as was the daylight which arrived at about 6:30am, one-half hour prior to our 7am scheduled start. The only problem was that it was most definitely raining. The forecast called for rain to end by 5am. While loading the car at 6am it was still raining steady. Fortunately, it was not a downpour. Additionally, the temperature was about 50F, which didn't feel too bad for the moment. However, I do remember a with rain and low fifties temps a few years back where I was absolutely soaked through and hypothermic. That is an experience I don't want to go through again. I make some changes to my choice of wardrobe to accommodate the possibility of spending at least some of the ride in the rain. I reason that wool base layers, wool jersey, wool socks, wool skull cap, full tights, full fingered gloves, and my Showers Pass rain jacket should keep me warm enough. The ability of wool clothing to keep one warm, even when wet, is a well known fact among randonneurs.

With all the last minute scrambling to prepare for different weather than expected we started out one-half hour later than our planned start time. It rains steadily, but never too heavy, for the first two hours. Then rains intermittently for the remaining miles to Belmar. The clothing worked well. I vacillated between comfortable and a tad too warm for the first one-third of the ride.

It was not raining upon leaving the beach at Belmar, so I strapped the rain jacket to my pack. The skies still spritz on us a few more times, but never heavy or long enough for me to put the jacket back on. The temperature stayed in the low to mid fifties for all of the day. I remained comfortable with my two wool top layers, tights, and full fingered gloves.

We wound our way smoothly along the route with variable winds, albeit light as well. I felt strong and was able to take a number of hearty turns at the front. Paul also took some good pulls mostly through the pine barrens area around the Fort Dix/Maguire military installation.

The skies remained overcast for almost the entire day. The only real appearance of the sun was about one-half hour before sunset at 4:30pm. By this time we were not far from Hightstown, which we had predicted to be the point we would have to switch to night riding gear. We stop a few miles before the town to use a port-o-john and take the opportunity to go into night mode. The sun sets just after we pass Hightstown en-route to the final control at Cranberry. An ATM stop takes care of our documentation and we are on to the finish. We arrive at 5:55pm for a total time of 10:55. If we were to adjust for the late start it would be 10:25.

Over a cup of coffee at the Dunkin Donuts we agree that although it didn't turn out to be the sunny 60F day predicted it worked out just fine. We were both happy we did the ride. The rest of the month is pressure free. My rides can be for the sheer pleasure of riding, or purposeful in commuting to work. No brevet cards or store receipts required, until December rolls around. Sooner or later, I expect this R12 quest will get tougher. I hope to be ready for that.

Four to go! Stay tuned!

Princeton - Belmar Princeton -200k Permanent. - October R12

Paul, owner of the permanent route prepares at the start in Princeton Junction

Paul sipping coffee, and Jon in background at Belmar.

Paul, displaying Oregon Randonneurs Jersey and Jon at Pemberton Wawa

The very Friday after my annual century ride I get an e-mail invitation from Paul and Jon to join them on the Princeton-Belmar-Princeton 200k Permanent. A second consecutive Sunday away from family was not an ideal situation, but the weather forecast looked favorable and I needed the ride to keep the R12 streak alive. The same route was used to secure my July R12 requirement, and was reported in detail here. Therefore, I will keep this report somewhat brief covering the highlights rather than the blow by blow account.

On Sunday morning at 6:45am I am sipping coffee in the Princeton Junction Dunkin Donuts waiting for my two friends to arrive. It is dark and a very nippy 40 degrees outside. They arrive a few minutes prior to the 7am start. Unfortunately, a large group of young cheerleaders proceeded their arrival. It takes quite awhile to get through the long line and get brevet cards documented. We start out about ten minutes past the planned starting time, but no matter the course is flat. We should not have any time pressure on us throughout the day. We set out into the crisp morning air as daylight is just beginning to break. Paul is fresh off the Last Chance 1200k so Jon and I get him to give us a run down on the ride. We listen intently to his story as we pedal smoothly towards the first control at Belmar on the Jersey Shore. The captivating tale of Paul's adventure in Colorado keeps us occupied until the outskirts of Wall Township, just prior to the control. We arrive at another very busy Dunkin Donuts on Ocean Blvd. The day is warming up quite nicely. We all remove some layers for the next leg to New Egypt.

As we ride alongside the ocean heading to the south I come across a guy riding a Bacchetta recumbent. We talk for a minute about the bikes. It's always a novelty to see another 'bent rider in New Jersey. I wish him well as our route takes us away from the ocean front. There are a few hilly spots on this section. Nothing really to speak about, but I realize that I am feeling kind of beat up. Since the century last weekend I've commuted to work all but one day, and rode a somewhat hilly 60 miles on Thursday. I'm struggling a little to match the pace of my companions. The small bumps feel larger than they actually are. None the less we manage the 35 miles to the New Egypt Wawa in relatively good time. A small bag of pretzels, oatmeal cookies and coffee recharges me a bit.

Soon enough we are off to the next stop, just 15 miles to Pemberton. Our heading is south right through the Fort Dix/MacGuire military complex. Usually I'm fairly strong on this type of terrain. It is routine for me to take a few strong pulls, but I'm just barely hanging on. I'm glad for the company of friends, but I feel bad that I'm not contributing more. To add to my misery some of the miles on this section are into an increasing north/west wind. None the less we arrive at the big super Wawa in Pemperton for a quick break. All I need here is a bathroom and a small coffee which I quickly procure while getting my brevet card validated by the clerk. When I return outside to the bike a customer approaches me, he's looking at Mellow Yellow, and he says, in a rather demanding tone: "Tell me the advantages of riding this type of bicycle." Now, I'm not really in the mood, nor do I have the time to go into a long dissertation on the merits of recumbent riding. So I simply say: "See the big comfy seat on this bike? Now, look at the tiny little seats on those bikes." I point to my friends uprights. "Which would you rather sit on all day?" To my surprise he points to the upright bikes, obviously looking to start some kind of debate. "Suit yourself." I say, as I proceed to totally ignore the guy until he walks away.

Back on the road we are headed pretty much to the north to the penultimate control in Cranburry. I'm still feeling pretty tired struggling with the wind, which comes in and out of play. When we wander a bit toward the west we feel it more than due north. If we jog a bit to the east it gets easier. Paul and Jon continue to ride strong, although Paul admits to feeling somewhat tired. We pass through Allentown and Hightstown before arriving in the quaint village of Cranburry.

We decide to use an ATM to document our passage rather than stop at the designated Pizza shop to save time. Paul, who happens to be the route owner knows exactly where one is, just one block off the route. ATM receipts in hand we turn right into the west by north west wind for the final 7 miles. The mental boost of knowing we are close to the end takes the edge off the difficulty factor. We grind our way through without complaint. We pull into the DD at the finish in 10hr 14min. Not surprisingly, somewhat slower than my prior time on this route. My disappointment is tempered by the fact that my 7th R12 qualifying ride is now in the books, and, despite feeling a little rough I did enjoy the day on the roads in the company of good friends. I make a mental note to take a couple of rest days soon. Hopefully, that will bring the snap back to the legs.

The five remaining R12 rides should no doubt be the hardest with the weather rapidly turning colder and the hours of daylight shrinking. Stay tuned!!