Update #1

*** Update 8/13 ***
Mile ~460.0: (just before Herdon controle #14): There is bridge construction that has closed the road to car traffic.  But if you dismount and walk around the barriers and construction equipment, the construction is passable by foot.

*** Original Post ***
The cuesheet has been updated to Draft 7, dated 8/12/12, with numerous corrections and clarifications from a scouting trip this past weekend.

Course Notes:

-Mile 0.0 (Start controle): A single, small, drop bag will be collected at the start from each rider.  This single bag for each rider will be transported to each of the overnight controles, and then returned to the finish.  You will be given a SPOT GPS tracker which you can strap to your bike, place in a bag, or in your back pocket.  Friends and family will be able to monitor your progress at this link:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0JXj7NgpxYWaQgJcA8DlIkgTYPyi0UShe
I will be at the hostel on Thursday night around 7PM, for early sign-in.  Breakfast will be served starting around 3AM.

-Mile 68.7: This is a special instruction to get you across the Delaware River via the Rt 80 pedestrian bridge.  You will be traveling to the end of a road, and then getting on a sidewalk that leads to the pedestrian walkway.  The "Walk Bike" sign is easy to miss, and I usually forget and end up riding across [wink wink].

-Mile 82.1: As noted on the cuesheet, there is very steep and rough descent that is cratered with potholes and rotten, crumbling pavement.  You will need to slowly pick your way around these hazards.  Please take extra special caution here.  (This stretch of road is way overdue for some major repairs).

-Mile 100.2: As noted on the cuesheet, this is another rough patch of rotten, crumbling pavement.

-Mile 110.2: The road was ground down for resurfacing when I passed through here on Friday -- with a bit of luck, you might be treated to a fresh ribbon of blacktop.

Mile 116.9: You will be passing through Hawk's Nest, with several scenic overlooks on your left -- it's worthwhile to stop at one these, to check out the nice vista.

Mile 175.7: From this point until reach Milford, you will be traveling through the Endless Mountains region.  And as the name suggests, you will have a lot of up and down.  Many of the descents are very steep and twisty, which you should take with caution -- please don't go any faster than your guardian angel can keep up with.

Mile 213:0: Halstead overnight controle (#7):  There will be a sign in the lobby directing you to volunteer room, where you will collect your room key and drop bad and food will be served.  You should plan to be back out on the road no later than 4AM, which is about 1 hour after the closing time. The next controle (#8 in Nichols) is an untimed information controle.  So you have until controle #9 in Towanda to catch up on the time limit This gives you 6.5 hours to cover 70 miles, about a 10 MPH pace.  The terrain is relatively flat, as you follow along the Susquehanna River valley roads.

Mile 285.7: There is a nice bakery here that opens at 8AM, and they offer breakfast sandwiches.  There is also a cafe near by that opens at 9AM -- these are good sit-down options for food.  Note that this is in Towanda, about 2 miles after the official controle which is mini-mart.

Mile 311.7: After the controle in Canton, you will be headed into one of the toughest parts of the course on day 2 -- the profile doesn't show any large climbs, but you will have a challenging 15-mile stretch of steep, twisty, rollers that will constantly have you going up and down 200' at a time. Be sure to have your supplies topped off, as you head out into this area with limited services.  When you reach Blockhouse Rd in Liberty, you will be rewarded with a very nice stretch that trends down about 1% for next several miles.

Mile 435.9: Lewisburg overnight controle (#13): Follow the same procedures as you did before.  Once again, the next controle is an untimed info controle, to give you extra time to catch up on the time limit.  You should plan to leave the controle by 6AM, which is about 1 hour after the closing time.

Mile ~460.0: (just before Herdon controle #14): There is bridge construction that has closed the road to car traffic.  But if you dismount and walk around the barriers and construction equipment, the construction is passable by foot.

-Tom Rosenbauer
Eastern PA RBA
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