Announcing...

the inaugural edition of the Garden State Double Century!!!

First the basics:

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009

Start Time: 5:15am sharp!!!

Location: Mercer County Park, West Windsor, NJ, Ice Skating Rink parking lot

Ride Organizer / Leaders: PFW member and experienced randonneur Ron Anderson is organizing the event, and plans to lead a "B" paced group together with his wife / stoker Barbara.

Ride Pace: This will be a multi-paced ride. Ron & Barbara will lead at a "B" pace. We are seeking volunteers to lead B+ and A groups. Due to time constaints and available daylight, no rides slower than B pace will be offered.

Course: The ride starts and finishes at Mercer County Park, West Windsor, NJ. Tentative plans call for a northern loop to Frenchtown and Whitehouse Station followed by a southern loop deep into Burlington County, with a bailout option near the halfway point. Every effort is being made to put together a scenic, "rider friendly" course, with no gratuitous climbing. The main obstacle in this day will be simply the mileage, NOT the leg-breaking climbs.


The Garden State Double Century is being organized as a regular Princeton Free Wheeler weekend club ride (though on a grander scale than normal!) As such, there will be no entry fees, and minimal support will be available on course. Riders are expected to be self sufficient during the day, and reasonably sure of their ability to complete the course before sunset. The course will be routed so as to offer opportunities to purchase food and drink at regular intervals along the way. Cue sheets will be made available to all riders either by e-mail, or through this blog in advance of ride day. All riders will be expected to carry and use the cue sheet. Riders are required to be Princeton Free Wheeler members.

This here blog will be your central source for any and all information, and updates regarding the Garden State Double Century. Check back every so often, as I plan to make regular updates, and announcements as additional details of the ride are ironed out. If you have a question or comment you would like addressed in a public forum, feel free to contact me using the "Comments" section of this blog. You may also direct questions to the ride organizer, Ron Anderson by e-mail at rwanderson@optonline.net.

I'd also like to publicly acknowledge and thank John Powers and Neil Cherry, both PFW regulars and veteran distance riders, for helping me get my idea for a PFW double century off the ground. John served as my liason to the PFW organization, and Neil is a mapping / routing whiz, who continues to help me refine my original draft of the route. Both men helped me consider and address logistical issues that come with organizing a ride of this length. I'm sure their continued support will help me put together a memorable ride. Thanks go out, also, to the PFW Board, who listened to my idea at their February meeting and extended their encouragement and support.