The Nuts and Bolts

Here are all the basics you'll need to know about the upcoming Garden State Double Century. Most of the info hasn't changed from my "Announcing..." post back in February, but I'll go ahead and restate the basic facts and provide some additional details on a few subjects:

Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 - No rain date!!!

Time: 5:15am SHARP!!! Please arrive early enough to sign in and get yourself together. The ride WILL leave the parking lot at 5:15am sharp - we need to make good use of all the available daylight to insure everyone gets back to Mercer County Park safely before dark.

Location: Mercer County Park, West Windsor, NJ, Ice Skating Rink parking lot. A map and directions to the meeting point can be found on Google Maps at the following link - http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=40.258806,-74.636006&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=40.258733,-74.635743&sspn=0.001949,0.002328&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=18
It appears that port-a-potties will be available at an adjacent ball field about 1/4 mile away. There are indoor bathrooms with running water less than a mile away at the marina, but it's likely they won't be unlocked at the time we'll be gathering in the morning.

Ride Leader: Yep, still me - Ron Anderson - rwanderson@optonline.net 609-731-9894

Ride Pace: Ron & wife, Barbara will lead at a "B" pace. We aim to keep an average speed between 15-16 mph. If we keep the solid "B" pace and limit our time off the bike to no more than 2 hours, we'll get the group back to Mercer County Park before dark with just a little extra time cushion. If anyone wants to ride at a faster pace, you are welcome to do so - just be aware that you'll be on your own as far as navigation goes. In fact, I encourage faster riders to go on ahead if they like, and form "groupettos" to work together and help each other through the ride. Due to time constraints and available daylight, no rides slower than B pace will be offered.

Course: HaHa! This subject calls for a separate post! Putting this course together has been a labor of love for me, and as such I'd like to give it some special attention with it's own post. For the moment I will rehash what I stated in an earlier entry: 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.

Entry Fee: There is NO entry fee for the GSDC, however you MUST be a Princeton Free Wheeler member to attend the ride. It was decided when I first presented the idea for the double to the PFW board at their February meeting that club membership should be required due to insurance concerns. So, it shall be... If you are not already a PFW member, you may sign up on-line at Active.com at: http://www.active.com/page/Event_Details.htm?event_id=1665494&assetId=dd69eb2d-5825-4e19-9836-2bc0f7101317 or download a membership application here: http://www.princetonfreewheelers.com/join.htm
Individual one year membership is $20 - $30 for a family.

Support: No support will be provided at the GSDC! Riders are expected to be self-sufficient! The course is routed to provide ample opportunities to purchase food and drink along the way. Stores, delis, etc. will be noted on the cue sheet. Riders should carry enough cash to purchase supplies (a debit card, in case of unforeseen trouble isn't a bad idea, either.) Make sure you carry enough waterbottles and/or a Camelback to keep you hydrated throughout the long day.

No SAG will be available at the GSDC! There will be opportunity to bail out at the halfway point, where the course passes by Mercer County Park to begin the southern loop, however should you decide to quit before or after that point, I have no one lined up to retrieve riders from the course. Riders should be reasonably sure of their ability to complete the distance before they clip in in the morning. I urge everyone to have some sort of contingency plan to be picked up (family, friend, etc.) should they find themselves unable to complete the full distance. If it should become absolutely necessary, I will be available to pick up a DNF rider or two after the ride is completed, but this will certainly involve an extended wait for the rider needing rescue.

Cue Sheets: All riders will be expected to carry and use the cue sheet. The course will NOT be marked on the road at all. It is customary that many (most?) PFW rides do not use a cue sheet, but over a route of this distance I consider it a necessity. I've made every effort to ensure the the cue sheet is complete and accurate. Some people may prefer a more "minimalist" cue sheet, but I'm of the school of "more information is better." I will make the cue sheet available to all GSDC riders 10-14 days prior to the ride via e-mail. You will be free to re size it, change the font, laminate it (which I highly recommend,) study it, memorize it - in short do with it what you like, as long as you carry it with you and use it on ride day! The cue sheet will be available as a Word document (.doc) formatted to fit nicely in a small size BarMap cue sheet holder. I will have copies of the cue sheet available at the start.

1/2 Double Option: I'd like to invite riders who aren't quite up to riding the full 201 miles to come out and join us for the northern loop of the double. Just like the full length Garden State Double Century, the northern loop starts and finishes at Mercer County Park (the Ice Skating Rink parking lot,) but comes in at a more manageable 98.8 miles. Come ride a century with us (almost) and still have the afternoon to yourself! The northern loop is a lovely ride in it's own right (if I may say so...) and although it does circle through Hunterdon County, the climbing is not too severe.

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I expect to post additional entries to the blog about the route, and ride safety over the next week. In the meantime, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have at rwanderson@optonline.net. If you'd like your question answered in a public forum, so that all can see, you may post your question at the "Comments" section of this blog.