Bears Den Details
Newsletter Special Edition: Bears Den Details
This is an update on the Brevets at Bears Den. The cottage at the Bears Den is a rustic cabin. There is no indoor plumbing. There is an ORF and a water spigot outside. A shower is available at the lodge. If you plan to overnight, bring your sleeping bag and mattress pad. Consider “roughing it” as part of PBP training. For more information visit: http://www.bearsdencenter.org/about.html. Other accommodation options can be found in Berryville and Winchester. The Battletown Inn in Berryville 8 mi. west has private rooms (phone 540-955-4100).
Lynn Ho is coordinating the catering and we are planning on grilling out on Sat night. Since purchasing and preparing of the food are dependent on who and how many are expected. Please RSVP to Lynn Ho by 6/26 so that we can make preparations. We can use some help with setup up and clean up.
The Brevets start at 8pm Friday with an overnight 200K. This ride will be along the Shenandoah River at twilight, followed by the full moon lit Fort Valley. After climbing Edinburg Gap we will have a late night ride up US 11 to an early morning dining experience at the Triangle Diner before finishing the final 20 odd miles back to the Bears Den in the early morning glow. I encourage anyone planning on the 90hr PBP start to do this brevet to experience the overnight riding. I would also like to make an attempt to ride semi-audax style with other riders.
On Saturday, the brevet starts at 8am, partly to allow most of the over nighters to finish and ride again if they wish. The route will go north along the Shenandoah thru Harpers Ferry to Sheppardstown to a turn around in Hancock. This out and back route will allow us to stop twice at the Sweet Shop in Sheppardstown.
Sunday’s Brevet with a 5am start, will head East on Snickersville Gap into the dawn. After stopping in Haymarket to control the ride turns West on US 55 to Marshall and then takes Cresthill Rd to Flint Hill before going on to Sperryville for a turn around control at Burgers and Things. After back tracking the riders will head up and over Chester Gap to Front Royal and along the Shenandoah River before the final climb back up to the Bears Den.
If you want a break from your bike, there are great hiking options. Check out the Bears Den website for more information.
Hope that everyone can find their ideal relaxing/training options in the above choices. I especially hope some of the new members that we haven’t seen yet, will find their way to the Bears Den. Parking for the brevets will be at the Parking lot at the corner of RT 7 and Blue Ridge Mountain Rd. This is also were the brevets will officially start.
We hope to see you there!
Matt Settle,RBA