The Longest Day, the ride

The ride

I love this ride and I'm a bit of a mileage junkie. I need miles but I need to keep them to a single day. Otherwise I'd be doing brevets, like Boston-Montreal-Boston or Paris-Brest-Paris, both 1200 km. There's nothing like saying that you've completed a double century as part of your list of riding accomplishments. One important thing to note, this ride is not 200 miles it's 208 miles. Those extra 8 miles can really beat you up mentally if you're not expecting them.

Mike Kruimer (retired CJBC President) likes to say that the Longest Day is "All down hill". That means it's more down hill than up hill. My team should average about 17 mph for the entire ride. Since a few of us are poor climbers that means we're slower on the first half than on the last half. There are no real killer climbs on the ride. There are one or two surprises such as a short nasty climb outside Newton, a short up hill roller before the Ranger Station and the bridge over the canal in Cape May. There are long climbs and as long as you keep a steady pace you should do fine. The descents are fast and it's easy to hit speeds in the 40's (mph) without too much effort. There are a few locations where traffic becomes a concern.

I have completed 7 Longest Days, 2001 @ 15.8 mph to 2004 @ 17.8 mph. 2005 we had too many people (9) and we finished late (8:45 PM) @ 17.5. This year we almost arrived late but a strong final kick on the last 24 miles brought us in at 8:28 pm. Here is my planning spreadsheet if you wish to download it. Or visit my planning page to work on line (requires Javascript). Try changing the average speed and see what it does. Or change the stop times. It's not perfect and I probably need to add a few more features but it mostly works. Here are links to the cue sheet. I hope to have the unofficial alternate route to the High Point monument. I've laid it out and now I need to add the turns and street names.

In the next section you'll read my view of the ride (exaggerated for a little levity). Understand that I enjoy the heat and the Pine Barrens. It is meant to be humorous so don't take anything as a critism or negative comment.

Oh 400 or Oh my God! How early?

We start out at 4 AM. It's usually cold, about 40 - 45F. It's also before sun rise so you'll need lights. Our SAG wagon follows us with the high beams on so we have a general view of what's around us. Bike lights are a must as they light up the road directly in front of you. I also find that a cheap pair of safety glasses are a good idea as it keeps junk out of your eyes. Mine are either clear or amber. Amber really works well. We need to be on the look out for bears (really), deer, and skunks. With enough noise the bears should run in the other direction (I've never seen a bear). The first section is a set of rollers which can be annoying as the road twists and turns so you'll loose the SAG wagon lighting your way from time to time. Once the sun is up you'll begin some of the climbs that are on this route. We tend to dump all our extra clothing and lights when we hit Newton (mile 26.8), our first stop. There are a few more climbs to come.

A point of interest is the tunnel at mile 33. It's makes a nice echo chamber. ;-)

Stanhope Near Rt 80

The worst section of traffic is in Stanhope (mile 37.8), near Rt 80. You want to get here as early as possible and avoid the initial part of a Saturday morning rush hour. The reason is that you must cross 2 lanes of traffic to use the left exit ramp. We tend to get there before 7 AM and that seems to work well. We just catch the beginning of the rush hour. The next challenge is the climb out of Netcong. You have the Rt 46 circle (with under passes) and then Rt 80. There seems to be a reasonable shoulder but the traffic is fast so it's not the most comfortable of places to ride. After you finish the climb there is the decent into Flanders. It's a great, fast, descent except for the traffic light mid-way (with a sewer grate where you'll be riding). The light is usually red (grrr!).

Chester to Bridgewater

The next section is Rt 206 between Chester and Bedminster and at 8 AM in the morning it's rush hour so you will be sharing the road with cars. The shoulder is reasonable though the traffic speeds are fast. After climbing out of Flanders the rollers start and they're great for pace lines. The nice thing about this section is that if you have a good team this is the first place to really pick up time. You can really get going here and pick up some of the time you might have lost on the climbs. This year (2008) they pave the Rt 206/Rt 287 underpass. The sewer grates are still there but the pavement is so much nicer!

Between Rt 287 and the Foothill Rd turn is pretty nice too. Once you're off Rt 206 in Bridgewater traffic drops off. It picks up again as you cross Rt 287 between Finderin and Manville. Watch the road as it's getting worse over the years. Again you'll be dealing with in 'town traffic' in Manville.

Manville/Griggstown Canal/Kingston/Plainsboro

Outside Manville pace lines can begin again. Especially when you get to Canal Rd. Just be careful as the roads are narrow. Welcome to the start of the flat lands. From here on to Cape May there are no long climbs (though there are a few surprise short steep climbs later). You'll pass through Millstone, Griggstown, Kingston, Plainsboro and West Windsor with light traffic. In Plainsboro you'll return to sharing the road with moderate traffic but the roads are a bit wider. At mile 88 is the Grover's Mills mentioned in H.G. Wells "War of the Worlds". The barn building on the left is the landing site and behind it is (was?) the shot up water tower.

So far the winds have either been mostly out of the West or South West (typical winds during the warmer cycling season). The next 20+ mile section is a mostly west-east ride towards Allentown which means that just before lunch a bit of speed can be picked up as well as doing pace lines. Don't over do it as you still have about 108 miles left after Allentown.

Allentown, Lunch!

Just before Allentown you'll cross the Rt. 195 overpass, welcome to South Jersey! My team will arrive in Allentown before lunch time, we eat, clean up and prep the bikes for another hundred. BTW, the 100 mile mark is at the start of the soccer fields outside Allentown. Now, we want to leave here relatively quickly as the next part of the ride begins the Pine Barrens and the heat. Of course we still need to have a few minutes off the bike as we've just completed a century (congratulations!).

The Pine Barrens

Between Allentown and the Ranger Station is horse farms, farm land, Ft. Dix Military Reserve, Browns Mills and Lebanon State Forest. In some sections the road is shaded, once you get further into the Pine Barrens that won't be the case. There's one surprise rolling uphill just after the turn onto Upper Mill Rd (mile 123). Then you cross Rt 70 to the Ranger Station. This is a good place to stop, hit the restrooms and wash up quick. Once past the Ranger Station there is no relief from the midday sun. The route now turns south, the roadway is wide and long (19.3 miles) and there is little tree cover. While I love the heat most of the other folks I ride with can suffer pretty badly. If it's hot, humid and hazy then I suffer too. So I'd recommend a stop 22.2 miles after the Ranger Station to give rest, fill up on fluids, grab some food and to get out of the sun. Try to find a shady spot to stop. This year (2008) at least 7 teams seemed to all meet up at the Rt 563/Pleasant Mills Rd stop sign in Green Bank. It was quite a sight to see so many people in the middle of no where. This is the end of the first part of the 'doldrums'. It's not usually too bad as you've probably just gotten off the earlier lunch break. If it's hot this last section will be brutal. Oh, BTW, you'll probably notice a change in direction in the wind. Get used to it you'll feel it the rest of the day. It probably won't be nasty but it will always be there.

After this stop we plan another stop 20 miles further down the road, after the Atlantic City Expressway. This is still the heat of the day so take appropriate care.

The next section, AC Express Way (mile 156) - May's Landing (mile 162) - Woodburn (mile 184) is again what I refer to as the second doldrums. It's where weariness sets in. You're physically tired, mentally tired and possibly emotionally drained. The scenery doesn't change and it's kind of bland (well after almost 160 miles it's kind of bland). This is where emotions can flair and mistakes can be made. Like overlapping the wheel of the rider in front of you. Instead of that excitement a shot of caffeine might not be a bad idea but back it up with some liquids and some carb's. Be careful here!

WoodBurn/Cape May Court House

Something about this section picks up the spirit and changes the mood of the ride. Probably it's the name, Cape May Court House, the other reason is that you're out of the 'Doldrums'. It might even be that you only have about 23 miles to go. This is a good place for a stop at a near by WaWa (they have bathrooms, drinks and junk food what more can you want ;-). You still have about 25 miles to go and you'll probably experience a head wind. Ignore the head wind, do pace lines and don't push too fast. Be prepared for at least one more short, steep climb over the Cape May canal (who put that mountain here!) around mile 203!

One other thing I'd like to point out. As it is getting later in the day and graduation season is upon us, keep in mind that the traffic picks up here and that a number of the cars could contain high schools graduates (and all that that entails). Also don't be surprised at a number of people just honking to say hello. That's something that has always surprised me in this section, the number of people who honked and waved. Or it could be that I'm hallucinating.

200 Miles!

Surprise! No Lighthouse! Remember that the Lighthouse is at 208 miles not 200 miles. You still have a little bit of a distance to go (30 minutes at 16 mph avg speed). At around mile 204 you'll have the last mountain to climb. It's the bridge over the Cape May canal. After nearly 100 miles of no climbs this is quite a surprise. As I recall, from my first Longest Day: "Oh my god, who put that mountain there!". Don't worry you'll make it.

The Light House

Finally "The Lighthouse" is in sight but you still have 2.5 miles left to get there! So take it easy, keep your pace and you'll all make it in one piece. One important thing to note. When we've arrived at the lighthouse after 8 PM we've noticed a significant number of mosquitoes (even if it's windy!). But when we've arrived before 7:30 PM we haven't noticed the mosquitoes. Also stay away from the reeds. Away from the reeds the wind is stronger and the mosquitoes avoid a good breeze. Just food (which might be you) for thought when planning your ride!

Hills

As far as double centuries go this one is easy. That's mainly because it's mostly downhill (total climb: 3315 ft, total descent: 3847 ft.). There are a few hills and non-hills of interest:

• A - mile 10, you've actually been climbing since you left the hotel. :-) (Shaytown?)
• B - mile 18, by the lake things get a little steeper (Culverts Inlet)
• C - mile 24, just outside Newton, there is a 'not short enough', steep hill. This hill will make you work.
• D - mile 26, Newton town square. Another short steep climb with a little traffic. near mile 30
• E - mile 33, just after Andover and the tunnel
• F - mile 38, the climb through Netcong up to Rt 80 and beyond. (near mile 42). After this climb there is one gorgeous descent (very fast).
• G - mile 47, Climb to Chester. Notice that after Chester the route descends until near mile 60 (some 700ft of descent). This is a good place to do pace lines but be careful as the traffic picks up here. (near mile 56)
• H - mile 103, a short steep, rough hill outside Allentown on Extonville Rd.
• I - mile 124, a surprise uphill roller. Actually there is another short, little (50 ft long), steep climb at mile 127 after the Ranger Station.
• J - mile 160, Black Horse Pike over pass (yes that counts as a hill in South Jersey ;-) ). Nothing hard about this one.
• K - mile 203, Cap May Canal overpass. After 200+ miles this is a bit of a surprise.
• Really that's it!

Note that the mileage is not exact (I'm doing this from memory) and I may have missed a hill but this covers the big ones and the surprises of south Jersey.

Terrain

As you can see the first 56 miles contain most of the hilly terrain. The next 10 miles contain small towns and homes with Manville being the largest of the group. Then from Manville to Kingston you're in a less densely populated area. With the canal being nicely shaded. Once you hit Kingston you're back in the urban sprawl and corporate complexes until you hit Allentown. Once you leave Allentown you're in lightly populated areas with wide tracts of farm and horse acreage. This roads in this area are sparsely shaded. Just before Ft. Dix you'll enter Cookstown (don't blink). In Ft Dix you'll notice the trees change over to more Pine Scrub. This is the start of the Pine Barrens. In Ft. Dix there is very little shade (an omen of things to come). Afte Ft. Dix you'll enter Browns Mills. Pretty much this is the last vestiges of civilation until Egg Harbor. Once on Four Mile Rd (New Lisbon) you are again in the Pine Scrub though there is shade here. After about 4 miles on Four Mile Rd you'll turn left, a little while later, you'll cros Rt 70 and a little bit more and you're at the Rangers' Station. Basically from here until you reach the Mullica Bridge (about 24 miles) there will be no relief from the sun. A few miles after the Mullica Bridge you'll enter the town of Egg Harbor. It seems like something out of the late 50's or early 60's but it is a welcome site. After leaveing Egg Harbor you'll venture down the road a few more miles to May's Landing and then the final section of Pine Barrens (about 10 miles), a couple of turns, some more Barrens (about 7 miles) with turns and finally Woodbine, Rt 47 and The WaWa. This landmark (the WaWa) means you only have about 24 miles to go! Also it means you're out of the Pine Barrens. Traffic picks up here but so can your pace. :-) One last hill (mile 203) at the cap may Canal and you're now feeling the finish (and a few other things ;-). Oh congratulations you've already completed a double century! Finally you make the turn onto Sunset and you can see the Lighthouse another 2.5 miles and you're done!