DC Randonneurs

The cue sheet for the Frederick 400K ACP brevet starting at the Quality Inn in Frederick, MD at 4:00AM on May 30, 2009 is now posted at Cue Sheet for May 30 Frederick ACP 400K Brevet. GPS files are posted at GPS Files - 20090530 Frederick ACP 400K Brevet. Note that there is no GPS route for the Western Maryland Rail Trail after the control in Hancock, MD. Keep an eye on your odometer and cue sheet; the GPS may beep as you near the exit from the trail. Once you’ve crossed under I-70, select route “4EndWMRT to Ctrl-LogNewville”.

Always get a copy of the final cue sheet. That final cue sheet contains the official route, so in case there is a conflict with the GPS file, you should resolve the conflict in favor of the cue sheet. Use the GPS as a handy-dandy adjunct. Keep your wits about you, as the GPS cannot notify you of road hazards — it is up to you to ride safely.

By the way … make sure that your GPS either has maps already downloaded, or select the relevant maps around the routes.

The 600K will follow the figure-8 route last used in 2006. Starting at the Frederick Motel 6 (formerly a Holiday Inn and then a Quality Inn) at 4AM, the initial Frederick to Frederick loop is a slightly shortened version of the 2006 400K in reverse; the second Frederick to Frederick loop will take in some familiar territory from the 300K and some new territory through York and Carroll counties.

Day one heads north to Thurmont, climbs up MD550 and then picks up the 300K route through Fairfield and Arendtsville. In the Michaux State Forest, we forego the grinding climb over Big Flat for a slightly more mellow route through the woods in Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Once across South Mountain, the route heads east along Yellow Breeches Creek to a control in Montsera. Turning south and west to pass through Newville, the riders begin the reverse 400k route. After a control in Mercersburg, riders continue due south through Williamsport and Sharpsburg and then cross the Potomac into West Virginia at Shepherdstown. Continuing south as far as US7, the riders cross the Blue Ridge at Snickers Gap, re-cross the Potomac at Point of Rocks and return to the Frederick Quality Inn along Ballenger Creek Road.

Day two follows the flat terrain of the Monacacy flood plain and the MD 300K route - in reverse - to East Berlin, PA. Turning southeast to a control in New Freedom, the riders pass through the most challenging portion of the day’s ride in the Pigeon Hills of York County. From Glen Rock to New Freedom and then on the return to Maryland, the terrain moderates somewhat. The hills return in the quiet rural roads of Carroll County. A stunning 5-mile downhill along Deep Run Road and more rolling terrain bring the riders into Frederick County where they reverse the day’s earlier route back to US15 and take some familiar roads to the final control.

Controls: Frederick, Montsera, Mercersburg, Bluemont, Frederick, East Berlin, New Freedom, Frederick

The cue sheet for the Frederick 300K ACP brevet starting at the Quality Inn in Frederick, MD at 5:00AM on May 16, 2009 is now posted at Cue Sheet - 20090516 Frederick ACP 300K Brevet. GPS files are posted at GPS Files - 20090516 Frederick ACP 300K Brevet.

Always get a copy of the final cue sheet. That final cue sheet contains the official route, so in case there is a conflict with the GPS file, you should resolve the conflict in favor of the cue sheet. Use the GPS as a handy-dandy adjunct. Keep your wits about you, as the GPS cannot notify you of road hazards — it is up to you to ride safely.

By the way … make sure that your GPS either has maps already downloaded, or select the relevant maps around the routes.

The Maryland 400K provides plenty of training opportunities (read: hills). Traveling through four states, it forms a clockwise semi-circle to the southwest, west and northwest of Frederick.

Starting at the Frederick Quality Inn (formerly a Holiday Inn) at 4AM, riders head south along the base of and then cross Catoctin Ridge and then the Potomac into Virginia at Brunswick. Climbing up to Lovettesville, they continue south to Airmont and then tackle the climb over the Blue Ridge at Snickers Gap. Just east of Berryville, the route turns north and enters West Virginia, traversing mostly level terrain - and many railroad tracks - to Shepherdstown, where several excellent brunch possibilities exist. Riders then head northwest following the Potomac, climbing from and descending to the many creek bottoms to finally cross the Potomac into a control at Hancock. A tough climb up to Tollgate Ridge and series of rollers in the orchards north of town bring the riders into Pennsylvania and the beautiful Little Cove Creek valley. Heading north, they traverse an endless march of rolling hills to a final slow climb halfway up Tuscorora Mountain. There is a fast descent to Cove Gap and then a few more rollers before a short breather north of Mercersburg. The hills return in earnest through the orchards and farmland around Edenville. After the Cumberland Valley Business Park, the trip to Newville and Big Spring follows less rigorous terrain through Amish farms. Forgoing the ever-popular control at Pino’s in Newville, the riders can instead relax briefly and feed at the 18th Century Inn before the final climbs through the Michaux State Forest and the truly popular descent into Gettysburg. Just south of Gettysburg, riders pick up the last 40 miles of the 300K to return to Frederick.

Controls: Frederick, Airmont, Shepherdstown, Hancock, Newville, Gettysburg, Frederick

Returning to the Frederick Quality Inn (formerly a Holiday Inn) and the 2007 route, the ride heads north along the base of South Mountain as far as Thurmont and then turns west to climb the ridge on MD77 through Catoctin Mountain State Park. Just short of the summit, it zigzags north, west and north into Pennsylvania through the rolling apple and peach orchards of Adams County. From Arendtsville, it begins a long stair step climb with many steep sections finally reaching the summit of Big Flat. A four mile downhill brings the riders to a much needed rest stop and control in Shippensburg. The terrain moderates in the Cumberland valley north to Bloserville. The return trip heads east and south through Mount Holly Springs, then crosses South Mountain and takes several miles of easy rollers to East Berlin. The final miles remain mellow to Thurmont ending with a few rollers paralleling US15, a series of short uphills on Bethel and a long downhill into Frederick on Yellow Springs.

Controls: Frederick, Shippensburg, Bloserville, East Berlin, Frederick.

Frederick 300K 3D Map