Last rode in 2018, never believe a randonneur when they say, "This is a kinder, gentler 400!" But this is a lovely route that meanders through Virginia and finishes in good old Warrenton.

Get your hotel room ASAP and you may want to get a refundable room if you are not sure you are riding.

NOTE: 5 AM START TIME instead of traditional 4 AM to give riders more time to travel in the morning.

Hotel Change: down the street at the Hampton Inn.

Start location: IHOP: 5277 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, MD 21704

Plenty of hotels to the north and south of the Ihop.

South Mountain Redux Revisited is revised, rejuvenated, reimagined, and of course redundant version of Lynn Kristianson's Pigeon Hills 600, which was first ridden by DC Randonneurs in 2006.  In 2018 this was reworked to be the South Mountain Redux, which avoided the Pigeon Hills and their ugly aftermath.  Still, the ride proved quite challenging, so this renewal does more significant surgery, and lengthens the first day to about 400k, and accordingly reduces the second day by about 40k.  How does that work?

SMRR entirely skirts Big Flat, including the false summit, with a bigger indulgence in the majestic Michaux State Forest.  A new control in Mt. Holly Springs improves the supply chain in the first leg of the route, which also ducks down to Shippensburg to eliminate the overlong stretch of unserviced road into Mercersburg.  From there things are unchanged until you cross back over the Potomac, where a few more miles of modest terrain are added before overnighting where you started.

After that respite, Day 2 has the advantage of being 25 miles shorter than before.  It now heads to Union Bridge, where the chance for more frequent re-supply begins.  Up at its northern end this day hits its high point, with about 50 miles to go and a fairly mellow pass through the battlefield in Gettysburg, then Emmitsburg, and Thurmont on the way back to Frederick.