This is a return to a 300km Nick Bull designed out of Frederick.  It follows part of the first day of the Pigeon Hills 600.  The name of the brevet comes from the lovely Michaux State Forest.

Check in is currently TBD and will either be at the Home2 Suites, Dunkin Donuts, or Sheetz next to the hotel. Check in opens at 5 AM and will require a bicycle safety inspection requiring lights and reflective gear.

Leaving Frederick, the route heads north to Thurmont, climbs up MD550 and then picks up the Ye Olde Frederick 300km 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 past a Sheetz where riders should resupply, then up to an info control in Newville.  Turning south and west,  riders begin the reverse of the “Four States” 400km route. After a control in Mercersburg, riders continue due south through Williamsport to Sharpsburg and a control in Shepherdstown.  From there, they head back to Frederick, climbing over Gapland and MarLu on the way.

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.

START HOTEL WILL CHANGE.

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.