Liberty and Union to Gettysburg – 150 (100K Populaire)

Pre-Ride Report from Gardner D – On Sunday, Matthew C and I pre-rode the inaugural Liberty and Union Gettysburg 150k, set for September 20 at 8 a.m.  This route is a 151k variation on the 112k route we’ve ridden the last two years.  There are some notable variations beyond the extension of the ride to Gettysburg.

The hardest part of the ride is the first third, from the start to Uniontown at mile 32.  40 percent of all the climbing is in this section, with an average of about 82′ of climbing per mile.  In fact, I saw 102′ of climbing per mile in the first 11 miles.  When Matthew and I got to the services in Taneytown, we were gassed.  This is good to know so that you can anticipate the somewhat easier riding ahead.

In Taneytown we took the usual stop at Sheetz.  If you ride almost to the main stoplight, you can stop at the Stone House Cakery and Cafe (12 E Baltimore St).  Service might be frustrating there, but a grab and go brownie will get you a treat as big as your face.  Nibble some of it, and the rest will fit in your pocket for later enjoyment.

This route deviates from the normal path by quickly exiting Harney Rd for more of the quiet farm roads you’ve been experiencing.  This deviation takes you almost to the battlefield, and includes a kilometer of gravel on Dague Rd.  This is a straight and fairly flat road, but the gravel is a bit loose.  I would not adjust my equipment just for this flat K, but Matthew might disagree.

As a tease for December’s Grand Gettysburg Tour, our route advances from the south over Little Round Top and past the Copse of Trees and the High Water Mark.  After that you can ransack and pillage for provisions in the town, or better still, pay cash or credit and tip the server.  My favorite stop, the Ragged Edge, is the designated control at 54.6, but you can control anywhere.  From there, we retreat down Confederate Avenue to Millerstown Rd, from which the route heads southwesterly.  The terrain continues to be rolling with the occasional punchy climb; it doesn’t get genuinely easy until you reach Mt St. Mary’s University.

At that point we ride a pedestrian tunnel under US-15 and through the athletic facilities; be sure to ride the ramp and not walk the steps, and look out for walkers!  Into Union Bridge there are some more punchy pitches, but this approach is easier than the one taken on the 112k version of this populaire.  After descending out of Union Bridge there are three substantial climbs to the end.

Likely resupply points are Taneytown (mile 37). Gettysburg (54), leaving Emmitsburg (69), Keymar (81), and Union Bridge (86).  After those first two stops, Matthew and I found that Keymar was the right midpoint to the end.  At the end, we can all enjoy a beverage and some grub after what seems like an inordinate number of steep pitches, mostly on farm roads in the beautiful early fall.

Update: We’ve moved the start/finished a short distance to Milkhouse Brewery.  This is exciting!  On Saturday afternoon, Milkhouse will have live music until 8, two guest brewers, and really local hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill, in addition to their usual snacks.  There is even a port-o-pot available at the start.