Read report here:http://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/newsletter/submissions_2018/023_the-long-run-1000_mike-hagen.html

The LM Long Run 1000 km brevet is a challenging route from a number of perspectives. It has a fair bit of climbing (over 11,000 m), is potentially hot and dry, and runs through areas where services and water are few and far between. There will be no support, you will be on your own. It is the kind of route that experienced randonneurs relish! I hope you will join me.

The route can be viewed at https://ridewithgps.com/routes/25396458. We will head out on the north side of the Fraser with a few quiet-break side-trips away from the Lougheed Highway. After Hope, the route climbs through Manning Park and onward toward the Okanagan. Riders may choose to over-night at Keremeos (km 355) or Osoyoos (km 400). The latter is recommended as Day 2 is a tough day with lots of climbing, including Anarchist Summit out of Osoyoos and Pennask Summit out of Kelowna, ending (hopefully) at Merritt (km 720). We start at 5:00 a.m. on Saturday to facilitate making it to Osoyoos before it gets too late.

For those who overnight at Merritt, an early start on Day 3 may avoid the worse of the traffic and headwinds on the Coquihalla. We will avoid the first 30 km of the Coquihalla by using Coldwater Road out of Merritt, and the last eight kilometers of the Coquihalla will be bypassed by using Othello Road into Hope. My initial plan to avoid another 36 km worth of Coquihalla will not work -- the Brodie Siding/Juliet Dr segment and Coldwater Lakes Road both include long stretches of rough gravel on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail that is not suitable for road bikes. So we will stick to the highway. Be aware that shoulder debris has not been cleared from repaving work for 10 km south of the Coldwater on-ramp. This includes the Larson Hill descent; please use extreme caution here. The good news is that the shoulder is in good shape most of the rest of the way. Even better: there is no shoulder rumble strips between the Coquihalla Summit and Hope.

Speaking of gravel, the 5 km stretch of Dyke Road after km 87 is smooth and easy; it's a nice ride along the river. We are also using the Mission Creek Greenway through Kelowna; this 6 km stretch is also smooth, flat, and wide. I was going 30 kph at times on this stretch, but this is not recommended as the Greenway is a popular Multi Use Trail: use caution here. Gravel sections of the TCT in the Fraser Valley after km 900 have been removed. After Hope, we're drawing a beeline on familiar, easy, paved roads directly back to the finish.

A word about West Kelowna/Westbank: I'd hoped to use the Kalamoir Park trails to avoid Highway 97. But these trails are not suitable for road bikes. My fall-back plan to use Boucherie Road will also not work. The road is closed for construction. So the final route will cross West Kelowna north of the highway using frontage roads, a part of the highway, and then Stevens Road and the Shannon Lake Road.

Services. Please be aware that services are limited east of Hope. I have not been on Highway 33, and do not know what is available in the 130 km between Rock Creek and Kelowna. There are services in Kelowna (the control at km 588 has several 24-hour convenience stores and some restaurants nearby), then there are no services for 120 km from Westbank to Merritt. There are extremely limited services in the 110 km between Merritt and Hope. Water at the rest areas along this stretch is not potable, but there are vending trucks at the Britten Creek and Zopkios rest stops. The trucks have limited hours, however, and I would not depend on them.

If you are planning to ride this brevet but have not pre-registered, please do so on Rando Pony so that I can prepare for you. I am riding, but Anna will be at the start to register people.

Mike