Nightmare specific advice
I can remember the first 60 miles of the Nightmare and thinking to myself, "What did I get myself into". The first 60 miles you are climbing up and down along the side of the Susquehanna and there is no real break. There are no long climbs, just the short steep stuff and you don't get good downhill runs because there is a ninety degree turn with gravel at the bottom of every hill (at least it seems that way).
After 60 miles it flattens out a little for thirty miles or so. Then it is hilly for the rest of the ride but not as bad as the first 60 miles.
There is a rest stop at mile 100 in Adamstown. Here is where the old guy gave me some important advice. He told me that "You will get inside the fire hall and there is all this great food, and people are sitting and taking a break, don't stay more than 5 or ten minutes. It will kill you by the time you get to the next rest stop."
Swamp Church Road looms in your mind as a personal challenge the whole first part of the ride. At mile 117 you get a half mile of 18 percent. It is a matter of choice about walking but I am hard headed. If you ride it, you feel like you got it made.
Last year the weather was miserable, really miserable and 52 started with 32 finishing the 177, and 5 of those riders continued on to finish the 200 miles.
I know you can do it and I hope to see you there.
http://www.dreamrideprojects.org/Nightmaretour.html