Bassmanbob

Last year, I posted a thread asking about your favorite century rides in the US. I got some nice feed back, and I'm still considering some of those rides. Unfortunately, 2019 was a terrible year for me on multiple levels. I cycled only about 40% of what I did in 2018. But as George Costanza, said, "I'm back, baby!"

Since I had a terrible year last year, I'm rewarding my hard work and past hardship with a long weekend cycling vacation this summer. I'm looking for an organized century ride somewhere in the US during July or August this summer. There really aren't any here in Florida, nor would I ride one here, because of the oppressive summer heat.

I'm willing to drive or fly for the event. I was considering Crater Lake Century in Oregon in August, but my wife wants to go with me next year as a hiking trip. And yes, I'm from Florida, but I have done 8,500 feet of elevation at the GFNY and can do it again-- I'm currently training again.

Please post your favorite organized summer century rides, their locations and approximately when they are. Thanks!

johnny99

Best century ride in Silicon Valley. June 7. 10,542 feet of climbing. https://www.westernwheelers.org/sequoia

SkepticalOne

I've enjoyed the Vermont Granfondo each of the last two years and will likely again this year. 130 mies, 11K+ ft elevation.

Full Fondo Course Option Details | VT Gran Fondo

I usually start the season with GFNY but will abandon that if I make the DK200 lottery...still waiting to hear

DOS

This is a small well run event along border of Virginia and West Virginia. Mountain Mama Road Bike Challenge - HIGHLAND COUNTY RECREATION COMMISSION

West Virginia has lots of hiking and other outdoor vacation things to do as well

indyfabz

Zoinks! Crossing the country fully loaded I did Brandon Gap west to east. Near the top my computer read 0 mph for an instant. I had to do a u turn to reagin my momentum and then swing back around. It was the only time during the entire trip that I thought I was going to push the bike, but I made it. In 2010 I did Rochester and Middlebury Gaps east to west back to back during a supported tour.

TheDudeIsHere

Breathless Agony, I believe in April. I did the ride once. Challenging but not as un doable as many think, that I have spoken to. 114 miles, 12,000 ft of climbing in the first 72 miles

Breathless Agony Bike Ride Home Page



This was may favorite in June and planned to do it again but sadly, they wiped it off the board.

100 miles 10,000 ft of elevation gain. I did it 4 times.

Pirkaus

My 2 favorites Tri-State Seacoast Century , Mount Washington Century

Bassmanbob

Thanks. Looking at some of these. Bring more!

jwalther

Horsey Hundred

topflightpro

The Hotter 'N Hell 100 is one of the biggest century's in the country, and it's been around a long time.

jpescatore

If you are looking for an easy, flat but scenic century, the Six Pillars Century from Cambridge MD the first weekend in May is very well supported and highlights Maryland's Eastern Shore on the Chesapeake Bay.

Rides4Beer

I really enjoyed Six Gap in GA last year, looking forward to doing it again. A lot of climbing, but great roads & scenery, and having an aid station at the top of every climb was nice!

https://www.6gap.com/

DaveLeeNC

Same here. Survived it last year. Plan to ride it this year. dave

jfh

The Death Ride is in the beginning of July, in the Sierras south of Lake Tahoe. 15K ft of climbing.

deathride.com

seypat

This one is in May, so a little early. The race director is a cyclist and puts on a great event. There are some C &V members that meet there every year.

https://www.ymcacva.org/storming-thunder-ridge

Bassmanbob

So many of these rides are appealing, but many may be for next year. 2019 was an off year for me, so I need to train hard for some of these centuries with all that climbing. I did say that I have done the GFNY with 8,500 feet of climbing, but it doesn't mean I exclusively want to ride a tough course. I've written many of these down with their web links for future reference. I'd like to do one weekend bike vacation a year, during the hot period here in SE Florida from May- September. This year, it has to be July or August due to other restrictions.

So I had a nice talk with my wife yesterday. As I wrote in the initial post in this thread, she wants us to do a hiking vacation in Oregon within the next couple of years. This is why I wasn't going to do the Crater Lake Century. But she agreed that I've been working hard and have not had any alone time recently. So she has given me her blessing for Crater Lake this August 15. Some may question me getting her approval, but the trip will be a short solo vacation, it'll cost money and it will mean time apart from each other. So it was important to me for her approval.

Time to start training those hills.