Your Favorite Road Cycling Event
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Your Favorite Road Cycling Event
Hey folks. I just finished my first double century a couple of weeks ago. It was the Sea-2-Key Double Century from Ormond Beach, FL to Cedar Key, FL. I'm now looking for a fun and scenic road cycling event anywhere in the continental USA. I live in Florida, and have done a number of nice rides here, but I'm looking for something to catch my interest elsewhere.
Besides the Florida rides, I've also done the GFNY in New York in 2018, 6 Gap in Georgia in 2021 and The Bourbon Country Burn in Kentucky in 2022. I was also going to do the Crater Lake Century, but it was permanently cancelled in 2020. I've heard about the Cheaha Challenge in AL and Triple Bypass in CO and am considering them in the future. Please let me know your favorite cycling events and where and when they are. They don't need to be century or more rides, but at least metric century rides. I'm looking for something pretty to ride that's fairly well organized. Thanks!
Besides the Florida rides, I've also done the GFNY in New York in 2018, 6 Gap in Georgia in 2021 and The Bourbon Country Burn in Kentucky in 2022. I was also going to do the Crater Lake Century, but it was permanently cancelled in 2020. I've heard about the Cheaha Challenge in AL and Triple Bypass in CO and am considering them in the future. Please let me know your favorite cycling events and where and when they are. They don't need to be century or more rides, but at least metric century rides. I'm looking for something pretty to ride that's fairly well organized. Thanks!
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tour le de own
go as far solo as I can, during a day that has fantastic weather & minimal vehicle traffic. Rarity.
go as far solo as I can, during a day that has fantastic weather & minimal vehicle traffic. Rarity.
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The Death Ride is pretty great, if you don’t mind some climbing.
The route is closed to vehicle traffic. Stay a few days and sample more of the high Sierra.
The route is closed to vehicle traffic. Stay a few days and sample more of the high Sierra.
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Already, definitely planned for the second summer of my retirement, 2034. The first summer of retirement will be crossing the Trans America Bike Trail. I only get about two weeks of vacation each year compared to my wife's two months. I can't justify taking a full week to go by myself and ride my bike until I retire.
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The Death Ride is pretty great, if you don’t mind some climbing.
The route is closed to vehicle traffic. Stay a few days and sample more of the high Sierra.
The route is closed to vehicle traffic. Stay a few days and sample more of the high Sierra.
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#9
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Tdf
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Many years ago I did the Cycle Aross Maryland 5 day ride which was awesome, but doesn't exist any more.
My current favorite multiday ride is the Seattle to Portland 2 day event I did back in 2019.
My favorite 1 day event is the Six Pillars Century in Cambridge MD, which was last week but health issues kept me from riding in this year. Close behind and a much tougher ride is the Harrisburg PA Bicycle Club's Three Creek Century in September.
They are all my list because of combination of route and support, probably 70% route/30% support.
John P.
My current favorite multiday ride is the Seattle to Portland 2 day event I did back in 2019.
My favorite 1 day event is the Six Pillars Century in Cambridge MD, which was last week but health issues kept me from riding in this year. Close behind and a much tougher ride is the Harrisburg PA Bicycle Club's Three Creek Century in September.
They are all my list because of combination of route and support, probably 70% route/30% support.
John P.
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STP? (Seattle to Portland)
And there is this in VT in late June:
https://vermontgranfondo.com
And if you can deal with a mostly dirt route, this is a great event in MA:
https://www.franklinlandtrust.org/d2r2/
I went to high school in the start/finish town.
And there is this in VT in late June:
https://vermontgranfondo.com
And if you can deal with a mostly dirt route, this is a great event in MA:
https://www.franklinlandtrust.org/d2r2/
I went to high school in the start/finish town.
Last edited by indyfabz; 05-13-23 at 08:52 AM.
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Tour de Blast is one of my favourite rides. Provided you like climbing and can hit the ride when the weather is decent. Otherwise the ride can be a little on the nasty and cold side.
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Consider LoToJa if you have the means to travel to Utah in September. (Not this year--I think it's already too late.) It starts in Logan, Utah and ends in Jackson, Wyoming.
It is an epic 207 mile race over two big mountain passes and through lots of spectacular scenery. You can enter in the competitive or the sportive category. It is held regardless of weather, and in past years they've experienced rain, cold, and even snow. Getting with a friend or two so you can share a chase vehicle is recommended. Registration is a process. You first have to apply, usually in April. Then if you are selected you get locked in and pay your registration fee in May.
I have ridden it twice, but only on 2-man relay teams. It's on my bucket list to do this race solo someday. I don't have any excuses, as I live close enough to train on the actual course, and I have plenty of friends who enter it.
If you like long, scenic road events that are very well organized and very challenging but likewise rewarding, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one.
It is an epic 207 mile race over two big mountain passes and through lots of spectacular scenery. You can enter in the competitive or the sportive category. It is held regardless of weather, and in past years they've experienced rain, cold, and even snow. Getting with a friend or two so you can share a chase vehicle is recommended. Registration is a process. You first have to apply, usually in April. Then if you are selected you get locked in and pay your registration fee in May.
I have ridden it twice, but only on 2-man relay teams. It's on my bucket list to do this race solo someday. I don't have any excuses, as I live close enough to train on the actual course, and I have plenty of friends who enter it.
If you like long, scenic road events that are very well organized and very challenging but likewise rewarding, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one.
Last edited by Broctoon; 05-16-23 at 11:52 AM.
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#14
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My favorite road cycling event is : Paris- Brest-Paris.
https://rusa.org/pages/pbp
https://rusa.org/pages/pbp
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Rosarito to Ensenada 50 mile ride.
Wife and I make a mini vacation out of it. Leave for 5 days for tacos, beer, bike riding and more food.
Wife and I make a mini vacation out of it. Leave for 5 days for tacos, beer, bike riding and more food.
Last edited by malcala622; 06-02-23 at 01:48 PM.
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My favorite road cycling event is : Paris- Brest-Paris.
https://rusa.org/pages/pbp
https://rusa.org/pages/pbp
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Consider LoToJa if you have the means to travel to Utah in September. (Not this year--I think it's already too late.) It starts in Logan, Utah and ends in Jackson, Wyoming.
It is an epic 207 mile race over two big mountain passes and through lots of spectacular scenery. You can enter in the competitive or the sportive category. It is held regardless of weather, and in past years they've experienced rain, cold, and even snow. Getting with a friend or two so you can share a chase vehicle is recommended. Registration is a process. You first have to apply, usually in April. Then if you are selected you get locked in and pay your registration fee in May.
I have ridden it twice, but only on 2-man relay teams. It's on my bucket list to do this race solo someday. I don't have any excuses, as I live close enough to train on the actual course, and I have plenty of friends who enter it.
If you like long, scenic road events that are very well organized and very challenging but likewise rewarding, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one.
It is an epic 207 mile race over two big mountain passes and through lots of spectacular scenery. You can enter in the competitive or the sportive category. It is held regardless of weather, and in past years they've experienced rain, cold, and even snow. Getting with a friend or two so you can share a chase vehicle is recommended. Registration is a process. You first have to apply, usually in April. Then if you are selected you get locked in and pay your registration fee in May.
I have ridden it twice, but only on 2-man relay teams. It's on my bucket list to do this race solo someday. I don't have any excuses, as I live close enough to train on the actual course, and I have plenty of friends who enter it.
If you like long, scenic road events that are very well organized and very challenging but likewise rewarding, you'll be hard pressed to find a better one.
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My current favorite multiday ride is the Seattle to Portland 2 day event I did back in 2019.
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Assault on Mt. Mitchell | The Assaults
Too late for this year (ride is Monday and sold out, I believe) but there's always 2024.
Too late for this year (ride is Monday and sold out, I believe) but there's always 2024.
#20
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On the first day, my original plan was to stop in Centralia, we had a hotel room booked north of there as Centralia rooms were gone by the time I tried to book. Reach Centralia, had an orange creamsicle, felt so good I texted my wife that I would keep going. I made it to Winlock at about mile 120 and it was only about 2pm. I probably could have made it to Kelso if we had booked a room there, I'd do that next time. Doing it in one day was not really in my wheelhouse!
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For a multi day event the Ride Across Portugal is fantastic. Challenging riding, good roads, great scenery, low traffic , very high level of support. https://rideacrossportugal.com/
Closer to home Hot Doggot in Madison County NC, just north of Asheville. I think it may be the best Gran Fond type ride in the Southeast, that no one’s ever heard of. Beautiful roads. Challenging climbs, and great support. While it’s essentially a Gran Fonda, as a timed event, they don’t call it one, and thus is much cheaper.
https://hotdoggett100.org
Closer to home Hot Doggot in Madison County NC, just north of Asheville. I think it may be the best Gran Fond type ride in the Southeast, that no one’s ever heard of. Beautiful roads. Challenging climbs, and great support. While it’s essentially a Gran Fonda, as a timed event, they don’t call it one, and thus is much cheaper.
https://hotdoggett100.org
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Awe crud. I was going to sign up for the ride across Portugal event this year but never got around to it. Now reading your review I am kicking myself. Oh well. There is always next year I suppose.
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I'm seriously considering this ride for 2024, but is "Hellsville" the descriptor for the quality of the town or the fact that her family is there?
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STP's OK, but nothing spectacular. Somewhat ordinary scenery. IMO the only fun way to do it is as a one-day. That's more interesting.
In Washington, RAMROD (Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day, 154 miles, 9500') is a spectacular ride. Downside is that it's limited to 800 riders so there's a lottery now. It used to be it was less popular and you only had to sign up. Oh well. It's too late to sign up for this year, but keep it in mind for next year. I've ridden it many times, really fun, well supported.
RAMROD
In Washington, RAMROD (Ride Around Mt. Rainier in One Day, 154 miles, 9500') is a spectacular ride. Downside is that it's limited to 800 riders so there's a lottery now. It used to be it was less popular and you only had to sign up. Oh well. It's too late to sign up for this year, but keep it in mind for next year. I've ridden it many times, really fun, well supported.
RAMROD
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