2001 Guide to New England Centuries

  Sometimes at the end of a "century," a few cyclists are seen pedaling around the parking lot, as if five to eight hours in the saddle was not enough. Their odometers have registered only 99 miles and change, and they are determined to see the nice round digits of "100" before they dismount. 
  Such is the allure of the magic number that makes a century. Bike clubs traditionally stage these long road rides in late summer and fall, often with shorter options for the less fanatical: metric century (100 kilometers, equal to 62 miles), half century (50 miles) or quarter century (25 miles). 
  Centuries new to New England this season are the MassBike Freedom Ride out of Northampton and the Tin Mountain Conservation Center century, which goes around Mount Washington in New Hampshire but not to the summit (die-hards can do that in the preceding day's bike race). 
  A century is not a race, so go at your own pace and enjoy the scenery, the food and the camaraderie. 
  Some of the following centuries are fund-raisers, but for most you don't have to collect donations. In some cases, the entry fee includes goodies such as a T-shirt, water bottle or post-ride feast. Starting time typically is 7:30 or 8 a.m. for 100-milers, later for shorter options; inquire by phone or go online for particulars. 

Aug. 11 -- VERMONT APPLE COUNTY CENTURY, 50 or 100 miles, Estabrook Field, Route 7, Brandon, Vt., with option to add Middlebury Gap and Brandon Gap to 100-mile route; $25, $15 for Brandon residents. Information: Nancy Pattison, (802) 247-0228, pattison@sover.net, www.town.brandon.vt.us/recreation.htm. 

Aug. 12 -- MORRIS FARM TRUST'S TOUR DE FARMS, 18, 58 or 108 miles, Morris Farm, 156 Gardiner Road (Route 27N), Wiscasset, Maine; $30, $15 for children under 13. Information: Mark Wheeler, (307) 443-5712, wheeler@wiscasset.net, or Christine James, (207) 882-4080, christine_james@morrisfarm.org. 

Aug. 18 -- STEEPLE CHASE BIKE TOUR, 20, 50 or 100 miles, 320 Main St., Willimantic, Conn.;  $25 to register, $50 optional fund-raising for Windham Area Interfaith Ministry and Perception Programs. Information: Ruth Gordon, (860) 450-7122, ruth.gordon@perceptionprograms.org. 

Aug. 18 -- MASSBIKE FREEDOM RIDE, 20, 62 or 100 miles, First Churches, 129 Main st., Northampton, Mass.; 20-mile ride, $5, $3 for children under 18; other rides, $25 day of ride, $22 in advance, $18 in advance for MassBike members. Free bike safety rodeo and helmet fit checks, 1:30-4 p.m., Main and Gothic streets, Northampton. Information: (413) 586-4655, mailto:johndfry@mediaone.net, http://www.massbike.org/. 

Aug. 25 -- MAD RIVER VALLEY CENTURY, 50 or 100 miles, Mad River Cyclery, Routes 100 and 17, Waitsfield, Vt.; $35, $40 after Aug. 12. Information: Hyde Away Inn, (800) 777-HYDE or (802) 496-2322, hydeaway@madriver.com. 

Aug. 25 -- DAN MICHAUD CENTURY, Merrymeeting Wheelers, 15, 50 or 100 miles, Gazebo, Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine; $15 to register by Aug. 13, $20 after, plus $50 fund-raising minimum for Maine Cancer Research and Education Fund. Information: Bob Bruce, (207) 882-7206, bobbiker@juno.com, http://www.merrymeetingwheelers.com/. 

Aug. 25 -- HARTFORD AREA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY BIKE-A-THON, 25, 50 or 100 miles, North United Methodist Church, 300 Parker St., Manchester, Conn.; $15 to register, $50 fund-raising minimum for Habitat for Humanity. Information: (860) 541-2208, www.portone.com/habitat/prod/events/bike/index.html. 

Aug. 25 & 26 -- BLAZING SADDLES CENTURY, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Georgetown High School, Winter Street, Georgetown, Mass.; $15 day of event; before Aug. 20, $12 North Shore Cyclists members, $14 nonmembers. Information: Tony Salerno, (978) 352-2524, litespd1@aol.com, www.astseals.com/nsc/century.htm. 

Aug. 26 -- TIN MOUNTAIN CONSERVATION CENTER CENTURY, 50, 80 or 100 miles, Mount Washington Auto Road at Great Glen, Route 16, Pinkham Notch, N.H.; $50, $40 for Mount Washington Hillclimb entrants, to benefit Tin Mountain Conservation Center. Information: (603) 447-6991, info@tinmtn.org, www.tinmtn.org/hillclimb/centuryfaq.cfm. 

Sept. 8 -- NASHOBA VALLEY PEDALERS FALL CENTURY, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles, Wayland High School, Route 126, Wayland, Mass.; $10 NVP members, $12 nonmembers in advance; day of event, $12 members, $15 nonmembers. Information: (508) 804-3329, Ext. 3154, http://www.nvpbike.org/. 

Sept. 8 -- QUIET CORNER CYCLING CLASSIC, 12, 25, 50 or 100 miles, Davis Park, Route 12, Danielson, Conn.; $20 to register, $50 suggested fund-raising minimum for Camp Quinebaug for special needs children. Information: Lucy, (860) 923-9768, or Kevin, (860) 779-0414, kev1@cyberzone.net, www.geocities.com/camp_quinebaug. 

Sept. 9 _ THE FLATTEST CENTURY IN THE EAST, 25, 55, 65, 75 or 100 miles, Tiverton High School, North Brayton Road, Tiverton, R.I.; $20 Narragansett Bay Wheelmen members, $25 nonmembers, postmarked by Aug. 10; mail check to NBW TFCE, PO Box 41177, Providence, RI 02940-1177. Information: (401) 351-3055, NBWTFCE@aol.com, http://www.nbwclub.org/. 

Sept. 9 -- MAINE FREEWHEELERS CENTURY, 62 or 100 miles, Cascade Park, State Street, Bangor, Maine; $10. Information: Harrison Clark, (207) 942-7974, mhc3bgr@aol.com. 

Sept. 15 -- WHITE MOUNTAIN CENTURY, Casco Bay Bicycle Club, 100 miles, Covered Bridge parking lot, Kancamagus Highway (Route 122), Conway, N.H.; $17, $19 after Sept. 1. Information: Gary Davis, (207) 892-8257, DavisKayakGuy@aol.com, www.homestead.juno.com/cascobaybicycleclub/century.html. 

Sept. 15 -- NORTHEAST KINGDOM LAKES CENTURY in memory of Terry & Ben Claassen, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles, Crystal Lake State Park, Barton, Vt.; $30 by Sept. 10; $35 day of event. Information: (802) 525-6212. 

Sept. 16 -- CONNECTICUT VALLEY CENTURY, 28, 50, 75 or 100 miles, JFK Middle School, Bridge Road, Florence, Mass.; $5 Franklin-Hampshire Freewheelers members, $10 nonmembers. Information: Pat and Mike Vinskey, (413) 253-4260, 70422.3055@compuserve.com. 

Sept. 16 -- SOUHEGAN RIVER TOUR, 25, 50, 62 or 100 miles, Hart Barn Ski Touring Center, Lowell Road, Carlisle, Mass.; $8 Charles River Wheelmen members, $10 nonmembers; day of ride, $12 members, $15 nonmembers. Information: Ken Hablow, (781) 895-1927, khablow@khgraphics.com, http://www.crw.org/. 

Sept. 16 -- DON McCULLOCH MEMORIAL RIDE TO EAT, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Massachusetts Military Reservation, Route 28, Falmouth, Mass.; $22 Mad About Cycling members, $25 nonmembers by Sept. 5. Information: (508) 759-3723, mac@cape.com, www.vsp.cape.com/~mac/ride2eat.htm. 

Sept. 16 -- TWO FERRY METRIC CENTURY, 100 kilometers, Cycling Concepts, 825 Cromwell Ave (Route 3), Rocky Hill, Conn.; $15 before Sept. 13, $17 day of ride. Information: (860) 563-6667, http://www.cyclingconcepts.com/. 

Sept. 22 -- FRYEBURG FROLIC, Casco Bay Bicycle Club, 100 miles, University of Southern Maine, Route 114, Gorham, Maine; $17, $19 after Sept. 8. Information: Ken O'Brien, (207) 839-5468, kob@cybertours.com, www.homestead.juno.com/cascobaybicycleclub/century.html. 

Sept. 22 and 23 -- TRI-STATE SEACOAST CENTURY, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles, Hampton Beach State Park, Route 1A, Hampton Beach, N.H.; $15. Information:  Peter DeSantis, (603) 483-2410, peterdesantis@mediaone.net, http://www.granitestatewheelmen.org/. 

Sept. 30 -- MAJOR TAYLOR CENTURY, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Finn Park, Pleasantdale Road, Rutland, Mass.; $15 Seven Hills Wheelmen members, $20 nonmembers.  Information: Andrea Kaufman, (508) 752-8657, akau531261@aol.com, http://www.sevenhillswheelmen.org/. 

Oct. 6 -- BIKE THE BERKSHIRES, 50 or 100 miles, Butternut Basin Ski Resort, Great Barrington, Mass.; $50 to register, $200 fund-raising minimum for National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Information: (800) 493-9255, www.msnewengland.org/tours.html. 

Oct. 7 -- GREAT RIVER RIDE, Northeast Sport Cyclists, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Sons of Erin, William Street, Westfield, Mass.; $25. Information: New Horizons, (413) 562-5237. 

Oct. 7 -- COVERED BRIDGE CENTURY, 25, 50 or 100 miles, Swanzey Town Hall, Route 32, West Swanzey, N.H.; $10, $15 day of ride, to benefit Slate Covered Bridge Fund. Information: Francis Faulkner, (603) 352-2529, flfaulkner@monad.net. 

Oct. 7 -- CADILLAC MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE, Maine Freewheelers, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Acadia National Park Visitors Center, Mount Desert Island, Maine; free. Information: Tony and Anne Mourkas, (207) 862-5990, mourkas@telplus.net. 

Oct. 8 -- ROUNDQUABBIN, 20 or 62 miles, Bullard Farm Inn, Elm Street, New Salem, Mass.; $20 by Oct. 1, $25 day of ride. Contact: The Ride magazine, (781) 641-9515, http://www.ridezine.com/.