Northeast - Wanted: Recommendations for Good Century/Metric Rides in '08

I live in central Connecticut and want to do an organized/charity/group ride every month next year starting around May and ending in October. I am looking for Centuries, Metric Centuries, or interesting group rides not less than about 50 miles in length. So far I have planned 1) the Bloomin' Metric in Norwalk CT, 2) the COVAC in Hatfield MA, 3) the D2R2 in Greenfield MA, and 4) the Flattest Century in the East in Tiverton RI.

Where can I find information on other organized rides in New England? Please suggest other interesting rides that I can investigate. — Thanks!

Check this thread out. (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=264704) It'll give you a good starting point and sites to look at or search for.

+1 to Bloomin' Metric

The Westchester (NY) Cycle Club runs a century in September. It's also a great ride, might not be too far from you depending on where in CT you are. It starts/ends in Golden's Bridge, NY.

Heather puts on fun rides

http://outsideadventures.net/id1.html

Check out this calendar for the CT or New England area. She will probably have the 2008 dates and other rides added by early spring.

http://www.lifestylebydesign.org/eventscalendar.html

Seven Hills Wheelmen around Worcester MA have an awesome century around the Quabbin in the beginning of summer-June
Check there site (http://www.sevenhillswheelmen.org/index.php?a=centuries), it is worth a drive

CharlesRiver Wheelmen also have some great rides, the Climb to the Clouds Century up Mt.Wachusett kicks butt.

They NYBC site should be updated soon. Right now they still have 07 dates. http://nybc.net/site/index.php?page_id=9


The BikeReg.com site is a good resource for lesser known rides.

The two Montauk Centuries (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=370718)

climb to the clouds is excelent. and tough.

check out the two randonneuring organizations in Mass. they run the Berkshire brevet series and the Boston brevet series respectively. they do rides that make centuries seems like a warmup... if that ever becomes an interest.

LiveSTRONG Challenge Philly PA. Up to a 100 miles. Some time in Aug. Date not released yet. http://www.livestrong.org

check out the two randonneuring organizations in Mass. they run the Berkshire brevet series and the Boston brevet series respectively. they do rides that make centuries seems like a warmup... if that ever becomes an interest.

Believe it or not, the D2R2 Brevet is what got me interested in century rides. I rode it this year (metric version). I finished & survived (it kicked the snot out of me)! It was my first Brevet, my first timed event. Recreational mountain biking did not train me for this event. It was a seemingly endless suffer-fest.

After the event, the fellas that rode with me said I would have no problem doing a century ride, provided I got a road bike (I did the D2R2 on a hard-tail mountain bike). And that is the plan...

If you're going to look into the D2R2, you might as well put the Great River Ride on your radar, as well. It starts and ends in Westfield, MA, and is one of the most scenic centuries I've ever encountered. It's well-run, too - a win-win.

Active.com has a lot of events listed, but it's not organized by region so there is a lot of events to wade through....

Covac is a great ride - the 1st 50 miles are relatively flat, once you roll out of Brattleboro there are some hills (nothing that will kill you) and then again it's pretty flat for the last 20 or so miles..... The SAG stops are well stocked and organized with very friendly volunteers.

If you're going to look into the D2R2, you might as well put the Great River Ride on your radar, as well. It starts and ends in Westfield, MA, and is one of the most scenic centuries I've ever encountered. It's well-run, too - a win-win.

+1 on the Great River Ride. I did the metric century this year and it was a blast. There are a lot of climbs and fast decents. The baked potato rest stop is the best! There is a huge buffet afterward. Next year I am going for the full century.

Steve

Another +1 on the Great River Ride....

I missed it this year but here's a good thread on it from the previous year.
My ride report is about mid-thread.....

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=222419


+1 on the Great River Ride. I did the metric century this year and it was a blast. There are a lot of climbs and fast decents. The baked potato rest stop is the best! There is a huge buffet afterward. Next year I am going for the full century.

Steve

It would probably require an overnight stay (or two) but the Lancaster Covered Bridge Metric in August has a contingent of Bikeforums riders each year. I went 2 years ago, and plan to be there this year on August 17, 2008

http://www.lancasterbikeclub.org/index.php

Definitely a fun event. Some of the Bikeforums group meets for a short ride followed by dinner the night before.