IowaParamedic

I seemed to have volunteered myself to be the Tour Director of our cycling clubs fall century. It is our big invitational ride and I would like to make it a great attraction.

Most club centuries have some unique feature that makes them stand out in the crowded field. Location (TOMRV), unique name (ABCDEFG), terrain (Hilly Hundred), temperature (Hotter then Hell Hundred) are all things that make a century have a life of it's own.

What makes your clubs annual organized invitational ride unique?

DieselDan

Our island is too small to have a century without riding mulitple laps on the same roads.

Zin

While we don't have a club century yet, we do have the Tour-de-Cure that is the "Missouri River Ride" and takes riders along the Missouri River through some of the most spectacular terrain in the nation. It used to be called The Great Missouri River Ride", wonder why they changed the name?

I would like to offer some additional tips for supporting your participants from my working in support of the ride mentioned above:

1. Ask your local Amateur Radio Club if they would be interested in providing communications between rest stops/check points and tracking riders etc. Very important aspect for rider safety. (I can give detailed accounts when this was potentially life saving here in MT). https://soli.inav.net/~icarc/
2. Our County Mountain Search and Rescue provides the SAG wagons and first responder medical duties.
3. Lion's Club also has provided SAG and rest stop volunteers.
4. H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) ride back and forth over the course keeping an eye on the riders to insure their welfare.
5. Local Military Active Duty, Guard, or Reserves are a great source for distribution logistics of tables, signs, food, and water.

I'm sure you have thought of all these things, but if not I hope this short list helps. If I can be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to let me know.

Regards, Bob

outashape

Our annual fundraiser is a ride that goes through Hell, Michigan. The name of the the ride, "One Helluva Ride" Had lots of food at different stops beginning with donuts at the start. A guy on a bicycle that plays the piano for entertainment at the lunch stop and ICE COLD watermelon at the end of the century. We usually have over 100 club members who volunteer. Another local club is known for homemade cookies at all their rest stops. I definately signed up for that one. Even though the roads were in bad shape, the cookies were so good, I'll probably just put wider tires on and go again next year.

Bikedud

I would be hard pressed to think of one thing. Certainly the route, terrain, scenery, and maybe most of all the rest stops and people. I think our ride is special because it is designed and administered by devoted cyclist who really work hard to put on the best ride possible.

https://hugeelvis.tripod.com/beautifulbackroadscentury/

IowaParamedic

Bikedud,

Thanks for sending your website. One of the first things that made me think your century is unique is the brewery. Starting and stoping at the brewery and ending with a tour is certainly unique.

Bikedud

Yeh, I didn't even think about the brewery connection. Our group is affectionatly known as the "brew crew". The management at the brewery is exceptionally supportive. We park in the parking lot for our regular (Sat, Sun, and Wed.) rides that wind up through the surrounding area.

If you have time, put us on your claender for next year. You won't be disappointed.

Jay H

I don't ride in a club, but have done a bunch of different centuries and I can give you a rider's opinion on what makes different centuries unique.

I'll try not to repeat what others have said here but to just state what makes a certain ride memoriable to me at least, is the food at the rest stops and how other cyclists as well as the rest stop support are enjoying the ride. I've gone on centuries where the rest stop support has a small table with some power bars, the usual gatorade jug, says "hello" and that's about it, while others have 4 table length with homemade cake, pie, a radio, or say a theme to it and everybody seems happy and having a good time. The food usually makes the ride interesting, especially for folks who tend not to eat the normal power bars and stuff.

Of course, the ride itself is always the main attraction, but I can have a good time riding almost anywhere, there are always different sites to see and places to go. Food and people make rides memoriable. The things going on at the end of the ride is also a big thing, a live band, a good BBQ, vendors, etc... is always welcome at the end of a ride.

Jay