Focal points of my year-round riding calendar are two centuries that I plan on around early July and late September; the latter is a local charity ride with a minimum donation of $1000. I have a 10-week century training schedule with specified daily mileage, and anticipation of the century keeps me on the bike far more than just my daily commute (about 70 miles per week when not training versus over 175 miles prior to the century).

The July ride is variable, but for two of the last three years, it has been the Annual Fifty Plus Ride of this Forum. I have traveled up to 800 miles one way to participate. So I have suggested a Fifth Annual Ride for Boston this year on the weekend of July 27-28, to encompass a local “Summer Century and Family This Ride” sponsored by the local cycling advocacy group called Mass Bike. The basic details are:

So far, about 10 subscribers have expressed an interest in the Ride, and two have already made hotel reservations. Several of these subscribers are regular contributors to Fifty-Plus, and some have attended previous Annual Rides. Please excuse my audacity in this promotion, but I think it's still “on topic.”