gerv, a couple questions about your 5-day plan.
1) Are you thinking it would be Monday to Friday ... or any 5 days of a week?
2) Are you thinking it would be at a specific time of year (like the third week of April) ... or any time of the year?
One of the reasons I ask is because of Roody's comment below. If you're thinking it would be a specific Monday to Friday, then you also need to factor in the fact that people work. It would be difficult to take a day off in order to ride a century. This was one of the issues I had with the breakfasts that seem so popular with Bike To Work days. They'd schedule a breakfast in some obscure location from 7-9 am ... but I had to be on my way to work, or at work, by then.
If you are thinking it would be a Monday to Friday thing, then things like work and school need to be kept in mind. Utility cycling. Getting people to and from work, school, shopping, etc. ... providing links to resources, working with businesses and local governments to support human-powered transportation for that week, etc.
If you're thinking it could be any 5 days, that might open it up to include a few non-utility events.
Now regarding the time of year, are you thinking this would be a world-wide thing, or just something in the US? If US, then you can likely choose a good time of year. Worldwide, however, poses some weather issues.
Originally Posted by
Roody
For hardcore cyclists, a "Carfree Century" might be appealing. 100 miles in one day, but you must include transportation riding skills like going to stores and restaurants, hauling groceries, and staying clean enough to visit public establishments. Other skills might be included like taking a bus with your bike and night riding.
I have done many 60 or 70 mile days like this, but never a full century. It would be fun, and would also demonstrate that bikes are practical for covering long distances.
If you did the century as part of a 5 day carfree challenge, you might want to make the next day a rest day--no bike travel at all, just use walking and/or transit. This would demonstrate the other modes that are available as a Plan B.