mkadam68

Hey guys/gals--

This thread got me thinking. Probably (at this point) just daydreaming, and certainly out of curiosity, but what would you all think of a Clydesdale Century event?

It would need some diverse requirements:

• Would need to be somewhat centrally located in the US to be close to all,
• Needs a variety of routes with varied terrain: completely flat to somewhat hilly (mountainous?)
• Maybe even access to a rail-to-trail as many of us are keen on those type rides
• A variety of lengths (25-mile to metric- and imperial-century distances)
• Finishers get certificates of accomplishments at the very least (many rides do patches or medals)

This variety would accommodate the largest (sorry..) number of clydes/athenas. It would be an encouragement to riders who are trying to ride faster/farther. This could give them a goal to work toward. Start small, make it into a large ( can't help myself) event that draws clydes from all across the US.

What d'ya think? Sound intriguing or interesting?

grueling

sounds interesting...

Tom Stormcrowe

Something I've had at the back of my mind for a while now.

Hit me with an email at tom(dot)stormcrowe(at)gmail.com

We could start looking into maybe organizing something, maybe a Century Ride along the Mississippi, or another alternative, I have a 366 mile route in Indiana that could be a great Clyde/Athena Multiday.....

mkadam68

Hey! What's that supposed to mean?

grueling

Sorry! Only wanted to show that the idea is interesting and that I started thinking about when, where etc. Certainly no inappropriate intent.

flip18436572

I am struggling trying to find century rides that can be safely done (not on highways), but I am interested in something also. No guarantees for me, as I just started a new job, so I don't have any vacation time.

mkadam68

No problem.

funrover 

Well, sounds like a good idea to me, but plans and such determine if I can go.

Neil_B

Yes. Let me throw out a suggestion for folks who want to visit SE PA. The Perkiomen and Schuylkill River Trails, from either Port Providence or Indian Head in Lower Perkiomen Valley Park to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, are almost precisely 50 miles round trip. Aside from street crossings the only road portions of the ride are on Main Street in Manayunk (which is an urban area, but they are used to bikes.) The trail is flat, and almost entirely paved save the Manayunk Towpath (3 or so miles.) If you want to avoid gravel entirely there's road routing, but then you also have some climbs.

On the other side of PA, the Great Allegheny Passage is largely flat from McKeesport (a dozen miles south of Pittsburgh) to near Ohiopyle, and that's a bit more than 50 miles. Unfortunately, it's gravel, so that's verboten to most roadies.

TrumpetMurph

What if it were to become a nationwide/worldwide clyde ride, but with regional locations, like the Komen Race for the Cure? Clydes and Athenas within states or regions can group up and ride a local century, at the same time as their fellow Clydes across the country/globe? Makes it a little easier to plan and organize, I would think. . .

Tom Stormcrowe

You're right, my 26 mm wide tires dinna do so well in gravel.

heckler

better than my 23

guybierhaus

"Probably (at this point) just daydreaming,..."

Yes, doing a little of that myself...hmmm, Pottstown to Mississippi River should run $195 for gas round trip. $35 for tolls on PA turnpike, probably 5 nights in motel at hopefully just $50/night. Could live off the dollar menu at fast foods, $40. How much was the show up money? If you find a way to beam me there I'm in, till then I'm planning my local century trip, visiting various locations of the local Wawa convenience store chain for support. Hopefully I'll spend less then $10. And I'll be riding 25mm tyres on the gravel trail portions of the route.

vXhanz

I like the idea of the clyde/athena century, but locations are going to be a problem. Might want to have a "theme" to it, like "Fighting Childhood Obesity" or "Riding for education and awareness of childhood obesity" fighting obesity in general. This way you may be able to get local hospitals and clinics as sponsors.

I'll support it either way, but I can't guarantee that I can participate since I'm currently in my internship.

V

Joe Bifulco

I like this idea.

StephenH

I like the idea, but "centrally located in the US" doesn't mean "close to all", it means "far far away from most". Dallas is centrally located, as is, say, Rapid City, but they aren't close to each other, either. There are a gob of different rides within a 100 miles of here, so I can't see myself driving a 1,000+ miles for a special one.

mkadam68

Thanks for all the ideas. Glad I posted as 2 heads are better than 1. Again, don't know what will come of it, but just thought I'd hear what you all think of the subject.