Guide to 2000 New England centuries

  Bicycling a "century," 100 miles in a day, sounds daunting to the uninitiated but is within reach of committed cyclists even in their first year. Dozens of these rides, some of them featuring a "metric century" (100 kilometers, equal to 62 miles), are scheduled throughout New England in late summer and fall. 
  To train for a century, experts advise biking several days a week and increasing mileage by about 10 percent a week, with one ride each week of 50 to 75 miles. Mistakes typical of first-time century riders are not eating enough during the ride, not drinking enough water, and starting out too fast to leave energy for the home stretch. 
  A century is not a race, so pace yourself and enjoy the scenery, the food and the camaraderie. 
  Most of the following centuries start at 7:30 or 8 a.m., with later starts for shorter options. Some are fund-raisers, but for most you don't have to collect donations. In some cases, the entry fee includes goodies such as a T-shirt, water bottle or post-ride feast. Inquire by phone or e-mail for particulars. 

Aug. 12 -- APPLE COUNTRY CENTURY, 25, 50 or 100, Brandon Recreation Department, Route 7, Brandon, Vt.; $20, $25 day of event. Contact: Churchill House Inn, http://www.inntoinn.com/, rciatt@sover.net  , (802) 247-3300. 

Aug. 13 -- MORRIS FARM TOUR DE FARMS, Merrymeeting Wheelers, 15, 50 or 100 miles, Morris Farm, Route 27, Wiscasset, Maine; $30; children under 13, $15. Contact: Mark Wheeler, (207) 443-5712, wheeler@wiscasset.net, or Christine James, (207) 882-4080, morrisfarm@morrisfarm.org. 

Aug. 19 -- STEEPLE CHASE BIKE TOUR, 20, 50 or 100 miles, Windham Mills, 320 Main St., Willimantic, Conn.; $25, plus $50 suggested fund-raising minimum for Windham Area Interfaith Ministry and Perception Programs Inc., PO Box 407, Willimantic, CT 06226. Contact: (860) 450-7122. 

Aug. 26 -- DAN MICHAUD CENTURY, Merrymeeting Wheelers, 50 or 100 miles, Gazebo, Maine Street, Brunswick, Maine; $20 to register, $50 fund-raising minimum for Maine Cancer Research and Education Fund. Contact: Bob Bruce, (207) 882-7206, bobbiker@juno.com. 

Aug. 26 -- MAD RIVER VALLEY CENTURY, 50 or 100 miles, Mad River Cyclery, Routes 100 & 17, Waitsfield, Vt.; $30, $35 after Aug. 12. Contact: Hyde Away Inn, (800) 777-HYDE or (802) 496-2322, hydeaway@madriver.com. 

Aug. 26 & 27 -- BLAZING SADDLES CENTURY, North Shore Cyclists, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Georgetown High School, Winter Street, Georgetown, Mass.; $15. Contact: Tony Salerno, (978) 352-2524, litespd1@aol.com. 

Sept. 9 -- NASHOBA VALLEY PEDALERS FALL CENTURY, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles, Metrowest YMCA Wayland Community Pool, Route 126, Wayland, Mass.; $12 until Sept. 2, $15 day of ride. Rain date Sept. 10. Contact: (978) 266-1687, nvp@ultranet.com, www.ultranet.com/~nvp . 

Sept. 9 -- QUIET CORNER CYCLING CLASSIC, 12, 26, 50 or 100 miles, Davis Park, Route 12, Killingly, Conn.; $20, benefits Camp Quinebaug for special needs children. Contact: Peter Deary, (860) 564-3238, mailto:sunnysidefarms@snet.net. 

Sept. 9 -- OCEANSIDE BIKE FEST, 25, 50 or 100 miles, Bandshell on the Bluff, Onset, Mass.; $25 to register, $100 fund-raising minimum for National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Contact: (800) 493-9255, http://www.msnewengland.org/. 

Sept. 10 -- THE FLATTEST CENTURY IN THE EAST, 25, 50 or 100 miles, Tiverton High School, North Brayton Road, Tiverton, R.I.; $20 Narragansett Bay Wheelmen members, $25 nonmembers, postmarked by Aug. 18; mail check to NBW TFCE, PO Box 41177, Tiverton, RI 02878. Contact: (401) 435-4012, http://www.nbwclub.org/. 

Sept. 10 -- MAINE FREEWHEELERS CENTURY, 62 or 100 miles, Cascade Park, State Street, Bangor, Maine; $10. Contact: Harrison Clark, mhc3bgr@aol.com , (207) 942-7974. 

Sept. 16 -- SURFSIDE CENTURY BIKE TOUR, 15, 35, 50 or 100 miles, Masconomo Park, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.; $50 plus optional fund-raising for Yankee Clipper Council, Boy Scouts of America. Contact: 978-777-4333, members.aol.com/nsdbsa/surfcentour.htm. 

Sept. 16 -- WHITE MOUNTAIN CENTURY, Casco Bay Bicycle Club, 100 miles, Covered Bridge parking lot, Kancamagus Highway (Route 112), Conway, N.H.; $15. Contact: Rachel Farrington,  (207) 865-3950, Maggie Guthrie, (207) 772-3860, chainmag@aol.com, or Dave Clements, (207) 878-2589, oldred4000@aol.com. 

Sept. 16 -- NORTHEAST KINGDOM LAKES CENTURY in memory of Terry and Ben Classen, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles, Crystal Lake State Park, Route 16, Barton, Vt.; $25, $30 after Sept. 1, benefits Orleans County Citizen Advocacy. Contact: Joan Alexander, (802) 525-6212. 

Sept. 17 -- CONNECTICUT VALLEY CENTURY, 25, 50, 75 or 100 miles, Hadley Village Barn Shops, Route 9 and Bay Road, Hadley, Mass.; $5 Franklin-Hampshire Freewheelers members, $10 nonmembers. Contact: Sally Peters, (413) 527-4877, sallybikes@aol.com. 

Sept. 17 -- SOUHEGAN RIVER TOUR, 25, 50, 62 or 100 miles, Hart Barn Ski Touring Center, Lowell Road, Carlisle, Mass.; $8 Charles River Wheelmen members, $10 nonmembers; day of ride, $12 members, $14 nonmembers. Contact: Ken Hablow, (781) 647-0233,  khablow@khgraphics.com , http://www.crw.org/. 

Sept. 17 -- DON McCULLOCH MEMORIAL RIDE, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Massachusetts Military Reservation, Route 28, Falmouth, Mass.; $22 Mad About Cycling members, $25 nonmembers by Sept. 5. Contact: (888) 235-2300, (508) 759-3723, mac@cape.com. 

Sept. 17 -- TWO FERRY METRIC CENTURY, 100 kilometers, Cycling Concepts, 825 Cromwell Ave. (Route 3), Rocky Hill, Conn.; $15 before Sept. 14, $17 day of ride. Contact: (860) 563-6667,  http://www.cyclingconcepts.com/ . 

Sept. 17 -- KENNEBUNKPORT TO WINNEPESAUKEE, 100 miles, Cape Able Bike Shop, 83 Arundel Road, Kennebunkport, Maine; free. Contact: Peter Sargent, (207) 967-4382. 

Sept. 17 -- TOUR DE BOSTON, THE RIDE FOR HUNGER, 40 or 100 kilometers, Boston Common; $15 to register, $100 fund-raising minimum for short ride, $1,000 for long ride, to benefit Project Bread. Contact: Kelly Richards, (617) 239-2502, kelly_richards@projectbread.org. 

Sept. 23 -- INTERNATIONAL FALL CENTURY, Stowe Bike Club, 62 or 100 miles, Johnson State College, Route 15, Johnson, Vt.; $25. Contact: Bill Cannon, (802) 253-4368, janetbill@aol.com. 

Sept. 23 -- FRYEBURG FROLIC CENTURY, Casco Bay Bicycle Club, 100 miles, Westbrook High School, Spring Street, Westbrook, Maine; $15. Contact: Rachel Farrington,  (207) 865-3950, Maggie Guthrie, (207) 772-3860, chainmag@aol.com, or Dave Clements, (207) 878-2589, oldred4000@aol.com. 

Sept. 23 & 24 -- TRI-STATE SEACOAST CENTURY, 25, 50, 62 or 100 miles, Hampton Beach State Park, Route 1A, Hampton Beach, N.H.; $15. Contact: Granite State Wheelmen, (603) 898-5GSW, http://www.granitestatewheelmen.org/, or Peter DeSantis, peter.desantis@gte.net. 

Sept. 24 -- MAJOR TAYLOR CENTURY, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Finn Park, Finn Park Road, Rutland, Mass.; $10 Seven Hills Wheelmen members, $15 nonmembers. Contact: : Deb Sweet, (508) 829-5851, sweet4488@aol.com, Jean Clark, (508) 757-9641, mamilto:clarkj01@ummhc.org, members.aol.com/shwworc/centuries.htm. 

Oct. 1 -- COVERED BRIDGE CENTURY, 25, 50 or 100 miles, Swanzey Town Hall, Route 32, West Swanzey, N.H.; $10, $15 after Sept. 22, to benefit Slate Covered Bridge Fund. Contact: Penny Rogers, (603) 352-6085, rcrogers@monad.net. 

Oct. 1 -- CADILLAC MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE, Maine Freewheelers, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Acadia National Park Visitors Center, Mount Desert Island, Maine; free. Contact: Tony and Anne Mourkas, mourkas@telplus.net, 171 Patterson Road, Hampden, ME 04444, (207) 862-5990. 

Oct. 1 -- TEC CENTURY, 25, 40. 62 or 100 miles, Groton Cyclery, 1360 Route 184, Groton, Conn.; $6-12. Contact: Pequot Cyclists, (860) 376-2717, www.ctol.net/~knrf. 

Oct. 7 -- BIKE THE BERKSHIRES, 50 or 100 miles, Butternut Basin Ski Resort, Great Barrington, Mass.; $50 to register, $150 fund-raising minimum for National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Contact: Nancy Dlugoenski, nancy.dlugoenski@mam.nmss.org , (413) 659-0036, http://www.msnewengland.org/. 

Oct. 8 -- GREAT RIVER RIDE, Northeast Sport Cyclists, 25, 62 or 100 miles, Sons of Erin, William Street, Westfield, Mass.; $25. Contact: New Horizons, (413) 562-5237. 

Oct. 9 -- ROUNDQUABBIN, 32 or 100 kilometers, Bullard Farm Inn, New Salem, Mass.; $20 by Oct. 1; $25 day of ride. Contact: The Ride magazine, (781) 641-9515, http://www.ridezine.com/.