Pick one of these 9 rides from around the country and start training.听
Red Rocks Century
Morrison, Colorado听
August 8, 2015听
Difficulty:听贬补谤诲
There are听12,000 feet of elevation gain during听. We just wanted to get that out of the way.听Now听the pros: You get to spend the day pedaling past big-time Colorado landmarks like听听(where there鈥檚 a massive collection of dinosaur fossils) and听the Mars-like听, and you鈥檒l climb up to 11,140 feet at Squaw Pass. Throw in dusty-but-charming mountain towns like听听补苍诲听, and you鈥檝e got yourself a two-wheeled highlight reel of Colorado鈥檚 Rockies.
Crater Lake Century
Crater Lake, Oregon听
August 15, 2015听
Difficulty:听惭辞诲别谤补迟别
, the deepest lake in the country, is the destination on this听. Begin by cruising through the Wood River Valley, with听nice views of the听,听before climbing 3,000 feet to the rim of the lake, where cliffs form a 2,000-foot-high wall around the blue water. After the big climb, it鈥檚 summit and gap pedaling around the lake on the perfect听, with near-constant views of the lake below.听
Maine Lighthouse Ride听
Portland, Maine听
September 12, 2015听
Difficulty:听贰补蝉测
The majority of this听听hugs the coast of southern Maine, taking cyclists along small peninsulas with killer views of the Pine Tree State鈥檚 iconic lighthouses. You鈥檙e not really racing here鈥攜ou鈥檙e touring. You鈥檒l see nine lighthouses in all, cross the salty听听twice, and roll through听, which could not be more Maine听with its quiet seaside听village,听lobster-eating听charm.听
Lorie鈥檚 Lakeside Century
Chesterton, Indiana听
September 19, 2015听
Difficulty:听贰补蝉测
The beauty of riding bikes in Indiana? It鈥檚 flat to听gently rolling. But听the charm of听听is that it delivers you to some of the most dramatic landscape in the Midwest:听the jagged coast of听听and the听, which rise 180 feet above the lake in a tangle of sand, bogs, and grassy prairies. The occasional lighthouse and bucolic farm are just bonuses, as is the cool fall breeze coming off the lake.听
Tour de Whidbey
Whidbey Island, Washington听
September 19, 2015听
Difficulty:听惭辞诲别谤补迟别
听is听a sprawling, curvaceous hunk of farmland in the middle of Puget Sound off the coast of Washington.听Cyclists knocking out the听听will pedal a 100-mile figure eight across this island that鈥檚 packed with wineries,听small听coastal towns, and rocky coves. Locals hop over from Seattle and knock out听听so often that cycling has become second nature on the island. Expect wide shoulders and minimal traffic with drivers who are genuinely happy to see you.听
Santa Barbara 100
Santa Barbara, California听
October 17, 2015听
Difficulty:听贬补谤诲
This听听will hurt more than a little鈥攜ou鈥檝e got 9,000 cumulative feet of climbing. Beginning around mile 40, you鈥檒l climb听3,000 feet听over seven miles. But it鈥檚 all kinds of Southern California magic:听swanky neighborhoods lined with palms, avocado orchards, and the cliffy Pacific coast.听You鈥檒l even get some ridgetop miles with views that stretch to the听Channel Islands, ten听miles off the coast.听
Ultimate Fondo Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada听
April 2, 2016听
Difficulty:听惭辞诲别谤补迟别
First thing to know: You won鈥檛 be pedaling the Strip.听听takes you deep into the area鈥檚听storied desert, giving you a chance to pedal through听, where the desert floor is covered with Joshua trees and the high canyon walls are striped in shades of maroon. You鈥檒l also tackle the eight-mile climb to the summit of听听and cruise through the lesser-known听, offering听views of听.听
Campagnolo Gran Fondo New York
Fort Lee, New Jersey 听
May 15, 2016听
Difficulty:听惭辞诲别谤补迟别
Forget the Brooklyn Bridge, ditch the urban bike lanes, and escape the concrete jungle.听听begins and ends on the iconic George Washington Bridge, which straddles the Hudson River connecting Manhattan to New Jersey. In between, you鈥檝e got roughly 100 miles of surprisingly rural roads on the west side of the Hudson, a four-mile timed climb up听, and selfie-worthy views of New York City鈥檚 skyline.听
Key West Century Tour
Key Largo, Florida听
Every second Saturday of the month. Every weekend during peak winter season.
Difficulty: Easy听
Instead of your annual听massive century ride, guides take small groups on a once a month. You鈥檒l follow the route of the , pedaling impossibly long bridges that connect sandy islands poking out of the aqua blue sea鈥攖he Gulf of Mexico on your right, the Straits of Florida on your left. You鈥檙e looking for dolphins, flamingos, and maybe the occasional massive sea turtle as you pedal to the southernmost point in the continental听United States.听
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