If you
’ve never ridden on a 100-mile bike ride, you should try it.
If you’ve never ridden on a 100-mile bike ride, you should try it. I recently went to the “Let Us Ride” bicycle century ride in Salinas.
A century is a 100-mile bike ride with rest stops every 20 miles.
Most centuries also include a metric century (100 km/62 miles) as well as a 10- and a 30-mile ride so everyone can enjoy the experience.
This ride in Salinas helped out several charities including the Boys and Girls Club of Monterey County and the Lance Armstrong Foundation, which helps cancer survivors.
The rest areas provided food, water and encouragement.
After the ride, there was good food and music to enjoy with the other cyclists.
More than 400 riders from ages 3 to 78 joined in the fun. And more than a 100 made the 100-mile trek.
Personally, I did 200 miles. I also served as the sag wagon. I drove my pickup truck, helping out the cyclists who overestimated their ability to climb the two mountain passes on the 100-mile route.
I was impressed at how many riders refused my services, saying that they were determined to finish the ride on their own because it was their personal goal.
I participated in five centuries last year but haven’t done any this year.
When you sign up for an athletic event such as a bicycle century, a triathlon, or a 10K run, it is a commitment that goes way beyond the event itself.
It involves actually getting out and exercising regularly.
It gives you a deadline to meet certain physical goals and makes you find time in your busy life to schedule training.
And while you are improving your physical fitness, you can help someone less fortunate who will benefit from the charitable contributions.
If you’re thinking that you could never do something physical like that, I challenge you to go to www.teamintraining.org. The site is dedicated to converting non-athletes into competitors while fighting leukemia at the same time.
For some of us, it takes a commitment to make a difference.
So for the next century (the Surf City Century on Sept. 19), I plan on getting out of my air conditioned truck and back on my bike.
The ride starts at Cabrillo College and runs through Fort Ord and San Juan Bautista. I hope they have plenty of sag wagons.
But the route is fairly flat and is an easy ride.
You can register at active.com.
Kevin Carter is the co-owner of Off the Chain Bikes in Hollister. He can be reached at (831) 636-0802.
