Three Century Rides to Kick Off Your New Year Resolutions

It's that time of year again when many of us will take a few minutes to assess life and figure out what we they want to accomplish in 2010. This is the perfect time to pull out the calendar and make some commitments to training and cycling events. Do you want to complete your first 100 mile ride this year? Maybe you have a personal best in mind for your annual century ride?

Here are three suggestions in Southern California to help you kick off your new year resolutions:

1. San Diego has so many riding events that it's tough to select only three. Since it is so early in the new year, a great choice to begin is the to choose from starting with the StageCoach Century on January 16th. This is a fantastic way to tune up the bike and ride off a few pounds that you might have taken on during the holidays. If you aren't ready for 100 miles...that's OK. The StageCoach Century organizers have several shorter routes to select from that are very easy to navigate. The StageCoach Century is situated in Ocotillo, CA so plan to get up early to make the start at 7:00 AM.

2. Trek is starting up their Spring Century training program January 23rd leading up to the San Diego Century Bicycle Tour on May 22, 2010. This has become a very popular training program sponsored by the Trek Bicycle Super Stores of San Diego. You will see at least 50 people showing up regularly. Trek does it right by providing maps, directions and plenty of friendly people to ride with as they build up the weekly mileage. Join the Trek group and you'll be plenty strong and ready for that 103 mile San Diego Century Bicycle Tour on May 22, 2010.

3. Gran Fondo is March 7th and has quickly become another favorite for local cyclists. Gran Fondo means Big Ride in Italian and this one does draw a BIG crowd. You start in Little Italy and have 3 different routes to select from, 32, 53 and 101 miles. This falls in the middle of the Trek Program so they plan to use the 53 mile for their route that weekend.

That's just a taste of what is happening this spring in San Diego. Hope to see you out there riding soon.


by Mike Henderson
Mike's Blog: Finding Way to Help Others
Photo: 2010 San Diego Century